Issued by the Office of Tibet, London 

15 May 2008 

His Holiness the Dalai Lama is visiting the UK from 20 to 31 May 2008 at the invitation of the Dharma Network (formed of various Buddhist organisations in the UK), the Tibet Society UK, the All Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet, the Blackfriars and the Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies to give a series of public talks and teachings in London, Nottingham and Oxford.

During the visit His Holiness will also be meeting with HRH The Prince of Wales, Prime Minister Gordon Brown, leaders of the opposition parties, Members of Parliament, and the Archbishop of Canterbury as well as leaders of other religious faiths.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama is also being awarded an honorary doctorate by the London Metropolitan University on 20 May and will be taking questions at a 'Meeting with the Press' on the afternoon of 21 May.

Ever since March, the issue of Tibet and the Olympics have been stirred up together, drawing the attention of the entire world. Short sighted politicians in our own country have been pleased that their petty schemes to stir up nationalist sentiment have been so successful. This not only manipulates domestic opinion but also uses so-called "mainstream public opinion" to stand oppose the criticisms coming from international society. On the other hand, this serves to push for the consolidation of the situation in Tibet in the hope of getting through the Olympics peacefully. They did not realize that the Tibet issue has already become a major factor affecting China's future. Solving the Tibet issue will take courage and great wisdom. Petty scheming could run Tibet and ruin China.

How did the Tibet issue arise?

The Tibet issue is first of all a human rights issue.

Although the authorities are not willing to admit it, I want to say it plainly. This problem that plagues the leadership of the Communist Party, if we look at its origin, was created by the Chinese Communist Party itself as the ruler of China.

In aftermath of the series of pro-Tibet protests in many parts of Tibet since 10 March 2008, the Chinese government has stepped up unprecedented "Patriotic re-education" campaign in an attempt to counter the growing voices of dissidence in the Tibetan society. The "Patriotic re-education" campaign was originally launched to "stem out" Tibetan nationalism in Tibet's religious institutions. However, in recent years it was conducted in secular Tibetan society such as schools and communities.

Since 10 March 2008, the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) has documented hundreds of Tibetans arrested in connection with the "Patriotic re-education" campaign. In many of Tibet's monasteries and nunneries, the Chinese government has stepped up the "Patriotic re-education", which requires the monks and nuns to criticize and denounce the Dalai Lama.

Over 55 nuns in Kardze protested against the Chinese authorities on 14 May 2008 according to reliable information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD).

The protest was carried out by nuns of Pang Na Tashi Gepheling Nunnery situated in Su-ngo Township, Kardze County, (Ch: Ganzi) Kardze "TAP", Sichuan Province on 14 May 2008. The nunnery is about 2 kilometers away from the Kardze County government headquarter. Pang-ri Nunnery housed 80 nuns on regular days.

As Germany welcomes the Dalai Lama, China continues it's policy of sabotage by demanding that German officials do not meet the Dalai Lama.

China continues it's predictable but rather boring insistence that no member of a foreign government should ever meet His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama at the risk of offending  "The People & Government of China". It seems however apart from China's allies, Bhurma, Fiji and a few other countries like North Korea and Pakistan the whole world would actually rather do their own thing rather than do what China tells them.

Dharamshala: His Eminence the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, head of the Kamtsang Kagyud, left Dharamshala on Sunday to begin his historic visit to the United States from 15 May to 2 June. Kamtsang Kagyu is one of the four greater subsects of Kagyud school of Tibetan Buddhism.

This is Gyalwa Karmapa Rinpoche's first ever visit to a country outside India, since he arrived in India on 5 January 2000 after fleeing Tibet.

During the US visit, Gyalwa Karmapa will deliver a series of public teachings in New York, Boulder, Colorado and Seattle.

In New York, Gyalwa Karmapa will deliver two public teachings on Awakening the Heart of Enlightenment' at Hammerstein Ballroom on 17 May and Cutting Through Confusion: Discovering the Wisdom of Our Own Minds at Waldorf-Astoria Ballroom on 18 May.

