The 14th Dalai Lama Angers Nepal

Tibetans protested against Lobsang Sangay outside the Office of Tibet but what response did they get from the Central Tibetan Adminsitration? Lobsang Sangay and his administration not only failed to give satisfactory reasons why Penpa Tsering was removed from his position, he is now creating more dismay among Tibetan communities worldwide.

Group of Tibetans protest outside Office of Tibet, DC during handover
Phayul [Wednesday, November 29, 2017 09:27]
By Tenzin Monlam
DHARAMSHALA, November 29: Protest against Kashag’s decision to oust the North America envoy Penpa Tsering has reached Washington DC, the seat of Office of Tibet in the US, as a group of Tibetans stood with banners outside the office during the handover proceedings yesterday.
Protesters reportedly from Boston, Connecticut, New York and Washington DC say their protest was not against the Tibetan government in exile or against Gaden Phodrang, the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
“This protest is not against the Central Tibetan Administration or His Holiness the Dalai Lama, it is against Lobsang Sangay,” said a Tibetan woman.
During the meeting Ngodup Tsering said, “I am not here as a representative of Kashag. I am here only as a staff of the Kashag to carryout the handover of the office. As for clarification on the matter, Kashag has made it public.”
He promised that he would take their application on the matter to the Kashag. He, however, denied their request of addressing the group outside and said that he would address only after taking charge of the office.
In an unfortunate turn of event, a protestor named Ngawang Tsering, according to the protesters, suffered a heart attack and has been hospitalized.
The protest in DC follows another in Gangchen Kyishong, the seat of Central Tibetan Administration, where around 90 men and women carried out a peaceful and silent protest calling for an independent committee to probe the ousting of Washington envoy.
The Kashag initially on November 9 said that removal of Penpa Tsering was solely due to his failure to assume his duties appropriately and in the manner befitting of the office as seen by the Kashag.
And on November 18, Kashag released a 10-point statement for the removal of Penpa Tsering after repeated probe by the media and demands for clarification by the public.
While accepting the decision taken by the Kashag, the outgoing representative Penpa Tsering has stated that he does not agree with the charges against him and that he would respond only after completing his tenure on November 30.
http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=39853

Prominent Buddhists in North America welcome the suspension of the Dalai Lama’s Personal Emissary of Peace, Tenzin Dhonden. Although it is not official that Tenzin Dhonden has been permanently replaced as he has hired a New York legal firm to reclaim his position on the trust, a temporary replacement has been appointed as the organisation’s “acting secretary”. It is unfortunate that His Holiness the Dalai Lama is surrounded by officials who seemed to be self-serving. This incident, and the sudden removal of Penpa Tsering are series of scandals that continue to expose more corruption and abuses within the top Tibetan leadership circle. Read below:

