Ngagchung of Larung Gar Buddhist Institute of Sertha

The fate of a Tibetan Buddhist monk from the famous Larung Gar Buddhist Institute of Sertha in present-day Sichuan Province, who was arrested last year during the pan –Tibet protest, remains unknown year after the incident, according to information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD).

According to the source, Ngagchung (only one name) was arrested by the on 8 July 2008 along with two monks; Taphun and Gudrak of Larung Gar Buddhist Institute of Serthar on suspicious of leaking information about Tibet’s situation to the ‘separatist forces’ outside during the height of the Tibet protests last year. Although Taphun and Gudrak-both brothers- were released after interrogation, Ngagchung continue to remain in detention for almost a year. As per the last communication, he is known to have been detained at Chengdu PSB Detention Centre in Chengdu, the provincial capital of Sichuan Province. The present physical and mental conditions of Ngagchung remain unknown to his family members and relatives as their numerous requests to visit him were turned down by the authorities.

Ngagchung is a nephew of the late Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok, a highly –respected Tibetan Buddhist teacher who founded the Larung Gar Buddhist Institute in Sertha County (Ch: Seda), Kardze “Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture” (‘TAP’). Ngagchung studied Buddhist philosophy at the Institute for more than 20 years. Over the years, he had taken various responsibilities of the institute and was respected member of the institute.

The Centre has recorded numerous cases of Tibetans whose fates and whereabouts remain completely unknown to their family members or close associates. Family members were denied visitation right in the detention center even after locating their whereabouts. While in many known cases, families were informed just before the court trial begin denying them of basic legal guarantees.

Larung Gar Buddhist Institute in Sertha County witnessed numerous Chinese crackdowns in 1999 and April 2000 with Chinese authorities sending ‘work team’ officials to conduct the ‘Patriotic re-education’ campaign in the institute. Later, on 18 April 2001, the Chinese authorities issued a notice putting ceiling on the number of resident monks the institute could accommodate which resulted in the eviction of over 7,000 students mostly from Mainland China and other East Asian countries. Then in June 2001 fifty trucks and jeeps arrived at the Institute and, under the protection of thousands of security officials who camped on the outskirts of the Institute during the massive demolition, began to destroy the monastic homes. The founder of the institute, Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok, passed away at a hospital in Chengdu on 7 January 2004 at the age of 70.

The Centre urges the government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to immediately locate the current whereabouts and ascertain the current fate of Ngagchung. The Cente also calls for immediate and unconditional access to his family members or legal representative of his choice and any medical attention he may require.

Dharamshala: A Tibetan from Dechen Tibet Autonomous Prefecture (incorporated into China Yunnan Province) was sentenced to three years in prison by a court for his role in "inciting separatism" by sending email and text messages about the peaceful protests among Tibetans in March 2008, German news agency DPA reported Tuesday citing a US-based rights group.

The Dui Hua Foundation circulated copies of two court documents for the first trial and appealed the sentence of Gonpo Tserang, 32, in the Dechen TAP.

The verdict from the initial trial said, "defendant Gonpo Tserang used the internet to deliberately fabricate rumours, distort the true situation and incite separatism."

The court documents listed six people based abroad who were alleged to have received the email messages from the defendant.

They also linked the case to the "March 14 incident," referring to a violent uprising against Chinese rule last year by Tibetans in Lhasa, the capital of China's Tibet Autonomous Region.

The appeal document was dated January 5, 2009, with the delay in any public reports on the trial apparently a result of the customary secrecy surrounding such cases in China.

Dui Hua said the case involved the only known conviction of a Tibetan in Yunnan on a charge linked to state security.

"The content of the messages is never specified, and it is questionable whether individuals who are not located in China are even capable of carrying out acts that would 'split the nation or undermine national unity'," Dui Hua said in a statement.

Gonpo Tserang was apparently not represented by a lawyer, at least at his appeal hearing, it said.

China holds many such trials in secret, with judges often taking just minutes to approve state prosecutions, and government-run media often carry no reports of the verdicts.

More Tibetans were reportedly sentenced in Sichuan province, which borders Yunnan and the Tibet Autonomous Region.

Founded by US citizen John Kamm, a former businessman, Dui Hua has lobbied China for the past 18 years to reduce individual sentences or release prisoners jailed in cases linked to abuses of human rights.
 

Dharamshala: At least 3 Tibetans were seriously wounded after clashes broke over attempts by Chinese authorities to divert the Gyama river to a mining site, blocking irrigation water for the residents of Gyama township in Meldro Gungkar county near Lhasa. The incident took place on 20 June, sources said.

