Het optreden van het zangkoor: Hei Pasoep in de Roma, De vrienden van Tibet, en de Tibetanen zijn u eeuwig dankbaar. An overview of the earthquake-hit township of Gyegu in China's northwestern province of Qinghai on April 19, 2010. (LIU JIN/AFP/Getty Images) Earthquake in Tibet, Leading Tibetan Intellectual “Shogdung” Detained in Xining 25 Apr 2010 ..Tibet Independence Activists Could be Shot in Earthquake Zone, 21 April khenpo pema choephel The monks and nuns who helped the Victims Of The Earthquake, are the true heroes! HELP DE SLACHTOFFERS VAN DE AARDBEVING IN TIBET ! sms DONATE TIBET naar 6033 om 1 € te schenken (EUR 0,50 per ontvangen en verzonden bericht,max. 1 bericht) Opbrengst gaat naar verschillende NGO's die actief zijn ter plaatse. Klik hier om een online donatie te doen of op onze rekening 068-2298045-45 van de "Vrienden van Tibet", Het IBAN-nummer is: BE44 0682 2980 4545 en de BIC-code: GKCCBEBB. van de "Vrienden van Tibet", met als mededeling Donatie Tibet Quake An Analysis of the CCP's Earthquake Response By Fang Xiao Epoch Times Staff Created: Apr 24, 2010 Professor Yuan Hongbing. (The Epoch Times) The Chinese authorities have rejected foreign aid and refused the request of the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of the Tibetans, to return to his hometown to comfort survivors. The deadly earthquake last week in Yushu Tibetan Prefecture of Qinghai Province in northwestern China has affected 100,000 people, leaving at least 2,064 dead and 12,000 injured. Professor Yuan Hongbin, a well-known liberal jurist and writer in exile, analyzed the situation from different perspectives in an interview with The Epoch Times. Economic exploitation foto:Ruo ya Professor Yuan said that the quake caused such serious casualties among the Tibetans because they still live in houses made of mud brick. They live in these houses even after the regime has ruled Tibet for over 60 years. Yuan believes the regime is exploiting Tibet’s natural resources. “During the past 60 years, the regime has taken an immeasurable amount of coal from the Qinghai area," he said. "The Tibetans don't know where the coal has been used. But from the information we've collected, the money made from coal has been spent on purchasing weapons for the military.” All the while, the Tibetans are living in primitive mud-brick houses. “This is solid proof of the regime's economic exploitation of the Tibetan areas,” he said. Fear of exposure Rescue teams lacked rescue equipment and relief supplies. Moreover, the rescue workers and their dogs suffered from altitude sickness which compromised their rescue efforts. The earthquake victims had to sleep on the streets without electricity, food, water, or tents. However, the authorities refused foreign aid groups and domestic volunteers from entering the area. Desperately needed help was turned away, and many opportunities to save more people were lost. Yuan said the reason the regime is so fearful of allowing outside rescue workers to enter the disaster area is that they are afraid of allowing the outside world to have direct contact with the Tibetans. “They are afraid that the outside world will find out the Tibetan's loyalty to their religious beliefs, their admiration of the Dalai Lama, and their anger toward the colonial rule of the Communist regime for the past 60 years," Yuan said. On April 17, the Dalai Lama’s request to visit the quake-stricken area was denied. His request to enter after the 2008 Sichuan earthquake that killed approximately 70,000 people was also rejected. Yuan commented: "The regime would like to continue implementing their policy of cultural genocide in Tibet. It is afraid that the Tibetans would start fighting harder for their freedom and fate after the Dalai Lama returned home." "Ever since the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) took power, it has been making every effort to destroy the traditional ethnic Han culture as well as other ethnic cultures.” He said its purpose is to turn China into a spiritual and cultural colony of Marxism-Leninism through the strategy of cultural genocide. In order to preserve the Tibetan culture, the Dalai Lama went into exile with 100,000 followers 50 years ago. Since then they have successfully rebuilt their culture and made the Tibetan Buddhist culture popular in the world for the first time. "The regime dreads and hates the Tibetan culture, especially the strong religious belief they have demonstrated over the past 60 years under the CCP’s rule," Yuan said. April 22, Lama Kunga is still waiting for his visa. He is sending is deep gratitide for your constant support. Now he knows for sure, that 8 members of his family have passed away. Four more are in hospital. That means, that they must be severely injured. Otherwise they would not have been brought to hospital. 2 small children are orphaned, while their mother died. More family members are still missing. Since 2 days Lama Kunga has had more contact to Yushu. And the news had been positiv throughout. He was reported, that monks and soldiers were working side by side and that only these 2 groups were allowed to work together at those collapsed houses, where nobody had survived - after the first 4 plunderers had been shot. Lama Kunga said, that Tibetans, while not having banks, use to keep their wealth in the house. The Lama heard, that the chin. president had given his promise to rebuild Yushu as beautiful, as it had been before, if not more beautiful. The same pook had been given for the Thrangu monastery. It was told, that China would give support "like rain" over the people. The only thing, the Tibetans did not understand, was the Chinese attempt to minimize the death toll rate, as it is according to the Tibetans. And now we got the following, worrying news