In his talk at CFR, the Sikyong was referring to the socialist system of China at the national level. The Middle-Way policy seeks genuine autonomy within the framework of the Chinese constitution which obviously requires restructuring of the existing system to include all the Tibetan areas under one single administration and implementation of Chinese laws. 

Also in an Op-Ed by Nicholas Kristoff in the New York Times on 6 August 2008, His Holiness the Dalai Lama had stated that he can accept the socialist system of China if genuine autonomy is granted to Tibetans.

The Sikyong has consistently maintained that the occupation of Tibet and repression of Tibetans are the causes of protest through self-immolation by Tibetans.

Mr Tsering Wangchuk

Press Officer

DIIR, CTA

Margaret Thatcher ( 1925- 2013 ), former prime minister of the United Kingdom.

Press Release

April 11, 2013

DHARAMSHALA: The Central Tibetan Administration expresses its deepest condolences at the passing away of former British Prime Minister Baroness Margaret Thatcher.

“With her passing away, the world has lost a great leader, a woman who lived an exemplary life to prove that there is no glass ceiling a woman with determination cannot break and thus acting as a great inspiration for humankind,” stated Sikyong in a condolence letter sent to her son, Sir Mark Thatcher.

Remembering her outright stand on Tibet in later years of her life, the letter quoted the following passage from her book, Statecraft : Strategies for a Changing World, “The Chinese claim to Tibet is dubious on historical grounds. In the late seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, Tibet became a Chinese protectorate. However, in the nineteenth century Beijing’s control weakened until it was virtually symbolic. Between the overthrow of the Empire in 1912 and the Chinese communist invasion of 1950-51, Tibet functioned as an independent state.”

Media contacts:

Mr Tashi Phuntsok, Secretary for Information & International Relations; +91 98165 39103
Mr Tsering Wangchuk, Press Officer, +91 9882728337, +91 8679208465

April 10, 2013

Central Tibet Administration has enough evidence to prove that Gyama (Jiama) mining tragedy is man-made disaster

The environmental researchers of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) based in Dharamsala, India, refute reports in the China’s official media outlets stating that natural causes triggered the recent landslide at a copper and gold mine near in Tibet’s capital Lhasa which killed at least 83 miners. The Environment and Development Desk of CTA has released a 16-page report titled ”Assessment Report of the Recent Devastating Landslide in Gyama Valley: It’s Possible Cause and Impacts”, detailing the actual causes of the mining disaster and its collateral issues.

“In order to acquire maximum profit in the shortest period possible, mining in Gyama has been pursued aggressively. Whole swaths of land have been excavated in several sites and in some cases the whole face of a mountain has been ripped in the process of exploration, water diversion, mining and road construction. It was just a matter of time that such a large scale and aggressive expansion out of the mine was going to cause a big disaster,” the report reads. [View full report]

Media contacts:

Mr Tashi Phuntsok, Secretary for Information & International Relations; +91 98165 39103
Mr Tsering Wangchuk, Press Officer, +91 9882728337, +91 8679208465

Large-scale mineral resource extraction in the Gyama valley

On Friday, 30 March 2013, China’s official media reported that 83 miners including two Tibetans have been buried after a major landslide hit a part of the Gyama (Ch: Jiama) Copper Gold Polymetallic Mine. So far, the rescue efforts have failed to find any survivors or bodies and the chances of survival for those buried are getting slim. This is a sad and unfortunate incident that resulted in large number of casualties that could be higher than reported.

Environment and Development Desk (EDD) of the Central Tibetan Administration based in Dharamsala, India, fear that this tragic incident could be a result of the aggressive expansion and large-scale exploitation of mineral in the Gyama Valley—a man-made phenomenon rather than just a ‘natural disaster’.

