Welcome to Tenzin Tibet Website

H.H. Dalai Lama's Envoys Depart for Meeting in China
His Holiness the Dalai Lama's Special Envoy Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari and Envoy Kelsang Gyaltsen will arrive in China on May 3, 2008 for informal talks with representatives of the Chinese leadership.
During this brief visit, the envoys will take up the urgent issue of the current crisis in the Tibetan areas. They will convey His Holiness the Dalai Lama's deep concerns about the Chinese authorities' handling of the situation and also provide suggestions to bring peace to the region.

Since the Chinese leadership has indicated, publicly as well as in briefings given to foreign governments, its position on the continuation of the dialogue, the envoys will raise the issue of moving forward on the process for a mutually satisfactory solution to the Tibetan issue.
Chhime R. Chhoekyapa
Secretary to
His Holiness the Dalai Lama

We strongly condemn the arbitrary sentences imposed on the 30 Tibetans involved in the recent protests in Tibet. The penalty imposed on the 30 Tibetans ranges from three years to life imprisonment for merely exercising their freedom of expression. These sentences are disproportionate to what the Chinese authorities say are the "crimes" they committed.
These trials were not fair and transparent, did not follow the due process of law and the accused were denied independent lawyers to defend their case.

We fear that many such arbitrary trials will follow to lock up all those Tibetans presently under detention. All such future trials must be open and transparent. Those under trial deserve independent lawyers who can defend their case without fear and favour.

Most importantly we urge the Chinese government to do away with this pretence of a fair trial and release immediately all those Tibetans presently under detention.
The Kashag

Press Statement
The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) has compiled a confirmed list of total number of deaths, injuries and arrests or detentions of Tibetans, reported during the peaceful protests in the three traditional provinces of Tibet, from 10 March 2008 - 25 April 2008.

These figures are based on information and news reports collected from 6 different sources, namely, Chinadigitaltimes.net, Tibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), China's State Media and Lhasa Radio, Radio Free Asia (RFA)/Callers from Tibet and Department of Security (CTA).

Various facts and figures given by the different sources have been meticulously examined and tallied with each other. After having done this, we confirm that the actual figure for the number of dead is 203, the number of injured is more than 1,000 and the number of those still detained is more than 5,715. These are figures for Tibetans who died, are injured and still in detention throughout Tibet as of today.
Contacts:Thubten Samphel
Ph: 01892-222510, 224957, 224662

For Immediate Press Release
1 May,2008

Consequences Befalling the Passing of the Olympic Torch through the Tibetan Plateau

According to international media, shortly after Chinese government decided to carry the Olympic torch on the top of Mount Everest, they took group of international media to the site and incidentally, the second Olympic flame arrives in Tibet.

Authorities have placed immense restriction in areas of Tibet where the torch route lies. Following a heavy deployment of Chinese armies, many Tibetans have been arrested. In addition, each Tibetan household has been forced to hoist Chinese national flag on the rooftop. Chinese have also chosen few selective Tibetans to speak to the international media as their spokes person and these speakers are trained what to say and what not to say.

As previously stated in our press release, many Tibetans have been killed and arrested due to China’s brutal and violent suppression of peaceful Tibetan demonstrators. Moreover, if the Olympic torch passes through Tibet, it will undoubtedly be an immense insult and disrespect to the Tibetans, who are enduring extreme repression, mental and physical torture. It will be akin to adding salt to their wounds which will deeply hurt their sentiments.

Jampa Phuntsok, Governor of Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), in his statement to foreign press on April 9 2008 said "I don't doubt they (Tibetans) will create trouble during the torch relay in Tibet." He further went on to warn that "We will without doubt deal with these persons severely.... we will not be merciful." From his statement, two things are very clear: 1 The Chinese authorities are sure that protests will occur on that occasion, and 2 They are equally determined to put down the protests most ruthlessly. Therefore, the actual situation on the ground will be completely in contradiction with the Olympic spirit. The Chinese government will create such a strict and suffocating atmosphere that the Tibetans, who are already under a martial law like condition, will suffer further repression, subjugation and tension.

