Week Ending June 7, 2013

International Tibet Network News Digest & Analysis: 7 June 2013

Self-Immolations, Protests, and Restrictions in Tibet

Fire In The Land of Snow: Self-Immolations in Tibet - VOA

7 June | Combining smuggled videos, first-hand accounts and interviews with experts, scholars, and officials, this film provides an in-depth and comprehensive look at the recent history of Tibet and the powerful forces that lie at the heart of one of the largest waves of political self-immolations in history.

http://www.voatibetanenglish.com/content/fire-in-the-land-of-snow-self-immolations-in-tibet/1671613.html

Special Report: The Mother Who Burned Herself to Death for Tibet - Reuters

6 June | A reporter tracks the personal circumstances of Kalkyi, a mother who self-immolated in Barma, looking for clues to what motivated her fiery protest.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/06/us-china-tibet-mothers-specialreport-idUSBRE95500Q20130606?utm_source=Sinocism+Newsletter&utm_campaign=7439ac938a-Sinocism06_06_13&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_171f237867-7439ac938a-29591953

Two Monks Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison for Holding Prayers for Self-Immolator - TCHRD

4 June | On 18 April 2013, the Yazi County People’s Court sentenced Tsondue, about 27, and Gedun Tsultrim, about 30, both monks from Beudo Monastery located in Beudo Township, to three years in prison for holding prayers for a man who self-immolated.

http://www.tchrd.org/2013/06/two-monks-sentenced-to-3-yrs-in-prison-for-holding-prayers-for-self-immolator/#more-2202

News

Tibetan Prisoner Out in Poor Health After Serving 5 Year Term - Radio Free Asia

6 June | Tsewang Dragpa, who participated in a 2008 protest in Draggo county, was released Wednesday. Dragpa, believed to be about 25, was detained by police on June 6, 2008 after staging a public protest in Draggo in Sichuan's Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.

http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/prisoner-06062013150205.html

China Looking Forward to ‘Historic’ US Summit - VOA

6 June | When President Barack Obama and Chinese leader Xi Jinping hold an informal summit this Friday and Saturday in California, it will be their first get-together since Xi became China’s president.

http://www.voanews.com/content/china-looking-forward-to-historic-us-summit/1676357.html

Opinion and Analysis

Rangzen in Your Heart? - Shadow Tibet

6 June | Jamyang Norbu writes on comments made by Karma Chophel, a student from Wisconsin, and the Dalai Lama.

http://www.jamyangnorbu.com/blog/2013/06/06/rangzen-in-your-heart/

Rights Group: Obama Must Turn Up The Heat On Tibet - CNN

6 June | Free Tibet’s new director Eleanor Byrne-Rosengren pressures Obama to address the critical situation in Tibet in upcoming talks with Xi Jinping.

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/06/06/opinion/china-free-tibet-immolations-obama-xi/

The Sinicization of Tibet - Kashmir Times

5 June | Torture and cultural destruction in Tibet as part of China’s ongoing occupation have lasting effects on Tibetans inside Tibet and in exile.

http://www.kashmirtimes.com/newsdet.aspx?q=17968

Tashi Delek Comrade? The Sikyong Accepts Communist Rule in Tibet - Tibetan Political Review

4 June | TPR’s editorial board parses comments made by Lobsang Sangay and the CTA’s statements’ implications for the future of the Tibetan struggle.

http://www.tibetanpoliticalreview.org/editorials/tashidelekcomrade

Week Ending May 31, 2013

International Tibet Network News Digest & Analysis: 31 May 2013

Self-Immolations, Protests, and Restrictions in Tibet

Tibetan Writer is Sentenced in Secret - Radio Free Asia

30 May | Tritsun (26) has been ordered jailed after he published a book containing politically sensitive writings amid a crackdown by Chinese authorities on assertions of Tibetan national and cultural identity, sources said.

http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/sentenced-05302013165335.html

New Tibetan Self-Immolation After One Month Hiatus - Radio Free Asia

29 May | Tenzin Sherab (31) burned himself in Yushu TAP. His body was returned to his family but they have been unable to travel to a monastery to complete funeral rites.

http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/burning-05292013114734.html