Controversial monk and Dalai Lama aide replaced amid corruption accusations
Rory Carroll in Los Angeles
Wednesday 29 November 2017 12.19 GMT
Prominent Buddhists in North America are welcoming the apparent downfall of the Dalai Lama’s self-styled “personal emissary of peace”, a Tibetan monk who befriended celebrities and billionaires but has been accused of bullying, celebrity worship and corruption.
The Dalai Lama Trust has replaced Tenzin Dhonden as its executive secretary with a temporary appointment following claims, which the trust has said they are investigating, that Dhonden abused his position as a gatekeeper to the Buddhist leader.
It is not known what the outcome of the trust’s investigation is or whether they have reached any conclusions. Dhonden has vigorously denied the corruption accusation, which was made by a Seattle-based philanthropist. He has not publicly responded to the other allegations.
If permanent, his replacement by the trust would be a severe blow to Dhonden, who from his base in La Jolla, near San Diego, California, built a network of wealthy supporters, including the eBay founder Pierre Omidyar and the Seagram heiress Sara Bronfman.
The Guardian revealed last month that the 53-year-old had been suspended pending an investigation into allegations from a Seattle-based technology entrepreneur that Dhonden extracted unjustified payments from him between 2005 and 2008, in return for setting up an event with the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama’s personal secretary said the monk had been suspended pending a “conclusion” to the allegations.
Dhonden strongly disputed the allegations and hired a venerable New York legal firm, Patterson Belknap, to defend his reputation and reclaim his position on the trust.
But last week Dhonden’s name disappeared from the trust’s website and a trustee, Tashi Namgyal Khamshitsang, took his place as the organisation’s “acting secretary”.
It is not known in what circumstances he has left his position as secretary of the trust. It has made no public comment about the new appointment or the status of its investigation into Dhonden. The trust and the Dalai Lama’s office did not respond to requests for information for this article. Emails to Dhonden’s attorneys asking about his fate and future plans also went unanswered.
Prominent Buddhists in North America with connections in Dharamsala, the hill town in India which hosts the Dalai Lama and other exiled Tibetans, have welcomed the trust’s appointment of a new secretary, a decision said to have been taken at a board of trustees meeting on 10 November.
The accusations against Dhonden shone a light on his role as a bridge between Dharamsala and Dalai Lama supporters in Hollywood, Silicon Valley and elsewhere.
“I would like to join many others in expressing my deep gratitude to you all for stepping in to protect the precious reputation and legacy of His Holiness through effecting the recent transition of the leadership of the Dalai Lama Trust,” Thupten Jinpa, the Dalai Lama’s principal English translator, said in a letter to trustees seen by the Guardian.
Jinpa, a former monk who has translated and edited about a dozen books by the Dalai Lama, wrote that it had been “painful” to see the spiritual leader’s name and legacy snagged by “unnecessary distractions … and discordant messages” which he said reflected “celebrity orientation”.
Jinpa’s letter did not name Dhonden but said that under his stewardship the trust had alienated allies with “embarrassing” and “bullying” behaviour. “Most sadly, the Trust has unfortunately acquired a reputation of being authoritarian, confrontational, petty, and uncaring, characteristics so far removed from His Holiness’ personal ethics.”
His questionable values, arrogant disposition and objectionable behavior have generated confusion and anxiety.
In a phone interview Jinpa said the letter had been intended just for trustees but confirmed its contents. The Dalai Lama, who is the trust’s chairman, took a “very firm” stand once alerted to the allegations, he said. “I think his highness was clearly disturbed by the allegations.”
The criticism is a marked contrast to praise for the monk’s “equanimity” and “pure goodness” in a 2015 San Diego Union Tribune profile. The article said he was a diligent emissary for the Dalai Lama.
Other prominent Buddhist figures, however, share Jinpa’s satisfaction at the apparent fall of a monk who grew up in Dharamsala and moved to the US in 1991, where he helped organise celebrity-studded public events and private audiences for wealthy donors during the Dalai Lama’s visits to the US.
“His questionable values, arrogant disposition and objectionable behavior have generated confusion, anxiety and extensive unhappiness for many years, impeding the work of His Holiness in North America and jeopardizing his reputation,” Marty Krasney, director of the San Francisco-based Dalai Lama Fellows, wrote in a letter to the Dalai Lama’s private office, and copied to trust board members, which the Guardian has seen.
Krasney thanked the board for taking action to “protect” the Dalai Lama and to keep his vision and message “untarnished”.
Richard Grace, a Napa vineyard owner who has been friends with the Dalai Lama for more than 20 years, also wrote to the Dalai Lama’s office to welcome the decision.
Grace initiated the push against Dhonden after attending an 80th birthday celebration for the Dalai Lama in 2015 in Anaheim, near Los Angeles, which featured a golden cake, dancers in tight bodysuits and celebrities previously unassociated with Buddhism – “insulting” elements he blamed on the monk.
Krasney and Grace persuaded Daniel Kranzler, a Seattle-based entrepreneur, to meet the Dalai Lama face to face in June and lay out allegations that Dhonden had demanded payments in return for ensuring the spiritual leader appear at a large event which Kranzler hosted in Washington state in 2008.
Dhonden has not responded to requests for comment but vehemently rejected wrongdoing via his attorneys. They said last month that Kranzler’s allegations related to events that “occurred nearly a decade ago, are largely inaccurate and otherwise relate to conduct that is not unlawful, unethical, or even inappropriate”. They added that the allegations were “designed to falsely and unfairly tarnish” Dhonden’s reputation and that any payments he received were for legitimate work.
In a phone interview last week Grace, a former marine, claimed Dhonden loyalists in Dharamsala had insulated the Dalai Lama from complaints and that action was overdue.
A California university administrator who liaised with Dhonden over Dalai Lama events, and requested anonymity, said colleagues gave the monk a coarse nickname for his perceived obsession about inviting celebrities regardless of whether they had any interest in Buddhism or Tibet.
Some critics also blamed Dhonden for organising an event in Albany in 2009 hosted by Nxivm, a controversial self-help organisation that has been compared to a cult, a description adherents reject. The event was initially cancelled after an outcry but then went ahead, giving a misleading impression that the Dalai Lama endorsed Nxivm, according to Dhonden’s detractors.
Leading Nxivm adherents include Sara Bronfman, a wealthy heiress with a longstanding interest in Buddhism whom Dhonden has befriended, according to several sources.
The monk is also close to Pierre Omidyar, the eBay founder, and his wife Pam, travelling in their private jet, visiting their estate in Hawaii and facilitating meetings with the Dalai Lama, according to people who have attended some of the meetings. The couple has a longstanding interest in Buddhism.
Bronfman and the Omidyars did not respond to requests for comment.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/29/tenzin-dhonden-dalai-lama-corruption-celebrity-investigation?CMP=share_btn_fb

The Dalai Lama is tired and exhausted. The CTA is taking advantage of him for so long and does not respect his age and need to rest.

This is the result! Such a shame!

I don’t understand why Dalai Lama Ji said Buddha Shakyamuni not born in Lumbini?

We respect Dalai Lama Ji and the Tibetan government so much, And why the Tibetan government never ever care of our Nepali Brothers and Sister?

I am so upset for this statement. And Thank You Dorje Shugden website bring this statement out to the world.

हामीलाई सहयोगको लागि धन्यवाद

Why the Dalai Lama uttered those words and for what end is baffling and improper. UNESCO officially recognised that the whole property belongs to Nepal yet the Dalai Lama said otherwise. This is a dangerous thing to say and could lead to more debates over the said property between Nepal and India. In another news article, The Dalai Lama took a swipe at the Indians, saying Indians are lazier than the Chinese.

This is the same man who told Tibetans that Dorje Shugden is a spirit and the practice harms his life and the cause of a free Tibet or autonomy. I do not believe what the Dalai Lama said about Dorje Shugden.

https://www.google.com/amp/www.timesnownews.com/amp/the-buzz/article/dalai-lama-indians-chinese-laziness-tibet-tibetan-spiritual-leader-dharamsala-himachal-pradesh-kolkata-indian-chamber-of-commerce/132011#ampshare=http://www.timesnownews.com/the-buzz/article/dalai-lama-indians-chinese-laziness-tibet-tibetan-spiritual-leader-dharamsala-himachal-pradesh-kolkata-indian-chamber-of-commerce/132011

I believe Dalai Lama uttered these should have reasons behind it.

