Today — 10 March 2010 — marks the 51st anniversary of the Tibetan people's peaceful uprising against the Chinese authorities. On this momentous day, the Kashag pays homage to the brave men and women of Tibet who have laid down their lives for our spiritual and temporal cause. The Kashag also, in solidarity with those Tibetan compatriots who are presently undergoing torture inside Tibet, extends its best greetings and commiserations to all of them.  

His Holiness the Dalai Lama delivers his statement on the 51st anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising Day, in Dharamsala, India, on 10 March 2010

Today marks the 51st anniversary of the Tibetan people's peaceful uprising in 1959 against Communist China's repression in Tibet, as well as the second anniversary of the peaceful protests that erupted across Tibet in March 2008. On this occasion, I pay homage to those heroic Tibetan men and women, who sacrificed their lives for the cause of Tibet, and pray for an early end to the sufferings of those still oppressed in Tibet. 

The Envoys conveyed a three-point message to the representatives of the Chinese leadership.

Firstly, a seven-point Note was presented that expanded on the Memorandum on Genuine Autonomy for All Tibetans that was presented during the eighth round of talks. The Envoys reiterated our hope that the Chinese Central Government will give due consideration and have meaningful dialogue on this. The Chinese Central Government has made different comments and expression of concerns concerning the Memorandum and the Note was intended to address these and to offer some constructive suggestions for a way forward in the dialogue process. The Note was also intended to prevent the chance of misinterpretation and misconception by the general public. The seven points in the Note include respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity of the PRC, respecting the Constitution of the PRC, respecting the "Three Adherences," respecting the hierarchy and authority of the Chinese Central Government, Concerns raised by the Central Government on specific competencies referred to the Memorandum, recognising the core issue, and offering His Holiness the Dalai Lama's cooperation for a mutually beneficial solution.

Tibet Mass Lobby calls for an increase in UK’s diplomatic presence in China and Tibet and questions the effectiveness of British

 
Building on the success of last year's inaugural Tibet Mass Lobby, where 300 lobbyists, including well over 100 from the Tibetan community, descended on Westminster, a coalition of Tibet support groups are calling on their members and supporters to take part in a second Mass Lobby on 10 March.
 
This year, 10 March sees the 51st anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising in Lhasa. It is a day when Tibetans worldwide, both inside Tibet and in exile, mourn those who have lost their lives in the 51 year struggle for justice. Karma Chura-tsang from Tibetan Youth UK summed up the depth of feeling and commitment felt by Tibetans, saying, “Today is a day to celebrate the strength of the Tibetan people and their perseverance and to renew our resolve to fight for our country until Tibet is once again free.”
 
The situation inside Tibet remains tense. Since the outbreak of widespread protests and demonstrations in March 2008, there have been continued acts of Tibetan resistance and non-compliance throughout Tibet and Tibetan areas. A recent example being when Tibetans in the Amdo region of Tibet (birthplace of the Dalai Lama), defiantly flouted the Chinese authorities with public prayer ceremonies and firework displays to celebrate the meeting between President Obama and the Dalai Lama. Recent reports indicate that a new "strike hard" campaign was launched by the Chinese government in the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) on 2 March leading to further restrictions and clamp downs.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama/Photo: OHHDL

Dharamshala: The commemoration of the 51st Anniversary of Tibetan National Uprising Day on 10 March 2010 will be broadcast live on www.tibetonline.tv at 8:30 a.m. Indian Standard Time (GMT+05).

His Holiness the Dalai Lama will deliver his statement on the occasion in Dharamsala. There will be Hindi and English translations of the statement.

Kalon Tripa Samdong Rinpoche and Mr Penpa Tsering, Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile, will also address the gathering.

10th March is commemorated as the Tibetan people's peaceful uprising against the repression and occupation of Tibet by the People's Republic of China on 10 March 1959.

source tibet.net

The unofficial Tibetan representative of the Dalai Lama was taken into custody on March 7 by Nepalese police in a climate of increasing tension in Nepal as the 51st anniversary of Tibetís National Uprising Day on March 10 approaches. Nepalese police are being deployed across the Kathmandu Valley in an attempt to prevent any large gatherings or vigils by Tibetans as a show of compliance with Chinese government warnings against Nepal allowing its territory to be used for any alleged anti-China activities.