Thousands of Tibetans Protest Against Mine - Radio Free Asia

28 May | As many as 5,000 Tibetans have protested against Chinese mining operations at a site considered sacred by local residents, drawing a large security force to the area and prompting fears of clashes, according to Tibetan sources this week.

http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/mine-05282013170400.html

News

CTA rejects China’s allegations; appeals to Tibetans not to self-immolate - Radio Free Asia

30 May | The Kashag rejected allegations made in a CCTV documentary, and announced the Nechung Oracle divined that an end to the self-immolations would be best.

http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?article=CTA+rejects+China%E2%80%99s+allegations%2C+Appeals+Tibetans+not+to+self-immolate&id=33507

Tibetan Religious Leader, Writer, Freed After Serving Prison Terms - Radio Free Asia

30 May | Sungrab Gyatso and Adrel Lobsang Tenzin Rinpoche were both released with health problems after serving their full prison terms.

http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/freed-05282013152809.html

Sichuan Police Manual Details Tibet Repression Psychology - NDTV

17 May | TCHRD obtained this internal instruction for police in China’s Sichuan province. Entitled “Guide on Psychiatric Wellbeing While Maintaining Stability,” the manual has 29 questions and answers meant to help officers deal with the mental stress of repressing Tibetans and the moral dilemmas accompanying it.

http://ntdtv.org/en/news/china/2013-05-17/sichuan-police-manual-details-tibet-repression-psychology.html

Opinion and Analysis

Inside Job: Beijing’s New Allies in its War on Tibet - Huffington Post

30 May | Lhadon Tethong writes on the power of grassroots organizing and advocacy to pressure governments and academic institutions to resist Chinese bullying.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lhadon-tethong/inside-job-beijings-new-a_b_3353844.html

My words are not tainted by lies and deception: Gartse Jigme - TCHRD

30 May | TCHRD has translated an essay of imprisoned writer Gartse Jigme which addresses the social and political value to be gained if Chinese officials would legitimately reach out to the Dalai Lama and Tibetans and work to relieve their burdens and grievances.

http://www.tchrd.org/2013/05/my-words-are-not-tainted-by-lies-and-deception-gartse-jigme-2/

Week Ending May 24, 2013

International Tibet Network News Digest & Analysis: 24 May 2013

Self-Immolations, Protests, and Restrictions in Tibet

Freed Tibetan Prisoner Receives a Hero’s Welcome - Radio Free Asia

23 May | Dondrub (30) had been jailed for taking part in a March 18, 2012 demonstration challenging Chinese rule in Qinghai province’s Gepasumdo county, and was released this year on May 20.

http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/freed-05232013153729.html

Video: A Rare Glimpse Inside Tibet at a Time of Unwelcome Change - Washington Post

22 May | A French journalist traveled undercover for seven days in Tibet to interview locals.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/05/22/video-a-rare-glimpse-inside-tibet-at-a-time-of-unwelcome-change/

Tibetan writer sentenced to 5yrs in prison for writing book on self-immolation - TCHRD

21 May | On 14 May 2013, monk and writer Gartse Jigme was sentenced to five years in prison for writing a book on Tibetan issues including the self-immolation protests.

http://www.tchrd.org/2013/05/tibetan-writer-sentenced-to-5-yrs-in-prison-for-writing-book-on-self-immolation/

News

Tibetan activists launch boycott of InterContinental over hotel plans  - The Guardian

23 May | Free Tibet and SFT launch a new campaign to boycott luxury hotel brand IHG due to its massive construction and unethical branding in Lhasa.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/23/tibet-activists-boycott-intercontinental-hotel-plan

China rejects universality of human rights in latest white paper - TCHRD

23 May | The Information Office of the State Council issued a white paper on “Progress in China’s Human Rights in 2012” as a part of its propaganda activity for the upcoming UPR.

http://www.tchrd.org/2013/05/china-rejects-universality-of-human-rights-in-latest-white-paper-2/

Chinese troops suffering from post traumatic stress disorder in Tibet - The Telegraph

21 May | A leaked Chinese military manual tries to address the psychological consequences for soldiers responsible for the brutal repression of Tibetans.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/tibet/10071121/Chinese-troops-suffering-post-traumatic-stress-disorder-in-Tibet.html

