January–March 2014

Self-immolation at Tsekhog County 2Tibetan Student in Australia awardedMedallion for Academic Excellence 3A Successful Visit of Kalon DickiChhoyang to Australia 3Scottish Parliament DiscussSelf-immolations in Tibet 5Two Tibetans Sentenced to VaryingPrison terms in Driru 6His Holiness the Dalai Lama Spendsthe Day on Capitol Hill 7

REPORT

Tibetans in Australia'monitored by China'

Tibet NewsNEWSLETTER OF THE TIBET INFORMATION OFFICE FOR AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND & SOUTH EAST ASIA

January – March 2014. Vol. 21. No. 1. ISSN 1328-2964

22 February, 2014WASHINGTONDC:HIS HOLINESS THE DALAI LAMAMET WITH President Obama 21 February at theWhite House. This was the third meetingbetween the Tibetan spiritual leader and thesitting American President. The earlier two

meetings, also in the White House, tookplace on 18 February, 2010 and on 16 July in2011 respectively.In an almost hour-long meeting, His

Holiness shared his core commitment relatedto promotion of human values, fostering

interfaith dialogue and preservation of Tibetanpeople’s unique culture and rich tradition. Thetwo leaders also discussed issues related tomorality and leadership, and how one canproduce a newgeneration of ethical leaders inthe 21st century.

By Rowan Callik29 January, 2014TIBETANS LIVING IN AUSTRALIA -- most of themnow Australian citizens -- face intimidationfrom Chinese representatives here whenthey seek visas to visit relatives.Dicki Choyyang, the Foreign Minister of

the Tibetan government in exile, yesterdaymade the allegation after holding meetingswith members of the Tibetan and Chinesecommunities in Sydney, Brisbane, Canberraand Melbourne during her visit."This is a development to which the

Australian government and people have to

be alerted," Ms Choyyang said.She said people of Tibetan background --

of whom there are about 1000 in Australia -- had to travel to Canberra to apply in personfor visas. The Chinese authorities, she said,"monitor the Tibetan community hereclosely".People from Tibet were routinely asked

whether they were members of theAustralian Tibetan Association, whether theyhad participated in any demonstrationswhile in Australia, and whether they hadmade contributions to the Central Tibetan

continued page 2

IN THIS ISSUE

President Barack Obama meets with the Dalai Lama in the Map Room of the White House, Feb. 21, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

HH the Dalai Lama meets with President Obama

continued page 2

Tibet News is the Newsletter of theTibet Information Office, Canberra

AAddddrreessssTibet Information Office8/13 Napier Close, Deakin, ACT 2600 Australia

PPhhoonnee:: 61-2-6285-4046FFaaxx:: 61-2-6282-4301EEmmaaiill:: tiboff@bigpond.comWWeebbssiittee:: www.tibetoffice.com.au

RReepprreesseennttaattiivvee ooff HHiiss HHoolliinneessss tthhee DDaallaaii LLaammaaSonam N. Dagpo

EditorsSonam N. Dagpo and Karen Collier

ProductionKaren Collier and Tenzin Norzom

Contact the Office for copies of Tibet News. We welcome donations to defrayproduction costs.

Please make cheques payable to: ‘Tibet Information Office’

Signed articles do not necessarilyreflect the views of the TibetInformation Office.

OOFFFFIICCEESS OOFF TTIIBBEETT (worldwide)

New Delhi, IndiaNew York, USAGeneva, SwitzerlandKathmandu, NepalTokyo, JapanLondon, UKMoscow, RussiaParis, FrancePretoria, South AfricaTaipei, TaiwanBrussels, Belgium

2 TIBET NEWS January–March 2014

continued from page 1President Obama said that he was honoured

to meet His Holiness again. He reiterated hissupport for the preservation of the uniquereligious, cultural, and linguistic traditions ofTibet. The President extended support for HisHoliness’ Middle Way Approach policy andreiterated that Chinese government shouldhave constructive dialogue with His Holiness’representatives without any precondition.President Obama asked His Holiness the DalaiLama about Tibet and His Holiness explainedthe current situation. President Obamaexpressed his deep concern about the

worsening human rights situation in Tibet andTibetan areas in China.Honorable Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay

welcomed the meeting between His Holinessthe 14th Dalai Lama and President Obama. “Iwelcome President Obama’s strongendorsement of the Middle Way Approachpolicy and constructive dialogue without anyprecondition. This meeting sends a powerfulmessage of hope to Tibetans in Tibet who areundergoing immense suffering. The meetingreflects the American government andpeople’s continued commitment to freedomand democracy,” said the Sikyong. �

continued from page 1Administration based at Dharamsala in

northern India."They are free as Australian citizens to

participate in any lawful, peaceful activities,"Ms Choyyang said. "This is a blatantinfringement of Australia's sovereignty. Forpeople involved, this is emotional blackmail."Michael Danby, the Labor MP for

