Page1 Announcement of Election 2011 Page 2 22nd Meeting of Task Force Page 3 H.H’s Buddhist Teaching at TCV Page4 H.H’s Upcoming Visit to Japan Page6 Abused Tibetan Writers

Tibet: Age bar on climbing

Buddhist School In Jammu

Bi-MonthlyB o d - K y i - Cha- Trin

I n t e r n a t i o n a l

Rs.5Vol. 01, Issue 19, 15 June 2010

His Holiness to Visit Japan

www.thetibetpost.com

.....See page 8

......See page 7

............ See detail on page 8

Mt. Everest, the highest peak in the world.

Dharamshala: China informed climbing agencies inKathmandu that there would be an age bar onclimbing Mt Everest on Thursday. China iscontrolling the kid-climbers from autumn afterAmerican boy wonder Jordan Romero becoming theyoungest climber in the world and mademountaineering history within after the month withnot able to beat his record. .....Detail on page 5

...See page 4

Voting Dates for 2011 Election of NewTibetan PM, MP Announced

Dharamshala: At a press conference inDharamshala on Thursday, Mr Jampal Choesang,the chief election commissioner of the Tibetangovernment-in-exile, announced the voting datesof the upcoming elections for the next TibetanPrime Minister and Tibetan Parliamentrepresentatives. He also introduced twoadditional election commissioners, who wererecently appointed by His Holiness the DalaiLama.The Ven. Geshe Rigzin Choedak, the head ofDolma Ling, (Tibetan Nunnery and Institute ofBuddhist Dialectics) and Mr Chutpar YangkhoGyal, general Secretary of Central Editorial (ShejaKundue Tsomdig), have been appointed asadditional election commissioners, who have thesame power as Mr. Choesang.The fixed terms for the 14th Tibetan parliament-in-exile and the 2nd Tibetan prime minister (Kalontripa) will end in 2011. Mr Choesang said that theelection commission has already sent out a firstannouncement regarding the 2011 elections andwill send another soon for voter registration."The pre-election of the 15th parliament and 3rdPrime Minister voting will be fixed at same datethis time on October 3; also same with the lastGeneral Election on March 20 2011, second weeknear after the Tibetan New Year by expecting

Banner saying 50 Years of Injustice.Tibetans living in northern Indian hill town of

Dharamshala, stands for 50 year injustice in Tibet.Photo: TPI

Paris: Reporters Without Borders Thursdaycondemns two new serious cases of detention anduse of violence against Tibetan journalists andwriters in the past few days.Two magazine editors were arrested by police inChengdu on 5 June and were mistreated all nightbefore being released, while a writer and monk wasarrested without a warrant for the second time in13 months on 24 May in Ngaba, in eastern Tibet,and has been held ever since without being able tosee his family."The Chinese authorities are offering an idealisedvision of a peaceful Tibet in the 2010 ShanghaiWorld Expo but the information coming from theTibetan areas is very different," Reporters WithoutBorders said.

Tibetans Condemn China's Harsh-

Sentences, Urges World for HelpFollowers listen to Tibetan spiritual leader His

Holiness the Dalai Lama at a public gathering atGulabgarh, about 310 kilometers (192 miles) from

Jammu, India, Saturday, June 5, 2010. The Dalai Lamais on a two day visit. Photo: AP

Gulab Garh, Kishtwar, Jammu:Tibetan spiritualleader His Holiness the Dalai Lama attended the15th founding anniversary of Himalayan BuddhistCultural School in Gulab Garh, Kishtwar districtin Jammu, this morning.

Zanskar: Endangered Culture

Dharamshala: Tibetan Government in-exile onFriday condemned the Chinese government'sdecision of death sentence to one Tibetan andlong prison terms to five others, an officialstatement said. This follows a statement of theTibetan Parliament in-exile, on Thursday saidit "strongly condemns the inhumane approachtowards people who dare to expressthemselves either individually as writers ortogether in a peaceful mass demonstration."'The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) isdeeply concerned that the Chinesegovernment has once again handed down adeath sentence to one Tibetan and lengthyprison terms to five other Tibetans,' theminister for the Department of information andinternational relations, Kelsang Yangkyi Taklasaid in the statement.'We strongly condemn the harsh sentences

Cover of Journey of Zanskar. Photo: TPI/File

Lobsang GyaltsenA New

Vice-Governor ofTAR

page 5.......

Dharamshala: Inspired by a request made byHis Holiness the Dalai lama, in 2004 GesheLobsang Yonten started a project supported byStongde Monastery in Zanskar in the kargilregion of Kashmir. The project was started withthe education of the children of the district asthe highest priority.

arbitrarily meted outwithout truly conductingan open and fair trial. Therecent verdict is againstthe spirit of China's firstnational human rightsaction plan (2009-2010)which stipulates thatevery precaution shall betaken in meting out adeath sentence andjudicial procedures fordeath sentences will bestringently implemented.'she said in the statement.Kelsang Takla said theruling runs against claimsof China's "tremendousachievements in the

promotion and protection of human rights"during the UN Human Rights Council's periodicreview of China's human rights record last year.The head of the Chinese delegation to the UN,Mr. Li Baodong, had also said since thefounding of New China in 1949, " a fundamentalsocial and political system for the promotionand protection of human rights has beenestablished."In the statement, she criticized China, saying"we are deeply concerned that despite thesepledges, since March 2008 seven Tibetans weregiven death sentences out of which twoTibetans were executed on 20 October 2009.Exiled Tibetan government "once again appealsto the Chinese government and theinternational community, especially the UNHuman Rights Council to give dueconsideration on the deteriorating human rightssituation in Tibet," the statement appealed.

maximum participation in voting this year," saidMr Choesang.Many Tibetans present raised questionsregarding the 19 candidates for the next Tibetan

prime minister, whose names were published onKalon Tripa website ( www.kalontripa.org ); Mr.Choesang clarified during the press conferencethat this website is an independent volunteer

Chief Election Commissioner of Tibetan government in-exile,Mr Jampal Choesang, new additional Election

Commissioner Ven. Geshe Rigzin Choedak amd Mr Chutpar Yangkho Gyal. Photo:TPI

The minister for the Department of information and international relations,

Kelsang Yangkyi. Takla speaking to media in Dharamshala, India. Photo: TPI/File

Demonstration

Zenkoji Temple in Nagano. Zenkoji hp

Dharmshala: Tibet's political and spiritualleader, 74 year old His Holiness the Dalai Lama,will visit Japan for a week later this month, 20-26June. Zenkoji, a well-known 7th centuryBuddhist Temple in Nagano city has invited HisHoliness the Dalai Lama for a special memorialtalk and to strengthen the Buddhist bond.

...See page 2

By Phuntsok Choedon,The Tibet Post

By: YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post

OTHER HEADLINES

Tenzin NorzomCrowned Miss

Tibet 2010

page 2......

The Tibet Post2 TPI TIBET IN EXILE15 June , 2010 Dharamsala

initiative, "not officially launched byTibetan government and selection ofits candidates are also not officialinitiative, but those who will elected bypeople in March this year will beofficial.”The preliminary voting date will be 3rdOctober 2010, and the final date for

Voting Dates for 2011 Election................continued from front page the general election of the next

members of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile and Tibetan prime minister will beon 20th March 2011.Mr. Choesang announced that voterregistration will be open from 18 June-18 August of this year, “but maybethere will be some changes made as tothe closing date of the election."

