Self-immolation, again, now in Lhasa

[icy]

Tibet Policy Institute hosts Conference on self-immolation

DHARAMSHALA, March 30: Tibet Policy Institute (TPI) hosted a two-day conference on ‘China’s Repressive Policies and the Crisis of Burning Tibet’ in Dharamsala.

“The Institute has invited Tibetan scholars and writers to brainstorm on how the crisis in Tibet can be resolved so that Tibetans in Tibet no longer need to resort to the desperate act of self-immolation to press their case of the tragedy unfolding in their land,” said Thubten Samphel, Director of TPI.

Over a dozen of Tibetan scholars, writers and journalists in and outside India have gathered to discuss “in depth the major causes and ramifications of the current crisis of self-immolation protests in Tibet” according to TPI.

Ngodup Dongchung, Kalon (minister) for Department of Security, and Kirti Rinpoche, the spiritual head of Kirti Monastery also attended and conference and spoke on the issue.

In his inaugural speech Dongchung said that Tibetans should bring together ideas and lead the exile Tibetans who have been carrying out various campaigns and appeals international community. More importantly he said that Tibetans ‘should think of what more can we do by looking into the messages left by the self-immolators and should find a better way to tackle the worsening situation.’

While Kirti Rinpoche described that the real crisis is the danger of losing Tibetan identity in Tibet.

“In Tibet, the elder generations are disappearing, Tibetans are not allowed to learn their language and the Tibetan identity is losing,” Rinpoche addes.

Tibet Policy Institute was originally initiated as a think tank of the exile administration. Currently, it serves as an intellectual hub for Tibetan scholars across the globe and to articulate their views on the issue of Tibet in the hope that these views will shape the perception of the international community and the policies of the concerned governments to Tibet.

[wang]

During the recent trip in Europe, Kirti Rinpoche was asked by the media whether they can do something to stop the self-immolation, he answered that even Karmapa has voiced out not to do it anymore, it couldn't stop, so his conclusion is that it is purely the Chinese side's fault.

Kirti Rinpoche didn't mention that :
1. over half of those self-immolated belongs to his monastery, and he as head of the monastery didn't stop it, but praised these as brave behavior.
2. over 95% of those self-immolated belongs to Gelukpa, and HHDL as spiritual head of Gelukpa didn't comment on it, and Ling Rinpoche even praised it as bodhicitta behavior.

So, I cosinder Kirti Rinpoche be pypocritic on his answer to the media.

[Ensapa]

During the recent trip in Europe, Kirti Rinpoche was asked by the media whether they can do something to stop the self-immolation, he answered that even Karmapa has voiced out not to do it anymore, it couldn't stop, so his conclusion is that it is purely the Chinese side's fault.

Kirti Rinpoche didn't mention that :
1. over half of those self-immolated belongs to his monastery, and he as head of the monastery didn't stop it, but praised these as brave behavior.
2. over 95% of those self-immolated belongs to Gelukpa, and HHDL as spiritual head of Gelukpa didn't comment on it, and Ling Rinpoche even praised it as bodhicitta behavior.

So, I cosinder Kirti Rinpoche be pypocritic on his answer to the media.

Kirti Rinpoche is obvious close to the CTA and he is obviously on their side of the matter. As the head of Kirti Monastery he should have issued edicts to stop people from self immolating but he did not and he allowed monks under his care to self immolate. I think this is something that is very sad indeed. I am quite surprised that he evebnpraised it as brave behavior when such behavior should not be encouraged amongst monks, especially when he is the abbot and he is allowing lives to be sacrificed for a cause that has little or nothing to do with Buddhism in reality. HHDL is not the head of the Gelugs, he is just the temporal leader of Tibet which is the reason why everyone listens to him. The real head of the Gelugs is the Ganden Tripa which is, picked by the Dalai Lama.

[wang]

My definition of 'Spritual head' is from lay people point of view, be accurate, HHDL is 'head' of Gelukpa when both political and  religious power count together.  Sure we all know that Ganden Tripa is the actual ‘Spiritual Head' ...

[Ensapa]

My definition of 'Spritual head' is from lay people point of view, be accurate, HHDL is 'head' of Gelukpa when both political and  religious power count together.  Sure we all know that Ganden Tripa is the actual ‘Spiritual Head' ...

