Global Kaarsen wake te Brussel 8 feb. 2012 Voice of Tibet : Saturday 04/02/2012 3 more self immolation protests reported in Serta (Tibet this is a mp3 audio file, in Tibetan Thousands of Chinese security forces have flooded into the Tibetan province Kham, following large protests in the wake of the self-immolations. Febuary 2012 -- Three Tibetan set themselves on fire on Friday in Seda county, known as Serthar in Tibetan, in Kham province, calling for freedom for Tibet and the return of exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. One person died at the scene, while the other two -- Tsaptsai Tsering, 60, and Kyarel, 30 -- were seriously injured, it said, citing unidentified sources. It said it could not identify the dead person. Wereldlijke kaarsenwake. Zoals werd voorgesteld in onderstaande video van de Tibetaanse eerste Minister, Lobsang Sangye houden de Tibetaanse verenigingen, alsook onze Vrienden van Tibet, een kaarsenwake op woensdag 8 februari tussen 17.00 en 19.00 uur aan de Beurs te Brussel. kaarsjes meebrengen aub. organisatie TCB, ICT en VVT May the most precious and supreme bodhicitta awakening mind Which has not yet been generated now be generated. And may the precious mind of bodhicitta which has been generated Never decline, but always increase. Verklaring van Kalon Tripa, Dr Lobsang Sangay, over het recente doden van Tibetanen door de regering van de Volksrepubliek China 1 februari 2012 Terwijl Chinezen overal de eerste paar dagen van het Jaar van de Draak vierden, schoot de Chinese politie op 23 en 24 januari 2012 lukraak op honderden Tibetanen die vreedzaam in Drakgo, Serthar, Ngaba, Gyarong en andere nabijgelegen Tibetaanse gebieden bijeen gekomen waren om hun fundamentele rechten op te eisen. Zes Tibetanen werden gedood en ongeveer zestig raakten gewond. Sommigen verkeren in kritieke toestand. Gruwelijke daden zoals deze, en de systematische onderdrukking van Tibetanen, doet de wrok en boosheid onder de Tibetanen tegenover de Chinese overheid sinds de protesten in 2008, alleen maar groeien. Al sinds de bezetting van Tibet beweert de Chinese regering standvastig dat zij er naar streeft om een socialistisch paradijs te creëren. Echter, fundamentele mensenrechten worden Tibetanen onthouden, het kwetsbare milieu wordt vernietigd, de Tibetaanse taal en cultuur worden geassimileerd, portretten van Zijne Heiligheid de Dalai Lama zijn verboden, en Tibetanen worden economisch gemarginaliseerd. Tibet is in een virtuele staat van omsingeling. Buitenlanders zijn uitgesloten om naar Tibet te reizen en de hele regio verkeert in wezen in een niet afgekondigde staat van beleg. Ik dring er bij de Chinese leiders op aan om gevolg te geven aan de noodkreten van de Tibetaanse demonstranten en degenen, die zichzelf in brand hebben gestoken. Door doodslag en geweld zullen jullie nooit de werkelijke grieven van de Tibetanen en het herstel van de stabiliteit in Tibet aanpakken. De enige manier om de Tibetaanse kwestie op te lossen en te zorgen voor duurzame vrede is door eerbiediging van de rechten van het Tibetaanse volk en door middel van dialoog. Voor iemand met een diepe toewijding aan een vreedzame dialoog, is het gebruik van geweld tegen Tibetanen onaanvaardbaar. Dit moet bovendien scherp worden veroordeeld door alle mensen in China en over de hele wereld. Ik roep de internationale gemeenschap op om solidariteit te tonen en om op dit kritieke moment uw stem te verheffen ter ondersteuning van de fundamentele rechten van het Tibetaanse volk. Ik verzoek dat de internationale gemeenschap en de Verenigde Naties een fact-finding delegatie naar Tibet sturen en ook dat de wereldpers toegang krijgen tot de regio. De leiders in Peking moeten beseffen dat het doden van hun eigen 'familieleden' een duidelijke schending van internationale en Chinese wetten is, en dat zulke acties nog meer twijfel zullen doen rijzen over de morele legitimiteit van China en hun aanzien in de wereld. Ik wil mijn geliefde broeders en zusters in Tibet vertellen, dat we jullie noodkreten luid en duidelijk horen. Wij verzoeken jullie dringend niet te wanhopen en je te onthouden van drastische maatregelen. We voelen jullie pijn en zullen niet toestaan dat de offers die jullie hebben gebracht tevergeefs zijn geweest. Jullie allen zijn elke en iedere dag in ons hart en onze gebeden. Aan mijn mede-Tibetanen wil ik verzoeken geen Losar (Tibetaans Nieuwjaar), dat valt op 22 februari van dit jaar, te vieren. Echter, wees zo goed om de gebruikelijke religieuze rituelen in acht te nemen, zoals het naar tempel gaan, het branden van wierook en het doen van traditionele offergave. Om onze solidariteit met Tibetanen in Tibet te tonen, dring ik er bij Tibetanen en onze vrienden over de hele wereld op aan om deel te nemen aan een wereldwijde wake op woensdag 8 februari 2012. Laten we een luide en duidelijke boodschap sturen naar de Chinese overheid, dat geweld en het doden van onschuldige Tibetanen onacceptabel is! Ik verzoek iedereen om deze wakes op vreedzame wijze te voeren, overeenkomstig de wetten van jullie land, en met waardigheid. Einde verklaring. Statement by Kalon Tripa Dr. Lobsang Sangay on the recent killings of Tibetans by the P. R. China’s government From Students for a free Tibet 4 feb 2012. Coordinator Mundgod Tenzin. Mr.Tendor, director of Students for a free Tibet, Tibetan Mr.Tendor, director of Students for a free Tibet,English Tendor La, speaks about the next Chinese dictator, (after Hu Jintao)is going to visit Obama. As friends of Tibet, we support the attention against the continuous atrocities, and allegations to The Tibetan people inside Tibet. Zoals gevreesd werden vele Tibetanen, die deelnamen aan de Kalachakra festiviteiten in Bodhgaya India +300.000 pelgrims, opgewacht op verschillende posten op de terugweg naar huis in Tibet, door Chinese autoriteiten, en