India Needs to Re-look at Its

Policy Toward Tibet:

Top leader of JD(U)

Mr Javed Raza speaking at the press conference at the Tibetan Parliament in exile,

Dharamshala on 12 June 2010. Photo: TPI

Dharamshala: Addressing a pressconference at the Tibetan parliament-in-exile on Friday, Javed Raza, nationalgeneral secretary of the Janata Dal(Unity) Party and long term Tibetsupporter, he said his party fullycommitted to support for Tibet andTibetan people. On a two-day visit tothe Indian hill station town ofDharamsala, Raza declared that hisparty had decided to have contact withthe Tibetans in Dharamshala andincrease his party's concentration ondaily political issues rising in Tibet. Headded that Janata Dal senior leadersSharad Yadav and George Fernandeshave brought up the Tibetan issue inIndia’s Parliament several times, and aretrying to revive the the All Party IndianParliamentary Forum for Tibet."The JD leaders Sharad Yadav, GeorgeFernandes and our party have beenraising human rights issues of Tibet inIndian Parliament house. They are alsonow trying to revive the All Party IndianParliamentary Forum for Tibet", said MrRaza at the press conference."The central government should havea re-look at the policy that has beenadopting since the first Prime Minister(Pandit Nehru),” he added.Dolma Gyari, Deputy Speaker of Tibetanexile parliament, requested Mr Raza torevive the organization [All PartyForum for Tibet] in order to understandissues between the parliament in exileand their political parties, and urgedthem to join for a working group forTibetan society."The Tibetan parliament stronglybelieves that, India being proactive onthe Tibetan issue, [its] support will havea great impact [in helping] to solve theissue of Tibet." Stated Ms. Gyari.Ms. Dolma Gyari, on behalf of theTibetan parliament in-exile, has

extended a warm welcome to Mr Razaand thanked him for the JD party'sstrong support for Tibetans over thepast few decades. She elaborated onthe All Party Indian ParliamentaryForum for Tibet, praising itsunshakeable relationship with exiledTibetan communities under theleadership of His Holiness the DalaiLama and the Tibetan government in-exile.The All Party Indian ParliamentaryForum for Tibet was initiated by seniorIndian leaders, including Madhu Milaniand George Fenandes.Mrs Ngawang Lhamo and Ven.ThuptenPhelgye, both standing committeemembers of the Tibetan parliament-in-exile, also attended the pressconference.Ven Phelgye expressed concern aboutIndia's policy on the Tibetan issue,saying, "As you all know, just after wefled from Tibet in 1959, we werestruggling to demand independent forTibet, Now our policy is not about apartfrom China, we believe in one chinapolicy as it goes. So Indian politicalleaders should not need to have anymore hesitation to support Tibet,because it is within the Indian policyregarding to Tibet issue.""All Tibetans must re-look on Indianpolicy toward Tibetan issues, becauseIndia always says, ‘Tibet is part ofChina' (referring to the TibetanAutonomous Region). As soon as theyhave platform now, we accept that tobe under Chinese leadership as long asthey give us a very reasonableproposal," he added.During his visit to the Tibetan exilecommunity, Raza also met with theleaders of several NGOs, schools andother institutions in the Dharamsalaarea.

Article by Phuntsok Choedon, editor by YC. Dhardhowa, T.itbet Post

22nd Meeting of Task ForceCommences in Dharamshala

Dharamshala: The Task Force onSino-Tibetan Dialogue convened its22nd meeting this morning inDharamshala, the site of the TibetanGovernment in Exile and the secondhome of exiled Tibetan leader DalaiLama.The two-day meeting was presidedby Tibetan Prime Minister Prof.Samdhong Rinpoche along with TaskForce members, including HisHoliness's the Dalai Lama's specialenvoy Lodi Gyari and envoy KelsangGyaltsen.The Task Force was established in1999 in order to aid the Envoys ofTibetan delegat ion with Sino-Tibetan dialogue. The last meetingof the Task Force was held here onMarch 23rd after the conclusion ofthe ninth session of the XIV TibetanParliament in Exile (TPIE), duringwhich the TPIE unanimouslyreaff i rmed i ts support for HisHoliness the Dalai Lama's MiddleWay Policy.Meanwhile, during the 9th aroundthe Sino-Tibetan Dialogue hold in

Beinjing From 26-31 January 2010,the representatives of His Holinessthe Dalai Lama presented a seven-point explanatory note to theChinese leadership to clarify theircore concerns and objections on theMemorandum on Genuine Autonomy

Task Force members attend a two-day meeting in Dharamsala, India, on 8 June 2010/

Photo by Namgyal Tsewang/TibetNet

Article by Yangsham, The Tibet Post International

Tenzin Norzom WinsKingfisher Miss Tibet 2010

Dharamshala: Tenzin Norzom, a 23-year-old from Hunsur Tibetansettlement in South India, was crownedas the new Kingfisher Miss Tibet 2010at the 9th Miss Tibet pageant whichwas held in Dharamsala last night.A spirit of beauty and cheer was in theair as thousands of local Tibetan,foreign and Indian spectators gatheredat the Tibetan Institute of PerformingArts. The show began with a shortprayer for the victims of the Kyigudoearthquake which struck on April 14,killing thousands of Tibetans andleaving many more homeless.After seven rounds of competition,including ‘swimsuit', ‘Talk and Talent',‘Evening Gown', ‘Traditional Costume'and ‘Interview', Tenzin Norzom, who

was competing against three othercontestants, won the beauty queentitle and received a scholarship chequeof 100,000 rupees.The judges chose 19-year-oldYangchen Metok as the first runner-up, awarding her 50,000 rupees, andRinchen Choden, 25, was secondrunner-up with a prize of 25,000 rupees.Tenzin has completed a Shastri degree(equivalent to Bachelor of Arts degree)from the Central University of TibetanStudies in Varanasi. She speaksTibetan, English, and Hindi, and likesreading, dancing, badminton, andmusic.The new beauty queen expressed herexhilaration at winning the pageant,and said she would use her title topromote awareness of the Tibet issue.

Her first message was to urge youngconfident Tibetan women to participatein the Miss Tibet beauty pageant.During the interval on the final day ofthe contest, local Indian childrenperformed the Great 12 Deeds of thePrince Siddhartha Gautam, and theannual Free Spirit Award for 2010 waspresented to Mahesh Yadav for his‘blood' portraits of world leaders, whichaim promote awareness of the campaignfor a free Tibet.The Kingfisher Miss Tibet 2010 contestwas produced by Group Can & Ableand directed by Lobsang Wangyal, afreelance photojournalist and publisherof the Tibet Sun website. LobsanWangyal Productions made a donationof 10,000 rupees to the victims ofKyigudo earthquake.

The four contestants for 2010 Kingfisher Premium Miss Tibet held in Dharamshala, India on 6 June 2010. Photo: TPI

for the Tibetan People. However,although Beijing authorities rejectedthe note, claiming it violated theConstitution of People's Republic ofChina, both sides agreed to continuethe talks.