The Tibetan Parliament-in-exile and Central Tibetan Administration has never opposed Beijing Olympic Games; however, in complying with Olympic spirit and to prevent further direct losses of precious human lives, we once again, urge International Olympic Committee and related organizations to reconsider taking the Olympic torch up to Mount Everest and inside Tibet. If direct lives are lost due to IOC’s failure to reconsider their stance, the IOC and related organized will be the sole responsible.

Tibetan Solidarity Committee
Update for Thursday, 1 May 2008, last updated 2 pm (IST) Re: Tibet Demonstrations

Toelung Dechen (Ch: Duilongdeqing) County, Lhasa Municipality-Evidences being destroyed by the Chinese army

The Chinese armed forces in their attempt to wipe out any kind of evidence related to the recent protests in Tibet are burning all the dead bodies of people who have been killed since the March 14 protest in Tibet.

On 28th March, around 83 corpses were burnt altogether in an electrical crematorium, which was built by the Chinese government a few years back in the Dhongkar Yabdha shang town in Toelung Dechen county under Lhasa Municipality.

Moreover, some eyewitness accounts confirmed that at around10.30 pm (Lhasa local time) on March 17, dead bodies of several were seen in two army trucks near a petrol pump located towards the west of Lhasa [this petrol pump has been one of the most restricted sites since the protests began in Tibet]

Due to a heavy traffic jam around this petrol pump, a few Tibetans reported having seen blood discharges from the two trucks that were carrying dead bodies. In addition to this, there are more reports of dead bodies being transported to Toelung Dechen County in army trucks.

On the evening of March 15, an eyewitness source confirmed seeing dead bodies being carried in a truck towards Toelung County.

Many Tibetans who have been injured since the starts of the protests in Tibet continue to die in People’s Hospital with no immediate medical care.

Moreover, one monk who was arrested from Drepung Monastery on 12th April also died in prison. But there are no further details explaining his death. Two more women are also reported dead immediately after their release from a prison in Lhasa.

Following is the list of four new names* we can confirm for people who have been killed since the March protests in Tibet.

S. No. NAME AGE PLACE OF RESIDENCE/BIRTH DETAILS
62 Lobsang Tenzin 24 Gongkar (Ch: Gongga) County, Lhoka Prefecture, "TAR"Resident of Lhasa Father’s Name: Phuntsok Gyaltsen(Late)Profession: TailorDied due to being shot on upper body.
63 Gyaltsen Yarphel;Lobsang Tsering (name prior to becoming monk) 43 Gaden Monastery Fathers name: Tsering Bhakdo
64 Ngawang SherabMigmar (name prior to becoming monk) 24 Gaden Monastery Fathers name: Tsering Bhakdo


Both of them are brothers and died around the March 14 protest in Tibet. No further details are available.

* In addition to the already released 61 total names and details of Tibetans killed during the recent demonstrations, here we are releasing 3 more names (with details) from the current death toll list which stands well over 140.

Lhakpa Tsering (his name already reported on the death toll list) was killed after a gun shot to his forehead by the Chinese Armed Forces on March 14 at Lugug Street. He was a resident within the premises of gate number 11 (external boundary) ; gate no 1 (internal boundary) in Lugug Street. He is survived by his 2 year old child. He worked as a tourist taxi driver in Lhasa. Although his family did receive his dead body, but the local security forces took the body with them claiming that they needed to investigate the body at the People’s Procuratorate. His body was later burnt in Toelung County. His family was just given a bag containing some ashes with his name written on it.

Dharamshala: In a press statement issued on 1 May 2008, the Kashag condemned the arbitrary sentences imposed on 30 Tibetans involved in the recent unrest inside Tibet.
The full text of the press statement reads:

We strongly condemn the arbitrary sentences imposed on the 30 Tibetans involved in the recent protests in Tibet. The penalty imposed on the 30 Tibetans ranges from three years to life imprisonment for merely exercising their freedom of expression. These sentences are disproportionate to what the Chinese authorities say are the "crimes" they committed.

These trials were not fair and transparent, did not follow the due process of law and the accused were denied independent lawyers to defend their case.

We fear that many such arbitrary trials will follow to lock up all those Tibetans presently under detention. All such future trials must be open and transparent. Those under trial deserve independent lawyers who can defend their case without fear and favour.

Most importantly we urge the Chinese government to do away with this pretence of a fair trial and release immediately all those Tibetans presently under detention.