Just because everyone sees it as that way does not make it correct. It is just something generated by the PR machine either in CTA or by the western media to serve their own purposes and ends. It seems that there are parties out there who would not mind feeding the wrong information to the public and mislead a lot of people. Now that you know it is not, its not reasonable to accept the older 'wrong' information right? This is the main reason why educating people is important so that they will know what is real and what is the truth.

Another thing is that the Ganden Tripa is traditionally voted in by the sangha, but it is the first time now that the Dalai Lama is picking. the Ganden Tripa represents Lama Tsongkhapa on earth.

After all, Geshe Tonpa said:

If it does not accord the world, it is Dharma. If it accords, it is not Dharma.

[icy]

Exile Administration holds prayer service

DHARAMSHALA, April 3: The exile Tibetan headquarters in Dharamshala held mass prayer service today to honour Kunchok Tenzin, who set himself ablaze in protest against China's continuing occupation of Tibet.

Hundreds of Tibetans led by exile Prime Minister Dr Lobsang Sangay, Speaker Penpa Tsering, Kalons or cabinet ministers, members of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile and school students attended the service at the main temple in Dharamshala.

Kunchok Tenzin, 28, a monk from Mogri Monastery set himself on fire at a road intersection near his monastery in Luchu, Eastern Tibet at around 7 pm (local time) on March 26. He died from burns.

Addressing the service, Dr Lobsang Sangay called upon Tibetans to offer prayers for Druptse as today also marks the 49th day since his self-immolation in Nepal and for all Tibetans who have lost their lives in landslide at a mining site Medro Gungkar near Lhasa.

"It is clear that the landslide was criticized by many Chinese intellectuals, environmentalist, writers and movie artists in China," said Sikyong Sangay.

"China's continued oppressive rule in Tibet is the cause of self-immolation protest and like we always says political repression, environmental destruction and cultural assimilation, and with this landslide in Medro gungkar, it is a clearly proves of the environmental destruction in Tibet."

The deepening crisis in Tibet has witnessed large scale anti-China protests and a series of self-immolations that has now seen 114 Tibetans set themselves on fire since 2009. The self-immolators have demanded freedom for Tibet and the return of the Dalai Lama from exile. Ninety-six of them have died.

[Ensapa]

Exile Administration holds prayer service

DHARAMSHALA, April 3: The exile Tibetan headquarters in Dharamshala held mass prayer service today to honour Kunchok Tenzin, who set himself ablaze in protest against China's continuing occupation of Tibet.

Hundreds of Tibetans led by exile Prime Minister Dr Lobsang Sangay, Speaker Penpa Tsering, Kalons or cabinet ministers, members of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile and school students attended the service at the main temple in Dharamshala.

Kunchok Tenzin, 28, a monk from Mogri Monastery set himself on fire at a road intersection near his monastery in Luchu, Eastern Tibet at around 7 pm (local time) on March 26. He died from burns.

Addressing the service, Dr Lobsang Sangay called upon Tibetans to offer prayers for Druptse as today also marks the 49th day since his self-immolation in Nepal and for all Tibetans who have lost their lives in landslide at a mining site Medro Gungkar near Lhasa.

"It is clear that the landslide was criticized by many Chinese intellectuals, environmentalist, writers and movie artists in China," said Sikyong Sangay.

"China's continued oppressive rule in Tibet is the cause of self-immolation protest and like we always says political repression, environmental destruction and cultural assimilation, and with this landslide in Medro gungkar, it is a clearly proves of the environmental destruction in Tibet."

The deepening crisis in Tibet has witnessed large scale anti-China protests and a series of self-immolations that has now seen 114 Tibetans set themselves on fire since 2009. The self-immolators have demanded freedom for Tibet and the return of the Dalai Lama from exile. Ninety-six of them have died.

I dont really get all of these prayer services to those who died in self immolation. Yes they do deserve our prayers, but they should not be done in public or be announced officially in this way because it would inadvertently create even more self immolations as the Tibetans who read about it would be more inspired to immolate themselves. why would they make it public? I feel it's a very negative thing to make these pujas public because it will only encourage more and more. In another way it also shows the stupidity of the CTA as they continue to sabotage themselves with actions like these that will eventually erode respect of others to them.