afgevoerd naar onbekende locaties. Niemand weet wat er met hen gebeurde, en het ergste wordt gevreesd. Er zijn nu al getuigenissen van zware mishandelingen. Phayul[Tuesday, January 31, 2012] Dram (Ch:Zhangmu)het is de laatste 60 jaar de Chinese gewoonte van de traditionele Tibetaanse namen te herschrijven zoals hun geschiedenis herschreven word. bridge at the Nepal-Tibet border DHARAMSHALA, January 31: Hundreds of Tibetan pilgrims returning to Tibet from Nepal have been arrested by Chinese security personnel and forcibly taken to an undisclosed location. Citing sources from inside Tibet, the Dharamshala based Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) said that the detained pilgrims were whisked away in a train bound for China. “At around 10 am (Tibet time) January 31, Chinese security forces surrounded those Tibetans at the railway station in Tibet’s capital Lhasa and then put them in a train bound for China,” CTA said. There were earlier reports that many Tibetans returning from pilgrimage in Nepal and India had gone missing and were yet to arrive at their homes. CTA further said that the arrested Tibetans will face interrogation at an unknown location. China has specially set up 12 security checkpoints from the town of Dram (Ch:Zhangmu) at the Nepal-Tibet border all the way to Tibet’s capital Lhasa. The checkpoints manned by Public Security Bureau officials were placed to scrutinise and investigate Tibetan pilgrims returning back from Indian and Nepal. A Tibetan from Tibet had earlier told Phayul that the pilgrims were being “stopped, harassed and threatened at gun point.” In an earlier report the CTA had said that Chinese security officials were “forcefully confiscating medicines and religious artefacts being carried by the pilgrims” including even rosaries which are carried by almost every Tibetan. Adding to the fears of arrest and interrogations at the special security checkpoints, China has already announced plans of once again shutting down Tibet from the outside world. The duration of the ban, from mid-February to late March, encompasses two important events; the Tibetan New Year from February 22-24 and the Tibetan national uprising day commemorated on March 10. As of now, there are no further details are available on the current whereabouts and well being of the arrested Tibetans. China cracks down on unrest ahead of Tibetan holiday 30 january 2012 De Lokale Tibetanen en Tibetaanse monniken zijn radeloos, ze hebben helemaal geen vrijheid, en durven niet spreken, dit in de Tibetaanse provincie Kham nabij de andere Tibetaanse provincie Amdo TCB will hold a major and mass prayer session for our brothers and sisters who self immolated and those brave people who were shot and killed during an ongoing protest against the Chinese brutal treatment on Chinese new year. So dear brothers and sisters (all over from Belgium) let us mourn and pray together for the departed souls. Venue: Schoten gompa (kruispadstraat 33-2900 Schoten). Day: Saturday. Date:04/02/2012. Time: 1pm to 4pm. For further information visit our website www.tibetan.be. 26 January 2012, tibet.net As Chinese everywhere were celebrating the first couple of days of the Year of Dragon on January 23rd and 24th, 2012. Chinese police fired indiscriminately on hundreds of Tibetans who had gathered peacefully to claim their basic rights in Drakgo, Serthar, Ngaba, Gyarong, and other neighboring Tibetan areas. Six Tibetans were reportedly killed and around sixty injured, some critically. Because of gruesome acts such as these and the systematic repression of Tibetans, the resentment and anger amongst Tibetans against Chinese government has only grown since the massive uprising of 2008. Ever since the invasion of Tibet, the Chinese government has claimed that it seeks to create a socialist paradise. However, basic human rights are being denied to Tibetans, the fragile environment is being destroyed, Tibetan language and culture is being assimilated, portraits of His Holiness the Dalai Lama are banned, and Tibetans are being economically marginalized. Tibet is in virtual lockdown. Foreigners have been barred from travelling to Tibet now and the entire region is essentially under undeclared martial law. I urge the Chinese leadership to heed the cries of the Tibetan protestors and those who have committed self-immolation. You will never address the genuine grievances of Tibetans and restore stability in Tibet through violence and killing. The only way to resolve the Tibet issue and bring about lasting peace is by respecting the rights of the Tibetan people and through dialogue. As someone deeply committed to peaceful dialogue, the use of violence against Tibetans is unacceptable and must be strongly condemned by all people in China and around the world. I call on the international community to show solidarity and to raise your voices in support of the fundamental rights of the Tibetan people at this critical time. I request that the international community and the United Nations send a fact-finding delegation to Tibet and that the world media be given access to the region as well. The leaders in Beijing must know that killing its own “family members” is in clear violation of international and Chinese laws, and such actions will cast further doubts on China’s moral legitimacy and their standing in world affairs. I want to tell my dear brothers and sisters inside Tibet that we hear your cries loud and clear. We urge you not to despair and refrain from extreme measures. We feel your pain and will not allow the sacrifices you have made go in vain. You all are in our heart and prayers each and every day. To my fellow Tibetans, I request you not to celebrate Losar (Tibetan New Year), which falls on February 22 this year. However, please observe the basic customary religious rituals such as