from Gaby Hollmann and Adelheid Dönges: 22.04.10 (news from: Karma Thekchen Yi Ong Ling. Halscheid Retreat Centre) By ALEXA OLESEN, Associated Press Writer Alexa Olesen, Associated Press Writer – Wed Apr 21, BEIJING – Earthquake survivors say it was the Tibetan monks who helped first, bringing food, pitching tents and digging through rubble after disaster hit far western China a week ago, killing thousands. Now the Buddhist monks who responded first are being pushed out of the disaster area and off of state media — apparently sidelined by Beijing's unease with their heroism and influence. Monasteries were given verbal orders the last two days to recall their monks. Amid hours of coverage for China's national day of mourning on Wednesday, no monks were visible in the official proceedings. It was a jarring omission in light of their contributions to the weeklong rescue and relief effort following the quake, which killed 2,064 people and injured more than 12,000 others. Tsebtrim, an ethnic Tibetan who works as a translator in Yushu, the county in Qinghai province hit hardest by the April 14 quake, was among thousands left homeless. He recalls heading to the local horse racing grounds shortly after the earthquake with hundreds of others who heard it would be a safe place if the local dam broke. "There were these monks from Sichuan's Ganzi who had put up all these tents, 100 tents, in just a couple of hours and they provided drinks and food," said Tsebtrim, 31, who like many Tibetans goes by just one name. "That night, a lot of people didn't have a place to stay so I am really glad those monks showed up." In the days that followed, Tsebtrim saw monks digging through rubble for survivors or bodies, first alone and then with the help of Chinese soldiers. He also saw them handing out food and medicine. "It really impressed me a lot," he said during an interview from Yushu, where he is helping run an aid station. Chinese military officials said this week nearly all the roughly 12,000 soldiers who rushed to the quake area struggled with altitude sickness and many had trouble communicating with Tibetan survivors. Tibetan-speaking monks, many of whom live in high-altitude areas or frequently make pilgrimages to them, didn't have those problems. They flooded into Yushu within hours, on motorbikes and packed in the back of trucks. On Saturday, they held a cremation ceremony, preparing hundreds of bodies, praying and burning the corpses in a massive trench outside of Yushu. Yet state-run broadcasters have given scant attention to their efforts, spotlighting instead the hard work of the military and the People's Armed Police as they delivered tents, water and food, and lifted injured people from cracks of crumbled buildings. Monks also live in the quake zone, though they were not shown in media coverage Wednesday. Robbie Barnett, director of the modern Tibetan studies program at Columbia University, said the monks' contributions pose a dilemma for the communist leadership, which distrusts the Buddhist clergy because of their loyalty to the Dalai Lama. Beijing insists the Dalai Lama is fighting for independence for Tibet, a charge the exiled spiritual leader denies. He says he seeks only significant autonomy for Tibet under continued Chinese rule. Monasteries are kept under tight control by Communist Party authorities who routinely order political re-education campaigns for the monks. The tensions have occasionally erupted in violence. "China has never faced this situation before, where the monks it has demonized for 15 years as potential enemies of the state turn out to be energetic contributors to social construction and community-building — the same role that the party has always claimed for itself," Barnett said in an e-mail. "Perhaps that's why the work of the monks has been featured very little, if at all," on China Central Television, he said. On Wednesday, a monk and a Tibetan activist in touch with people in the quake zone said monks from Ganzi in Sichuan and other surrounding areas had also been ordered to leave the earthquake zone. Yixi Luoren, the head of Ganzi's Gengqing Monastery, said 150 of their monks went to Yushu but 120 had left by Wednesday on orders from the Religious Affairs Bureau and the Communist Party United Front department in Ganzi prefecture, where the monastery is located. A rugged, deeply Buddhist region filled with monasteries and nunneries, Ganzi is known for its strong Tibetan identity and has been at the center of dissent for years. "They told us to do so on the phone," Yixi Luoren said. "The authorities didn't tell us the reason, but we assume they might have worried that there are too many people there and wanted us to come home safely." Radio Free Asia on Wednesday quoted a Tibetan man in Yushu as saying monks held a candlelight vigil on April 19 that officials feared might take on political significance. The report said the man had asked not to be identified by name. Woeser, a Beijing-based Tibetan poet and activist, said Han and Tibetan acquaintances in the quake zone told her similar orders were given to monks from several other monasteries. She said the monks were upset and not willing to go but had no choice. "A clear reason for the order wasn't given but it was very strict," said Woeser, who also uses just one name. "Local officials told them through translators in Tibetan 'You've done everything already. You've done too much. You have to leave Yushu now, otherwise there will be trouble.'" Woeser said local Tibetans were frustrated because they believe the monks are still needed to help dig out the dead and perform funeral rites "There is an opportunity here for the state finally to recognize the immense cultural resources that the monks can offer," said Barnett, the Columbia University