[icy]

A Tibetan Woman self-immolates over encroachment

DHARAMSHALA, April 5: An unidentified Tibetan woman has set herself on fire in Kyegudo in Amdo (Ch: Qinghai) Province to protest against the demolition of her home.

Citing sources in the region, the US-based Radio Free Asia said the protest occurred last week when a Chinese wrecking crew arrived to destroy her house.

"Because of the eviction [of Tibetans] from their homes and the confiscation of people's farmland, a Tibetan woman self-immolated about a week ago" RFA quoted a Tibetan man as saying.

However, Tibetans put out fire and the woman's condition is said to be "not life-threatening".

RAF also quoted sources saying that a man has threatened to self-immolate to protest the confiscation of his land.

A powerful earthquake hit Kyegudo on 14 April 2010 resulting many Tibetan deaths and destruction of houses and properties.

Following the quake rebuilding Kyegudo has been slow and filled with official nepotism and delay.

"…Reconstruction has resulted in the eviction of Tibetans living in the Rishuggul area and behind the Yulshul Normal School," sites that were empty or used as farmland before the earthquake struck said RFA.

"Chinese security forces have bulldozed newly built Tibetan houses and tents on these sites, and have beaten and detained anyone resisting the demolition."

Chinese authorities demolished over a thousand of Tibetan houses in Kyekundo stating that their occupants are not officially registered to live.

The ongoing self-immolation in Tibet began in 2009 and to date as many as 114 Tibetans have set themselves on fire in Tibet calling for freedom in Tibet and return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile.

[Ensapa]

this is proof that holding vigils and prayer sessions for the self immolation victims will displease China, so CTA should stop if they are truly serious about negotiations with China.

Students Face Threat for 14 March Commemoration
Phayul[Monday, April 08, 2013 16:39]





DHARAMSHALA, April 5: Chinese authorities in Gansu have interrogated and threatened the Tibetan students with "serious consequences" for commemorating the fifth anniversary of 14 March 2008 crackdown in Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet.

Citing sources with contacts in the region, the US-based Radio Free Asia said the students of the Northwest University of the Nationalities in the provincial capital of Lanzhou expressed their solidarity with the Tibetans who died in the crackdown by "mourning".

Pictures available online show butter lamps in front of a board with 'March 14 Anniversary' written on it.

"But when school authorities and concerned officials learned about the commemoration, each student was called in and questioned about the incident." RFA quoted sources as saying.


"They were specifically asked for the names of the persons who led in the planning of the observance."

On 14 March 2008, thousands of Tibetan monks and lay people took the streets of Lhasa to carry a peaceful protest against the Chinese oppression. The protest quickly spread to other part of Tibet leading to the biggest anti-China protests in decades.

The exile Tibetan government estimates that over two hundred Tibetans lost their lives under the Chinese crackdown and thousands detained and tortured.

[icy]

Have all the self-immolations in Tibet have effect on France?  Have all those self-immolations moved France to include Tibet on the agenda in the discussion with China on Human Rights of Tibet?

Will Tibet figure in French President's visit to China?
-[Sunday, April 14, 2013 18:10]

Paris Friday, 12 April: As the French President François Hollande prepares for his first state visit to China later this month, there is a growing call from French lawmakers to include Tibet on the agenda in the discussion with Xi Jinping.

Responding to the question by Senator Andre Gattolin asked whether President Hollande " intend to discuss with the issue of human rights in China and in Tibet" with Xi Jinping, the French government responded that "Human Rights form an integral part of the dialogue between China and Tibet."

"No topic will be excluded and all questions will be discussed with candour and mutual respect for each other", responded Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, French Minister for Woman's Rights and the spokeswoman of the government.

In an open letter, French Deputies Jean-Patrick Gille and Noël Mamère, co-presidents of the French parliamentary group for Tibet, called on "President François Hollande not to exclude the issue of Tibet in the discussions with Chinese authorities during his forthcoming visit to Beijing".

"France, in partnership with the European Union must carry the banner of Tibetan freedom", the letter reads.