One of the seriously injured person, who was denied admission by a county hospital, has been referred to another hospital in Lhasa and it is not known whether he is dead or alive.

The sources attribute the incident to mining project started by the Chinese government in Gyama County in 1990, for which a large number of Chinese miners have been sent to the area.

Recently, the Tibetan residents approached the local government protesting the diversion of Gyama river, which is used for irrigation, to a mining site. As the authorities refused to consider their appeal, the residents clashed with a group of Chinese miners on 20 June.

Following the incident, two or three Tibetans representing each family from the thirteen farming communities, protested in front of the local government office.

Subsequently, the government of the Tibet Autonomous Region dispatched a group senior authorities, head of the county, staff members and some security forces to the region on 21 June. The authorities summoned the local residents for a meeting during which the angry residents cried and demanded an end to the mining activities.

The residents strongly criticised the government for its refusal to stop the mining project, which resulted in deaths of more than 1000 domestic and wild animals, and drying up of pastures and poisoning of drinking water caused by toxic waste.

The residents said if the mining project is not halted, either they would move to another area to live or if they are allowed to do so, then they want all the miners to move out. After hours of intense discussion, a large number of Chinese mining team along with security forces left the area on 21 June. The protest in front of the government office continued till next day.

Mr George Fernandes (4th R) and Mr Mr Ajay Singh (5th R) with deputy speaker of Tibetan Parliament,          Dolma Gyari (3rd R), Geshey Monlam Tharchin, Geshey Sonam Tenphel and Geshey Tseringpo, members of              Tibetan Parliament and Phurbu Tsering, Tibetan Parliamentary Secretariat in Dharamshala on 21 June 2009

Dharamshala: Former Union Minister and one of the most prominent supporters of  Tibetan cause, Mr George Fernandes arrived Sunday (21 June) in Dharamsala, the seat of the Central Tibetan Administration, as the official guest of the  Kashag (executive). 

Mr Fernandes is accompanied by Ajay Singh, former deputy union  minister along with his wife and they were escorted from Delhi by  Deputy Speaker of Tibetan Parliament, Mrs Dolma Gyari.

He was given a warm reception at the circuit house by the deputy commissioner of  Kangra. Geshey Monlam Tharchin, Geshey Sonam  Tenphel and Geshey Tseringpo, who are members of the  Standing Committee of the Tibetan Parliament, were also present to accord their greetings.
 
During his two weeks sojourn in Dharamsala, Mr Fernandes will meet His  Holiness the Dalai Lama and senior officials of the Central Tibetan  Administration. He will also visit various Tibetan  institutions and places in and around Dharamsala.

Speaker Penpa Tsering (L) and Kalon Tripa Prof Samdhong Rinpoche (R) during a panel discussion on the election of Kalon Tripa in 2011/Photo:TibetSun

Dharamshala: The upcoming election of Kalon Tripa in 2011 will test the progress made by the Tibetan people in strengthening the democratic process introduced by His Holiness the Dalai Lama since coming into exile, speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile told hundreds of Tibetans during a panel discussion on Saturday. 

The other panelist was Kalon Tripa Prof Samdhong Rinpoche.

The discussion forum was set up by four Tibetan non-governmental organisations based in Dharamshala in their efforts to educate Tibetans in choosing a right democratic leadership in exile.

In April 2001, the Tibetan Parliament, on the advice of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, amended the Charter of Tibetans in exile to provide for the direct election of the Kalon Tripa by the exile populace. Kalon Tripa is the executive head of the Central Tibetan Administration. The Charter stipulates that the Kashag (Cabinet) should have a maximum of eight members (Kalons or Ministers), including the Kalon Tripa.

Expressing concern over low voter turnout in the earlier elections, Speaker Penpa Tsering emphasised the need for an active participation of Tibetans, particularly the youths in the upcoming democratic election.

He said besides fulfilling the conditions stipulated in the charter to become a Kalon Tripa, the elected leadership should be sincere in his/her commitment in the peaceful resolution of the Tibetan issue and fulfilling the aspirations of the Tibetan people living both in Tibet and exile. 

The speaker said the parliament has received a number of letters which appeal for an amendment in the Tibetan charter to have the present Kalon Tripa Prof Samdhong Rinpoche to serve another term. “As representatives of the Tibetan people, it is our duty to present the public opinion in the parliament,” he added.

Kalon Tripa Prof Samdhong Rinpoche, who is serving his second consecutive term, said there is little possibility of amending the charter, as doing so for an individual will go against the democratic principles.

There were many questions and opinions from the audience over whether the future Kalon Tripa will go against the policy of the Central Tibetan Administration, including the Middle-Way Approach in resolving the Tibetan issue with China..

