Brief Highlights - Tibet Post International

Tibetan Women's Association Commemorates First Woman to Self-immolate

Dharamshala: - The Tibetan Women's Association (TWA) and its 56 chapters worldwide are today holding solidarity actions in commemoration of Tenzin Wangmo, who died after a seven-minute self-immolation protest on October 17.

Peace rallies, candlelight vigils and prayer services are being staged to mark the first self-immolation by a Tibetan woman. In a press release, the TWA said self-immolation is considered to be the highest form of peaceful protest.

Wangmo, a nun in her early 20s, was from Ngaba Dechen Choekorling nunnery the largest nunnery in Ngaba county, eastern Tibet.

She set her body alight and made rounds of the Sumo bridge - at a crossroads near her nunnery, 3km from Ngaba County market calling, "We want the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet," and "We want religious freedom in Tibet."

Wangmo"s self-immolation is the ninth such case in Tibet, and she if the fifth person to die from the act.

The TWA today urged the Chinese government to withdraw the troops from Tibet and Â allow Tibetans their basic human rights: freedom of speech, movement and religious practice."

His Holiness to Join Global Fast in Solidarity with People in Tibet

Dharamshala: - The spiritual leader of Tibet, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama will lead a worldwide fast on October 19th, at the main Tibetan temple, Dharamshala, India in solidarity with Tibetans in Tibet.

The Nobel Peace Prize Laureate will join day-long grand prayer service and global fast which starts tomorrow morning in Dharamshala, northern India, where the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) is based. His Holiness 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, Kirti Rinpoche, the head of India based Kirti Monastery and top officials of the Tibetan administration will also join the solidarity event.

The Tibetan Administration led by Kalon Tripa, Dr. Lobsang Sangay will organize the day-long prayers and fast as a gesture of solidarity with all those Tibetans who have self-immolated and those suffering incarceration for their courage to speak up for the rights of the Tibetan people.

Since 16 March 2011, nine people including a woman have set themselves on fire to protest continued occupation and repression of Tibet by the government of People's Republic of China.

"On the same day, Tibetans and Tibet supporters across the world will also offer day-long prayers and fast as a gesture of solidarity with Tibetans in Tibet, said the Tibetan information department in a statement issued on Monday.

International Tibet Network meets in Dharamshala

Dharamshala: The International Tibet Network will hold its third regional meeting from 14 - 16 October in Dharamshala, India, the home of the Tibetan exiled government and H.H. the Dalai Lama.

The meeting, which includes participants from India, Nepal, Australia, Burma, Taiwan, Thailand, Dubai, Peru, UK and USA, takes place at a critical time for Tibetans in Ngaba county, western China, which has seen a wave of self-immolations since March.

The meeting will focus on implementing the campaign "Enough! Global Intervention to Save Tibetan Lives". The campaign aims to lobby governments to pursue a coordinated response to the human rights crisis in Tibet. It also aims to foster international support for Tibetans and pressure China to lift the security crackdown in Ngaba.

The meeting will be addressed by Tibetan Kalon Tripa (Prime Minister), Dr. Lobsang Sangay. Minister for International Relations, Dicki Chhoyang, will also attend the opening session.

Day of Solidarity marked for October 19

Dharamshala, India: In a joint statement today, the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile and the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) announced that October 19 will be set aside to "highlight the deepening crises in Tibet." Fasting and day-long prayers will be carried out by the CTA, exiled Tibetans and monasteries around Dharamshala, where H.H. the Dalai Lama lives in exile, as a gesture of solidarity with Tibetans living in Tibet.

It comes as tensions escalate in Ngaba county, western China, where 2 former monks set themselves on fire last Friday. Since March there have been seven self-immolations in Chinese occupied Tibet.

CTA Kalon Tripa (Prime Minister), Lobsang Sangay, encouraged Tibetans and Tibet supporters living abroad to participate by organising activities in their respective regions. He stressed that the events must be "peaceful, respectful of local laws and dignified."

The day is planned to coincide with Lhakar. Lhakar, literally "white Wednesday," began in 2008 as a grassroots movement where Tibetans wear traditional clothing, eat Tibetan food and speak Tibetan - an attempt to keep traditional Tibetan customs and culture alive.

Young Tibetan Singer Choegon Arrested

Dharamshala: The reliable sources said that popular young Tibetan singer Choegon - also known as "Little Kunga" after a famous Tibetan singer - has been arrested by Chinese police. The arrest is suspected to have occurred on 25 September 2011.

Choegon, 19, a popular singer amongst Tibetans, was invited to a music concert in Tibet's capital, Lhasa. During the journey to Lhasa, Choegon is reported to have been arrested by Chinese police.