Three Tibetan activists detained in Delhi - Phayul

20 May | Three Tibetan activists staged a protest against Chinese Premier Li Keqiang near the Taj Palace Hotel, unfurling a long banner and shouting slogans.

http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?article=Three+Tibetan+activists+detained+in+Delhi&id=33469

Tibetan Protests Muted on Li Visit - Wall Street Journal

20 May | Tibetan NGOs were denied permission to hold peaceful demonstrations at Jantar Mantar in Delhi during the visit of Li Keqiang.

http://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2013/05/20/tibetan-protests-muted-on-li-visit

Opinion and Analysis

Development or destruction in Tibet? - Hindustan Times

22 May | Hutong Cat discusses an ongoing petition related to the ‘construction’ or ‘destruction’ work being done around the Barkhor in Lhasa.

http://blogs.hindustantimes.com/hutong-cat/2013/05/22/development-or-destruction-in-tibet/#more-121

Self-immolation loses its power as a means of protest - South China Morning Post

21 May | Andrew Lam argues that the world has become cynical about self-immolation.

http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1242093/self-immolation-loses-its-power-means-protest

Re-thinking the Tibet Movement - Rangzen Alliance

19 May | First published in Seminar Magazine, Tenzing Sonam considers important questions facing the future of the Tibet movement.

http://www.rangzen.net/2013/05/19/rethinking-the-tibet-movement/

Week Ending May 17, 2013

International Tibet Network News Digest & Analysis: 17 May 2013

Self-Immolations, Protests, and Restrictions in Tibet

Chinese Police Expel Tibetans From Disputed Land - RFA

15 May | Chinese security forces in Gansu province forced a group of Tibetans last week off of land they said they had bought, beating some and detaining 15 as local authorities asserted government control of the property, Tibetan sources said.

http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/land-dispute-05152013134449.html

Chinese Police Beat Monk to Death Over Banned Cassettes - RFA

14 May | Kardo, formerly of the Champa Ling monastery in Chamdo prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region, was taken into custody on April 21 at his home in Dzogang county by county police after two cassette tape recordings of the Dalai Lama were found in his possession.

http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/cassettes-05142013132742.html

News

2012 Annual Report (PDF) - Dui Hua

17 May | Dui Hua has published a new report that estimates more than a quarter of the 5,000 “active” political prisoners are Tibetan activists.

http://duihua.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/AR2012/2012AR_Eng_web.pdf

‘Weakness of the Oppressor’ - ICT

13 May | TCHRD received a Chinese armed forces manual containing issues regarding the psychological and moral issues arising from stability maintenance work in Tibetan areas.

http://savetibet.org/media-center/tibet-news/weakness-oppressor-leaked-document-exposes-psychological-traumas-faced-chinese-armed-police-tibe

Their Last Words - Burning Tibet

13 May | Tibetan writer Bhuchung D. Sonam has translated several of the last messages of Tibetans who have self-immolated.

http://burningtibet.blogspot.in/2013_05_01_archive.html

Opinion and Analysis

The Tibet Test - European Voice

16 May | Edward Lucas writes about how Western countries should work together to resist economic bullying from China.

http://www.europeanvoice.com/article/imported/the-tibetan-test/77253.aspx

The Dalai Lama’s Self-Immolation Dilemma - CFR

13 May | Yanzhong Huang explores the roles of the Dalai Lama and international supporters in the discourse of recent self-immolations.

http://blogs.cfr.org/asia/2013/05/13/the-dalai-lamas-dilemma-over-self-immolation/

Incivilities (Postscript) - Rangzen Alliance

13 May | Elliott Sperling added a postscript to his opinion piece from 8 May.

http://www.rangzen.net/2013/05/08/incivilities/

Must We Love The Party - Phayul

13 May | Bhuchung D. Sonam writes on Lobsang Sangay’s recent comments in Washington, DC regarding the Communist regime in China and Tibetan plans for autonomy.

http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?c=4&t=1&id=33440

Week Ending May 10, 2013

International Tibet Network News Digest & Analysis: 10 May 2013

Self-Immolations, Protests, and Restrictions in Tibet

‘Without independence Tibet will be annihilated,’ a self-immolator’s last words - Phayul

9 May | Details have emerged concerning the last words of Tibetan Phagmo Dhondup, who self-immolated on February 24 and later died from his injuries.