Melbourne Ports and chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet, said:"The intimidation of Australian citizens is veryconcerning, and should not be put up with. I'llbe writing to the Minister for Foreign Affairsto investigate these reports."The Department of Foreign Affairs and

Trade and the Chinese embassy declined to comment. �

Tibet News

7 February, 2014DHARAMSHALA: PhagmoSamdrup, a 27-year-oldTIBETAN set himself on fireat Tsekhog (incorporatedinto China’s QinghaiProvince) in an apparentprotest against therepressive policies of theChinese government onWednesday. It was the firstTibetan self-immolationprotest of 2014, taking thetotal self-immolation toll to126 since 2009.Phagmo Samdrup burned himself at around

9:30 p.m. on Wednesday near the Panchen DaySchool in Dokarmo township in Tsekhog (inChinese, Zeku) county in the Malho (Huangnan)Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.Chinese police reportedly arrived at the

immolation site and took his body away. Hiscurrent whereabouts and condition remainunknown at the moment.Chinese authorities deployed massive

security forces in the wee hours of the night,tightening security and restricting themovement of Tibetans around Tsekhog andnearby Rebgong County, where several self-immolations have taken place earlier.All communication lines in the area were

reportedly disconnected after the self-immolation, in an attempt to prevent reports of

the self-immolation reachingthe media.Prior to Phagmo Samdrup’s

self-immolation, there werereports of heightened securityand military clampdown invarious parts of Tibet andTibetan areas ahead of theupcoming Tibetan New Yearcelebrations, which fall on 2 March.Phagmo Samdrup was a

Tibetan tantric practitioner. Heis married with two kids. Hismother’s name is Drugmo.

Wave of Self-Immolation in TibetThe wave of self-immolation in Tibet began in2009 when Tapey, a young monk of Kirtimonastery burned himself protesting againstthe Chinese government’s violent clampdownin Ngaba county (incorporated into China’sSichuan Province) in response to the peacefulprotest of 2008.Since then, over 126 Tibetans from various

parts of Tibet, set themselves on fire in protestagainst the repressive policies of the Chinesegovernment in Tibetan areas. Out of them, 107have died while the whereabouts and conditionof the remaining self-immolators are unknown.Most of the self-immolators have called for

the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama toTibet and freedom for Tibetans. �

Self-immolation at Tsekhog County

January–March 2014 TIBET NEWS 3

Self-immolation at Tsekhog County

AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND

11 March, 2014: TIBETANS ALL OVER theworld commemorated the 55th TibetanNational Uprising Day on 10 March byorganizing rallies, meetings and gatherings toprotest against the Chinese government’scontinued repression in Tibet. Tibetancommunities, supporters and Chinese friendsstaged demonstrations before the Chineseembassy and consulates in different parts ofAustralia. On 11 March, about two hundred Tibetans,

supporters and friends staged a protestdemonstration before the Chinese Embassy atCanberra. The protestors raised slogansagainst Chinese government’s oppression anddemanded to respect human rights in Tibetand resolve the issue of Tibet throughdialogue. The demonstration was addressed

by Nigan Gotsang, President, AustralianTibetan Communities Association, DolkarKyab, Member of Tibetan Parliament in Exile,Chin Jin, Chinese Democratic Forum andothers. The demonstrators later marched tothe Australian Parliament House andaddressed by Sonam Norbu Dagpo,Representative of His Holiness the DalaiLama, Dolkar Kyap, Mike Zhong, ChineseAlliance for Democracy and others. Membersof the Tibetan Youth Congress staged a skitdepicting atrocities perpetrated by Chinesesecurity officials on the Tibetan students inTibet who were demanding the right to learnTibetan language in the schools. �

3 January, 2014TSERINGSAMKHAR, A YEAR12 STUDENTof theClass of 2013 was awarded a Medallionfor Academic Excellence at a recentgraduation ceremony at the St FrancisXavier College in Canberra, Australia. Throughout her school and college

life, Tsering maintained a steady recordof academic achievement and wasawarded the above Medallion for bothher 2012 and 2013 performance as thetop student of History as well as topstudent of Legal Studies for both 2012and 2013 academic years. Ms Tseringreceived her ranking out of a totalnumber of 198 students from her Classof 2013. With a final Australian Tertiary

Awards Rating (ATAR) of 98%, TseringSamkhar hopes to pursue heruniversity education at the AustralianNational University in Canberra with adouble Law Degree with InternationalRelations in February 2014. �

31 January, 2014AUSTRALIA: KALON DICKI CHHOYANG OF THE

Department of Information and InternationalRelations, Central Tibetan Administration,Dharamsala visited Australia from 19 to 30January 2014. She was invited by theorganizers of the Festival of Tibet inBrisbane as the chief guest and keynotespeaker of the festival. She visited Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane

and Melbourne and spoke to the TibetanCommunities on the Middle Way Approachto resolve the issue of Tibet and policies ofthe 14th Kashag (Cabinet). In Sydney, shegave a briefing about the work of the CentralTibetan Administration to Tibet SupportGroups and spoke at ATC’s Tibet Talks titled“Australia and the West can become a truefriend of both China and Tibet”.