It’s painful and hurt hearts of Nepali people when Dalai Lama said such things. Why do His Holiness saying that? Was He indirectly signalling to CTA not to depend Him on raising funds?
🤔🤔

H.H Dalai Lama should not simply get involve in such sensitive topics as it will bring negative consequences for others, the Nepali & Tibetan refugees at Nepal. It definitely created disharmony and fights among the the people.

Kashag’s allegations “false, incomplete and manipulative,” says former NA envoy P. Tsering
[Wednesday, December 06, 2017 12:59]
By Tenzin Dharpo
DHARAMSHALA, Dec. 5: The former North America representative Penpa Tsering refuted all the allegations against him saying they are “false, incomplete and manipulative,” at a press conference here today. He said that while the executive body of the Central Tibetan Administration led by Dr. Lobsang Sangay has the authority to terminate him, he rejects the allegations which he said was an “attempt to malign his image.”
The row over the termination of Penpa Tsering’s tenure in Washington office began on Nov. 7 when the Kashag made a public announcement that former education minister Ngodup Tsering will be the new NA envoy. Later the Kashag made public a 10-point statement which cited growing “performance and trust deficit” as well as “insubordination” by Penpa Tsering.
The former Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament in exile today said that he couldn’t respond sooner to the allegations as he was bound by regulations not to speak out while being a staff of the CTA. He shared a 97-page document that included official correspondences, some of which appeared confidential.
In response to the Kashag’s allegation of ‘trust deficit’, he said that it was the Sangay led Kashag which portrayed reluctance in trusting him. Tsering said two additional Directors for the TCDF (Tibetan Community Development Fund), including a close aide of the President, were added just two months into his tenure and that he was kept in the dark on matters related to US government funding under the PRM and USAID initiatives despite reaching out to President Sangay on the matters. He also said that his office was not notified on a few occasions when the President or a member of the cabinet visited the North America on official schedule.
Penpa Tsering said that he categorically refutes ‘lack of performance’ allegation as he had left no stones unturned as far as output of his office is concerned. Responding to the charges of failure to set up key meetings with officials of the US government, he said that his office had approached concerned offices through official mails but that the meetings could not materialize due to scheduling conflicts. He added that closure of the bank accounts was a political move that no one could have avoided, he said while addressing the allegation over the warning by a prominent bank to close several accounts under the OoT. He backed his claims with copies of the correspondence to the media. “Was any of my predecessors charged for not being able to set up meetings for the President?” Tsering questioned.
The former NA envoy also said he does not accept the “insubordination” allegations against him. Addressing the incidents cited by the Kashag, he said Chinese liaison officer Kunga Tashi’s appointment was not finalized and he told the public that such appointment was subject to Kashag’s.
On the loan debacle concerning the Tibet Fund and OoT, the former Speaker said the President first raised the issue in the ten point statement and that any problems arising out of it for the CTA or chaos amongst the public will be the responsibility of the Kashag.
He shared a copy of the “Promissory note,” an internal agreement between the OoT and Tibet Fund. He said that the non profit organization continued to show the amount of 1.5 million USD as loan despite the President’s insistence that “it was not a loan” and that such back door agreements with an organization based in a foreign land is a breach of the Tibetan Charter’s article 6 where compliance to the laws of the host nation is stressed clearly. Penpa Tsering said it was his duty to question such discrepancies and does not consider such acts as insubordination.
Through the three hours fifty-minute press conference, the former NA envoy reiterated that he had not breached any rules and regulations of the exile Tibetan administration and called on the Kashag to speak out on any specific breaches.
http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=39878&article=Kashag%E2%80%99s+allegations+%E2%80%9Cfalse%2c+incomplete+and+manipulative%2c%E2%80%9D+says+former+NA+envoy+P.+Tsering