professor. "But it will take great cultural sensitivity and compromise on both sides for that to be achieved." Associated Press researcher Yu Bing in Beijing contributed to this report. Latest news from Gaby Hollmann Datum: 22.04.10 04:53:54 I’ve just spoken to Lodrö Nyima Rinpoche and he says that it appears the Chinese government is trying to be very compromising and helpful since the Tibetan-Chinese issue is highly sensitive and under world scrutiny. They have promised to allocate them new land for them to rebuild their monastic community. Rinpoche has already chosen this site which is closer to his nunnery, further in from Yushu, closer to the new airport road, which means more modern conveniences like electricity, water, sewage system and it’s also on a meadow, not on a slope that is more prone to mudslides etc. Of course, the whole of Jyekundo is along the fault, so there will always be danger in that area. The government promised not only to give them land, but to assist in rebuilding living quarters and possibly their shedra. He also reports that a lot of aid has poured in from other villages and monasteries, so they now have enough blankets, tents and canned foods and cookies. Water is still an issue and of course still no fresh foods, but at least they are being fed and have a safe place to sleep at night. -- From a friend, April 22 news from Karma Thekchen Yi Ong Ling Halscheid Retreat Centre I like to thank you all very much for being generous, compassionate and being ready to help in this difficult time. I have been receiving letters of condolences, mourn and asking about how to help. I like to request all of you to help in any form you can, by donating or helping to spread information, collecting donations for relief and rebuilding or saying prayers for deceased ones that they may born in the pure land of Amitabha, relief from fear and food and shelter for the left ones. Here in Boudha, Kathmandu all of us are saying aspiration prayers in front of Boudhanath Stupa, lighting lamps and collecting donations to send in Yushu. All the Sangha here are shocked and deeply saddened to hear the news about our dharma friends in Thrangu Monastery in Tibet and people of Yushu. Once again I like to thank you all for your kind support in this difficult time. Your kind support for relief and rebuilding will be of great merits. With appreciation, For Thrangu Rinpoche Attendant I want to inform you, that Lama Kunga is one of those Lamas, who will go to Yushu according to Thrangu Rinpoche's wish. We are confident, that Lama Kunga will obtain his visa for China maybe already next week. Please let us all make wishing prayers for the success of the journey and their safe return back home. In the meantime Lama Kunga got the information, that 3 of his relatives surely have died. A mail concerning Thrangu Rinpoche's monastery -- mail dated April 17 Arrived last night in Yushu, confirmed 23 monks died. 100% of monastery destroyed, main temple still standing but not safe to use anymore. Ani Gompa and Wencheng temple are fine, No death. A Message from Venerable Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche There are many disasters caused by the four elements—earthquakes, wildfires, strong winds, and turbulent seas—and they also bring disease and illness. In such a time, we need to be careful and practice the Dharma as much as we can. Jyekundo in Tibet is a small and sparsely populated area, but it is a place where there are many Tibetan people, and there are also many monasteries. At Thrangu Monastery in Jyekundo, many of the lamas and monks—both those abroad and those on site—have put in tremendous efforts for many years. These efforts have not just been in terms of external things; they have also put effort into spiritual practice. In terms of study and contemplation, a monastic college for the study of texts and philosophy was founded. It gradually grew and there formed a body of students and scholars, who are the foundation of the teachings. A primary school to provide basic education for young students had also been built. In terms of meditation, a retreat center for the practice of the Six Yogas of Naropa was built where monks engaged in practice. Another retreat center for the practice of the deities who purify the lower realms, Sarvavid Vairochana and Protector Akshobhya, had been restored and retreatants were doing the practices of those deities. A Mahakala retreat center was built during the time of Karmapa Thekchok Dorje (1798-1868) and contained a statue of Mahakala. Here, daily practices had been held for many generations. In addition, there was a large new temple where daily services were held. Now there has been the terrible earthquake in Jyekundo, Qinghai, and these structures have all been ruined. Additionally, many monks have passed away in the earthquake. This is a great tragedy and a great obstacle. Please think of this and make good prayers on the behalf of all those who passed away. If you gather merit by helping with the relief and restoration, it will be helpful for the world in general and in particular prevent the Dharma from disappearing. It is important that the lineage of teaching and practice not wane: Without a lineage of teaching and practice, the Dharma would perish. Sometimes people might think that temples and monasteries are not all that important. However, there are both transient sentient beings and the lasting external environment. With sentient beings, there might be many for a while, including great scholars and meditators. Great lamas might appear. There may be many members of the Sangha, but just as water flows downstream, fifty, sixty, seventy, or eighty years later they will all pass away and a new generation will come. When this happens, even if there were a strong lineage