.....continued from page 1

Article by Yangyal Sham, The Tibet Post International

TPI H.H THE DALAI LAMAThe Tibet Post 315 June , 2010 Dharamsala

His Holiness Speaks of Buddhism,

Education at Tibetan Children Village

We Seek Autonomy for Tibet Not

Independent: His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Dharamshala: Tibetan spiritual leaderHis Holiness the the Dalai Lama saidthey are not seeking independence butmeaningful "autonomy", as the majorityof Tibetan people currently followingthe middle-way approach which fullycommitted to his philosophy of non-violent path for their fight for Tibetancause."We are not seeking independence...we are seeking meaningful autonomyfor Tibet. That is the guarantee forpreservation of Tibetan cultureincluding language," His Holiness theDalai Lama told reporters when askedif Tibetans would achieve freedom fromChina."Now every Tibetan wants modernizedTibet. Therefore, as far as developmentis concerned, it is all in the interest of thepeople," he said.Asked if there are differences amongyouth to adopt violent ways to achieve

the goal, Lama said, "No, more than 99per cent of Tibetans follow the non-violent path including youthorganizations for peace resolution"."Youth organizations right from thebeginning stood for struggle forindependence. (But) We are not fightingfor independence, so there aredifferences. But, as far as non- violenceis concerned, all agree."The spiritual leader had yesterdayarrived here on a two-day visit to addressa religious congregation. The city has aBuddhist population of about 7000.This was his first visit to the area as hisvisits so far were confined to Leh andLadakh where Buddhism is the mainreligion.About India he said, "It is preserving itsculture and promoting peace in theregion. I am closely associated withIndia and consider myself as its peaceambassador".

Article by YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: Around 3000 Tibetanyouths this morning attended a specialteaching in Buddhist Philosophy by HisHoliness the Dalai Lama at Upper TCVSchool.Today's teaching was the first of a two-day basic introductory course inTibetan Buddhism gave students abroad overview of Buddhist Principlesand was aimed at encouraging studentsto pursue a deeper understanding ofTibetan Buddhism.Prior to the teaching, the exiled Tibetanleader took time to inaugurate TCV's

Tashi Delek Radio FM station; the firstlicensed community radio station in theIndian Himalayan Region, and alsogave a short talk on the importance ofTibetan Buddhist dialectics and thedebating system.During the two and a half hour longteaching, His Holiness emphasised theimportance of education to the mostlystudent audience.Speaking once more on the importanceof the preservation of the Tibetanlanguage, the Tibetan leader pointedout the lack of progress.

"Over the past few decades we placedimportance on the Tibetan Languagebeing taught in schools but today wemust admit that we haven't madesatisfactory progress in this area."His Holiness also advised fellowTibetans to study Buddhism insteadof praying."Those interested in Tibetan muststudy it instead of simply praying. Weachieve happiness through studyingBuddhism, ridding ourselves of ourafflictions and transforming the mind.Prayer alone cannot achieve this (...) Inour community, some Tibetans justblindly worship Buddhism without everunderstanding it. We can call thatsuperstitious," His Holiness said.An open question forum was held laterin the afternoon to give students thechance to raise any questions orconcerns with the teaching or withTibetan Buddhism in general.The teaching sessions wererequested by the BuddhismIntroductory Committee ofDharamsala (BICD), a voluntarycommittee aimed at associatingTibetan youths with Buddhism.These are the fourth such teachingssince the Committee's formation ofthe practice in 2007.According to BICD, the teachings wereconceived to keep Tibetan youths intouch with Buddhism and Tibetanculture.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama teaching Buddhism at TCV. Photo/TPI

By Max French, The Tibet Post

"Six million Tibetans" Imply a Concept

of a "Greater Tibet." Says China

Dharamshala: In a fresh tirade againstHis Holiness the Dalai Lama, a Chinesegovernment mouthpiece hasquestioned Tibetan spiritual leader'sright and authority to speak for allTibetans. In the article that is titled"Is the Dalai Lama qualified to speakon the 'welfare of 6 million Tibetans?".The People's Daily criticized HisHoliness and said that the demandsthat were submitted by the spiritualleader during his talks with Chineseofficials spoke about "greater Tibet"an area that according to the Chinesegovernment, he has no right to talkabout.

The article went on to claim that "Inearly 2010, the Dalai Clique filed a noterelating to the Memorandum onGenuine Autonomy for All Tibetans tothe Chinese government, requestingtalks on the welfare of 6 millionTibetans" and also said that HisHoliness the Dalai lama himself comesfrom the Tibetan majority area ofQinghai that suffered heavy damage inthe April this year which left over 10,000Tibetan people were killed andthousands injured. Greater Tibetconsists of all Tibetans living in fourother provinces, Sichuan, Gansu,Qinghai and Yunnan, besides Tibetan

autonomous region.The article quoted from history sayingthat "Prior to the 1950s, (the occupationof Tibet by China) Tibetan society wasstill extremely closed and backwards,and the production level and thedevelopment of the entire society wereat an exceptionally low level...Countless Tibetans died from hunger,cold, poverty or disease, and duringthis time the 14th Dalai Lama could noteven guarantee the most fundamentalrights of survival for numerous Tibetanfarmers, and therefore was and is notqualified to talk about the welfare of 6million Tibetans".China refuses to recognize His Holinessthe Dalai Lama's middle-way approachand the self-determination for theTibetan people, saying the Dalai Lamais not qualified to talk about the"welfare of 6 million Tibetans."Furthermore, "6 million Tibetans" implya concept of a "Greater Tibet." As the14th Dalai Lama had never managed anyTibetan region outside Tibet, he is evenfurther from being qualified to discussthe "welfare of 6 million Tibetans."The Chinese government had alreadyearlier rejected appeals that called Tibetbeing granted special status as wasprevalent in the Chinese territories ofHong Kong and Macau, saying thatthis was just a veiled request for"disguised independence". This latestattack came just as Tibet was beingopened for international tourism.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama speaking to world media about Tibet issues in Dharamshala,

India. Photo: TPI

Article by Gautham Ashok, The Tibet Post

HH the Dalai Lama to Visit

Kashmir this Week

Dharamshala: The exiled Tibetan leaderHis Holiness the Dalai Lama would bemaking his first visit to the town ofGulabgarh in the Kishtwar region ofJammu and Kashmir.

"The Dalai Lama would reach Gulabgarhon June 5th where he would bless hisfollowers and attend a religious functionthe next day" Tenzin Taklha, jointsecretary at the Dalai Lama's office said.

According to JagnatNarboo, president ofthe HimalayanBuddhist Society, theorganization in chargeof the visit, HisHoliness would give areligious teaching atthe centuries oldLossang monastery inGublabgarh. AndJammu and KashmirChief Minister OmarAbdullah is alsoscheduled to attend.

It is estimated that more than 25,000Buddhists from Himachal Pradesh andthe Ladakh region of Kashmir wouldattend the ceremony at monastery.Therefore elaborate securityarrangements have been made for thevisit. Around eight companies of thepolice, Armed Police, CRPF and the Armyhave been deployed in the vicinity toensure the smooth running of this event.

New Delhi His Holiness the Dalai Lama laughs with Muslim religious

leaders at Nizamuddin Chillan on 31 March 2009, Photo/ TPI

Article by Yangsham, The Tibet Post

His Holiness speaking about Tibet during a prayer ceremony held in Ladakh, Jammu, India

on 6 June 2010. Photo: AP

Please visit the followingwebsites:www.thetibetpost.comwww.outlooktibet.comwww.shambalapost.comwww.lhasapost.comwww.himalayanliteracytrust.org

News and issuesabout Tibet and its

people.