It also said that China must allow access to Tibet to everyone, including the media, and "resume the dialogue that China decided to stop", the letter concludes.

With regard to the possibilty of a meeting between the French President and His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the government spokeswoman said that at the moment she is "not aware of any planned visit" of His Holiness to France.

(file photo : Deputies Jean-Patrick Gille, Noël Mamère and Senator André Gattolin at a Tibet rally in front of the Chinese Embassy in Paris. photo courtesy Jean-Patrick Gille)

[icy]

(file photo : Deputies Jean-Patrick Gille, Noël Mamère and Senator André Gattolin at a Tibet rally in front of the Chinese Embassy in Paris. photo courtesy Jean-Patrick Gille)

[icy]

China Sentences Tibetans up to six years in jail

DHARAMSHALA, April 15: The Intermediate People's court in Rebkong and Tsekhog in Eastern Tibet sentenced four Tibetans up to six years in prison and deprived their political rights for sharing information of Tibetan self-immolators with outsiders.

The four Tibetans are identified as Yangkyab Gyal, Chakthar, Namkha Jam and Gonpo.

According to the Tibetan exile administration, the four have been sentenced for "allegedly committing separatist activities and sending news and photos of Tibetan self-immolators abroad."

Yangkyab Gyal and Namkha Jam are sentenced to six years in jail and deprived their political rights for three years. Chakthar is sentenced to four years and deprived his political rights for two years and Gonpo to three years in prison and deprived his political rights for two years.

In January this year, a Chinese court sentenced Lobsang Konchok, 40, a monk from Ngaba Kirti Monastery, to death with a two-year reprieve and Lobsang Tsering, 31, to ten years in prison. On the same day, six other Tibetans were handed down heavy jail terms for their alleged roles in trying to rescue a Tibetan self-immolator from falling into the hands of Chinese security forces.

[icy]

20 year-old mother sets herself alight and dies in Tibet
FTC[Tuesday, April 16, 2013 22:06]
Free Tibet News Release

Jugtso set herself alight outside a monastery in Ngaba, eastern Tibet around 3pm local time today, 16 April. Local witnesses confirmed that she died at the scene. Her body was taken into the monastery where religious ceremonies were conducted. Local authorities have ordered her family to cremate the body tonight, in contravention of Tibetan tradition. Hundreds of members of the local community have gathered near the family home in preparation for the cremation.

Jugtso was married with a three-year-old child.

The monastery has been the location for a number of self-immolation protests, including that of a mother-of-four in March 2013. The last confirmed self-immolation in Tibet was on 26 March but unconfirmed reports suggest that there has been at least one further attempted self-immolation in Yushu County, in protest against destruction of homes and land-grabbing by the authorities as redevelopment takes place after the devastating earthquake in the area on 14 April 2010.

Free Tibet spokesperson Alistair Currie said

"The intensity of self-immolation protests has diminished so far in 2013 but the death of Jugtso shows that even the full force of the Chinese state cannot deter some Tibetans from this act. Self-immolation is a protest, not a suicide, and until China addresses the grievances of the Tibetan people, protests of all forms will continue in Tibet."

[icy]

Mr Namkho Zamdo who came from Switzerland presenting in a Art and Tattoo Event a special tattoo of all names of Tibetan Self-Immolators and the dates of their self-immolation on his whole back.  What do you think of this creativity?

[icy]

Tibetan self-immolator Phagmo Dhondup dies

DHARAMSHALA, April 18: According to information received on Tibetan self-immolator, Phagmo Dhondup, has succumbed to his injuries after undergoing treatment in a hospital in Siling for over a month.

On 24 February, Dhondup (in his 20s) set himself on fire in the ancient Jhakhyung Monastery in Palung region of Tshoshar, Eastern Tibet. Monks of the monastery took him to a hospital.

Following his self-immolation protest, the local Chinese authorities immediately stepped up security and dispatched a large contingent of security personnel to the monastery.

Dhondup was a native of Tsaphuk town in Palung region. He is survived by father Shawo and a sibling.

Since April 2009, as many as 115 Tibetans have set themselves on fire in Tibet calling for freedom in Tibet and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile. Out of which 98 died in their fiery protests.