The border crossing between Tibet and Nepal at the Friendship Bridge has been effectively closed in the lead-up to the anniversary, according to sources in Nepal. Flights to Lhasa were grounded on the tarmac at Kathmandu airport from Friday (March 5). Nepalese travel agents have warned that tourists may not be able to enter the Tibet Autonomous Region from Kathmandu until several days after March 10.

Over the past few weeks there have been numerous police raids on houses and hotels in the area around the Tibetan stupa, Boudhanath, a major pilgrimage destination for Tibetan Buddhists. These raids reflect an approach believed to be sanctioned by the Nepal government of harassment and extortion, which is contributing to a sense of fear and insecurity among long-staying Tibetan refugees in Nepal. The risks are even higher for new arrivals from Tibet ñ with two senior police officers referring to threats of deportation.

The temporary detention yesterday of Thrinley Gyatso, who serves unofficially as the representative of the Dalai Lama in Nepal and who is a senior member of the Tibetan community in Kathmandu, is believed to be a measure to intimidate the Tibetan community and prevent protests in Nepal against Chinese rule in Tibet. Thrinley Gyatso was released on the same day after several hours of questioning and verbal intimidation.

A demonstration in Lhasa on March 10, 2008 sparked a wave of protests that spread across Tibet, and resulted in an often brutal Chinese police crackdown and enhanced security presence in many Tibetan areas. In 2008, the Tibetan community in Kathmandu demonstrated its solidarity with Tibetans in Tibet by protesting repeatedly in front of the Chinese Embassy, at times provoking brutal responses by Nepal police and resulting in numerous arrests.

The 2008 protests in Tibet and Nepal coincided with Chinese government preparations for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, which included carrying the Olympic torch to the summit of Mount Everest (Chomolungma in Tibetan) on the Tibet-Nepal border. Since that time, it has become a priority of the Chinese government to stop any demonstration of dissent by Tibetans, however peaceful, in Nepal. Space for Tibetans within Nepalís civil society is constricting due to the Chinese governmentís focus on Tibetan issues in its relations with the Nepalese government, and shifting internal politics in Nepal. (See ICT report: http://www.savetibet.org/media-center/ict-news-reports/an-uncertain-welcome-how-chinas-influence-impacts-tibetans-nepal.)

One senior Nepalese police officer was quoted yesterday as saying: "We wont spare any pro-Tibetan if found guilty of provoking anger. They will be immediately arrested and handed over to the Department of Immigration for deportation." (Deputy Superintendent of Police Pradhumna Karki, quoted in the Himalayan Times today, March 8). The Himalayan Times also quoted Deputy Inspector General of Nepal Police as saying: "We will take stern action against the Tibetans if they dare to stage anti-China demonstrations [this week]." ("Security beefed up for 51st Tibetan uprising anniversary," March 8, 2010.)

The Nepalese government has adopted a hard line against expressions of Tibetan identity in Nepal, despite strong cultural and religious ties among the Himalayan peoples that have existed for centuries. Long-staying Tibetan refugees in Kathmandu and in settlements close to the Tibet-Nepal border are increasingly fearful as the Nepalese government relinquishes its historic and sovereign interests in response to incentivized political pressure from Beijing and its Nepalese sympathizers.

Mary Beth Markey, Vice President of Advocacy of the International Campaign for Tibet, said: "These disturbing developments deserve an immediate response by the international community. Nepalís political leadership is betting that the internal benefits of assuaging China in the cause of oppressing Tibetans will be greater than the costs of abandoning principles rooted in the law and grounded in historic ties between the Himalayan peoples. While long-staying and transiting Tibetan refugees bear the brunt of this approach, bending to China on fundamental freedoms and the rule of law presents a real risk to the Nepalese people and their democratic institutions."

Over the past two years, ICT has documented the following evidence of Nepalís shift towards China on Tibetan issues:


A change in the use of language by Nepalese authorities to describe the Tibetan refugee flow through their country, suggesting a ëlaw and orderí approach rather than the humanitarian approach that had characterized Nepalís treatment of Tibetans over the last decades.

Continuing harassment and extortion of long-staying Tibetan refugees in Nepal, contributing to a widespread sense of fear and insecurity.