of Dharma in the previous generation, we do not really know whether that lineage would continue in the next. The way that the lineage can continue from generation to generation is to have a good, stable outer environment. When there is the external environment of a monastery with a shrine, retreat center, and monastic college, then due to that place, the Sangha, great lamas, and great meditators might pass away but the continuity of their activity will remain present there. This is why restoring monasteries is crucial. If the monasteries fall into ruins, the environment declines as well and the inhabitants gradually disappear. Buddhism would not be able to remain long in this world. But if a monastery continues to exist, the great lamas and masters can perform vast activity for the Dharma during their entire lives. A group of students will gather; the lamas will teach the students; and they will practice. Thus gradually the students will spend the first part of their lives studying and practicing the Dharma and the latter part upholding, protecting, and spreading Buddhism. When that generation comes to its end, a new generation can continue that work, upholding, protecting, and spreading the teachings, which can thus remain. This is why temples and the Sangha are so very important. If sponsors can make contributions and help in either large or small ways, that would be wonderful. We spend this life gathering wealth and possessions, and sometimes this can be meaningful, but sometimes there is the danger that this might become the grounds for conflict and dispute. For that reason, I ask all the faithful benefactors to help in any way you can. Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche Speaks About the Earthquake We have been blessed to have the wise perspective of Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche who interrupted his recent teaching to discuss the destruction at Thrangu Monastery in Yushu, Tibet, due to the devastating earthquake. He talked about how in his lifetime Thrangu Monastery has been destroyed twice, except for the main shrine: the first time during the revolution, and this time much worse. He then told a story of how Thrangu monastery had been devastated 245 years ago by a major earthquake, and at that time also, only the main shrine was not destroyed. Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche’s story of events centuries ago offers us a tremendous lesson in impermanence and the power of a true bodhisattva. Here is the story he told: The Venerable Thrangu Rinpoche was away at Tsurphu Monastery, and left two of the principal Tulkus of Thrangu Monastery, Traleg Rinpoche and Tulku Lodro Nyima, to receive grain from the harvest to supply the monastery for the upcoming winter. Although this time it was Traleg Rinpoche's turn to go, he decided instead to send Tulku Lodro Nyima. Then a few days later in a casual conversation, Traleg Rinpoche asked his attendant: "Which is better, one person dying, or 100 people?" The attendant said, "Only one person is better than one hundred people, of course." Tulku Lodro Nyima and his party arrived at a hilltop on the other side of a valley, overlooking the monastery when the earthquake struck. At the request of Traleg Rinpoche, a special puja was being held in the main shrine building, and all of the lamas participating survived. But Traleg Rinpoche was in his quarters, and did not survive. Because of the destruction, monks went to Tsurphu to ask His Holiness, the 13th Karmapa, if they should move Thrangu monastery to a safer area. His Holiness said no, that the lineage had been maintained at that spot for a long time, and the main temple was still standing. Because of this, His Holiness named the monastery "Victorious from the Obstacles of the Four Elements." He further stated there would be great Dharma coming from Thrangu Monastery, and not to move it. Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche then compared the earthquake so long ago to this one, noting that again, the main shrine survived although there is some damage. He then touched all our hearts when he said that he would really like it if Thrangu Monastery could be rebuilt in the next few years, so that he can see it in this lifetime. Dalai Lama Eager to Visit Earthquake Affected Area VOA Tibetan Saturday, 17 April 2010 Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, said he is eager to visit the affected region to offer consolation. In a statement posted on his Web site Saturday. "To fulfil the wishes of many of the people there, I am eager to go there myself to offer them comfort," the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader said in a statement issued from Dharamshala, his home in exile in northern India. The Dalai Lama added that the remote western Qinghai province, where the quake struck on Wednesday, killing at least 1,339 people and injuring nearly 12,000 others, also "happens to be where" he was born. "Because of the physical distance between us, at present I am unable to comfort those directly affected, but I would like them to know I am praying for them," he said. He praised the response of Chinese authorities to the disaster, "especially Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, who has not only personally offered comfort to the affected communities, but has also overseen the relief work." There was no response to his remarks from the Chinese government. Most of the region's population is Tibetan. Beijing accuses the Dalai Lama of fomenting separatism in Tibetan areas, an allegation he denies. The Chinese government has routinely criticized his travels as political campaigning, making it unlikely that he would be allowed to visit. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao finished his two-day visit to the quake-hit region on Friday. He said the whole country is grieving for the victims of the earthquake. The quake and its aftershocks toppled poorly-built houses, leaving hundreds of thousands homeless. Two years ago, a massive 7.9 magnitude quake hit the neighboring Sichuan province, killing nearly 90,000 people. Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters. Tibetan monks help China quake rescue Letter from Tibetans in quake zone to President Hu and Premier Wen requesting a visit by the Dalai Lama 2010 April 16 Dear President Hu and Premier Wen, Wish you both good health. During the initial hours of the natural disaster, we appreciate your government’s immediate relief efforts through soldiers and all round support from different sections of the society and we, the victims of this calamity, thank you for the same. But we are a deeply religious community having a strong faith in the teachings of Buddha. Since many generations, we have a deep faith in His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Today, as we are suffering from a great physical and mental anguish, we really need His Holiness to visit the quake affected area to pray for the departed souls and to provide solace to the broken hearts. Today, we request you, president Hu and premier Wen, to find the compassion in your hearts and fulfill this desire of us quake victims. We, the quake victims numbering more than 10,000, implore you from our hearts to temporarily set aside your government’s political differences with the Dalai Lama and kindly consider our request. With this invitation to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, we have no other objective apart from fulfilling our religious aspirations of praying for the departed souls and the survivors of the disaster. In this hour of distress, His Holiness’ visit to offer prayers and condolences in person is the only way to heal our wounded hearts. There is no other better way. ------------- Statement of His Holiness the Dalai Lama His Holiness the Dalai Lama Eager to Visit Earthquake Affected Area As I mentioned briefly soon after I heard the news, I was deeply saddened by the effects of the devastating earthquake in the Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (Tibetan:Kyigudo) of Qinghai Province which resulted in the tragic loss of many lives, a great number of injured and severe loss of property. Because of the physical distance between us, at present I am unable to comfort those directly affected,but I would like them to know I am praying for them. I commend the monastic community, young people and many other individuals from nearby areas for their good neighbourly support and assistance to the families of those who have lost everything. May your exemplary compassion continue to grow. This kind of voluntary work in the service of others really puts the bodhisattva aspiration into practice. I also applaud the Chinese authorities for visiting the affected areas, especially Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, who has not only personally offered comfort to the affected communities, but has also overseen the relief work. I am very appreciative too that the media have been free to report on the tragedy and its aftermath. In 2008, when a similar earthquake struck Sichuan, Chinese central and local government leaders and auxiliary authorities took great pains to provide relief, allow free access to the media, as well as clearing the way for international relief agencies to provide assistance as required. I applauded these positive moves then and appeal for such ease of access on this occasion too. The Tibetan community in exile would like to offer whatever support and assistance it can towards the relief work. We hope to be able to do this through the proper and appropriate channels as soon as possible. When Sichuan was rocked by an earthquake two years ago, I wished to visit the affected areas to pray and comfort the people there, but I was unable to do so. However, when Taiwan was struck by a typhoon last year, I was able to visit the affected families and pray with them for those who had perished in that disaster. In providing some solace to the people concerned, I was happy to be able to do something useful. This time the location of the earthquake, Kyigudo (Chinese: Yushu), lies in Qinghai Province,which happens to be where both the late Panchen Lama and I were born. To fulfill the wishes of many of the people there, I am eager to go there myself to offer them comfort. In conclusion, I appeal to governments, international aid organisations and other agencies to extend whatever assistance they can to enable the families of those devastated by this tragedy to rebuild their lives. At the same time, I also call on the survivors of this catastrophe to recognise what has happened as the workings of karma and to transform this adversity into something positive, keeping their hopes up and meeting setbacks with courage as they struggle to restore what they have lost. Once again, I pray for those who have lost their lives as well as for the well being of those who have survived. DALAI LAMA, 17 April 2010 www.tibet.net 17 April 2010 Dear friends, the severe earthquake in Kham (chin. province of Ching Hi) has led to tremendous, devastating destruction especially in the town of Gyegu. There are some thousands dead or injured. The Thrangu Monastery, situated at the periphery of the town, is destroyed and we fear, that most of the monastery's monks did not survive or are are injured severely. Please donate for the monastery and the town. Thrangu Rinpoche will take over the distribution of your money. Lama Kunga wants to express his gratefulness for your support on all levels, and requests you to go on praying for the beings in Yushu. Since yesterday