Choegon, from Jomda county in East Tibet, is a famous figure in the Tibetan music scene. The reasons for his arrest remain unclear although it is thought that Chinese authorities may believe Choegon to be pushing a pro-Tibetan political agenda through his music. Choegon's relatives has so far been unable to locate him. His whereabouts remain unknown.

Although there are many music videos by Choegon online, we have selected two, “Listen Up” and “I Want to go to Lhasa”.

“Listen Up”
The good path to securing peace
Arises from the kindness of the Father in his 70s
If you really are a good child of the kind Father
Listen up!
Remember this path with all your heart

The youth of the pure father tongue
Are the soul of Tibetans in black nomad tents
If you really are a Tibetan
Listen up!
Don’t corrupt the father tongue by mixing it
Listen up!
Don’t corrupt the father tongue by mixing it

These two good moral customs are the legacy of our forefathers
If you really are a descendant of our forefathers
If you really are a descendant of our forefathers
Listen up!
Don’t neglect these moral customs
Listen up!
Don’t neglect these moral customs

“I Want to go to Lhasa”
Divine rays of light that shine from the sky
The magnificent sound of joy and happiness
In the morning my white cloud extended its wings
At night I crawl out of the universe
This life is like an everlasting ripple on the Yarlung Tsangpo
Warm rays of sunlight emanate from the top of the Potala
Endless grasslands, caring like a mother
The bleating of the lamb is myself

I want to go to Lhasa
Go to Lhasa!
I want to see the radiant snow mountains
The beautiful and pleasant vast grasslands
My heart permeates all the nomad areas

I want to go to Lhasa
Go to Lhasa!
From birth until death, this cycle of samsara is the truth of existence
This black darkness of night has become the norm
I pray to the precious jewel
That dwells in my heart

Divine rays of light that shine from the sky
The magnificent sound of joy and happiness
In the morning my white cloud extended its wings
At night I crawl out of the universe
This life is like an everlasting ripple on the Yarlung Tsangpo
Warm rays of sunlight emanate from the top of the Potala
Endless grasslands, caring like a mother
The bleating of the lamb is myself

I want to go to Lhasa
Go to Lhasa!
I want to see the radiant snow mountains
The beautiful and pleasant vast grasslands
My heart permeates all the nomad areas

I want to go to Lhasa
Go to Lhasa!
From birth until death, this cycle of samsara is the truth of existence
This black darkness of night has become the norm

I pray to the precious jewel
That dwells in my heart

I want to go to Lhasa
Go to Lhasa!
From birth until death, this cycle of samsara is the truth of existence
This black darkness of night has become the norm

I pray to the precious jewel
That dwells in my heart
I pray to the precious jewel
That dwells in my heart
I pray to the precious jewel
That dwells in my heart

Free Tibet; Save India Bike Rally in South India

Dharamsala: - More than 50 motorbikes, driven by 100 people, undertook a bike rally this morning from Wardha to Nagpur in Maharashtra, south India, to promote the Free Tibet; Save India campaign.

The event was organised by the National Campaign for Tibetan Support (NCFTS), whose members belong to the Buddhist community of Wardha and its surrounding areas.

Executive Secretary Mr Arvind Nikose said, "We will ensure that the issue of Tibet will reach the common masses of India, and call on all who support Tibet to lobby our own elected representatives to table a resolution in the parliament."

The rally was flagged off at 10:30, and culminated with much fanfare at Deekshabhoomi, Nagpur, where Dr Babashahib Bhim Rao Ambedkar took Buddhist vows on 14 October 1956, along with his 380,000 followers.

Due to rainfall, the bikers did not reach Deekshabhoomi until late evening, where they were honoured with Kathas (traditional Tibetan scarves) by the regional chapter of the Tibetan Women's Association, Norgyeling Tibetan Settlement.

The bike rally coincided with the celebration of Dhamma Chakra Pravartan, during which millions of people visit Nagpur.

The National Campaign for Tibetan Support is a member of the International Tibet Network - a global coalition of Tibet-related non-governmental organisations.

Tibetan Monk Sentenced to Ten Years for Uprising Involvement

Tibetan monk Lobsang Tsundu, who was arrested in 2008 for his involvement in the Tibetan uprising, has been sentenced to ten years in Chushul prison, near Lhasa.

Tsundu was born in Kyigudo, Kham, in 1965. His father is Lobsgang Shirab and his mother is Dolkar Tsetso. As a child, he attended Ranga monastery and later moved to Drepong monastery near Lhasa.

In 1996, Tsundu moved to south India to study at Drepong's mirror monastery there, and then returned to Tibet.

Many monks from Drepong monastery Tibet participated in the 2008 uprising, and Tsundu was arrested, kept in a detention centre and badly tortured - as witnessed by other prisoners.

Tsundu remained stalwart in his opinions, and was punished for expressing them to prison staff, leading to serious health problems.