Cancellation of peaceful expressions of Tibetan identity, such as the celebration of the Dalai Lamaís birthday.

Pre-emptive arrests of Tibetans, ID checks and house searches.

Large-scale police deployment in Tibetan communities.

The harassment of Nepalese journalists for attempting to report on police actions in Tibetan communities, and a plethora of hostile articles in the Nepalese media alleging ëFree Tibetí conspiracies.

A growing presence of organizations sympathetic to the Chinese government position, both secular and religious, some popularly assumed to have links with the Chinese Embassy.

The resistance of the Nepalese government to provide durable solutions for certain long-staying Tibetan refugees in Nepal, either by regularizing their legal status or allowing their resettlement to the United States through a refugees admission program proposed by the U.S. Government beginning in 2005.

A pattern of hostile coverage in the Nepalese media of the Tibetan community and their supporters.

Tibetans and their supporters march through the streets of London Sat 6th march 2010

Organised by a coalition of UK Tibet groups, this annual freedom march for Tibet marks the 51st Anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising. It is two years on from the protests and demonstrations in Tibet in the spring of 2008, that led to the death of over 200 Tibetans, with thousands more detained, summarily tried and draconian sentences being meted out. Two young Tibetans, Lobsang Gyaltsen and Mr Loyak, received death sentences and were executed in October 2009. Today over 1,000 Tibetans remain unaccounted for. This march will be one of many being staged worldwide.

China is contemplating a shift in its policy of cultural assimilation by accelerating the rate of Han Chinese migration to the outlying areas of East Turkistan and Tibet (both the Tibet region and the Tibetan ethnic areas) under Chinese control.

Under the Guise of  "Economic Development & Stability" the Communist Dictatorship will attempt to submerge the traditional peoples of these area's with poor Han Chinese who they will pay money to move to these new area's.

This is not a new policy and past attempts at this kind of population management have led to unrest, instead of viewing these episodes of unrest as a sign of failure the communists have just re iterated their desire to submerge all other cultures under the Han Majority.

The corruption of the communist elite has been highlighted recently in the revelation of a communist officials diary online detailing bribe taking drinking binges and various other morally corrupt behaviour. It has long been felt by observers of the communist government in China that they will do anything to stay in power, it is certain that they are not thinking of anything else but their own survival. Everyone knows that the Han majority are suffering greatly under communist rule and a policy of subsidies to move to ethnic minority area's may well be a popular policy in the short term. In the long term communist corruption will cause many more problems. Moving populations to wipe out an ethnic minority is never going to be a simple solution. The communists are only trying to buy themselves time buy attempting to placate the Han Majority with populist policies. Such short sighted governance will only lead to more problems.

The opening ceremony of a five-day Tibetan cultural extravaganza in Bangkok, Thailand's capital, on 5 February 2010/Photos by Tenzin Losel

Bangkok: A five-day "Festival of Tibetan Spirituality, Art and Culture - From Himalayas to Chaophya River", the first of its kind, kicked off yesterday at 6 pm (local time), 5th March 2010, at Thailand's Bangkok Art and Culture Center (BACC).

Hours before the inaugural function, group of old women, who were all Chinese, came in front of the venue to disrupt the opening ceremony. When asked, they seem to have no idea what is going on and simply gathered here following telephone call from the Chinese Embassy. However, later on they did make some slogans but we manage to settle it peacefully, Tenzin Losel, an event coordinator said.

Ajarn Sulak Shivaraksha, Director of the Sathirakoses-naga Pradipa Foundation, formally inaugurated the festival amid hundreds of visitors.

In his three minutes special video message to the festival, His Holiness the Dalai Lama thanked the organisers and people of Thailand for their support and highlighted that both Thai and Tibetan people share the same teachings of Lord Buddha.

Wednesday 10 March: MASS LOBBY AT HOUSE OF COMMONS, WESTMINSTER
 
Venue - Central Lobby, House of Commons, Westminster

Time - from 2.30pm

Following from the very successful inaugural Tibet Mass Lobby in 2009, a coalition of UK Tibet groups have organised a second Tibet Lobby at Westminster to commemorate the Uprising and call on MPs to take action on their constituents’ urgent concerns about Tibet.  For further details on the Lobby and the Lobby Asks please contact members of the coalition as shown below.

see list of all events this week