Noted writer, intellectual Thupten Samphel passes away at 65
By Choekyi Lhamo DHARAMSHALA, June 5: Well-known intellectual and novelist Thupten Samphel has passed away on Saturday morning at his residence in Bylakuppe, South India. In addition to his role in shaping the CTA run think tank Tibet Policy Institute as its first Executive Director, he was also an accomplished writer with two novels under […]
Parliamentary review committee commences probe into Gang Jong Finance
By Choekyi Lhamo DHARAMSHALA, June 2: A parliamentary review committee to probe the viability of ‘Gang Jong Development Finance Private Limited’ began its deliberation on Thursday. The 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-exile passed a resolution during the third session in March approving the formation of a ‘review committee’ consisting of five members to analyze the financial scope […]
Rights group demands Xi Jinping to end ‘cultural assimilation policy’ in open letter
By Choekyi Lhamo DHARAMSHALA, June 2: Dharamshala based rights group, Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) sent an open letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday, demanding an immediate end to the forced assimilation policy implemented inside Tibet. The research group asked the Beijing administration to comply with the Chinese constitution which […]
UN rights chief visit ‘whitewashes’ human rights abuses in China, claim rights groups
By Choekyi Lhamo DHARAMSHALA, June 1: The controversial visit to China by the United Nations Human Rights High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet has drawn heavy criticism for side-lining human rights issues during her meeting with top Chinese leaders. The human rights chief did not visit occupied Tibet, but only mentioned the sensitive region in her closing statement, […]
Tibet’s history of independence sets crucial premise for Middle Way Approach: CTA Prez
By Choekyi Lhamo DHARAMSHALA, May 30: The President of the Tibetan government-in-exile, known officially as the Central Tibetan Administration, Penpa Tsering on his visit to the Dalai Lama Institute for Higher Education in Bangalore on Sunday said that there is a pressing need to assert historical evidence of independent Tibet, which will in turn set […]
China operating mandatory colonial boarding system for children in Tibet, says eyewitness
By Choekyi Lhamo DHARAMSHALA, May 30: The US-based Tibet Action Institute said that a Tibetan eyewitness Dr. Gyal Lo, who defected from Tibet last year, has confirmed that China is operating a mandatory system of colonial boarding preschools for children aged four to six in occupied Tibet. In December 2021, the research group published a […]
UN rights chief holds meeting with Xi Jinping on her China trip
By Choekyi Lhamo DHARAMSHALA, May 27: The UN Human Rights chief Michelle Bachelet on Wednesday spoke to Chinese premier Xi Jinping via video link amid rising criticism of her visit for fear of whitewashing human rights abuses committed by China. The six-day trip also includes a visit to the sensitive East Turkestan or the so-called […]
Sakya Lamas offer long life prayer to the Dalai Lama
By Choekyi Lhamo DHARAMSHALA, May 25: The religious leaders from the Sakya tradition of Buddhism offered a long life prayer to the foremost Buddhist leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama on Wednesday at the Tsuglagkhang temple in Dharamshala. The heads of the two Sakya palaces, Dolma phodrang and Phuntsok phodrang, and Sakya Dagtri Rinpoche, the […]
Tibetan monks coerced into taking blame for destroyed statues in Drago
By Choekyi Lhamo DHARAMSHALA, May 25: The Chinese authorities in the so-called Sichuan province are reportedly forcing Tibetan monks in Drago County to take the blame for the destruction of sacred statues last year, which were torn down by the local Chinese officials. Tibetans were coerced into signing affidavits, according to Radio Free Asia. “After […]
US deeply concerned about UN rights chief visit to China
By Choekyi Lhamo DHARAMSHALA, May 24: The US State Department spokesperson on Friday said that the upcoming visit by the UN Human Rights chief Michelle Bachelet to the so called Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) is deeply concerning due to Beijing’s restrictions over the visit. “We have no expectation that the [People’s Republic of China] […]