we know, that 60 out of 70 monks from Thrangu Rinpoche's monastery are dead. Many more are missing and the Lamas think, that they are not more alive, too. From the monastery itself remained just the mail hall. Lama Kungala said, that the earthquake and ist results are a profoung teaching on impermanence. At one moment everything is present, beautiful and prospering - and in the next instant destroyed completely. Lamala said, he is very sad and requests your kind understanding, not to call him at the moment for other reasons, but news about the Yushu situation. Thrangu Rinpoche is planning to send Lamas and monks to Yushu for supporting the work there. Dear friends, we got the sad news, that by the severe earthquake in Chinghi Thrangu Rinpoche's monastery in Yushu was destroyed. We heard, that about 13 lamas died, among them Lama Kungala's Lama. It is very likely, that Lama Kungala's family did not survive, due to their living in the narrow midtown of Yushu, which was destroyed 90 %. Lama Kungala requested us to recite the OM MANI PEME HUM for all suffering beings. P. S. Just now we got the info, that Tenga Rinpoche's monastery Benchen is damaged, too. But we got no info, up to which extend. 16 April Khenpo Tsering arrived safely to Jeykundo last evening (our time), managed to obtain a cell phone, and called us. Here is a first hand report, slightly edited. some good news and some really sad news: The cell phone service is Jyekundo is intermittent, it cuts in and out. He doesn’t have a car battery charger and doesn’t know how he’s going to recharge the phone. The power is out in Jyekundo. I was able to reach Khenpo Tsering tonight in Jyekundo by cell phone. It’s been a very long 24 hours for him since he called me from Xining last night just after the earthquake had happened. He was leaving immediately for Jyekundo at that time to help with the rescue efforts. The road from Xining to Jyekundo is open. There are some cracks in the road and rocks on the road but it is passable. On the way down to Jyekundo, Khenpo passed at least a thousand cars or vehicles that were taking injured people up to hospitals in Xining. There is not nearly enough hospital capacity in Jyekundo for all of the injured people. Khenpo said that Jyekundo is “completely destroyed.” He said that probably 95% of the buildings in the city have been destroyed. He said that, if anyone has seen the movie “2012,” it looks like that. Even some of the more recent larger buildings collapsed. He said that one six or seven story building collapsed “like the World Trade Center.” He went first to his own family’s house in Jyekundo to look for his family and dig them out if necessary. Unlike most houses, his family’s house did not collapse. It has a large crack in it, the back wall is tilting at an angle, and it will have to be rebuilt, but it did not fall down. His father, sister, and brother are ok and were not injured. Khenpo said that he has a number of other relatives in Jyekundo and he thinks that six or seven of them were killed. He said that he and his family members have been spending all of their time helping other people dig in collapsed buildings, trying to find people who are still alive, but they haven’t found anyone alive. He said that he has pulled out several people who were already dead. There are now a large number of Chinese soldiers in Jyekundo who are helping to dig but not enough compared to how many collapsed buildings that there are, and the soldiers don’t have enough heavy equipment. Khenpo said that about eight hundred bodies that have been pulled out of the rubble so far but “there are thousands more bodies still buried in the collapsed buildings.” I said that the reports here are of ten thousand people injured and he said that it was at least that many and repeated that there isn’t enough space in the hospitals for all of them. No one is staying inside any of the buildings that are still standing and everyone is living outside in tents or in whatever way that they can. He’s sleeping in his car. Surmang Dutsi Til was not seriously affected by the earthquake. He has not been there in this first day since the earthquake but he was told that the earthquake was not so large there (Surmang is much further from the epicenter than Jyekundo is). He was told that no one was injured at Surmang Dutsi Til, and that several buildings have cracks in them from the earthquake, but none collapsed. He was told that there was no damage at all to the new shedra building complex at Surmang, which he described as very strongly built compared to how other buildings are constructed in the region. Khenpo has not heard yet of any damage at Surmang Namgyaltse. He has been told that the damage in the Nangchen heartland, centered around the town of Sharda, was not nearly as bad as around Jyekundo. Trungpa XII Rinpoche is at Derge right now, which was not affected by the earthquake. Damcho Tenphel Rinpoche was at Kyere and most of the family members of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche are in that area, which was not affected by the earthquake. However, several of the Vidyadhara’s nieces or nephews have been living in Jyekundo and Khenpo has no news yet of what has happened to them. Aten Rinpoche is alright, I believe he was at Surmang at the time of the earthquake but he has now come up to Jyekundo to help out. One of Aten Rinpoche’s relatives is a khenpo at Thrangu monastery and was killed. Thrangu monastery was the monastery most severely damaged by the earthquake from the reports that Khenpo has received. He was told that it is “95% destroyed” and that many monks there are dead, but no one yet knows how many. Benchen monastery wasn’t damaged as badly even though it is very close to Thrangu monastery. Domkhar monastery in Jyekundo was