The Tibet Post4 15 June , 2010 Dharamsala TPI INTERNATIONAL

Zenkoji Temple, in their press releasehas said that the Temple has received aBuddha's statue with prayers for peacefrom His Holiness the Dalai Lama sometwo years ago. The visit of His Holinessand His teaching and Talk to the peoplehere is to celebrate the establishmentof this holy bond and to affirm theuniversality of message of peace.His Holiness will visit the Temple andmeet the two Chief abbots of theTemple. Among the main events, He willgive public talk on "Guide to PositiveClear Light - Message for today" tosome 7,000 monks and lay people inthe area. The organizers hope that thetalk will provide the people of Nagano

and all concerned with an opportunityto seriously contemplate on peacewithin oneself and for the world.Zenkoji is a 7th century Buddhisttemple revered greatly by the Japanesepublic. The Temple caught internationalmedia attention two years ago when itrefused the overture to host the Japanleg of the Beijing Olympic torch relay.The international community greatlyappreciated this gesture of silentprotest against the religiousoppression going on in Tibet at thattime. "As a disciple of same teacher[Buddha] and practitioners of samereligion, we cannot remain oblivious towhat is going on in Tibet." Explainedthe Temple authority to the media atthat time.His Holiness will also visit SaihojiTemple, a Jodo school of JapaneseBuddhism. Here His Holiness willaddress the monks and consecrate aneight feet statue of Buddha Amitabha[Opadme, Buddha of infinite light]constructed by Tibetan artisans for theTemple.On His way back to Tokyo, His Holinesswill give a one day Teaching and Talkat Pacifico Yokohama Exhibition Hall atYokohama on 26th June. This event isin response to the continuous requestfrom monks, scholars and the generalpublic to organize an event whereinpeople could receive Buddhist teachingas well as hear His Holiness on moresecular subjects. The request has comefrom groups and individuals inneighboring countries also.Accordingly, His Holiness will teach on"Dependent Arising" and "Boddhicitta"[Tendrel Teopa and Sem-kye in Tibetan],including the inter dependent nature of allphenomena and generation ofcompassionate heart. In the afternoonsession, His Holiness will speak on "TheEssence of Happiness and Healthy Co-existence" for the general public.Participants from Korea, Mongolia, Russia,Taiwan and other countries are alsoexpected. The organizers have arrangedtranslation and interpretation facilitiesaccordingly. Monks from the abovecountries will also present special chantsand prayers during the teaching. It isexpected that some ten thousand peoplewill attend the event at Pacifico Yokohama.His Holiness will make a brief appearanceat the Foreign Correspondent Club ofJapan (FCCJ) to meet the press people.This is arranged in tandem with thenumerous calls and request from differentsection of medias for interview and briefingtime with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Asit is difficult to entertain everyone'srequest, appearance at FCCJ before themedia was initiated to appease allconcerned.

Tokyoite commuters studying His Holiness poster at Tokyo subway. Photo: KM

His Holiness the Dalai Lama toVisit Japan in June as Scheduled

......continued from front page

Article by YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Pos

Tibet’s Human Rights Issues Raised at the14th Session of UN Human Rights Council

Geneva: The UN Human RightsCouncil began its 14th regular sessionin Geneva from 31 May and willcontinue until 18 June.Several UN Special Procedure mandateholders presented their annual reportto this Council for discussion. Amongthese reports, the Special Rapporteuron the independence of judges andlawyers [1], the Special Rapporteur onFreedom of Expression and Opinion [2];and the Special Rapporteur onExtrajudicial, summary or arbitraryexecutions [3] reported cases ofTibetans who were arrested forexercising their freedom of speech,detained, given death sentences by theChinese courts as well as the death ofMr. Phuntsok Rabgay, a 27-year-oldmonk, in Drango County, Garzê TibetanAutonomous Prefecture, SichuanProvince.The Special Rapporteur onindependence of judges and lawyerswith the Special Rapporteur onSummary Execution in their jointcommunication to China raised thecases of five Tibetans sentenced todeath by the Municipal IntermediatePeople's Court in Lhasa on 8 April 2009.While thanking the Chinesegovernment for its response to theallegations, the Special Rapporteur onindependence of judges and lawyerssought further clarification on when,and how often, the lawyers whodefended them had the opportunity tomeet with their clients ahead of thetrials on 8 April 2009. The SpecialRapporteur also sought furtherinformation from the government on theresults of the investigations that wereundertaken to determine if lawyers wereprevented from defending the accusedpersons and information on the allegedintimidation of lawyers whovolunteered to defend Tibetanscriminally charged in relation to theincidents and reiterated that in allcases, and notably in capitalpunishment cases, there is anobligation to provide criminaldefendants with a fair and publichearing before an independent andimpartial tribunal.Mr. Tenzin Samphel KAYTA, on behalf

of Society for Threatened Peoples drewattention of the Council on the twoTibetans who had been sentencedrecently to death with two yearsreprieve. He also informed the Councilthat Tibetan source has documented394 Tibetans who were sentenced tovarying prison terms since April 2008by the Chinese court. He furtherquestioned the independence of China'sjudiciary and judges saying the wholejudiciary system's only objective is toprotect the State's interests or theCommunist Party.He also referred to the case of PhurbuTsering Rinpoche who was sentencedby the Chinese court without sufficientevidence, factual clarity or a fair trial.According to a public statement issuedby the two Chinese lawyers of PhurbuTsering Rinpoche: To charge that LivingBuddha Buronglang has committed thecrime of illegally possessing weaponsand explosives and of occupying stateproperty lacks factual clarity andsufficient evidence. Also, seriousviolations of the law occurred duringthe procedures of this case.International NGOs including HumanRights Watch and Helsinki foundationfor Human Rights raised Tibet issuesin their statements.Countries who expressed concern overhuman rights situation in China are USAand European Union. US Delegate said,ethnic and religious minorities in Tibetand Xinjiang are subject to particularlyonerous restrictions, including restrainton religious practice.[4]Spanish delegate on behalf ofEuropean Union expressed concernabout human rights situation in Chinaand strongly condemned theincreasing violence directed againstpersons belonging to religious andother minorities in various part of theworld.In its own capacity, German delegatesaid in China torture was still a usedpractice especially in detention.Czech delegate also expressedconcern about the ongoing restrictionson the freedom of expression in China,and it was alarming that 21 years afterviolent suppression of a movement ofcitizens peacefully demonstrating for

a pluralistic system, Chinese citizenscontinued to be persecuted.Before and during the course of thesession, Mr. Tenzin KAYTA met someof the UN Special Rapporteurs, EU andUS diplomats as well as manyrepresentatives of international NGOsseeking their support for Tibet.

Tibetans in Exile staging protest against Chinese occupation of Tibet for 50 years. Photo/ TPI

Article by Tibetan officiam web-media Tibet. net

US, EU Should Pressure China on OnlineCensorship: Says Google

China;s censorship and Internet restriction.

Photo: TPI/File

Dharamshala: Months after leaving Chinadue to censorship issues, the world's largestsearch engine is asking U.S. and Europeangovernments to put more pressure onChina to stop censoring the Internet,describing it as an unfair barrier to free trade.Google's top attorney, David Drummondtold reporters Wednesday that westernstates should defend the free trade ininformation with the same kind of rules thatthey use to complain of China's below-costsale of products.He said government talks are "the only waythat it's going to change, that this tide ofcensorship or this rising censorship is goingto be arrested."The company sparred with Chinese leadersearlier this year when it stopped self-censoring its search results in line withChinese rules after it said Chinese hackershad tried to plunder its software coding andhijack the Gmail accounts of human rightsactivists.Since late March, Google has beenredirecting search requests from mainlandChina to Hong Kong, which doesn't havethe same restrictions."The cyber attack was sort of the final strawbecause we felt that it was increasingly hardto do business there in accordance withour values," Drummond said, describingthe company as in danger of becoming "part

of the same apparatus" of Chinese statecensorship."Censorship, in addition to being a humanrights problem, is a trade barrier," he said."If you look at what China does _ thecensorship, of course, is for politicalpurposes but it is also used as a way ofkeeping multinational companiesdisadvantaged in the market.""It should be obvious that the Internetsector is very important to the west and sowe should be working on seeing that thatkind of trade is protected," he said.Drummond would not comment on whetherhe believed the United States could take acase under World Trade Organization rulesagainst China, which can ultimately allowthe US to seek trading rights incompensation for any proven harm to itscompanies.Instead, he said new trade rules may beneeded to cover the Internet."Under a lot of trade rules, there's still thisnotion that domestic media markets shouldbe off limits to trade and that's got tochange," he said.He said he'd had some support indiscussions with the US, French andGerman governments and with theEuropean Union executive for pressingGoogle's case and Chinese restrictionson the Internet in bilateral andmultilateral talks.The European Union persistently raiseshuman rights issues with China, usuallywithout much success. Indeed, a Chinesestate multibillion dollar buying spree toEurope last year pointedly shunnedFrance after President Nicolas Sarkozythreatened to boycott the opening of theBeijing Olympics over unrest in Tibet.China refuses to hold talks with theTibetan government in exile.