burning incense, going to temple and making traditional offerings. To demonstrate our solidarity with Tibetans in Tibet, I urge Tibetans and our friends around the world, to participate in a worldwide vigil on Wednesday, February 8, 2012. Let’s send a loud and clear message to the Chinese government that violence and killing of innocent Tibetans is unacceptable! I request everyone to conduct these vigils peacefully, in accordance with the laws of your country, and with dignity. A video message of this statement is available with the following link: www.tibetonline.tv. Uprising in East Tibet left 6 killed, scores wounded The Tibet express 23 jan 2012 Tibet: my country, Dalai lama our precious leader! Therefore you get shot, and your parents have to pay for the bullit although this is street theatre, this is happening dayly inside Tibet Brasschaat, 23-01-2012 De Vrienden van Tibet ondertekenen mee de verklaring van het International Tibet Network. International Tibet Network Members' Statement, 23 January 2012 Global Tibet Movement Condemns China's Escalating Crackdown after Tibetans shot and beaten in eastern Tibet Vows to Intensify Efforts for Multilateral Pressure on China as Tibetans continue to Self-immolate for Freedom The 185 Tibet advocacy organizations that form the International Tibet Network (1) strongly condemn China's policies and continued crackdown in Tibet that have provoked an unprecedented wave of self-immolations by Tibetan monks, nuns and laypeople. Each individual who has carried out the act of self-immolation has demanded freedom for Tibet and the return of the Dalai Lama. We vow to intensify our efforts in support of Tibetans inside Tibet and call on world governments, international institutions, and the global community to pressure China to address Tibetan grievances before more lives are lost. On 23 January Tibetans in Drango, Kardze, eastern Tibet began demonstrating, possibly following the arrests of Tibetans suspected of distributing political leaflets around the area. Chinese security forces opened fire as large numbers of Tibetans marched towards a government office. A Tibetan named Yonten is reported to have been killed and a number of others injured (2). These events follow an incident in Ngaba (Sichuan Province) on 14 January, when Chinese security forces severely injured two Tibetans through beatings, and shot at least two others after layman Lobsang Jamyang self-immolated. Tibetans became distressed and angry after witnessing Chinese police beating Lobsang Jamyang; they began to protest and attempted to reclaim the dying man, but police beat and opened fire on some in the crowd. There have been unconfirmed reports that a woman was killed and - as in Drango - those injured are apparently not seeking medical help for fear of arrest (3). To date there have been 17 self-immolations in eastern Tibet (4); four since 6 January 2012. At least 12 of these self-immolations have been fatal. One of these, 42-year old respected monk Lama Sopa who set light to himself and died on 8 January, left behind a tape-recording in which he paid his respects to those who had self-immolated before him. He said, “Tibet’s future as a glorious country depends on the efforts of these heroes and heroines and all of you united as one”. He offered his life for the “well-being of Tibet’s six million people and especially of all high lamas, headed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama” (5). At least two other Tibetans have been killed as a result of China’s security response (6). There have been numerous detentions and arrests in connection to the self-immolations. In Ngaba, three monks were charged in connection to the March 2011 self-immolation of a fellow monk from Kirti monastery, and received prison sentences of between 10 and 13 years (7). The self-immolations have so far been centered in eastern Tibet (8), areas that since demonstrations occurred across the Tibetan plateau in 2008 have been flooded with armed troops and virtually closed off from the world. Many monasteries have been all but shut down and Tibetans are routinely harassed by the authorities in the streets, in their workplaces and in their homes. The region has also seen a surge in other forms of protest. The scale of this crisis and China's unwillingness to acknowledge international concern warrants a strong international response. The worldwide membership of the International Tibet Network condemns China’s flagrant disregard for fundamental human rights and its cruel and systematic assault on the Tibetan people. We urge all governments to: i. publicly condemn China’s use of force against unarmed Tibetan protestors, and ii. urge China to cease all extralegal actions and policies that are contributing to the tensions, unrest and self-immolations in Tibet, and to respond positively to the calls of Tibetans for freedom and the return of the Dalai Lama. We further urge governments to vigorously pursue actions in appropriate international forums that will focus the attention of the government of the People’s Republic of China on the severity of the situation in Tibet and on the legitimate concern of the international community that Tibetans enjoy the rights and freedoms enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international covenants to which China is a party. Notes 1. The International Tibet Network is a global coalition of 185 Tibet related non-governmental organizations, which works to maximise the effectiveness of the worldwide Tibet movement. In response to this crisis, Network Members have been lobbying governments and parliaments, taking part in Global Days of Action to raise public awareness and, working in partnership with Avaaz, generating the support of hundreds of thousands of people. See Stand Up for Tibet. 