already in the process of being moved from its precarious hillside perch to a safer location in the valley and he think there wasn’t so much of a problem for them as a result. The Sakya monastery on a hilltop in Jyekundo has major damage but the buildings did not collapse. Thirty or forty families from the Surmang area now have winter houses in Jyekundo, which they were living in when the earthquake happened. He knows all of these families and is trying to check up on them. He thinks that all of them have lost their houses and probably ten to twenty people were killed from the Surmang families. He asked me to tell the Shambhala sangha that, if we are able to send money, that would be very helpful, because everyone who was involved in this earthquake needs help. He is going to find the Surmang families first to see how he can help them but there are many people who need help. Everyone who was living in Jyekundo has lost their house and has had people close to them who was killed or injured. news from Karma Thekchen Yi Ong Ling Halscheid Retreat Centre Lama Kunga is leading the 3 year retraite in Germany, Lama Kunga and his Yushu contacts Latest news 6 May 2010 Every day Lama Kunga is talking now on the phone to approx. 10 or 11 different persons in Yushu. A part are family members of him or injured in hospitals, another part are lamas and monks for instance from Thrangu monastery, another part are visitors from abroad and neighbours. Lama Kunga has requested 4 persons, he is trusting in, to go through Yushu with their eyes wide open to look for persons, being in need of something. Especially they check up on the poor and the ones, who apparently are not able to help themselves. Of course it helps a lot that they - as Tibetan native speakers - can ask in their mother tongue, how people are and what they would be in need of. With the money, you donated here, there already help is provided. One of the visitors from abroad kindly is financing Lama Kunga's activities in advance, until he himself will reach Yushu. One example for that help: One of Lama Kunga's delegates saw a young woman about 3 days ago, sitting in the rubbles of her house. He asked her, what had gone on. She replied, that she had lost her entire family. The helper noticed, that the woman could not move properly and asked about that. She said, that one of her thigs was fractured. So she had been sitting there with the broken bone for more than 14 days. On enquiery she said, she would not feel any pain, nor anything else. After a longer discussion a physician was organized, who stated after the examination, that she had to go to hospital urgently. There she is now. Her stay there is for free. But everything, that happened before, was paid with your donations. As basic equipment Yushu inhabitants received one tent per family, blankets, a cooker and some wood or gas. From that time on people had to buy their fuel themselves. The families got for each dead person 8000 Yuan as support. Daily every person receives 10 Yuan. That is enough to buy for instance one meal a day. Of course that is not enough to live on. But still the gouvernment and the monasteries are providing water, rice, barley etc. With the latter that always worked smoothly. But on the official side, there had been initial problems. So stronger ones had pushed forward and even had taken double or triple what they had been entitled to, while the weaker ones had come out empty handed. Meanwhile the food distribution has been handed over to the quarter mayors, who often are Tibetans, and this is working out well now. That Chinese soldiers took away the goods from those, who had taken them unauthorized, is considered an act of especially commendable justice by the Tibetans. Tibetans are grateful, too, for the fact, that Chinese soldiers really investigate in- and outgoing persons and the goods, they have with them. It seems, that a lot of looters try to make their business in Yushu. The monks are untiringly in close contact with the people. Monks support them with advice and ritual and by distributing food. The monks work is considered indispensable by the inhabitants. The monks are constantly living for the people's needs. The people, living in the tent towns of the Yushu area and it's surroundings, are trying to bring a kind of normality in their lives. So the first shops became re-opened now. What is putting a constant strain on the people is not only the cold weather, but as well the heavy winds raising a lot of dust and ashes and making breathing difficult. Still people are digging in the rubbles for their goods. Still corpses are found. And still many people are missing. Before, some of the missing were found in hospitals. But many others have vanished until now. Until mid of May the decisions will be made, whether Yushu will be rebuilt in the same place as before or whether it will be moved somewhere else - on a more stable ground. The Tibetans are devided half/ half. One half wants to have the town in the same place. The other one wants to feel more secure in another one. Apparently geological researches showed that the area around the new airport would be the best place, besides the area, where the horse contests are usually take place. In Thrangu Monastery as well, the decision is to be made about the own monastery. Until now several places have been investigated yet. Near an intact temple in a valley nearby, there seems to be a promising place. Lama Kunga is sad about the fact, that still he did not receive his visa. But his people in Yushu told him, that this is good, too. So he gained time to collect the donations, which turned out to be really helpful now. Anyhow Lama Kunga got the Chinese embassy's promise, that he will get it. So it might take only some more weeks from now. Lama