“Whoever is elected as Kalon Tripa, he or she would work within the confines of the charter and must hold accountable to the Tibetan Parliament and keep allegiance to His Holiness the Dalai Lama,” Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche said in response to public sentiments.

Kalon Tripa also spoke on the Chinese government's intentional or unintentional means to exterminate the Tibetan cultural heritage and repression imposed on Tibetans living inside Tibet.

Kurt M. Campbell, President Obama's nominee to be Assistant Secretary for East Asia and Pacific Affairs, appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for his confirmation hearing on June 10, 2009. He is the first senior level official at the State Department to come before the Committee who will have responsibility for the issues that come together to form U.S. policy on Tibet. The Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor; Assistant Secretary for Population, Refugee and Migration, the American Ambassador to China and the Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues are all key members of the State Department policy team, and should be put in place in the weeks ahead.

In his confirmation hearing statement and in response to questions from the Senators, Mr. Campbell cited "issues associated with Tibet" among top priorities for U.S. China policy. He elaborated in a written response to a question for the record:

"Encouraging respect for human rights, including minority rights and religious freedom in all areas, including Tibet, is a top priority in our bilateral engagement with China. Secretary Clinton said in Beijing during her trip to Asia in February that the promotion of human rights is an essential aspect of U.S. global foreign policy. In engaging China on a broad range of challenges, we will have frank discussions on issues where we have disagreements, including human rights, Tibet, religious freedom, and freedom of expression. Secretary Clinton has pointed out that our candid discussions are part of our approach, and that human rights is part of our comprehensive agenda.

"We will not shy away from seeking opportunities to raise candidly with China's leaders our concerns about the poor human rights situation in Tibet. President Obama and Secretary Clinton have discussed Tibet issues with China's most senior officials, and I will do the same. Likewise, we will also encourage the Tibetans to pursue dialogue with the Chinese and identify areas where substantive improvements to the lives of Tibetans can realistically be achieved.

"This administration sees the talks between the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama's representatives as essential for resolving longstanding tensions in Tibetan areas of China and for safeguarding the distinct ethnic, cultural, and religious identity of the Tibetan people. We will sustain our focus on promoting substantive dialogue, directed at achieving meaningful results."

Todd Stein, Director for Government Relations in the ICT Washington, D.C. office, responded to the Campbell quote by saying: "This is unambiguous language that should be viewed as such by the Chinese government. The expectation of 'meaningful results' echoes recent statements by President Obama, Secretary of State Clinton and Speaker Pelosi, all of which indicate a high priority for Tibet and a sense that rhetoric will not be enough to satisfy a new leadership that is looking for demonstrated progress on Tibet and is ready to support ways to achieve it. "

Kurt Campbell is expected to be confirmed swiftly by the full Senate as Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs.

savetibet.org

Desertification is spreading by 39,600 hectares (98,000 acres) annually   in Tibet/AFP

Dharamshala: Rising temperature and deforestation have intensified drought and desertification in Tibet, China's state media said.

Drought conditions have hit 33 counties in five of the six prefectures in Tibet, affecting 15.3 percent of the Tibetan plateau, Xinhua said, quoting the regional drought relief and flood control headquarters.

According to the report, the drought has also killed 13,601 head of cattle.
Nine meteorological centers in Tibet have not seen substantial rain for 226 consecutive days, Zhao Yiping, head of the Tibet Regional Meteorological Bureau said.

The drought has also been worsened by higher than normal temperatures. Tibet has experienced temperatures 0.4 to 2.3 celsius degrees higher than normal years, Zhao said. 

The report by Xinhua news agency follows a warning by China's top weather official last month that Tibet faced a growing threat of drought and floods as global warming melts its glaciers.

The head of the China Meteorological Bureau, Zheng Guogang, last month was quoted by Xinhua as warning that global warming was accelerating glacial shrinkage, causing Tibet's lakes to swell.

"If the warming continues, millions of people in western China will face floods in the short term and drought in the long run."

Moreover, desertification is spreading by 39,600 hectares (98,000 acres) annually in Tibet, an official at the regional forestry bureau was quoted as saying by the Xinhua news agency.

Sangye Drawa said Tibetan authorities were trying to curb the spread with afforestation programmes and by closing some grasslands to herders.

"By 2010, we hope to achieve zero growth in deserts and by 2020, half of the desertified land that can still be reversed will be fixed," he was quoted as saying.

Sangye Drawa said that desertified land, which currently covers 18 percent of the Himalayan plateau, was caused by dry weather and a lack of forests, according to the report.

He also attributed it to overgrazing, tree-felling and mining.

tibet.net