Article by YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post

The Tibet Post 515 June , 2010 Dharamsala

In a surprising decision, The ChinaTibet Mountaineering Association(CTMA), the regulates climbingactivities in Tibet - which shares MtEverest with Nepal has induce newregulations for the climbing Mt. Everest.CTMA will be considered fitnesscertificate to confirm for permit toattempt the Himalaya ranges from northof Tibet and highest peak. The Chinesecontrol was triggered by the Romeroclimb which added to the controversiesand criticism, and Romero wouldcontinue to retain his record since theChinese authorities would not consideranyone below 16, source said.The Nepal government prescribed anage limit after the Nepali schoolboy,

Temba Tseri Sherpa, the youngestclimber from Nepal, who sufferedsevere frost bite and lost several toesand fingers.Arjun Vajpai from Noida high schoolstudent submitted his record as theyoungest Indian hero on Everest lastmonth at 16. Now while the thirteen oldseems set to keep his record till Chinarevise its mind.The fastest ascent of Mt.Everest-8 hrand 10 mins, Pemba Dorjee Sherpa, whoannounced to train the 11yr old Nepaliboy for an Everest expedition in 2011and dream of replacing the record ofJordan. His nine year old son willing toget Everest aspirant, if he failed by 11year -old boy. The decision howeverwill hit his hopes of "Everest Express".

Article by Phuntsok Choedon , The Tibet Post International

China Issued New Regulationson Climbing Mt. Everest

......continued from front page

TPI TIBET IN EXILE

First Tibetan Women’s AdvancedLeadership Training Begins in

Dharamshala

Dharamshala: Tibetan Women'sAssociation yesterday started aneleven day advanced LeadershipTraining for Tibetan Women in Exile tostand up challenging their roles in thedecision making arena. This is "tostrengthening the whole Tibetandemocratic community by empoweringour women," said Kirti Dolkar Lhamo,the president of TWA.The Leadership Training (June 7 toJune 17) started at Upper TCV Schoolbased Dharamshala with 30 attendeesof professional and high potentialTibetan women leaders from all overIndia. Statistics say the Central TibetanAdministration is comprised low of 3%women at top level positions, wherethere is 97% of males at high levelpositions.Exiled Tibetan government's (Kashag)eight point policy on women'sempowerment launched in October thisyear, which provides the great platformand forum for potential women leadersto identity and hone the skill of theirleaders.The chief guest, former minister of theTibetan Government in exile MrsRinchen Khando, the deputy speakerof the Tibetan Parliament in exile MrsGyari Dolma and, the President of

Tibetan Children's Village Schools, MrTsewang Yeshi spoke about relevantissues at the opening ceremony. Theguest launched the annual literacymagazine of TWA called ‘DOLMA' inboth Tibetan and English on 21stanniversary which stands for theintellectual expression of and forTibetan women.The 11-day training is divided intothree phases; ‘UnderstandingLeadership' from professional andexperienced resource speakers fromthe exile Tibetan Community willofficiate the first phase. ‘BuildingLeadership Skills' will be secondphrase by Lynda O Lepcha, thedirector and master trainer of HolisticTraining Solutions (New Delhi). Ayoung trainer from the United Statesalong with Michelle Pomeroy, willspearhead the final phase of thetraining on ‘Practicing Leadership.'TWA reportedly said that theirprimary goal is to encourage the rightsof the Tibetan women inside Tibet andto empower the women in exile. Thistraining fits in the paradigm of TWA's‘leadership and empowermentactions' that includes the ‘AnnualYoung Tibetan Women's LeadershipProgram.'

First Tibetan Women’s Advanced Leadership Training Begins in Dharamshala, India on 7

June 2010. Photo: TPI

Article by Phuntsok Choedon, The Tibet Post

Row over Nepali Parliamentary Delegation’sVisit to Dharamshala

Dharamshala: Three lawmakersrepresenting Nepali Congress, thebiggest party in the coalitiongovernment, and Terai party MadhesiJanadhikar Forum were on a visit toDharmashala, northern India, the siteof Tibetan government in exile andsecond home of His Holiness the DalaiLama.The Nepali delegation was consistedof MPs Harshajit Lama, Lalita KingringMagar and Om Prakash Yadav, and onThursday they met Tibetan top officialsincluding Prime Minister Prof SamdongRinpoche and later joined a dinnerhosted by his government. Thedelegates also visited Tibetanparliament on the following day.Now the visit has triggered a row withthe opposition Maoist party criticizingit violated the "One China" police ofNepal as well as fuelled the support for"Free Tibet" movement.In June 2009, Six Members of NepalParliament paid a visit to Dharamshalaand met with the Tibetan spiritualleader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama andother high level officials from the

Tibetan government in exile to discussthe issue of about 30,000 Tibetanrefugees living in Nepal and theirspecial status. Soon after that, Beijingauthorities sought an explanation fromthe Nepal government, which glossedover the matter by replying that theMPs had not been fully informed abouttheir itinerary.Due to China's diplomatic pressure on

Six members representing four parties of Nepali Parliament paid a visit to Dharamsala, India,

on 25th June 2009. Photo: TPI

By Yang Sham, The Tibet Post

Positive Dialogue on Tibet Issue with HisHoliness Envoys: Top Chinese Official

Dharamshala: The visiting ChineseVice Minister of Foreign Affairs toOslo, the capital of Norway, H. E. FuYing Yesterday commented positiveprospects on future dialogue withHH the Dalai Lama's envoys. Shestated that "the door for talks isalways open, it has been open foryears - for decades, and there aredifficulties and there sincerity fromthe Chinese side to continue thedialogue." She Also talked abouthow much she value the Tibet andplanning her summer holiday inTibet.The Vice Minister, areas ofresponsibilities are; Europe, HongKong, Macao and Taiwan-related

foreign affairs, translation andinterpretation.When asked about the Tibetan issueH. E. Fu Ying stated that "the door fortalks is always open, it has been openfor years - for decades, and there aredifficulties and there sincerity from theChinese side to continue the dialogue."She further stated that "Tibet is a veryremote region and it is important forTibet to find its unique way of makingeconomic progress, and at the same timepreserve its culture and traditions. It's adifficult process. At the same time theTibetan culture is very unique, veryvaluable. Recently there was a NationalConference on Progress in Tibet, andthere will be lot of investment and lot of

Mr. Penpa Tsering, the Speaker of the Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies , with Mr. Olav Gunnar Ballo (Chairman of the Norwegian

Tibet Committee) speak at a public talk in Oslo

By Phuntsok Choedon, The Tibet Post

Nepal government, the security over theTibet-Nepal border is being buffed upand crack down on Tibetan refugeesliving in Nepal is being stepped up.Early this month, authorities in Nepalarrested at least 10 Tibetan refugees,who arrived in Charikot, the districtheadquarters of Dolakha in Nepal,without acquiring visas, and three ofthe arrested were confirmed as women.

help. 37% of the Tibetan land is alreadyplaced under National Reservesprotection, in order to protect theecological environment. I like Tibet, I amin love with the land, and I am planningmy holidays in Tibet this summer."Speaker of the Assembly of TibetanPeople's Deputies (ATPD), Mr. PenpaTsering, who briefly met H. E. Fu Yingafter a lecture in Oslo, Norway, said "sheseemed to be sincere and if what shesaid is meant with the right spirit, it couldbe a possible positive shift in the Chineseauthorities' approach to continue thedialogue for a negotiated settlement ofthe Tibet issue." Mrs. Chungdak Korenfrom the Norwegian Tibet Committee alsoattended the meeting.