The Dalai Lama Wants to Return Home
BY P. STOBDAN ON 04/12/2017
Is India bracing for the potential fallout?
The impact of the 19th Communist Party of China congress and affirmation of President Xi Jinping as China’s ‘most powerful’ leader in decades seems already to be having a bearing on India – especially on the ‘Tibet Issue’ that deeply intersects with the boundary problem. Is India bracing for the potential fallout?
There may be more to the Dalai Lama’s desire to return home than meets the eye. The Tibetan leader’s November 23 statement – “The past is past, Tibetans want to stay with China” – carries a serious political overtone, coming as it does immediately after the 19th party congress and the Doklam standoff between India and China.
The Dalai Lama’s statement that he is “not seeking independence for Tibet and wishing to stay with China” is not new; however, his declaration that “he would return to Tibet at once, if China agrees” has sparked fresh speculation of a possible rapprochement with Beijing.
The sign of rapid thawing strangely comes on the heels of President Donald Trump’s recent visit to Beijing. Most likely, Trump wouldn’t have made Tibet a pressure point in his dealings with Beijing; rather he would have dumped the Dalai Lama (whom the US fostered for over half a century) on the altar of a better trade deal and for securing China’s commitment to exert more pressure on North Korea. During the trip US officials made to Dharamshala prior to Trump’s visit, this prospect would probably have been discussed.
The inevitability of this change was clear when the US had started faltering on Tibet even earlier, when Barack Obama had to welcome the Dalai Lama through the back door of the White House, signalling Washington’s inability to withstand Beijing’s pressure.
Trump was not even inclined to embrace the issue, as he refused to meet the Tibetan leader and instead proposed zero aid in 2018 to the Tibetans, reversing the decades-old American policy. The State Department has also not appointed a special coordinator for Tibet.
Surely it couldn’t have been a coincidence that a week after Trump’s China visit, the Dalai Lama abruptly selected two personal emissaries (for an indefinite period) to represent him in all ‘global engagements’. He has cited increasing physical fatigue, but the decision to appoint two “trusted friends” – former ‘prime minister-in-exile‘ Samdong Rinpoche and current president of the ‘government in exile’, Lobsang Sangay – was meant to send a calibrated signal to China.
Anyway, the Dalai Lama has been working on a new plan – 5/50 vision – that envisaged a five-year strategy for returning to dialogue with China, but preparing for a 50-year struggle if needed – along the “hope for the best and prepare for the worst” proverb. The 5/50 strategy reaffirmed his middle way approach (Umaylam) as a realistic political means of realising the dual aim of his early return to Tibet and fulfilling the aspirations of the Tibetan people.
Appointing personal emissaries satisfies China. Beijing has been emphatically asking the Dalai Lama to stop travelling to Western capitals, if talks are to be resumed. At the 19th party congress, the Tibet Work Forum chief told reporters that international figures have no excuse for meeting with the Dalai Lama. Recently, the Dalai Lama even had to abort his planned visit to Botswana, citing physical “exhaustion”.
Within this rapidly-unfolding scenario, the Dalai Lama appears to have sent Samdong on a discreet visit to Kunming (China). Samdong’s visit, starting from mid November, must have been facilitated by no less than You Quan – newly-appointed head of the United Front Work Department that overseas Tibetan affairs. You Quan, who formerly served as party secretary of Fujian, is a close associate of President Xi. He had earlier successfully dealt with Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan’s business communities.
Clearly, Samdong’s visit forms part of the first five-year plan to engage with China, while Lobsang Sangay’s 17-day tour to Europe and Canada is meant to sustain the struggle for the next 50 years, if the first plan fails.
Will the talks succeed now? In the past, Chinese leaders stymied the Dalai Lama’s desire to return to Tibet. But there is a distinct possibility that it may bear fruit this time.
First, Xi, widely known to have a soft spot for Tibet, hitherto kept his own approach close to his chest, fearing resistance from hardliners. Unlike others, he held the view that the prospects for solving the Tibet problem would peter out once the Dalai Lama is no more. Xi now finds himself in a perfect position to resolve the issue as no other Chinese leader could do in the past, for he also stands to gain personally both in political and moral terms, to become the most credible leader in China’s history.
Second, the Dalai Lama too long hoped for Xi to change tack, as he hailed him as “realist” and “open-minded” in contrast to his predecessors. In fact, the Tibetan leader has admitted to having received positive signals from top Chinese officials, especially from the moderate elements as streams of Han Chinese flocked to meet him during Xi’s first term. In May this year, the party was shocked to find their own party members clandestinely funding the Dalai Lama.
But, most critically, Tibetans living inside Tibet may have pressured the Dalai Lama to seize the opportunity and resolve differences during Xi’s second term, before the window for a deal closes a few years from now.
With time running out fast, the Dalai Lama can be anything but hopeful. He has been steadily losing international support in the face of China’s rise as a world power. No longer does any country dare to receive the Dalai Lama officially.
Apart from his own ageing, the Tibetan leader faces the challenge of keeping his flock together. For example, the delay in reaching a solution causes anxiety, uncertainty and division among his people. Even inside Tibet, rising frustration and hopelessness have been highlighted by people resorting to self-immolation. The number stands at 149 so far.
And so, in what must be an embarrassing climb-down for the exiled Tibetan leaders, all they can do now is settle for the cause of “development”, besides hoping that the Chinese will not resort to repression of the Tibetan people.
Therefore, in a way, we are likely witness the curtains finally being drawn on Tibet’s quest for an independent state. Tim Johnson knew this when he aptly titled his book Tragedy in Crimson: How the Dalai Lama Conquered the World but Lost the Battle with China.
And finally, for India, the question is whether New Delhi has any role to play in this rapidly-evolving scene, and if so under what political parameters. There is no sign of anyone having even considered the impact of this. But to be cautious, any Sino-Tibetan deal would seriously risk undercutting India’s position on the boundary dispute with China.
Seemingly fretful about impending developments, the Dalai Lama now finds himself walking a political tightrope by espousing reconciliation between India and China, “living peacefully by putting the differences aside”. He maintained a hands-off position and tried not to get drawn even into the Doklam standoff – instead calling for a peaceful solution. One hopes he is successful this time.
P. Stobdan, a former Indian ambassador, specialises in Chinese, Tibetan, Mongolian and Uighur affairs.
https://thewire.in/201726/dalai-lama-india-china-tibet/

This really confused me further, Dalai Lama is the emanation of Chenrezig and he is the leader of Tibetan Buddhist and furthermore he has been serving his whole life for promoting Dharma and even won the noble peace prize, with all these efforts, we can clearly see that Dalai Lama is definitely not fake, but recently Dalai Lama has been acting very weird, and now he is saying Buddha was not born in Nepal? I wonder why did Dalai Lama did this.

I respect Dalai Lama because he spent his entire life practising and preach BUddha teaching. But i just don’t understand that why Dalai Lama mentioned Dorje Shugden is a worship of demon and yet so many high lamas were practicing and reincarnated back which already proof that Dorje Shugden is not a demon, otherwise those high lamas can not be taken rebirth as a high lama.again. So i dont understand why Dalai Lama wanted to get himselves involved in such a sensitive issue again? What is going on?

How far can we go when it comes to creating problems for the Tibetans. I think Buddha was born in the region and depending on the timescale whether it was India, Nepal or any other country, it is not that important.

Unfortunately, the Nepalese people who were so supportive of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetans don’t feel in the same way and felt offended which can be understood.