In a press statement released today, the Kashag of the Central Tibetan Administration said: "We are shocked to learn through the world media that a devastating earthquake erupted in southwestern parts of China on 12 May, killing thousands of people and destroying millions worth of property."

"In this hour of Chinese national tragedy, our heart goes to brothers and sisters of the people of China and pray for an early recovery from the shock and difficulties that they have gone through," the statement noted.

Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche said: "My colleagues in the Kashag, Central Tibetan Administration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, join me to express our sense of great sorrow for the loss of lives and properties. We pray that may Three Jewels give courage and strength to the people of the affected areas to face this daunting natural calamity with ease."

"A special Buddhist prayer ceremony will be conducted at the main Buddhist temple in Dharamshala for those who faced an unexpected death in this earthquake," Kalon Tripa added.

  Tenzin Gyatso, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, leader of the Tibetan people, discusses the uprising in his native Tibet, why he doesn't support protests against the Olympic torch relay and his proposals for a compromise with Beijing.

Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama: "The cultural rights and freedoms must apply to all Tibetans -- as it is stated in the constitution."

SPIEGEL: Your Holiness, have you already received your invitation for the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Beijing?

Dharamshala: The 21 Chinese lawyers who signed their signature and openly announced that they would provide to Tibetans arrested such legal services as legal representatives and defense lawyers were severely suppressed by the authorities.

Zhou Yongkang, the standing member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and the party secretary of the Central Political and Law Commission, sent a special memo concerning this issue; the law firms where these lawyers are working were forbidden by the bureaus/departments of judicature to accept the entrust by the Tibetans, and the annual inspection and registration of their law firms would also be postponed.

Gordon brown will not meet the Dalai Lama at Number 10 Downing St.

In an apparent change of plan it seems Gordon Brown is concerned about the Communist Chinese reaction to an official meeting at Downing St with His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

The meeting will now take place at Lambeth Palace, the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Brussels: The President of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Pottering has met with Mrs Kesang Yangki Takla, Kalon for the Department of Information and International Relations.

Following the meeting, Mr Pottering said: "The European Parliament has made it crystal clear to the Chinese authorities in our resolution last month, and I repeat that demand now. China must immediately begin substantive discussions leading to meaningful negotiations, at an appropriately high level, with representatives of the Dalai Lama."

"I have now met the Dalai Lama three or four times and his Kalon reconfirmed to me what he himself has always stated clearly: He is not seeking independence for Tibet but autonomy within the Chinese constitution to enable the Tibetan people to manage their own affairs in the areas of religion, culture, social norms and environment. It is on this basis that results-oriented talks should be opened," he added.

Around 28 March 2008, a strong contingent of People's Armed Police and Public Security Bureau (PSB) officials stormed the Ngaba Kirti Monastery in Ngaba (Ch: Aba) County, Sichuan Province, to search for incriminating materials in the monastery. Earlier hard evidence in the form of photographs depicting the authorities brutal crack down on the protests which led to death of scores of Tibetans in the area have reached the outside world causing major embarrassment to the government of the People's Republic of China. During the raid the officials ransacked each and every room in the monastery thus insulting and harassing the monks. 

The pictures below depict portraits of the Dalai Lama on display at the monastery prayer wheel hut which were either pierced, torn, scrubbed or removed by the officials during the raid.

Tibetan's in the county of Drakgo (Ch: Luhuo), Karze the Tibetan province of Kham (incorporated into Chinese province of Sichuan) hung out a two kilometer or one and a half miles of f pro-independence banners written in Chinese and Tibetan.

29 April 2008

Tawu (Ch: Daofu) County, Karze "TAP," Kham (incorporated into Chinese province of Sichuan)-

Without any warning or justification, the Peoples Security Bureau (PSB) officials arrested Nyima Drakpa (age 41) in Bardzi Township. Nyima Drakpa is a former monk of Nya-tso monastery in Tawu County. In 1998, he was arrested for suspicion of being one of the first people to stick pro-independence posters in Tawu County.