Kunga requests you, not to worry about the distribution of your donated money. For sure it is not possible to give something to everybody. But he is trying to contribute through his friends, to ease the biggest misery. By the kindness of one of his friends, who gave him the money in advance without charging him anything, Lama Kunga was able to really move quite much. He wants to make very clear, that the monastery is quite fine for the beginning now. So your money goes mainly to the ordinary Yushu people. Lama Kunga is happy - despite all the bereavement he of course has to bear - about the deep connection with you, resulting from what has happened. He gives his word to keep on doing the best, he can. He said, that all the people, having been supported with your money, came to know, that their support was made possible with your donations from Germany. Lama Kunga- la wants to share the Yushu news with you again: 13 May The young woman with the fracturized leg, who was brought to hospital last time, is dead. Having had a severe infection the leg was amputated. But it was too late for anything. From the hospitalized monks survived approx. 50 %. In general there will be many handicapped people in Yushu, where the necessary facilities and supports are still missing. During the first phase right after the earthquake many "minor" injuries became treated with amputation - what can be done very quickly - because of there being so many severely, life endangered injured, who needed the the doctors' interventions more urgent. Physicians and time were missing at that time. Thrangu monastery is in steady discussion about where to rebuilt. The oldest monk - the old physician - recommended, to rebuild the monastery on the old area. For being a place blessed by the 7. Karmapa, it should not be given up. What would come, would come. The like it would be with earthquakes. Thrangu Rinpoche himself did not decide yet. In the tents of Yushu people are waiting for the decision, too, where the town will be rebuilt. The Tibetans are not happy with the idea of a Western style town. They say, for the poor it is a real blessing to have "a roof above their head". But who can afford it, wants to buld up on his/ her own. Tibetan style. They do not want to live - as it was heard - in a geometrically organized town right from the drawing board, in one of 80 quarters in anonymous buildings made with precast concrete slabs. Those people, not registered in Yushu, but being with their families - like it is normal for nomads at winter time - are meanwhile ordered to leave the town. They have to make room for 30.000 Chinese workers, sent to help rebuilding the town. For the Tibetans it is unclear until now, how they could overcome up to 5 years - what is the amount of time, planned for rebuilding the town - in tents. The town rebuilding is planned to start at Thrangu monastery area, where the damages had been the biggest. It seems to be impressive, how quickly a certain "normality" is coming up: many shops have opened now. You can buy almost everything again. P. S.: Own annotation: You should bring to mind the fact, what it means to a town with 80.000 inhabitants, which lost just now approx. 10.000 persons, when 30.000 Chinese workers will come. While the estimate for the town rebuilding is about 5 years, it is quite likely, that most of the workers will bring their families to Yushu and will stay there lateron. This means, that out of those 30.000 can become easily 60.000 or more people. Tibetans could become a minority. Western China quake kills 400, some 10,000 hurt (video 2 min.) Dalai Lama offers prayers for victims of Tibet earthquake Tibet earthquake death toll rises to 400 Langs deze weg willen de Vrienden van Tibet hun oprechte steun betuigen aan de vele slachtoffers van de zware aardbeving die vanmorgen 14 April 2010 plaatsvond in de westelijke provincie Qinghai. Het epicentrum van de aardbeving bevond zich in Yushu, gelegen in de Tibetaanse provincie Kham. De overige getroffen dorpen zijn gelegen in de Tibetaanse provincie Amdo. Telefoonlijnen zijn onderbroken, volledige dorpen onbereikbaar, scholen bedolven onder het puin,geen proper water beschikbaar, de hulpdiensten komen maar moeilijk aan bij de getroffen gebieden.…. De slachtoffers zijn bijna allemaal Tibetaanse boeren en nomaden. Omwille van het ontbreken van graafmachines en van goed materiaal , probeert men momenteel zoveel mogelijk mensen te bevrijden met de blote hand, wat zéér moeizaam en traag verloopt. Ondertussen probeert men, volgens een Chinees persagentschap , al 5000 tenten en 10.000 warme dekens te bezorgen in het getroffen gebied. Bij het schrijven van dit bericht zit de Tibetaanse regering in Ballingschap in Dharamsala bijeen om te bekijken hoe het kan bijdragen aan hulp voor de vele slachtoffers. De Dalai lama , die gisteren net terugkwam van zijn bezoek aan Slovenië en Zwitserland liet al weten dat hij zijn gebeden opdraagt aan de slachtoffers van de aardbeving in Yushu ( Kyegudo ) Momenteel gaat er in de hoofdtempel te Dharamsala, de Tsuglagkhang, een gebedsdienst door ter nagedachtenis van de vele honderden slachtoffers. De Vrienden van Tibet hopen dat de Chinese overheid de toelating tot" onmiddelijke toegang aan het getroffen gebied " zal verlenen aan de internationale hulporganisaties zoals het Rode Kruis en Artsen zonder Grenzen. Voor verder info over eventuele praktische hulp wachten wij op vragen en instructies van de Tibetaanse Regering in Ballingschap waarmee onze vereniging in nauw contact staat. Wij zullen, voor eventuele oproepen om hulp voor de slachtoffers, regelmatig een update doen op onze site. Inge Hermans Voorzitter Vrienden van Tibet www.vriendenvantibet.be back to top Phayul Tibet (Phayul betekend: vaderland) Nieuwsberichten, dagelijks ge-update