I would recommend that the Dalai Lama gets more support for the Tibetan Leadership so that his responsibility in his age is not that extensive.

The Tibetan Leadership not only has a responsibility towards all Tibetans but also including the Dalai Lama of course. When will the CTA, Tibetan Leadership in Exile finally realize this?

The Dalai Lama, this great monk has been cheated by all those around him and these articles on DorjeShugden.com are maybe only the tip of the iceberg???!!!

How bad to be with the Dalai Lama like this. Same for the CTA as we can read that so much money was used for themselves and not for the Tibetans… sigh

Thank you DorjeShugden.com

The Dalai Lama has banned the Dorje Shugden practice, yet millions around the world are exercising their democratic rights by practicing Dorje Shugden, so the CTA should not segregate and discriminate against them.

The Dalai Lama has banned the Rangzen (Tibet Independence) movement, yet many are exercising their democratic rights by continuing to pursue for Tibet’s independence.

Video: Rangzen people are more dangerous than Dorje Shugden people by Prof Samdhong Rinpoche: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tn62-WmDFg4

The Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) are very defiant, within days after the Dalai Lama said that “Tibetans want to stay with China”, the TYC has announced it will take out a nationwide campaign in India calling for independence for Tibet. Shouldn’t the Tibetan leadership in Dharamsala and Dalai Lama take action against the Rangzen people? Dalai Lama has expressed that he wishes to visit Tibet and see the 6 million Tibetans before he passes. The only way to do this is to become friends with China. If that is the case, if Rangzen activist protest against China, would this not jeopardize his wishes? Tibetans are always saying they owe so much to the Dalai Lama and if this is so, shouldn’t they help the Dalai Lama return to Tibet by becoming friends with China? The first step is that the Dalai Lama and his exiled govt (CTA) in Dharamsala, North India, must start using the China flag. Show some concessions. Make China happy. If Dalai Lama wants to be an autonomous state of China under China, he has to be sincere by using the China flag first. After all, all the world leaders are now refusing to meet on official terms the Dalai Lama. Dalai Lama is being banned from more and more countries. More heads of state are scrambling to make friends with China and not Dalai Lama. To be friends or friendly with Dalai Lama will bring no economic benefits to their countries. China is the largest economy in the world now and is still growing. By being friends with China, many countries will benefit their economy and that is the first priority of all world leaders.

More leaders are not meeting the Dalai Lama and his popularity is dropping. Even if Tibetans want to use violence to overcome China, it will be impossible. Six million Tibetans cannot withstand the might of the 1.2 billion Chinese in warfare. The best route is the Dalai Lama’s middle way which is to become an autonomous state under China and he can return to Tibet to visit and see his followers who are waiting for him. All countries should not use Dalai Lama as a trump card to irritate China because of the competition with China. It is better to be friends with a super-power such as China.

Tenzin Monlom

Tibetan youth plan march for freedom
NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 08, 2017 22:18 IST
by Suhasini Haidar
New Delhi must review its policy… after Doklam, people of India realise what is going on: group leader
Days after the Dalai Lama said that “Tibetans want to stay with China”, the Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC), the largest group of youth activists among the refugee population, has announced it will take out a nationwide campaign in India calling for independence for Tibet, highlighting the growing divide within the community in India.
The march, called the “Bharat Jagran Yatra”, will also coincide with the arrival of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi who is attending the Russia-India-China (RIC) meeting in Delhi. The External Affairs Ministry declined to comment if the march would affect the talks in any way, but a senior government official who handles Tibetan refugee matters said the government “isn’t too worried”.
While the TYC has carried out protests in the past, this is the first time it is attempting a march of this scale. “There is a sense of frustration among our people who have lived for 50 years in exile. We have to educate people about the need for an independent Tibet and why it is important for India, given Chinese intrusions at the border, as well,” TYC president Tenzin Jigme told The Hindu, outlining plans for the march beginning December 10 from Dharamshala, Chennai and Salaugara in West Bengal, to travel to 150 towns and cities.
Among the TYC’s demands are that India must “review its policy” and support Tibetan independence. “We must seize the moment, as after Doklam, people of India realise what is going on. Already several [Indian] leaders have spoken of reviewing India’s policies [on Tibet],” Mr. Jigme said.
India recognises the Tibet Autonomous Region as part of China, and has reiterated that there has been no change in the official “One-China” policy. However, since 2014, the NDA government has toughened its stand on supporting the Tibetan community, beginning with an invitation to the ‘Sikyong’ or leader Lobsang Sangay to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony.
Dalai Lama’s visit
Analysts say the government has also increased security for the Dalai Lama, and will be facilitating another visit by him to Arunachal Pradesh shortly, which China has always objected to.
However, the larger concern at present is over the growing divide between the Dalai Lama’s leadership, which advocates the Umaylam or middle-way approach that calls for more autonomy for Tibet within China, against the Rangzen or independence demand pushed by the TYC and their followers in the Tibetan diaspora. At a speech in Kolkata last month, the Dalai Lama said Tibetans “will have to look into the future” and seek development, not independence, following which his official envoy, Samdhong Rinpoche, reportedly visited China.
“This Umaylam-Rangzen schism has been growing since elections were held last year,” says Jayadev Ranade, former Cabinet Secretariat official and author of a new book, Cadres in Tibet.
Mr. Ranade, who has closely watched the Tibetan community in India, estimated to be between 1.5 lakh and 4.5 lakh, adds, “For us in India, the concern is about any law and order issue that would come out of it.”
(With Vijaita Singh)
http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/tibetan-youth-plan-march-for-freedom/article21340159.ece