The Tibet Post6 15 June , 2010 Dharamsala TPI TIBET

Tibetan Writers Brutally Beatenby Chinese Authorities

Dharamshala: Two famous Tibetanwriters are currently receiving hospitaltreatment in Chengdu, near EasternTibetan, following injuries sustainedduring interrogation and torture byChinese police, according to a sourcefrom inside Tibet, who wishes to remainanonymous.In an e-mail sent to Tibet PostInternational, our source says that atmidnight on June 5 the writers Goyonand Thupten Gedun, of the Tibetan PenAssociation, were walking at midnightwith their schoolfriend Serta Sherab to

Chinese armed police personals in Chengdu city of Chinese province called Sichuan,

bordering on eastern Tibet. Photo: File

a restaurant in Chengdu, when aChinese a police car and otherunmarked cars drew up. 15 police, somewearing no uniform, then threatenedthem and sprayed them with a gaswhich rendered them unconscious.They were then taken to a policestation.Our source quotes the writers assaying, "When we reached the policestation, the police sat us in chairs withautomated hand and ankle restraints.They confiscated all our valuables,such as mobile phones, cameras,

identity cards, wallets, etc."They then harshly interrogated us,asking for detailed information on ourcurrent work and political participation.They beat us continuously andthreated us with guns placed to ourforeheads. When we asked what we haddone wrong, they beat us more."Our source reports that the policedtortured Goyon and Thupten Gedunwith "electrical equipment" to elicitconfessions, but interrogated SertaSherab less severely."The police used our ID card numbersto investigate whether we had any policerecord," our source quotes the writersas saying, "but the search came backclear.""At 8am the following day, the policeentered our ID card numbers on acomputer. At last they released us, butwith the knowledge that they could bringus back for further interrogation at anytime."Our source reports that this incident isindicative of an apparently growingtrend of police brutality againsteducated Tibetans, who represent anincreasing proportion of Tibetans insideTibet.Goyon and Thupten Gedun, who hailKham traditional province, edit theannual magazines Tibet and Purgyal kyiNamshey (Soul of Ancient Kings).

Tibetans in Quake-Affected AreaProtest to Keep Their Land

Dharamshala: RadioFree Asia reportedyesterday thatTibetan residents inthe region affected bythe Kyigudo quakeare currently resistingChinese authorities'attempts to repossesstheir property."The localgovernment hasforced local residentsout of their houses-they said they had toclean the area to build office buildings,schools, and parks, and they areplanning to take away the sites for ourhomes and our fields," an anonymousYushu county resident told RFA."This has upset the local Tibetans, andthey have argued the land hasbelonged to them for generations. Sothey have been going to the localgovernment office in their hundredsover the last few days," he said."Every day there are about 100 Tibetansprotesting and appealing for the rightto return to their land and fields, butthe local authorities didn't listen."RFA reported that the Chinese are eventrying to claim property that was notdamaged by the earthquake that

devastated this region in April. Tibetanresidents protest that the 80 squaremeter (860 square foot) houses beingoffered by the government ascompensation are not sufficient."We Tibetans always have big familieswith many family members livingtogether. Therefore, an 80 square meterunit is too small for them," theunidentified Yushu resident told RFA.An unidentified Yushu county officialtold RFA reporters that more than 1000Tibetan protestors had camped out infront of the government's regionaloffice for days. She said that Chineseofficials had been dispatched tonegotiate with the protestors, and thatnone have been arrested yet.

A mother and son, victims of Kyigudo quake hit on 14th April2010.

Edited by Amy Elmgren, The Tibet Post

China Re-arrests Tibetan WriterAllegedly Without Warrant Proof

Dharamshala: Dokru Tsultrim, aTibetan writer from Ngaba County,Eastern Tibet, was arrested byChinese authorities on Monday 24thMay for the second time in just overa year, according to a close familymember. This follows the arrest of hisfriend Kalsang Tsultrim, a monk fromthe same monastery, last week.The writer was arrested for a monthin March last year, for publishingarticles written by Tibetan youths. Hewas detained for apparently writingtwo articles of anti-Chinesesentiment.The Tibetan monk, Dokru Tsultrimwas taken from his GomangMonastery, where he has lived for thepast 5 years, following the arrest ofhis friend Kalsang Tsultrim and co-worker from Bakham last week.Dokru Tsultrim's room at the monasterywas searched by officials from thePublic Security Bureau (PSB), who alsomade demands to check his laptopwhilst searching through otherdocuments in his possession.

Dokru Choedak, a relative of DokruTsultrim who is currently living in exilein Dharamshala, has confirmed thatDokru Tsultrim refused to present hislaptop to authorities. Choedak hasinformed the World News Network thatduring the 8am morning raid, the PSBconfiscated a number of documentsfrom the room and did not give anyreasons for the arrest. He has statedthat his relative is only involved inworking with the literary developmentof Tibetan youths, through thepublishing of expressive andsentimental writings and that he is notinvolved in separatist movements."No warrants have been shown byauthorities for either arrest and familymembers are currently not permitted tosee them," said Choedak.Choedak concluded that Dokru Tsultrimand Kalsang Tsultrim had planned topublish a collection of writings byyoung Tibetans both from inside andoutside Tibet, on the human loss andafter effects of the tragic Kyegudoearthquake.

Dokru Tsutrim, A Tibetan writer from Ngaba county eastern Tibet. Photo:file

Article by YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post

Article by Phuntsok Choedon, edited by Matthem, The Tibet Post

New Vice-Governor of Tibet Autonomous RegionAppointed, Old Policy

Dharamshala: Lobsang Gyaltsen, aTibetan official from Dragyab Countyin Eastern Tibet well known for hissupport for the crackdown on the March2008 Tibetan mass demonstrations, wasthis week appointed Vice-Governor ofthe Tibetan Autonomous Region(TAR).State-run media Daily News reportedthat Gyaltsen, a Tibetan noted for hisinvolvement with the ChineseCommunist Party (CCP) and his supportof the brutal crackdown against theMarch 2008 demonstrations in Tibet,

was made Vice-Governor for Tibet at theSixteenth Meeting of the Ninth NPCStanding Committee of the TAR onThursday.Gyaltsen, now 52, first joined the CCP inFebruary 1976 to work with the CentralParty School, the training place for futureCCP officials, and in December 1986,became secretary of the CommunistYouth League. From January 2003 toOctober 2006, Gyaltsen served as vice-chairman of Tibet Autonomous Regionand in 2007 joined the TAR StandingCommittee and served as vice-chairman

of the United Front Work Departmentyparty secretary.Gyaltsen’s appointment follows that ofunder current TAR governor PemaThinley, the ex-military leader and partysecretary best known for his dismissiveattitude toward traditional Tibetanculture.The region’s previous governor JampaPhuntsok suddenly resigned inJanuary. It is suspected that theresignation was forced to make way fora governorship more obsequious toBeijing.