2. For more information see reports by Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy and Free Tibet. 3. For more information see reports by the International Campaign for Tibet (14/16 January and 18 January). The status of those injured and the timing of Lobsang Jamyang’s death are details which are not currently possible to confirm absolutely. 4. There have been 16 self-immolations in eastern Tibet since March 2011, in addition to one in February 2009. Details of each case and a map showing the locations of these self-immolations can be found at http://standupfortibet.org/further-information/. 5. See report by Radio Free Asia to whom the tape was sent. 6. Two elderly Tibetans died after being beaten by security personnel as they tried to prevent over 300 monks in Kirti Monastery, Ngaba, from being taken away in April 2011. There are unconfirmed reports that a woman died as a result of police action in Ngaba on 14 January 2012 - a woman named Choki Dawa is said to be in a critical condition (see 2). In April 2011 the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy reported that a 24-year old Tibetan man, Chukpel, had died of his injuries after being beaten severely by police after he protested outside a local police station in the Ngaba area. 7. The three monks were sentenced in August 2011. One of those was the uncle of the monk Phuntsok who self-immolated and died in March 2011. There is no evidence they had any involvement in Phuntsok’s death. 8. All the self-immolations to date have taken place in the Tibetan regions of Amdo and Kham, which are today part of China's Sichuan and Qinghai Provinces and extend into the Tibet Autonomous Region. See map at http://standupfortibet.org/further-information/. SIGNED A.C.T. Tibet Support Group Aide aux Refugies Tibetains Amigos del Tibet, El Salvafor Anterrashtriya Bharat - Tibbet Sahyog Samiti Asociacion Cultural Peruano Tibetana Asociacion Cultural Tibetano - Costarricense Association Cognizance Tibet, North Carolina Association Dorje Association Drôme Ardèche-Tibet Association of Free Tibet Association Rencontres Tibetaines - C.S.P.T. Midi-Pyrenees Associazione Italia-Tibet Australia Tibet Council Australian Tibet House Inc. Austrian Committee for Tibet Autodétermination-Tibet 09/31 Bay Area Friends of Tibet Bharrat Tibbat Sahyog Manch, India Boston Tibet Network Briancon05 Urgence Tibet Caisse d'Aide aux Prisonniers Tibetains Canada Tibet Committee Casa del Tibet - Spain Casa Tibet Mexico Centro De Cultura Tibetana Circle of Friends (Philippines) Colorado Friends of Tibet Comite de Apoyo al Tibet (CAT) Comite de Soutien au Peuple Tibetain (Les Lilas) Committee of 100 for Tibet Core Group for Tibetan Cause, India Corse - Tibet CTC - Calgary Dhokam Chushi Gangdruk Eco-Tibet France Eco-Tibet Ireland Fair Society o.s. Foundation for Universal Responsibility France-Tibet Free Tibet Friends of Tibet - Isamailia (Egypt) Friends of Tibet in Costa Rica Friends of Tibet in Finland Friends of Tibet New Zealand Friends of Tibet Slovakia Friends of Tibet Society St. Petersburg, Russia Fundacion Pro Tibet Gannasamannay Groupe Non-Violent Louis Lecoin, France Grupo de Apoio ao Tibete, Portugal Grupo De Apoyo a Tibet Chile Grupo Pro-Cultura Tibetana, Chile Gu-Chu-Sum Movement of Tibet Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights - Tibet Desk Himalayan Committee for Action on Tibet India Tibet Friendship Society International Campaign for Tibet International Campaign for Tibet Deutschland International Campaign for Tibet Europe International Society of Human Rights, Munich Chapter (IGFM) International Tibet Independence Movement International Youth Human Rights Group - Human Rights in Tibet Israeli Friends of the Tibetan People Jamtse Thundel Association Japan Association of Monks for Tibet Japan Committee of 100 for TIbet La Porte du Tibet, Geneva Le Club Francais Les Amis du Tibet - Belgium Les Amis du Tibet - Luxembourg Lions Des Neiges Mont Blance, France Lithuanian Tibet Culture Foundation Los Angeles Friends of Tibet Lung-Ta Project Mahatma Gandhi Tibet Freedom Movement Maison des Himalayas Maison du Tibet - Tibet Info National Campaign for Tibetan Support, India National Democratic Party of Tibet Nice Tibet Northwest Tibetan Cultural Association Nos Amis de l'Himalaya Ns3 Rigpa Community Builder’s Foundation Objectif Tibet Passeport Tibetain Pensando En Tibet - Mexico Phagma Drolma-Arya Tara Polish Movement for a Free Tibet Raise Tibetan Flag Campaign Reseau International des Femmes pour le Tibet Roof of the World Foundation, Indonesia Sakya Trinley Ling San Diego Friends of Tibet Santa Barbara Friends of Tibet Save Tibet, Austria Save Tibet Foundation Sierra Friends of Tibet Society for Croatia-Tibet Friendship Society for Threatened Peoples International Solidarite Tibet South African Friends of Tibet Students for a Free Tibet Students for a Free Tibet - Bangladesh Students for a Free Tibet - France Students for a Free Tibet - India Students for a Free Tibet - Japan Students for a Free Tibet - UK Students for a Free Tibet – Canada Students for a Free Tibet New Zealand Students for a Free Tibet, Poland Swedish Tibet Committee Swiss Tibetan Friendship Association (GSTF) Taiwan Friends of Tibet Taiwan Tibet Exchange Foundation The Foundation for Civil Society, Russia The Norwegian Tibet Committee The Tibetan Alliance of Chicago The World Tibet Day Foundation The Youth Liberation Front of Tibet, Mongolia and Turkestan Tibet 59 / 62 Tibet Action Group of Western Australia Tibet cesky (Tibet in Czech) Tibet Committee of Fairbanks Tibet Democratie Tibet Group-Panama Tibet Initiative Deutschland Tibet Justice Center Tibet Languedoc Tibet Liberte Solidarite Tibet Libertes, France Tibet Lives, India Tíbet Patria Libre, Uruguay Tibet Society, U.K. Tibet Solidarity Forum, Bangladesh Tibet Support Association - Hungary Tibet Support