Gyama mine is located in Medrogungkar (Ch: Maizhokunggar) County of the so-called Tibet Autonomous Region, about 68 kms from Lhasa. It is a large scale polymetallic deposit consisting of copper, molybdenum, gold, silver, lead and zinc with the potential to become the China’s biggest copper producer in 10 years. The Gyama Mine has been selected as a “pilot of the national green mines project” by Ministry of Land and Resources (PRC) in 2012 and also a “Model enterprises of national unity and progress”. As a requirement, Gyama mine must meet higher standard of technology oriented and corporate responsibility-oriented laws with adherence to policies of “people first” and “safe production”, promote “harmony between the mine and the community and shoulder the responsibility of social welfare”.

However in the past decade, Gyama mine has been a major failure in terms of the social harmony and environmental protection in the area. Before it was consolidated under a one umbrella in 2007, the Gyama Mine consisted of four small mines which has been causing pollution, land degradation, harm to livestock etc. After the consolidation, large-scale and heavy mechanized operations accelerated the ongoing environmental and social problems. There has been rapid expansion of the mining operation which covers a total of 145.50 sq. km including mining area of 76.19 sq. km and exploration covering an area of 66.41 sq. km. In order to acquire maximum profit in the shortest period of time, whole swaths of land have been excavated in several sites and in some cases the whole face of a mountain has been ripped in the process of exploration, water diversion, mining and road construction. Such a large scale and aggressive expansion out of the mine could have caused the recent event of landslide.

Due to the massive influx of Chinese migrants, Tibetans are left with very few employment opportunities and other benefits. The fact that only two of those trapped are Tibetan and the rest are Han Chinese migrant workers from neighboring provinces of Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan is a clear indicator. Many Tibetan farmers and nomads have been forced to move away from their ancestral pastures and arable lands which have been expropriated by government to make way for the expansion of mining operations in Gyama. Reports of environmental pollution leading to water contamination, illness of local Tibetans and loss of animals are common in the Gyama Valley.

The impacts of rampant mining activities have led to social unrest and related issues. In 2008, Chinese mining company carried out a water-diversion project in the upper Gyama region leading to forceful confiscation of agricultural lands. The mining, which has been going on in the upper hills of Gyama for nearly two decades have led to toxic wastes being dumped into Gyama Shingchu river resulting in the death of a large number of cattle. Villagers in the valley depend on Gyama Shingchu for their drinking water supply and irrigation. In the same year, local Tibetan residents from Gyama Township reportedly petitioned the local government to put an immediate halt to the mining project in the area. The local government responded by putting the whole region under heavy military surveillance, with imposition of severe restrictions on communication to outside world and people visiting the region. A positive response seems unlikely, as it will be at odds with the self-interests of many officials who make quasi-legal financial gains by protecting mining enterprises. On 20 June 2009, angry villagers took to streets and clashed with Chinese miners and the scuffle between Tibetans and miners were followed by police crackdown leaving 3 Tibetans wounded.

As opposed to being a model for “green mine” or “progress”,  Gyama Mine is a model of the issues relating to over 200 mining sites across Tibetan plateau which faces similar or even worse socio-economic and environmental problems, requiring urgent attention.

EDD hope that Chinese government will put sincere efforts to figure out the real cause of the landslide in the mine operated by Huatailong Mining Development Co. Ltd, (a subsidiary of the State-owned China National Gold Group Corporation) and take appropriate measures. EDD also call on Chinese government to ensure active participation of Tibetan people in all decision making process in Tibet; social, environmental (Environmental Impact Assessment) and cultural impacts are fully investigated; natural resources are not depleted; migration and settlement of non-Tibetans into Tibet are not facilitated; ownership of Tibetan land and resources are not transferred to non-Tibetans; and large-scale, capital-intensive and commercial projects are not facilitated inside Tibet.

The online announcement of the court sentence said that the men used self-immolations by Tibetans for publicity purposes and circulated texts and photographs related to Tibetan independence, spreading “bad influence locally and internationally, the New York Times reported Thursday.

The Central Tibetan Administration strongly deplores the harsh prison sentences meted out to the three Tibetans. It once again calls on the Chinese government to address the basic grievances of the Tibetans instead of engaging in counter-productive measures.