Lobsang Gyaltsen, the new vice-governor of TAR. Photo: File

Article by Max French, The Tibet Post

The Tibet Post 715 June , 2010 DharamsalaTPI INTERNET CENSORSHIP

China Vows To Increase

Internet Crackdown

Beijing: The largest communist regimeof China vowed Tuesday to increasethe Internet crackdown, saying it wouldcontinue to block anything consideredsubversive or threatening to "nationalunity."The "white paper" statement ofgovernment policy was released threemonths after a public dispute overcensorship prompted Google Inc. toshut its mainland-based search engine.It said there were 384 million Internetusers in China at the end of 2009, about29 percent of the population. Thegovernment aims to boost that to 45percent in the next five years by pushinginto rural areas where the white papersaid there was a "digital gap."It said the Internet had taken an"irreplaceable role in accelerating thedevelopment of the national economy"and would continue to impact dailywork, education and lifestyles.But China, which routinely blocks Websites such as Facebook, YouTube andTwitter, gave no sign there would be aneasing of the "Great Firewall" -- thenickname for the of filters that keepmainland Web surfers from accessingmaterial the government deemssensitive.In a white paper published on Tuesday,the government also said it would notaccept outside criticism of its internetcontrols and warned foreigngovernments and companies to respectits rules."Within Chinese territory, the internetis under the jurisdiction of Chinese

People use the computer at an Internet cafe in Taiyuan, Shanxi province March 31, 2010. Google Inc blamed

sovereignty. The internet sovereigntyof China should be respected andprotected," the paper said.It added that China "advocates theexertion of technical means" in line withexisting laws and international norms"to prevent and curb the harmful effectsof illegal information on state security,the public interest and minors".

'Great Firewall'

The paper said such laws allowed thecurbing of online content on topicsranging from "instigating racial hatredor discrimination and jeopardisingethnic unity" to gambling, violence andobscenity.China is believed to operate one of theworld's largest and most sophisticatedsystems of web censorship, which hasbeen dubbed by some the "GreatFirewall of China".Backed by what analysts estimate is aforce of several thousand cyber police,the system monitors and blocks accessto any content the government deemsunacceptable, ranging frompornography to political dissent.The release of the white paper followsa high profile spat earlier this year withinternet search giant Google over theissue of online censorship.In March Google announced it waspulling out of China after failing to reachan agreement with Chinese that wouldallow it to continue working in thecountry.The row in turn touched off a war of

words with the US over internetfreedom, at a time when ties werealready frayed over US arms sales toTaiwan, a visit by the Dalai Lama, anda host of trade and currency issues.

Jailed

According to the New York-basedCommittee to Protect Journalists,China is one of the world's mostoppressive nations in its approach toonline censorship.As of last December, the group said,China had jailed at least 24 journalists,many of them on charges related tointernet blogging.However in Tuesday's white paperChina insisted it "guarantees thecitizen's freedom of speech on theinternet as well as the public's right toknow, to participate, to be heard andto oversee".The paper added that China 'sleaders "frequently log onto theinternet to get to know the people'swishes" and participate in onlinechats with users.The report said there were 384million internet users in China at theend of 2009, equal to about 29 percent of the total population, and saidit wanted to increase that figure toabout 45 per cent in the next fiveyears.It said a key goal would be to pushthe internet into rural areas wherethe paper said there was a "digitalgap."

Article by YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post International "Arrests, violence and surveillance are the common lot of those whodefend Tibetan identity. We urge Prime Minister Wen Jiabao to giveclear orders for the release of all imprisoned Tibetan intellectuals."Goyon and Thupten Gedun, the editors of the magazines Tibet andPurgyal Kyi Namshey (Soul of Ancient Kings), were circulating on footin Chengdu on the evening of 5 June when around 15 policemendescended from two vehicles, used tear-gas on them, and then tookthem to a police station. After confiscating their mobile phones, cameras,ID cards and wallets, they tied them to chairs and interrogated them."The police officers used violence to interrogate us," the journalistssaid. "They asked us about our work and our political activities, all thewhile hitting us. They also threatened us by putting guns against ourheads. When we asked what we had done wrong, they hit us evenharder." One of them was tortured with electrical equipment to make himconfess."The next day, the police checked our police records and discoveredthey were empty. So they let us go, but not without threatening to arrestus again."In Ngaba, writer Dokru Tsultrim was arrested on 24 May in Gomangmonastery, where he has been staying for the past five years. A relativeliving in exile in the Indian city of Dharamsala said he was arrested becauseof two articles by him that have been published."Dokru Tsultrim refused to give his laptop to the police but theyconfiscated documents they found in his room," the relative said. "Untilnow our family has been denied the right to see him." Tsultrim is veryinvolved in promoting literature among young Tibetans but is not amember of in any political movement, the source added.Information about Tsultrim's previous arrest in 2009: http://en.rsf.org/china-concern-that-detained-tibetan-24-04-2009,32608.htmlReporters Without Borders has also learned that the authorities planto make the inhabitants of Lhasa show their ID in order to be able tophotocopy any document. And only permanent residents will be ableto make photocopies. This new restriction appears to be aimed atpreventing the circulation of "separatist" documents.At least 50 Tibetans have been arrested since March 2008 for sendinginformation abroad: http://en.rsf.org/china-at-least-50-tibetans-convicted-for-22-03-2010,36801.htmlThe Garden of Freedoms at the Shanghai expo: http://en.rsf.org/china-expo-shanghai-freedom-garden-26-04-2010,37120.html

Media Rights Group Condemns

Chinese Torture of Writers in Tibet

......continued from front page

By Reporters Without Border

www.shambalapost.com www.tibetexpress.com www.lhasapost.com www.outlooktibet.com

Website Developements from The Tibet Post International

The Tibet Post InternationalPress of Tibet(Head Office)1st Floor, Dolkhang House, JogiwaraRoad, Mcleod Ganj, Dharamsala, Distt.Kangra H.P 176219 India

Advicer Mr. Thomas Keimel

Advicer Dr. Vincent Brucel

Editor Mr. YC. Dhardhowa

Sub Editor Mrs. Yangyal Sham

Reporter Mr. Sangay

Reporter Ms. Keary Huang

Circular Ven Phuntsok Dhondup

Publisher Mr. Tenzin Kunga

I n t e r n a t i o n a l

The Tibet P st

Tele: 0091-1892-224641Moble:+91-9882423566

E-mail: editor@thetibetpost.comwww.thetibetpost.com

This eddtion’s Contributors

Matthew Singh-Toor TPI adviser, Dharamshala

Amy Elmgren US TPI Online editor

Phuntsok Choedon Dharamshala, India

Gautham Ashok Pune, India

Max French UK

The Tibet Post8 15 June , 2010 Dharamsala

Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir,Mr. Omar Abdullah attended theceremony with His Holiness theDalai Lama.There were 18,000 people attendingthe event , most ly Buddhis ts ,Muslims and Hindus.Admir ing the India 's re l igiousharmony and non-violence and theconcept of Buddhist philosophy ofnon-vio lence and peace , HisHoliness appealed the people tofollow such principles of living.His Holiness the Dalai Lama told theBuddhist students, Tibetan peoplehave preserved Kagyur andTengyur Buddha's teaching from theNalanda University and they shouldstudy Buddhism while practisingBuddhist principles in their dailylife.Every religion has the similar aim toreduce the negative qualities ofanger, ha t red , jea lousy and tospread the altruistic qualities, tohelp others, said His Holiness. "Ibeing a Buddhist, believe and haverespect for every religion", HisHoliness added.To have warm heartedness is very

essential with good health, said HisHoliness while speaking about theregion. His Holiness said, GulabGarh is a very beautiful place withlarge fores t and mounta inssurrounding the region and HisHoliness is very happy to visit theplace at their request.His Holiness told the youngsters ofthe region to focus on their studieswi th the promot ion of the i rtraditional values.His Holiness said he is very happymeeting Mr. Omar Abdullah, for HisHol iness have shared c loserelat ions with Chief Minister 'sfather Union Minister Dr. FarooqAbdullah and grandfather formerPrime Minister of Jammu & KashmirMr. Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah.Chief Minister, Mr. Abdullah said,he is also very happy to meet HisHoliness the Dalai Lama for thesecond time.His Holiness is conferring long-lifein i t ia t ion to the people th isafternoon and will participate in aninter fa i th d ia logue process onSunday morning. Following thedialogue His Holiness will return toDharamsala.