CTA would like to downplay Samdhong Rinpoche’s private visit to China. The fact is, in order for him to go, he needs permission of India government, China government and Dalai Lama. For someone as high profile as him and who has criticised China for decades to be even allowed to go to China shows you that he is not going there for excursion, holidays or just to meet relatives. It will definitely be something official. Since he is going as the envoy of the Dalai Lama, it is definitely to negotiate with the China government regarding Tibet’s autonomy and Dalai Lama’a returning back, it could not be anything else. Therefore it is important for CTA and all Tibetans and their supporters to stop criticising China so that the negotiation goes through smoothly, and there will be a positive resolution for Tibet and a chance for the Dalai Lama to visit China and Tibet. The irony is, after Samdhong Rinpoche visited china, he is not accused to be colluding with China government for Tibet, HE HIMSELF is going to China. So there is no point in accusing Dorje Shugden people of befriending China, because the Tibetans exiled leaders are going to China themselves now.

Cautious Sangay says Samdhong Rinpoche made a “private visit” to China
[Friday, December 15, 2017 16:51]
By Tenzin Dharpo
DHARAMSHALA, Dec. 15: In the much speculated development over the visit of former Tibetan Kalon Tripa (then called Prime Minister), Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche to China, Tibetan President Dr. Lobsang Sangay said that the close aide of the Tibetan leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama did visit China. “It was at most, a private visit”, Dr. Sangay said on Thursday in New Delhi.
The head of the exile Tibetan government (known officially as the Central Tibetan Administration), while responding to a question at the Prof. ML Sondhi Memorial Lecture in New Delhi said that he did not get any official confirmation on the front from Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche.
“He (Prof. SR) is yet to brief me officially, so I don’t know the details. But it’s out in the papers. But I think we should not read too much into it.” Dr. Sangay is seen responding in a video clip shared by Tibet TV of the Q&A session at the event.
On Dec. 4, a former Indian Ambassador and columnist P.Stobtan wrote that Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche made a “discreet visit” to Kunming, China and met You Quan, head of the United Front Work Department that overseas Tibetan affairs. He also wrote that the Dalai Lama’s ‘right-hand-man’ and one of Xi Jinping’s closest aide met in November in Kunming, China.
The Tibetan Prez, however, said that Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche went to Wutai-Shan mountains in Shanxi Province, just about 350 kms from Beijing, for the meet. The Wutai-shan mountains seem especially apt considering the holy Buddhist sites there and the fact that Dalai lama was reported to have expressed his wish to visit the same for a religious pilgrimage in the late 1990s.
While the issue was widely discussed in the Tibetan community and Tibetan media with regards to resumption of dialogue between China and Tibet, the official confirmation for the same has not surfaced. The Dalai Lama’s private office has not made any disclosure on the incident.
The Tibetan President also said that such developments should not be taken too seriously with regards to resolution of the Tibet issue as the previous nine rounds of dialogue between the Tibetan envoys and their Chinese counterparts have not borne result and further caused “regression” when it comes to the Tibetans exercising restrain in the global arena.
http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=39926&article=Cautious+Sangay+says+Samdhong+Rinpoche+made+a+%E2%80%9Cprivate+visit%E2%80%9D+to+China

India and China realized the importance of maintaining peace and tranquility in the border areas, and held daylong talks to prevent border disagreements. This move shows the commitment of both giants to foster better relations with each other, seeking mutually acceptable resolutions. See the article below:
India, China hold talks on long-running border dispute
BY Ashok Sharma | AP
NEW DELHI, India, 22 December 2017
India and China on Friday discussed ways to prevent a repeat of a recent face-off between their armed forces at a Himalayan plateau where their borders meet and agreed that resolving their boundary disagreements served the interests of both countries.
Relations between the two Asian giants have often been strained, partly due to an undemarcated border. They fought a month-long border war in 1962 and have been trying to settle the boundary since the 1980s.
The two sides agreed Friday that pending the final resolution of the boundary issue, it was necessary to maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas, a statement by India’s External Affairs Ministry said at the end of daylong talks.
The Indian side was led by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and the Chinese delegation by Special Representative Yang Jiechi. The two had met in Beijing in July on the sidelines of a meeting of the Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa (BRICS) summit.
“The talks were positive and focused on bringing out the full potential of the closer developmental partnership between the two countries,” the statement said. “They re-emphasized their commitment to achieve a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution to the India-China boundary question at an early date.”
The latest confrontation took place where India and China’s border meets that of Bhutan. It started in June when Indian troops moved in to stop China from constructing a road in the Doklam region in Bhutan. Both countries agreed to pull back their troops on 28 August.
The border dispute continues to bedevil relations between the giant Asian neighbours — armed with nuclear weapons and with 2.6 billion people between them — despite a recent warming of economic relations.
Each side accuses the other of occupying its territory. China claims some 90,000 square kilometres (35,000 square miles) of territory in India’s northeast and cites the region’s cultural affinity with Tibet as evidence that the area is part of what it calls “southern” Tibet. India says China occupies 38,000 square kilometres (15,000 square miles) of its territory in the Aksai Chin plateau in the western Himalayas.
Friday’s was the 20th meeting between the two sides on the border issue since mid-1980s.
https://www.tibetsun.com/news/2017/12/22/india-china-hold-talks-on-long-running-border-dispute

China made another intelligent maneuver in offering economic incentives in exchange for political favor. Recently, Senator Steve Daines of Montana hosted a delegation of Chinese Communist Party officials that oversee Tibet and undercut the simultaneous visit by the President of the Tibetan Government in exile in exchange for a $200 million deal with a leading Chinese retailer to export Montana’s beef to China. The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) is no match for China regarding political astuteness and intelligence. If the CTA is smart, they will start to build rapport and stop condemning China for an event that happened over 60 years ago.