The EU member states and the US had raised their concerns at the UN Human Rights Council last week that such measures to criminalise Tibetans have exacerbated tension in the Tibetan areas. Speaking on behalf of the 27-member states, the EU said it encourages China to re-engage in constructive dialogue with the Tibetan people to resolve the issue of Tibet.

Since 2009, at least 109 Tibetans have set themselves on fire in Tibet calling for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet and freedom for Tibet. The self-immolation protests persist despite the Central Tibetan Administration’s consistent appeals to Tibetans to refrain from taking drastic actions.

To commemorate World TB Day which falls on 24th March, Department of Health, Central Tibetan Administration and Delek Hospital are jointly organizing an Inter-Departmental Basketball Tournament from 11th March, 2013 at Gangkyi Basketball Ground. Twelve teams including two women teams are participating in the tournament. The final match will be held on World TB Day i.e. 24th March, 2013.

This basketball tournament is aimed at generating greater awareness about TB in the Tibetan community and also to mark this year’s TB day theme “Stop TB in my life time”. It is supported by Stop TB, Italy.

Issued by:
Department of Health, CTA & Delek Hospital
Date: 13th March, 2013

Chinese Government Misrepresents Personal Writings on Self-Immolations to Lay Blame on the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration
 

 

On March 1, 2013, Xinhua News Agency issued a press release accusing the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) and the Dalai Lama of encouraging self-immolations in Tibet through a blog postings by Mr. Lhamo Kyab (Chin: Lhamo Je). Mr. Kyab is a former member of the Tibetan Parliament in exile who now resides in France. He is neither part of the Central Tibetan Administration nor Private Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.  His blog reflects his personal opinion. “Such writings are irresponsible and unnecessarily give excuses to the Chinese government to resort to the blame game and shirk its responsibility for the root causes leading to self-immolations,” stated Kalon Dicki Chhoyang of the Department of Information & International Relations of CTA.

 
As life is precious, the Kashag has consistently discouraged self-immolations and any other forms of drastic actions.  The CTA supports the aspirations of Tibetans inside Tibet for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet and freedom for Tibetans. The onus for the problem in Tibet firmly lies with the Chinese government.  The CTA welcomes Chinese authorities to visit its offices in Dharamsala for proof of their allegations.
 
Media contacts:
Mr Tsering Dhondup, Secretary, Office of Tibet, Paris, Cell: +33 (0)6 68 94 94 49 Tel: +33 (0)1 46 56 54 53
Mr Lobsang Choedak, Press Officer, DIIR, Dharamsala, Cell: +91 98822 32476

Tibetans-in-exile hold a candlelight vigil following the self-immolation attempt by a monk in Kathmandu on February 13, 2013/Getty Images

PRESS RELEASE
14 February 2013

“Dignity is the spirit of a nationality…,” wrote the 42-year-old monk Sopa Rinpoche before his self-immolation on January 8, 2012. Since the first such action by Tapey on February 27, 2009, 100 Tibetans have burnt themselves. This has taken place, despite the recent harsh and unlawful sentencing of 8 Tibetans and arrest of family members, for allegedly instigating Tibetans to self-immolation.

All of them have called for the collective restoration of Tibetan dignity: Return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and to Tibet and freedom for Tibet.

Latest reports coming out of Tibet say Lobsang Namgyal, a 37-year-old monk of Kirti Monastery died after setting himself on fire in Ngaba, north-eastern Tibet, on 3 February 2013. Though the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) continues to repeatedly appeal to the Tibetans in Tibet to refrain from such drastic acts, sadly the self-immolations continue.

The ongoing and unprecedented self-immolations by an increasing number of Tibetans in Tibet are the ultimate acts of civil disobedience against China’s failed rule in Tibet. Instead of owning the onus of tragedy in Tibet – a self evident responsibility of its over 60 years of continuous iron-grip rule in Tibet – China relentlessly and irresponsibly accuses His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan leadership of inciting these self-immolations.

To unveil the truth of the matter in Tibet, we have called on China to provide unfettered access to Tibet for the global media, diplomats and international NGOs. On our part, we have repeatedly invited China to Dharamshala, India, the headquarters of CTA, to investigate our alleged role in the self-immolations. We have pledged full co-operation and unhindered access to our offices.