His Holiness AttendsFounding Anniv of Buddhist

School in Jammu

......continued from front page

By Lobsang Choedak, Tibet Net

TPI VARIOUS

His Holiness the Dalai Lama to VisitRussia: Says Russian Official

Dharamshala: Tibetan spiritual leaderHis Holiness the Dalai Lama is expectedto visit Russia as the country's Buddhistfollowers wish to see their spiritualleader, Russian Ambassador to India Mr.Alexander Kadakin said.Russia has a good number of citizensfollowing the faith of Buddhism and thepeople want to see their religious leader,Mr. Kadakin was quoted as saying byANI.There are Buddhists in Altai region, inthe Altai mountains and they also wantto see His Holiness the Dalai Lama,added the Ambassador..There are some 700,000 followers ofBuddhism in the Russian Federation,mostly in the eastern areas like Buryatiabordering on Mongolia and Republic ofKalmykia in South Russia.Russia is ready to help settle the conflict

between China and the Tibetan spiritualleader Dalai Lama, Foreign MinisterSergei Lavrov said Lavrov said lastmonth during a speech at the FederationCouncil, Russia's upper house ofparliament."If all the parties make attempts toseparate clearly pastoral contacts frompolitical associations, this would be asolution to the problem. We are ready toassist in this," Lavrov said.The 74 year old Tibetan leader and Nobelpeace prize literature, His Holiness theDalai Lama last visited the RussianRepublic of Kalmykia in November 2004.Russia has been under Chinese pressureto allow the visits of His Holiness theDalai Lama to meet his Buddhistfollowers from Buddhism traditionalreligions including Kalmykia andBuryatia bordering on Mongolia.

Russian Ambassador to India Mr. Alexander Kadakin. Photo: file

Article by YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post

Miss Tibet 2010: The Competition Begins

Dharamshala: At a press conferenceheld in Mcleod Ganj today, the fourcontestants chosen to compete for thetitle of Miss Tibet 2010 presentedthemselves officially for the first timein Dharamshala. The contestants werepicked during preliminary stages inChandigarh last Saturday.A total of eleven women applied toparticipate in the competition, but onlyfour made it to Chandigarh to confirmtheir entries. This year's contestants areRinchen Choden (25) and TenzinNamchoe (22) from Bangalore, TenzinNorzom (23) from Varanasi andYangchen Metok (19) fromDharamshala.The director of the pageant, LobsangWangyal, who introduced the pressconference, explained his decision tokeep the competition a "low-profile"and "less glamorous" event out ofrespect for the victims of the Kyegudoearthquake in April. Wangyal statedthat "in place of firecrackers there wouldbe prayers" for those affected by thetragedy.In the run-up to the finale inDharamshala on the 6th June, thecontenders are undergoing intensivecultural training and groomingactivities. These include training instage craft, dance and yoga. They willalso undertake classes in Tibetanculture, history and current affairs.The pageant consists of seven rounds,including a swimsuit contest on Friday

and "Talk and Talent" rounds onSaturday. Sunday will see thecommencement of the final stages,including ‘Evening Gown', ‘TraditionalCostume' and ‘Interview' rounds to beheld at the Tibetan Institute ofPerforming Arts (TIPA). Tenzin Norzomtold the Tibet Post that her favouriteround was the ‘Evening Gown' event,as it was the only time she would beable to dress up in such attire.The contestants have been vocal abouttheir stance on Chinese rule in Tibetand have openly criticised Chineseactivities whilst celebrating theirTibetan identity. One of the finalists,Rinchen Choden earlier expressed herbelief that China "has no business tointerfere with our country" and wenton to say "I am proud of my countryand I am proud to represent myself forTibet".In the past the controversialcompetition has angered the Chineseauthorities. Previous Miss Tibetwinners have been forced to withdrawfrom international beauty pageants dueto pressure from the Chinesegovernment. Participant RinchenChoden previously defended her rightto partake in the pageant, stating "I canparticipate in any internationalcompetition and China has nothing todo with that". Speaking of internationalcompetition exclusions, Wangyal toldTP today that it was "sad... its as if weare not a people...our rights should be

as valid as other racial groups", furtheradding such competitions are a"celebration of diversity, let Tibetans bethere".When asked by the TP, at today's pressconference, what her friends and familythought about her entry in thecompetition, participant TenzinNamchoe explained, "my parents live inTibet so I cannot tell them I'm going tothis competition, the Chinese considerthis a political activity".Wangyal's competition has also receivedcriticism from the Tibetan government-in-exile, with Samdhong Rinpoche callingit ‘un-Tibetan' in its copying of westernculture. However speaking to TP,Wangyal has defended the eventexpressing that it "asserts Tibet as anation and Tibetans as a people", furtheradding "I don't believe in preserving, Ibelieve in evolving". Yangchen Metokexplained her reasons for entering thecompetition, "the important thing is justto take part. Tibetan girls are usually moreshy than others, so don't usually takepart in any activities...they should takethis kind of opportunity". Namchoefurther defended this point by praisingthe pageant as a "good platform foryoung Tibetan ladies".The winner of this year's ninth annualcontest, sponsored by KingfisherAirlines, will receive Rs.100,000, whilstthe first and second runners-up willreceive Rs.50,000 and Rs.25,000respectively.

The four contestances for Miss Tibet 2010 displayed during press conference held in Mcelod Ganj, Dharamshala, India on 31 May 2010.

Photo: TPI/Sangay

Article by YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post International

Although there are schools in zanskar,they neither teach or Tibetan and Geshefears that, without these subjects, thelocal culture of Zanskar, so similar tothat of Tibet, will die out within the next30 years. So in 2004, Geshe LobsangYonten, bought 17 children fromZanskar to Manali an Dharamshala fortheir schooling. This journey over themountain passes and the subsequentreturn and rerouting over closed roads

was documented in the film; ‘JourneyFrom Zanskar'. The film is narrated byactor and famous Tibet activist,Richard Gere. The film in its lengthcaptures the striking, and sparselandscape of this remote region, as wellas the struggles of such an arduousjourney.Currently 15, of the children DhakpoShedrubling Monastery, one is atDolmaling Nunnery in Dharamshala,and the other is at Drepung Gomang

Zanskar Hopes to Preserve itsEndangered Culture

......continued from front page

By Lobsang Choedak, Tibet Net

Monastery in Southern India, whereGeshe himself studied. Many youngstudents have been involved inspreading awareness in and aroundDharamshala.A Limited number of copies are availablefor free for groups and individuals whowould like to host their own screening/fundraiser. 200 copies were also givenaway earlier this month, when HisHoliness spoke in Bloomington, Indianaat the Tibet Mongolian Centre.