Committee Denmark Tibet Support Group - Ireland Tibet Support Group - Krasnodar Region, Russia Tibet Support Group - Netherlands Tibet Support Group - Romania Tibet Support Group - Sochi Region, Russia Tibet Support Group Adelaide - Australia Tibet Support Group Kenya Tibet Support Group Kiku, Japan Tibet Support Network Japan Tibet Unterstutzung Liechtenstein Tibetan Association of Germany Tibetan Association of Ithaca Tibetan Association of Northern California Tibetan Association of Philadephia Tibetan Association of Santa Fe Tibetan Association of Southern California Tibetan Buddhist Center (Singapore) Tibetan Community Austria Tibetan Community in Britain Tibetan Community in Denmark Tibetan Community in Ireland Tibetan Community in Poland Tibetan Community of Australia (Victoria) Tibetan Community of Italy Tibetan Community Sweden Tibetan Cultural Association - Quebec Tibetan Parliamentary and Policy Research Centre Tibetan Programme of The Other Space Foundation Tibetan Rights and Freedom Committee Tibetan Student Association, Madras (TSAM) Tibetan Women's Association Tibetan Women's Association and Friends Australia Tibetan Youth Association in Europe Tibetan Youth Congress Tibetan Youth UK Tibetisches Zentrum Hamburg TIBETmichigan Tibets Kinder im Exile V. Toronto Tibet Youth Congress TSG - Slovenia (Formally Foundation Dharmaling) TSG Free Tibet And You Tsowa-Maintenir la Vie, France U.S. Tibet Committee Union Latvija Tibetai (Latvia for Tibet ) United Nations for a Free Tibet (UNFFT) Vrienden Van Tibet Western Colorado Friends of Tibet Wisconsin Tibetan Association Zida Cels, Latvia Monks jailed for refusing to denounce the Dalai Lama Phayul[Thursday, January 19, 2012 By Tendar Tsering waarschuwing: zeer harde beelden van extreme martelingen door Chinese (geheime politie-knokploegen?). Absoluut niet bekijken als je gevoelig bent Dit is wat Tibetanen dagelijks ondergaan de laatste 60 jaar, in Tibet. ICT,VVT,RTYC, Chugang and TCB have organized a demonstration in front of Chinese embassy on 19.01.2012 Brussels(thursday)from 3pm to 5pm to show our solidarity to our brothers and sisters who self immolated for our nation's just cause. Please do come to show your solidarity and your support. And please forward this message to all your friends. Rtyc Belgium, organizes a protest in Brussels, for the ongoing atrocities in Tibet, the recent self immolations, and brutal crack down, and shooting of innocent kids, woman and monks. No need to say that Vrienden van Tibet strongly supports all activities against Chinese communist atrocities, torture, poisoning, and disapearing of Tibetans in Tibet. GROUP URGES CHINA RESTRAINT AMID TIBET UNREST AFP January 15, 2012, China forces 'fire' into crowd of Tibetans By EDWARD WONG | www.telegraphindia.com, jan 15, 2012 China Forces Are Reported to Have Shot at Tibetans Sunday, January 15, 2012 By EDWARD WONG, The New York Times US raises serious concern as Tibetan Parliament calls for increased international pressure on China following self-immolations Phayul[Thursday, January 12, 2012 China cranks up blame game, Warns US over interference Phayul[Thursday, January 12, 2012 Tibet is burning – Third self-immolation in three days Phayul[Monday, January 09, 2012 ICT-(International Campaign for Tibet) rapport In een Tibetaans gebied binnen de provincie Qinghai, zo melden Tibetaanse bronnen in ballingschap, hielden Tibetanen een wake naar aanleiding van de zelfverbranding op 8 januari van de Tibetaan Sonam Wangyal. Er wordt aangenomen dat hij een gereïncarneerde lama is. Op vrijdag (6 januari) verbranden twee Tibetanen zichzelf in Ngaba (Chinees: Aba), wat bevestigd werd door Xinhua, de Chinese staatsmedia. Volgens informatie van Tibetaanse bronnen in ballingschap, staken de twee Tibetanen, Tsultrim en Tennyi, beiden ongeveer 20 jaar oud, zichzelf in brand op de binnenplaats van een hotel in het centrum van de stad Ngaba. Zij renden de straat op terwijl zij riepen: "Zijne Heiligheid de Dalai Lama moet terugkeren naar Tibet "en" Moge Zijne Heiligheid de Dalai Lama tienduizend jaar leven!". Tennyi, die naar veronderstelling een monnik uit het Kirti klooster is, is op de dag zelf overleden. Tsultrim, een leek, die mogelijk een voormalige monnik in Kirti was, overleed volgens deze zelfde bronnen de dag daarna, op 7 januari. In een hiervan losstaande gebeurtenis is een ex-monnik, genaamd Norbu Damdrul, die zichzelf op 15 oktober 2011 verbrandde, op 5 januari overleden in een ziekenhuis in Barkham (Chinees: Maerkang) County, Ngaba, volgens Tibetaanse bronnen in ballingschap. Omstanders zagen hoe de negentienjarige Norbu Damdrul door de politie werd geschopt, nadat de vlammen rond zijn lichaam waren gedoofd. Hij was echter nog in leven toen hij van de plaats van handeling werd weggevoerd. Sinds zijn protest vorig jaar was zijn verblijfplaats onbekend. Een gerespecteerd religieus figuur verbrandt zichzelf Sonam Wangyal, een in zijn omgeving gerespecteerd religieuze figuur, dronk kerosine en zette zichzelf in de ochtend van 8 januari in brand in Darlag county, Golog (Chinees: Guoluo) Tibetaanse Autonome Prefectuur, provincie Qinghai (het Tibetaanse gebied Amdo). Hij stierf kort daarna. De zelfverbranding in Golog vergroot in aanzienlijk mate de geografische spreiding van de Tibetaanse zelfverbrandingen in Qinghai, Sichuan en de Tibetaanse Autonome Regio (zie Zelfverbranding Feitenblad: zie onder 1). Een bron uit Tibet, die sprak tijdens de Tibetaanse taal-service van Radio Free Asia (RFA), melde het volgende: "Voordat hij zichzelf rond zes in brand uur zette, dronk en gooide hij kerosine over zijn hele lichaam. Zijn lichaam ontplofte in stukken en (de lichamelijke resten werden) meegenomen door de politie" (RFA, 08 januari 2012, zie link onder 2). RFA berichtte verder dat voordat Sonam Wangyal zichzelf in brand zette, hij