US Senator Exchanged Tibet For Economic Incentives With China?
TJ editor| December 18, 2017
A US Senator is reported to have overseen the fact that Tibet is going under a serious situation of human rights crisis for economic deals with China. According to an opinion in the Washington Post columnist Josh Rogin, China is bidding political favours in foreign countries in return for economic incentives they provide.
“In its effort to cultivate foreign influence, the Chinese Communist Party boldly mixes economic incentives with requests for political favors. Its dealings with Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) this year offer a success story for Beijing.” write Josh Rogin in The Washington Post.
The writer explains how the recent case with Senator Daines’s dealing with the China perfectly demonstrates how such an exchange took place.
“Last month Daines announced a breakthrough in his long-standing effort to win access for Montana’s beef exports to China — a $200 million deal with a leading Chinese retailer.” said the opinion “Then, on Dec. 5, the regime of Xi Jinping got something at least as valuable from Daines. The senator hosted a delegation of Chinese Communist Party officials who oversee Tibet, at the request of the Chinese Embassy — thereby undercutting a simultaneous visit to Washington by the president of the Tibetan government in exile.”
While The House Foreign Affairs Asia subcommittee held a hearing on December 6 about Chinese repression in Tibet in due consideration over China’s growing oppression in Tibet, inaccessibility of foreign media and officials into Tibet, etc., where Hollywood actor spoke as witness, Daines was reported to have praised Chinese officials in Tibet for doing “a good job in environmental protection and traditional cultural preservation.”
http://www.tibetanjournal.com/index.php/2017/12/18/us-senator-selling-tibet-economic-incentives-china/

Although this issue has been resolved, I still do not understand why the Dalai Lama would joke about a fact in a denigrating manner. It was really unnecessary and insulting. The action is similar to him imposing the unlawful ban on Dorje Shugden’s practice. I do not understand why the Nepalese made so much noise also since they did nothing to the place. There’s no cleaning up, no preservation, no tourist activities were done.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama is again, expressing his wish to visit China. This is not the first time His Holiness mentioned about visiting or returning to China. In fact, His Holiness made a strong statement in November 2017 that His Holiness “would return to Tibet at once, if China agrees”. Could this be another sign from the Tibetan leadership that rapprochement with China is happening soon?

Dalai Lama Waiting For A Pilgrimage Visit to China One Day
By TJ editor
January 23, 2018
The Buddhist spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama during the course of teaching at Bodh Gaya today told that he is praying for a pilgrimage visit China’s Mount Wutai one day. His Holiness concluded the Diamond Cutter Sutra teachings specially dedicated to the Chinese disciples presently attending in Bodh Gaya on Tuesday.
While explaining about the significance of the holy place in China, Wu Tai Shan, the five peaked mountain, His Holiness told that he is praying to have an opportunity to visit the holy place to receive the blessings of Manjushri.
“China has a special connection with Manjushri, and Wu Tai Shan—the Five Peaked Mountain is the sacred place associated with him. If you Chinese can do the practices of these two, Manjushri and Sarasvati, it will be of special benefit to you. Meanwhile, I pray that one day I may visit Wu Tai Shan to receive Manjushri’s blessings—and you can pray for that too. To make your having come to Bodhgaya worthwhile, try to develop an understanding of emptiness and cultivate a good heart.” His Holiness the Dalai Lama explained at the third and last day of teachings for the Chinese disciples in Bodh Gaya today.
The Tibetan spiritual leader fled from Tibet in 1959, following the military coup by the People’s Liberation Army of China and sought refuge in India since then. Over the last six decades, the Tibetan exile community thrived to rebuild a national struggle and His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been very optimistic that he will be able to return to Tibet within his life time.
Since His Holiness’s arrival to Bodh Gaya since the beginning of this month, he has conducted three series of teachings to thousands of devotees gathered at the holy place. While the first teaching was organised at the request of his Indian devotees, the third teaching was specially dedicated to the disciples from the Mainland China.
The Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama is expected to stay in Bodh Gaya till the beginning of February, there will be public talk Education for Universal Ethics in Schools and Colleges to students from private and government schools at the Kalachakra ground on Thursday.
http://www.tibetanjournal.com/index.php/2018/01/23/dalai-lama-waiting-pilgrimage-visit-china-one-day/

Dorje Shugden practitioners have been victims of unfounded blame for more than half a decade with news reports initiated by the Tibetan leadership in Dharamsala alerting the public that Shugden fundamentalist groups posed huge security threat to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. It was alleged that they were covertly backed up by China. The reality is that terrorists are out to harm His Holiness, with two bombs found amid His Holiness’ tight security, thanks to the intensive combing operation by Indian police. The Central Tibetan Administration should stop spreading lies that Shugden practitioners or more absurdly, Shugden practice imperil the life of the Dalai Lama, and pay more attention to real threats such as this.