Time lists His Holiness among the 100 most influential people
Thursday, 1 May 2008, 3:05 p.m.

Dharamshala: Time magazine has listed His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the spiritual and temporal leader of Tibet, among the world's 100 most influential people, under the category of influential leaders and revolutionaries.
Time listed its influential people in five categories: Leaders and Revolutionaries; Heroes and Pioneers; Scientists and Thinkers; Artists and Entertainers; Builders and Titans.

It is His Holiness the Dalai Lama's second time on Time's 100 list, when in 2006, the magazine listed His Holiness as one of five Asian heroes.

The 2008 list, appearing on the magazine's Web site Thursday morning will hit the newsstands on Friday.

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Chinese President Hu Jintao, US presidential contenders Barack Obama, John McCain and Hillary Clinton are among others on the list.

Paying tribute to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Deepak Chopra, the noted writer and speaker on spirituality, writes, "Millions of people turn to the Dalai Lama for inspiration, but to whom does he turn? He and his people have struggled all their lives with the audacity of hopelessness. Oppression and exile are their daily bread. Yet the Dalai Lama, 72, remains calm in the face of cruelty."

Following is the full text of the article on His Holiness the Dalai Lama

The Dalai Lama


By Deepak Chopra

Millions of people turn to the Dalai Lama for inspiration, but to whom does he turn? He and his people have struggled all their lives with the audacity of hopelessness. Oppression and exile are their daily bread. Yet the Dalai Lama, 72, remains calm in the face of cruelty. What does he think of the human race? "We are the superior species on Earth but also the biggest troublemakers," he once told me.

China's rulers aren't like the British masters of colonial India, and the Dalai Lama's Gandhiesque nonviolent struggle won't give them twinges of conscience, leading to Tibet's freedom. If anything, Beijing has grown more ruthless in suppressing Tibetan aspirations, as we've seen this Olympic year. And yet he has found a way to think kindly of those who oppress his people and vilify his name. I found him unwilling to show any harshness. He said to me, "I don't dislike the Chinese, only their actions."

To me, the most mystical thing about him is also the most ordinary: the Dalai Lama is happy. He's happy in the midst of chaos and turmoil. The most inspiring thing he ever told me was to ignore all organized faiths and keep to the road of higher consciousness. "Without relying on religion, we look to common sense, common experience and the findings of science for understanding," he said. I do the same thing, but I still marvel at this model of calm and compassion. I'm sure neuroscientists would love to know what's going on inside that brain.

To whom, then, does the Dalai Lama turn for inspiration? It's not a person but a place-beyond I and thou, beyond self and nonself. The wonder isn't that such a place can be found. The wonder is that one man makes it look so easy.

Chopra, author of more than 50 books on spirituality and medicine, has met the Dalai Lama several times.

US concerns about 30 Tibetans prison terms

Thursday, 1 May 2008, 12:38 p.m.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dharamshala: The United States said it was "concerned" about reports that China has sentenced 30 Tibetans to between three years and life imprisonment for their involvement in the recent unrest inside Tibet.
"We are concerned. We don't think that anyone should break the law. But we also believe in freedom of expression and assembly." White House spokeswoman Dana Perino told reporters on Wednesday, 30 April.

Perino also renewed Washington's appeals for Beijing to open talks with representatives of His Holiness the Dalai Lama over the recent situation inside Tibet, saying he might be able to "calm the tensions" there.

"We are encouraged the Chinese have said that they would open up a dialogue with the Dalai Lama's representatives.We hope that those conversations are productive," said the spokeswoman.

"We think that it is in China's interest that they continue to have these, because the Dalai Lama is a man of peace and someone that, I think, that if they were open to, could help calm the tensions in the area," she said.

China jailed 30 people on Tuesday for between three years and life for taking part in last month's unrest, state-run Xinhua news agency reported earlier, describing the proceedings as "public" trials.

The sentences drew immediate condemnation from Human Rights Watch.

"Guilty or innocent, these Tibetans are entitled to a fair trial. Instead, they were tried on secret evidence behind closed doors and without the benefit of a meaningful defense by lawyers they'd chosen," said Sophie Richardson, Asia advocacy director for the group.