een nabijgelegen heuvel beklom om wierook te branden en te bidden. Daarna verspreidde hij folders terwijl hij zei dat hij “niet voor zijn eigen glorie” zou handelen, “maar voor Tibet en het geluk van de Tibetanen." Details omtrent de plaatselijke reactie op de zelfverbranding zijn onduidelijk. De Tibetaanse regering in ballingschap in Dharamsala, India, meldde dat honderden plaatselijke Tibetanen een wake bij kaarslicht hielden en de autoriteiten aanspoorden om zijn lichaam vrij te geven. De Tibetaanse regering in ballingschap zei dat de “lokale politie door hiermee in te stemmen, verdere spanningen afwendden.” (Centrale Tibetaanse Administratie, 09 januari 2012, zie link onder 3). Een bron vertelde aan RFA dat Tibetanen naar het politiebureau waren gemarcheerd om met kracht vrijgave van het lichaam te eisen. (RFA, 08 januari 2012, zie eveneens link onder 2). Twee voormalige Kirti monniken sterven na zelfverbrandingen Het Chinese staatspersbureau Xinhua bevestigt dat op vrijdag (6 januari) twee zelfverbrandingen door voormalige monniken hebben plaatsgevonden in Ngaba Tibetaanse en Qiang Autonome Prefectuur, provincie Sichuan (het Tibetaanse gebied Amdo). Xinhua berichtte op 8 januari: "Een 22-jarige man zichzelf in brand stak rond 13:00 op een kruispunt in de provincie Aba in de Aba Tibetan-Qiang Autonome Prefectuur. De politie haastte zich om het vuur te doven en stuurde hem naar een lokaal ziekenhuis, aldus een woordvoerder van de provinciale regering. Een andere man, die werd geïdentificeerd als 18-jarige, stierf later door zelfverbranding in een hotelkamer niet ver van het kruispunt." Het Xinhua rapport weerspiegelt het officiële Chinese beleid om de Tibetanen in diskrediet brengen die zelfverbrandingen uitvoeren en de aandacht van het overheidsbeleid. Hiervoor werd een Tibetoloog van het Sichuan Tibetology Research Center aangehaald, die zei dat de recente zelfverbrandingen waren uitgevoerd door "mensen die al eerder waren gestraft voor wandaden, zoals hoerenloperij, gokken en inbraak, of diep in de schulden zaten als gevolg van gokken." (Xinhua, 08 januari 2012, zie link 4). Tsering Jampa, Directeur van International Campaign for Tibet Europe, zei: "Dit diep verontrustende nieuws uit Tibet moet de internationale gemeenschap wakker schudden, die in zulke extreme gevallen een verplichting heeft om de Chinese regering te dwingen de grieven aan te pakken die er de oorzaak van zijn dat zo veel Tibetanen zich van het leven beroven." Self-immolation Dear supporters and friends, Today I would like to share how sad I feel about how many Tibetans have set themselves on fire. How desperate must you be to commit such an horrific act? Most of the people who self -immolated were young and they had most of their life still in front of them; since the Buddhist teachings always emphasise how fortunate we are to have a human life and how hard it is to be reborn as a human being, to choose to commit suicide in such a painful, violent fashion really speaks volumes. Evidently, life in Tibet is not as pleasant and free as many would have the West believe. If the living conditions there were remotely adequate, would anyone set himself on fire? This has to be one of the most painful ways to die imaginable. The demands that are not allowed to be voiced are simple in themselves: freedom of speech and the return of the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama is central to Tibetans’ lives; he is not only a spiritual leader but many see him as the kind, loving father of the nation. He is inextricably linked to Tibetan identity and while older people wish to see him again before they die, the younger generation wants to see him in the flesh. Life in Tibet without the presence of the Dalai Lama is meaningless. He is the modern day Spartacus of an enslaved nation. As Tibetans have no freedom of speech, they have no choice but to commit desperate acts in order to be heard. This is body language in its most extreme form. There is almost no way for a Tibetan living in Tibet to contact the outside world. They cannot express an opinion or a request, such an action would lead to arrest, torture or death. The whole family would be under surveillance for years to come. Monks and nuns, who do not have spouses or children, are better placed to speak out but since monasteries are very closely watched, how could anyone reach out to a willing ear? Besides, the lack of education only makes matters more difficult. How could a villager contact Reuters news agency, a foreign embassy, the UN or any other organisation? The deteriorating situation in Tibet is a stark reminder that there is so much work to be done in order to achieve reasonable living conditions there; educating the population is one of the most important ways to lift them out of despair. 16 Tibetans have self-immolated since February 27, 2009 15 of the self-immolations have occurred since March 16, 2011 I feel useless, how can I help them? I am Tibetan and I live in the free world but what can I do? I really appreciate your concern about Tibet and your support. Please feel free to share the above information with friends and family. Thank you Sincerely Jigmey ( Jigmey is a Tibetan living in Belgium, and does great job for Tibetans inside Tibet, specially in building schools for Tibetan children. he has also a website, called REWA: meaning hope) Angry Tibetans Parade Corpse 2012-01-08 Protesters in a Chinese province force police to return the remains of a monk who self-immolated and died. RFA Sopa, a respected monk, died after setting himself on fire in Darlag, a Tibetan area of Qinghai province, on Jan. 8, 2012. Hundreds of angry Tibetans forced Chinese authorities on Sunday to return the body of a monk who self-immolated, parading the corpse in the streets in China's western Qinghai province, witnesses said. Sopa, a