One Suspect of Bodhgaya Blast Appear to Be Nepali Origin, JMB the Terror Group

January 29, 2018 | By TJ editor
Five suspects in the Bodhgaya blast have been picked out from the video footage in the CCTV cameras installed around the Mahabodhi temple and the police believes one of them to be of Nepali origin. Jamaat-ul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) terror group is being suspected as the primary outfit behind the Bodh Gaya incident and less likely for the Students Islamic Movement of India or Indian Mujahideen’s hand.
Gaya police is seeking the assistance of investigating agencies across the country to find out the identity details of five suspects they have found from the CCTV video footage. While the pictures of the five suspects are being circulated among the agencies by Gaya police, an officer informed that one of the suspects appears to be of Nepali origin.
“The officer, who requested anonymity, said that one of the five suspects appeared to be of Nepali origin. Their movements have been traced with the help of CCTVs. One of the suspects abandoned a bag containing explosives near gate number four of the temple. Another bomb was planted near the Tibetan monastery.” said the report in the Telegraph.
According to the investigations, JMB could have activated a module in Bihar to carry out the attack, suggesting that the attack was controlled from West Bengal. There is a call made from Bihar to West Bengal after planting the three bombs in Bodh Gaya is what has led the investigators to believe that the JMB could be behind the incident.
“The officer said the evidence strongly indicates JMB’s involvement in the failed terror attack, which had aimed to kill Buddhist monks and foreigners present in Bodh Gaya to listen to the sermons of Buddhist spiritual leader the Dalai Lama. ” said the report in Times of India.
http://www.tibetanjournal.com/index.php/2018/01/29/suspects-bodhgaya-blast-appear-nepali-origin/

Mr. Mila Rangzen says the head of the Tibetan exiled govt is a sexual predator

Since 2011, Lobsang Sangay’s tenure as the President of the Central Tibetan Administration has been mired with various scandals and failures, such as the election scandal and the US$1.5 million loan scandal. The 17% unemployment rate among the Tibetans in exile has also forced some Tibetans to become spies, betraying their host country India. Now, in more shocking news from Mila Rangzen, who has been proven to have access to a lot of insider news, Lobsang Sangay has been revealed to be a sexual predator who does not hesitate to risk the Dalai Lama’s reputation to satisfy his lust. More women and people are speaking up about this. This is really breaking news. These women deserve a platform to express the pain and humiliation and be open to heal.

Mila Rangzen has, on numerous occasions, shared extremely accurate and reliable news for the benefit of the Tibetan community. He has never failed us with the accuracy of the news and they have all proven to be true. Mila seems to not be afraid to tell the truth.

All the victims of the sexual predator Lobsang Sangay should not keep quiet anymore and must expose him once and for all. He should be punished for his actions and asked to step down from his position now! The victims should be empowered by this and speak up and point the finger at Lobsang Sangay if this is true. Do not stay in the dark and hide your shame because Lobsang Sangay is destroying the reputation of the Dalai Lama.

President Sangay and the sexual assault on Ms Leslie Butterfield
February 21, 2018
Just as you, the reader, I am also very concerned about the direction that LS is taking the Tibetan community towards.  Just as Trump he is catering to his base of fanatic Khampa sanjor ex-monk supporters leading to disharmony and divisiveness. Let me start in 2011 during the Kalachakra in Washington DC. – During the Kalachakra from July 6-16th, LS also visited as is normal for him to bask in the glory of His Holiness.  An intern, Leslie Butterfield, at the ICT was assigned to him to assist him in his meetings and moving around DC.  Ms. Butterfield was in her early 20s then and a very attractive young woman who supported His Holiness and the Tibetan cause with her whole heart and being.  She is known to have been a very active participant in numerous activities to further the cause of Tibet and spread the work of compassion of His Holiness.
It was the night of July 11th that LS physically assaulted her in his hotel room.  The next day she reported this to Mary Beth Markey, the then President of ICT.  There were others in the office who were also made aware of the incident of the previous night. Ms. Butterfield was convinced by Marybeth and others in the ICT not to file charges against LS using the name of HH as an emotional blackmail.  That she would be sullying the name of His Holiness if she was to file a complaint.  She was pressured into not filing a complaint which makes people at ICT complicit in a cover-up.  With so many women coming out with sexual abuse charges it may be time for Ms. Butterfield to come out too.
She is now married with a child.  Maura Mohinyan comes to mind as someone capable of convincing her to come forward.  Maura as I know her has in-depth knowledge of LS dealings.
During his last visit to NY and DC along with Kaydor, he had a meeting with the Tibet Fund regarding the $1.5 mil loan.  He is pressurizing TF to write off the loan before the parliament session begins in March so as to prove his point that it was a grant and not a loan even though existing documents show the money as a loan which I have written in depth.  During the meeting, he emotionally blackmailed the TF saying that he was going to ask HH for the money so that it is paid back to the TF just to prove that it was not a loan even though paying it back means it was a loan.  He explicitly asked the TF “if they were comfortable taking money from HH”.  There are ongoing talks between TF and OoT, DC on his behalf about this money.
His exact words are in the minutes of the meeting at the TF which shall be released here in the next article as it pertains to the interest of the Tibetan people and political corruption.  It is common knowledge in India that HH is very disappointed, to say the least, with LS and the way he is using his office for personal glorification.  The only audience he got was in Gaya after months of trying to see HH.  He has no shame and had the audacity to ask HH to mediate and solve the loan issue.  HH’s response is one of pin-drop silence.
There are numerous allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse of power in Dharamshala but all will not come out openly for fear of retribution as you and I know how the law works in India.  A spark/catalyst is much needed if these women are to get justice and it is where my role begins.
https://thetibetstar.com/2018/02/21/president-sangay-and-the-sexual-assault-on-ms-leslie-butterfield/

Tibetan govt in exile is corrupt, liars, segregationalists, greedy, bigots and this is what they do when Dalai Lama is alive. After Dalai Lama is no more, the whole Tibetan govt in exile will just collapse overnight.

They lost their country in 1959 because they are too corrupt to keep it. For the last 60 years they cannot get their country back. Tibetan govt is a failure whether in Tibet or in exile.