The CTA, therefore, calls on the national governments and international agencies, including the United Nations, to use their good offices and actively engage with China to stop the deteriorating situation in Tibet by addressing the genuine grievances of the Tibetans. Concrete steps for the leaders of the world need to take immediately are to send Ms Navi Pillay of UNHCR to visit Tibet and investigate the real causes of self immolations, and convene a meeting to discuss and address the crisis in Tibet. It would go a long way not only to encourage the Tibetans in their effort to embrace democracy and non-violence but also to be a catalyst for a moderate China.

Dr. Lobsang Sangay
Sikyong of the Tibetan Administration based in India

Media contacts:
Mr Tashi Phuntsok, Secretary for Information, + 91 9816539103
Mr Lobsang Choedak, Press Officer, + 91 9882232476

Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay releases White Paper on Tibetan self-immolations published by Tibet Policy Institute in Dharamsala, India, on 28 January 2013

For Immediate Release

Contact: Mr. Dhundup Gyalpo
Mobile: +91 98057-88175

WHY TIBET IS BURNING…

Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay releases the first publication of the Tibet Policy Institute on the fundamental reasons for the increasing number of self-immolations in Tibet.

Dharamsala, 28th January, 2013:   This white paper examines the underlying causes of the increasing number of self-immolations that are currently engulfing Tibet. The Central Tibetan Administration has made many appeals to the Tibetans in Tibet to desist from self-immolation. Despite the Central Tibetan Administration’s repeated appeals to stop the self-immolations, unfortunately the numbers of Tibetans setting themselves ablaze are adding up at an alarming rate and frequency. All Tibetans who have set themselves ablaze have called for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to his homeland and freedom for Tibet. What are the causes which drive Tibetans to such acts of extreme desperation?

The reason lies in China’s massive policy failure in Tibet over the course of more than 60 years of its rule. The revolution that is brewing in Tibet is driven by political repression, cultural assimilation, social discrimination, economic marginalisation and environmental destruction.  98 Tibetans so far, most of them in their teens and early twenties, have set themselves ablaze. According to Chinese communist propaganda, this is the generation that was supposed to have benefitted most from Chinese rule in Tibet. Clearly, though, China’s spectacular policy failure in Tibet has totally alienated the new generations of Tibetans and they express this alienation by asserting their loyalty to His Holiness the Dalai Lama whom they have not seen in their entire their lives and who has not set foot in Tibet for more than 50 years.

China’s failure to solve the fundamental problem of its rule in Tibet was foreseen in the early days of Chinese rule in Tibet by eminent Tibetan leaders working within the Chinese communist establishment.  As far back as the early 1960′s, these Tibetan leaders strongly decried Chinese communist rule. In an act of unprecedented courage and boldness, the late 10th Panchen Lama presented a 70,000-character petition addressed to the top Chinese leaders, which, though diplomatically worded, amounted to an accusation of China committing cultural genocide in Tibet. This blistering critique of the nature of Chinese rule in Tibet cost the Panchen Lama dearly. Mao Zedong called the Tibetan leader “our class enemy” and denounced his 70,000-character petition as a “poisoned arrow.” He was “struggled”, sometimes violently, and subjected to imprisonment and solitary confinement for many years. When he was released from confinement in the aftermath of the death of Mao Zedong, the Panchen Lama rebounded, and in 1989, stated that Tibet had lost more than it gained under Chinese communist rule. He made these comments only a few days before his mysterious and untimely death.

Arjia Rinpoche, the abbot of Kumbum Monastery in Tibet, held many important posts in the Chinese Buddhist Association. In 1998, when increasing pressure was exerted on him to recognise the Chinese-appointed Panchen Lama, he fled to America. “Modern Chinese history,” he says, “can be characterised as a ‘Tale of Three Fish.’ Taiwan is still swimming in the ocean. No one has caught that fish – at least not yet. Hong Kong is alive but on display in a Chinese aquarium. Tibet, the third fish, is broiled and on the table, already half devoured: its language, its religion, its culture and its native people are disappearing faster than its glacial ice.”