respected 42-year-old monk, set himself on fire and died in front of the police station of Darlag (in Chinese, Dari) county in Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture after shouting slogans calling for Tibet's freedom and the long life of Tibet's spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, they said. It was the 15th Tibetan self-immolation since March last year, with Chinese security forces pouring into Darlag amid indications that thousands of Tibetans are planning to turn up for a memorial service this week for Sopa at a monastery where he had served. Sopa, who ran a home for the elderly and an orphanage in Darlag, was a Rinpoche, an honorific used in Tibetan Buddhism for lamas and other high-ranking or respected teachers. He is believed to be the most senior monk to have self-immolated so far. Before setting himself ablaze, he climbed a local hill, burned incense, prayed, and then distributed several leaflets in which he wrote that he was performing the deadly act "not for his personal glory but for Tibet and the happiness of Tibetans," a source from inside Tibet told RFA. "The Tibetans should not lose their determination. The day of happiness will come for sure. For the Dalai Lama to live long, the Tibetans should not lose track of their path," Sopa wrote, according to the source. Dressed in the yellow outer gown of an ordained monk, he set himself alight at around 6 a.m. after he "drank and threw kerosene all over his body." "His body exploded in pieces [and the remains were] taken away by police," the source said. Several hundred Tibetans marched to the police station to demand his remains, and when their request was denied, "the protesters smashed windows and doors of the local police station," another source said. When the police finally relented and handed over Sopa's remains, the protesters paraded the body in the streets, sources said. "Only the head and chest parts [of the body] are intact, the rest were in pieces when Tibetans received the remains from the police," a third source said. High-ranking lama Chinese authorities tightened security in Darlag, deploying additional security forces from the main town of Golog, as posters praising Sopa's act and calling for a boycott of Chinese goods appeared in the county. "Sopa Rinpoche has done this act for the freedom and peace of Tibet," one poster said. Sources said Tibetans planned to organized a large prayer session comprising about 2,000 people at Sopa's monastery. "Now it's difficult to reach the Darlag area by phone," a source said. Sopa's death came after two Tibetan monks set themselves on fire Friday in restive Ngaba (in Chinese, Aba) prefecture in China's Sichuan province, protesting against Chinese rule and calling for the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet. The two from the troubled Kirti monastery, identified as Tenyi and Tsultrim, are believed to have died, a Tibetan said in an email to RFA, adding that the authorities have not handed over their bodies to their next of kin. Rights groups say the unending self-immolations underscore the "desperate" situation facing Tibetans as Chinese authorities pursue a security clampdown. “These latest self-immolations confirm that what we are currently witnessing in Tibet is a sustained and profound rejection of the Chinese occupation," Free Tibet Director Stephanie Brigden said, before the Darlag incident on Sunday. “It is a damning indictment of the international community that 14 people, in different parts of Tibet, have now chosen to set themselves on fire, and the international community has failed to respond." “We can only expect that such acts of protest will continue for as long as world leaders turn a blind eye to the desperate situation in Tibet," she said. Kalachakra The latest self-immolations came as tens of thousands of Buddhist pilgrims from around the world traveled this week to Bodhgaya, a town in northern India, to hear the Dalai Lama give the "Kalachakra" religious teachings. Sopa had wanted to attend the event but the Chinese authorities refused to provide him a visa. At least 9,000 Tibetans traveling on Chinese passports, along with an estimated 1,200 Chinese Buddhists from the mainland, are among those who have registered with event authorities. Tensions in the Tibet Autonomous Region and in Tibetan-populated areas in China's provinces have not subsided since anti-China protests swept through the Tibetan Plateau in March 2008. Chinese authorities have blamed the Dalai Lama for the tense situation, saying he is encouraging the self-immolations, which run contrary to Buddhist teachings. But the Dalai Lama shot back, blaming China's "ruthless and illogical" policy toward Tibet. He called on the Chinese government to change its "repressive" policies in Tibet, citing the crackdown on monasteries and policies curtailing the use of the Tibetan language. Reported by Dolkar, Chakmo Tso and Taklha Gyal for RFA's Tibetan service. Translated by Karma Dorjee and Rigdhen Dolma. Written in English by Parameswaran Ponnudurai and Rachel Vandenbrink. Ngaba falls into deeper turmoil; Another self-immolation and shootouts reported Phayul[Saturday, January 14, 2012 22:15] DHARAMSHALA, January 14: In reports coming out of Tibet, a self-immolation by a Tibetan layman earlier today in Ngaba, eastern Tibet, has triggered a mass demonstration resulting in the death of one woman due to bullet wounds. The self-immolation, the 16th since March last year, occurred at around 1.30 pm Tibet time in the distraught Ngaba region. Currently, there are not many details available on the Tibetan man but he is believed to be dead. According to reports, Chinese security personnel arrived at the scene of the self-immolation and severely beat the Tibetan layman while putting off the flame. As the Chinese