Dharamshala: - The Tibet Post International (TPI), an independent news agency has launched its English language newspaper in Dharamshala, India, on the 23rd anniversary of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's conferment of Nobel Peace Prize and the 64th anniversary of the International Human Rights Day. It is probably the first English language newspaper in exile Tibetan community for the English speaking audiences.
One major purpose of the newspaper is to provide information to English speaking audiences about the current events in Tibet, on the Tibetan issues of social, political, economic, cultural, Buddhism and technological importance through news, photos, articles and features.
The eight-page broadsheet of the first print issue, containing news from inside Tibet and the Tibetan world in exile, was launched by the Tibetan Parliament in Exile's speaker, Mr Penpa Tsering, during the Kashag's (Tibetan cabinet's) Global Solidarity with Tibet event, at His Holiness the Dalai Lama's Main Temple in Dharamshala, India, on Monday.
Editor in chief, Yeshe Choesang, said that the launch on December 10, which marked both International Human Rights Day and the 23rd anniversary of the day the Dalai Lama received the Nobel Peace Prize, was "greatly symbolic and a huge success" with over 400 copies sold on the first morning alone.
"We are very happy that Tibet has a new newspaper for English readers," he said. "The past five decades, during which Tibetan journalists have closely interacted with the outside world, have shown they have much to contribute to global peace and press freedom."
"People in Tibet are suffering, and it is extremely important to show the world what is happening there. We are a voice for Tibet."
The TPI website was launched by a group of young Tibetan journalists in March 2008 (which saw the most violent clashes between ethnic Tibetans and Chinese authorities since 1959, when the Dalai Lama and Tibetan government were forced to flee the country) with the aim of "promoting democracy through freedom of expression within Tibetan communities, both in exile and in Tibet."
Almost five years on, the non-profit news organization has enjoyed significant success internationally.
"We at the TPI seek to provide truthful, reliable information, and address the social, political, economic, and educational needs of Tibetan people," said Yeshe.
"Today we are very happy as so many people were interested in buying our newspaper. Old and young people, monks and nuns, international supporters and also our Indian hosts. India is a great democracy and her government and people have given us this great opportunity to express ourselves.
"I think it's very important that the Tibetan issue should be spread throughout the Indian community and throughout the world, and I feel very proud and grateful to have a newspaper here in the holy town of Dharamshala, where people come to from across the world to learn about Tibet and find out what is happening there.
"Today's launch was a greatly symbolic event. We hope that it purports at inspiring the English readers for bravery, Buddhist teachings, Tibet's non-violent struggle for freedom and preservation of Tibetan culture and language."