The late Ngapo Ngawang Jigme, one of the most prominent Tibetans who had worked with the Chinese communist establishment and was considered one of the national leaders of the People’s Republic of China, said at a party congress many years ago that the dearest wish of all old Tibetans was to see the Dalai Lama before their death. This would fulfill all their fondest hopes.

This universal wish of the Tibetan people was reiterated by Baba Phuntsog Wangyal, the founder of the Tibetan Communist Party, in one of the several letters he addressed to the top Chinese leaders on the issue of Tibet. “Therefore, most people in Kham, in (Central Tibet) Tibet and Amdo miss their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, from the bottom of their hearts. They trust and rely on him and ask him to grant favour to them and pray for them.”

Many Tibetan intellectuals and cadres who work in the communist establishment in Tibet make their judgment of Chinese communist rule in these terms: “In the first 10 years (1950-60) we lost our land (i.e. communist China invaded Tibet). In the second 10 years (1960-70) we lost political power (the government of old Tibet was replaced by the communist establishment). In the third 10 years (1970-1980) we lost our culture (the Cultural Revolution destroyed Tibet’s traditional beliefs). In the fourth 10 years (1980-90) we lost our economy (Chinese settlers took over the job market in Tibet).”

This stark judgment of Chinese rule in Tibet describes the reasons that drive so many young Tibetans in Tibet to self-immolation. Daily, they see and experience China’s constant assault on Tibetan Buddhist civilization, Tibetan language and their very identity. They strongly resent the Chinese communist party’s active interference in their spiritual life, including the attempt to appoint Tibetan spiritual leaders. They resent to the core of their being China’s demonization of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the policy of forcing monks to denounce him. They look on with alarm and fear as Chinese settlers stream into Tibet, taking away Tibetan jobs, land and their very future—and in the process, transforming Tibetan towns and cities into so many Chinatowns. They resent the forced removal of nomads from the grasslands, away from their animal herds and their source of livelihood, and settling them on permanent housing structures, which bring no income, and reduce formerly self-sufficient families to impoverishment. At the same time the Tibetan people see massive development activities undertaken on their land that bring little or no benefit to them and aimed, instead, to cart away Tibetan natural resources to a resource-hungry China.  In fact the policies of the Chinese communist party demonstrate to the Tibetan people that China wants Tibet but not the Tibetan people.

(Read and download White Paper)

FOR IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE:

CENTRAL TIBETAN ADMINISTRATION CONDEMNS THE HARSH SENTENCES IMPOSED ON SIX MORE TIBETANS IN TIBET

Further to our press release today afternoon regarding two Tibetans – Lobsang Kunchok, 40, of Kirti monastery and Lobsang Tsering, 31, from Ngaba, who received death sentence with a two-year reprieve and 10-year imprisonment respectively for allegedly inciting Tibetans to self-immolate by a Chinese court – six more Tibetans from Labrang, Tibet, have been pronounced equally harsh sentences. The six Tibetans are Pema Dhondup, Kelsang Gyatso, Pema Tso, Lhamo Dondup, Dhukar Gyal and Yangmo Kyi.  In last two days eight Tibetans have become victim of Chinese wanton onslaught.

The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) based in Dharamsala, India categorically condemns the harsh sentences. It is unacceptable as the verdicts have been given out without due process and proper representation.

The series of rushed sentences clearly show that Tibetans in Tibet are denied basic human rights.  It is also evident that these are done in utter disregard to the Tibetan aspiration and deep anguish at the continuing self-immolations in Tibet. 99 Tibetans have self-immolated so far.

The CTA holds the Chinese leadership solely responsible for the growing unrest and deteriorating situation in Tibet.  We believe the world cannot remain a silent witness to this growing tragedy in Tibet.

Kalon. Dolma Gyari

Chairperson,

Media Sub-Committee, Tibetan People’s Solidarity Campaign