security personnel started to take away the man, who was believed to be dead by then, local Tibetans angered with the Chinese authorities, reportedly gathered at the site and demanded the body to be handed over to them. In the ensuing impromptu mass protest, Chinese security personnel fired on the crowd and used teargas. One elderly Tibetan woman has been confirmed dead as result of the firing. However, other sources indicate that the number of dead could be much more. In a release, Free Tibet quoted an eyewitness as describing the situation as “terrifying” and that people were being “beaten” while “numerous people have been detained”. The Dharamshala based Central Tibetan Administration in a release today condemned the “use of violence against civilians” and appealed the international community to “intervene so as to restrain the Chinese government from further use of violence”. “The People’s Republic of China’s government must take full responsibility for these cases of self-immolation. It is within its power to end these unfortunate incidents by adopting liberal policies for Tibet and Tibetan people,” the CTA said. The Ngaba region in Tibet, seat of the besieged Kirti monastery has seen 11 Tibetans – monks, nuns, and laymen – set their bodies on fire since March last year. This year alone, four Tibetans have died after setting themselves ablaze protesting China’s continued occupation of Tibet and demanding the return of the Dalai Lama from exile. His Holiness the Dalai Lama receives the Mahatma Gandhi International Award for Reconciliation and Peace from Ela Gandhi, the granddaughter Mahatma Gandhi, in Bodh Gaya, India, on January 4, 2011. Photo/Tenzin Choejor/OHHDL Representing the Gandhi Development Trust in Durban, South Africa, Ela Gandhi, grand daughter of Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the Indian nation, personally presented the award to the Tibetan spiritual leader." Live Webcasts: Kalachakra Teaching - English Language There will be live webcasts from the Kalachakra Teaching in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, from January 1-10, 2012. His Holiness the Dalai Lama will speak in Tibetan with English translation available. Schedule - All times Indian Standard Time (GMT+5.30) January 1: Short Teaching His Holiness will give a short teaching. Time: 1:00pm - 3:00pm January 4-6: Preliminary Teachings His Holiness will give preliminary teachings on Kamalashila's "The Middling States of Meditation (gomrim barpa)", Gyalsey Thokme Sangpo's "37 Practices of A Boddhisattva (laklen sodunma)", Geshe Langri Thangpa's "Eight Verses of Training the Mind (lojong tsik gyema)", Nagarjuna's "The Praise to the World Transcendent (jigten ley deypar toepa)" and Khunu Lama Tenzin Gyaltsen's "The Precious Lamp in Praise of Bodhicitta (jangchup sem kyi toepa rinchen drolma)". Times: 1:00pm - 3:30pm each day January 10: Long life empowerment and offering A long life empowerment (tsewang) and a ceremony offering prayers for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama will be performed. Time: 8:00am - 10:00am (approximate time) January 10: Ceremony honoring His Holiness the Dalai Lama Time: 2:00pm - 4:00pm For times in your region 1:00pm Indian Standard Time (IST) on January 1st in India is the same as 7:30am on January 1st in London, England. www.dalailama.com/live-english Lees onze prachtige nieuwsbrieven gratis t/m 5 Nieuws brief 1 Nieuws brief 2 Nieuws brief 3 Nieuws brief 4 Nieuws brief 5 Nieuwsbrief 6 is net uit en te verkrijgen aan 4 € (zie shop) Dechen Shak-Dagsay Concert Jewel Joyful heart through precious Tibetan Mantras Antwerpen 21 april 2012 De Vrienden van Tibet, en Het Soul Happenings team nodigt jullie uit voor opnieuw een hartverwarmend concert. In deze drukke tijden willen we jullie hiermee een baken van rust, harts-verbinding en "thuis komen" aanbieden. We hopen samen met jullie van deze avond te kunnen genieten.? The Soul Happenings team is inviting you for yet another heart-warming concert. In these hectic times, we want to offer you a haven of peace, heart-connection and "coming home". We are looking forward to having a wonderful evening with you all. Dechen Shak-Dagsay is een internationaal bekende Tibetaanse mantra zangeres die voor de tweede maal te Antwerpen in concert gaat. Zij zingt mantras over liefde, genezing, mededogen en vrede. Ze wordt daarbij begeleid door drie bezielde muzikanten. Dechen werkte mee aan de filmmuziek van Little Buddha van Bernardo Bertolucci. Samen met de popster Tina Turner en de operazangeres Regula Curti bracht ze de cd “Beyond” op de markt. Op vroege leeftijd was Dechen reeds gefascineerd door de traditionele Tibetaanse liederen en dansen. Omwille van de Chinese bezetting ontvluchtte zij, samen met haar familie, Tibet en verhuisde naar Zwitserland. Het gezin bekommert zich veel om het behoud van de Tibetaanse cultuur en steunt verschillende projecten in Tibet waaronder de Tsedon Clinicwww.tsedön.ch en the Tailoring school of Tehor Chokri. Grootgebracht in beide culturen, ziet ze het als haar taak de mensen in het Westen bewust te maken van de levenssituatie in Tibet. Dechen treedt regelmatig op voor de Dalai Lama, die net als zij de mensen in hun hart wil raken en met elkaar verbinden. Meer info vindt u op: www.dechen-shak.com www.arenbergschouwburg.be www.beyondsinging.com datum: 21 april 2012 locatie : Arenbergschouwburg te Antwerpen tickets: VVK 25€-29€-32€ ticket verkoop: soulhappynings@gmail.com - www.arenbergschouwburg.be - www.fnac.be Do you need help with the administrative side of life? We are all unpaid volunteers and we offer our services because we realize how hard it can be living in a new country. Most of our volunteers are Tibetans and have experience of those situations. If you need our help, click on this link Do you need help with? in Belgium Top