http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=33431&t=1

Stop “modernising” Lhasa pleads Tibetan writer - SCMP

9 May | Woeser has appealed online to protest against massive construction in Lhasa, including destruction of historic sites to create a mall and draining of underground water.

http://www.scmp.com/comment/blogs/article/1232846/stop-modernising-lhasa-pleads-tibetan-writer

‘They treat us like animals’ - TCHRD

7 May | TCHRD has translated more writings of imprisoned Tibetan poet Tashi Rabten on the topics of Chinese tourism and its pressure on Tibetan culture and environment.

http://www.tchrd.org/2013/05/they-treat-us-like-animals/

Prisoner Releases

Nyatso Zilkar monk in poor health after imprisonment - TCHRD

8 May | Sonam Yingyen, age 44, was released last month due to medical emergency without completing his prison term. He is believed to be in Yushu but his family has been denied visitation rights throughout his detention, imprisonment, and hospitalization.

http://www.tchrd.org/2013/05/nyatso-zilkar-monk-in-poor-health-after-imprisonment/

Another Tibetan Prisoner Released in Poor Health - RFA

3 May | Lodroe Gyatso, age 52, has been released after completing his full 21-year jail term. His health is in very poor condition due to years of ill-treatment and torture.

http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/released-05032013161353.html

News

Allow Tibet to express grievances freely, US tells China - FirstPost

9 May | US State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell said the US has repeatedly asked China not to denigrate the Dalai Lama and allow Tibetans to express their grievances.

http://www.firstpost.com/world/allow-tibet-to-express-grievances-freely-us-tells-china-769621.html

Exiled Tibetan PM Lobsang Sangay ‘Not Challenging’ China Communists - SCMP

9 May | In Washington, Lobsang Sangay represented the position of seeking autonomy of some sort within China, and said “We don’t challenge, or ask for, an overthrow of the Communist Party. We don’t question or challenge the present structure of the ruling party.”

http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1233531/exiled-tibet-pm-lobsang-sangay-not-challenging-china-communists?utm_source=edm&utm_medium=edm&utm_content=20130509&utm_campaign=afternoon_news

China and Tibet: Cameron says UK policy has not changed - BBC News

8 May | David Cameron has said the UK continues to recognise Chinese sovereignty over Tibet amid reports of a rift with Beijing over the issue.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22457242

Opinion and Analysis

Incivilities - Rangzen Alliance

8 May | Elliott Sperling writes about the loss of idealism in the Tibet movement due to pressure from those gaining power by supporting the Middle Way, and how civil society is impaired when arguments, dissent, and criticism are silenced.

http://www.rangzen.net/2013/05/08/incivilities/

The Silence Around Tibet’s Ecological Crisis - The Atlantic

7 May | Chinese environmental activist Hongxian Huang writes on ‘how mistrust and fear between Beijing and Tibetans are making a bad environmental problem worse’.

http://www.theatlantic.com/china/archive/2013/05/the-silence-around-tibets-ecological-crisis/275617/

“What is the secret behind Secret Tibet?” by Woeser - High Peaks Pure Earth

7 May | A blogpost by Woeser from February addresses the propaganda and politics of (mis)representation behind the Chinese TV series “Secret Tibet”.

http://highpeakspureearth.com/2013/what-is-the-secret-behind-secret-tibet-by-woeser/

David Cameron had to stand up to China over its arrogant, clumsy efforts to stop him from meeting the Dalai Lama - Telegraph

8 May | David Cameron commented that his meeting agenda was not to be determined by Chinese pressures, exposing the clumsiness of China’s attempts to force diplomacy.

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/davidblair/100215692/david-cameron-had-to-stand-up-to-china-over-its-arrogant-clumsy-efforts-to-stop-him-meeting-the-dalai-lama/

Analysis: David Cameron, China, and the meeting that tweaked the dragon’s tail - Telegraph

6 May | As he sat alongside Nick Clegg on a white leather armchair facing the Dalai Lama in the crypt of St Paul’s Cathedral last May, David Cameron knew he would face China’s wrath.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/10040394/Analysis-David-Cameron-China-and-the-meeting-that-tweaked-the-dragons-tail.html