At the Festival of Tibet in Brisbane shespoke on the Women of Wisdom andparticipated in the panel discussion: WhyDalai Lama Matters. She also gave a publictalk at the Crystal Castle in Byron Bay. During the visit she met Australian

politicians and public and Chinese scholarsand friends and reiterated Central TibetanAdministration’s policy of not seekingseparation or independence but genuineautonomy within China to preserve Tibet’sculture, religion, language and environment. She appealed to the Australian public to

support the rights of the Tibetan people. She was interviewed by various TVs, radios

and newspapers on the issue of Tibet.Thisfirst successful visit of Kalon Dicki Chhoyangto Australia was organised by TibetInformation Office at Canberra. �

Tibetan Studentawarded Medallionfor AcademicExcellence

A Successful Visit of Kalon Dicki Chhoyang to Australia

Tibetans in AustraliaCommemorate the55th Tibetan NationalUprising Day

The protest demonstrations in Canberra were organised bythe Australian Tibetan Communities Association. Tibetansand friends came from across Australia.

4 TIBET NEWS January–March 2014

10 February, 2014CANBERRA: TIBETAN CULTURAL CENTRE AND THE

Tibetan Community of ACT, Australiashowcased Tibet’s rich cultural heritage atthe National Multicultural Festival held inCanberra from 7-9 February. The Tibetanswon the top spot for best cultural exhibitduring the festival in 2011.The annual event, which attracted over

quarter of a million visitors this year, servedas an important platform for differentcommunities in Australia to showcase theirculture, art and cuisines. Tibet’s unique religious artefacts and

scroll paintings were put on display for the

visitors. Ven. Thupten Khedup was invitedfrom Melbourne to prepare a sand mandaladuring this year’s festival. Presentation ofthe intricate sand mandala became one theattractions of the Tibetan exhibit and waswell appreciated by a stream of visitors. TheTibetan Cultural Centre displayedinformation kits on Tibet, including the listof books authored by His Holiness the DalaiLama, websites and newsletters, on theissue of Tibet. The Tibetan community in Canberra

presented folk songs, dances and throatprayers by Ven Thupten Khedup andcuisines of Tibet. Tibetan Communities’

Momo stall was a hit of the event andreported in the Canberra Times. “Throughthese exhibits, we were able to introduce tothe public about Tibet’s rich and uniqueculture and religion,” Ms. Dadon, an officialat the Tibet Information Office, toldTibet.Net. �

PhotosLeft: Tibetan artists present folk songs anddances at the Festival Middle: Visitors at the Tibetan stall duringthe FestivalRight. Sand Mandala presentation by Ven.Thupten Khedup

Tibet’s Culture Showcased at Annual Festival

5 February, 2014DHARAMSHALA: THE RAPID DEGRADATION OF

Tibet’s fragile environment and the criticalpolitical situation prevailing inside Tibetwere showcased on the second day of theFestival of Tibet being held in Guwahati,Assam.Mr Tempa Gyaltsen, staff of the

Environment and Development Desk of theDepartment of Information andInternational Relations, CTA gave an indepth presentation on “Tibet’s Environment& Its Impact on the Asian Sub-continent”.He blamed the rampant mining of Tibet’s

rich natural resources by unscrupulous

Chinese companies backed by the Chinesegovernment for causing long-termecological imbalance in the region.The Tibet Museum of the Central Tibetan

Administration held a photo exhibition at theAC Art Gallery. The exhibitions titled “LongLook Homeward” and “The BurningQuestion: Why are Tibetans turning to Self-immolation” depicted the critical politicalsituation prevailing inside Tibet.The Art gallery also featured an exhibition

on Tibetan Butter Sculpture and SandMandala by Nechung Monastery andThangka Art by the Institute of TibetanThangka Art.

Documentary films on Tibet “Red Flagover Tibet” and “Tibet’s Stolen Child” werescreened during the day. Stalls showcasingTibetan medicine, Tibetan food, Tibetanliterature and traditional Tibetanhandicrafts were also on display and forsale to the public.Local populace from Assam and

neighbouring states thronged the venue inlarge numbers to savour the unique taste ofTibetan culture and tradition at the festival. �

Photo: Visitors at Tibet Museum’s photoexhibition at the festival. Photo/TempaGyaltsen

Tibet’s Environmentaland Political SituationShowcased at Festivalof Tibet

AUSTRALIA

INTERNATIONAL

January–March 2014 TIBET NEWS 5

INTERNATIONAL

Scottish Parliament Discuss Self-immolations in TibetFebruary 7, 2014 Maureen Watt is a Scottish politician whohas served as a Scottish National PartyMember of the Scottish Parliament forNorth East Scotland since 2006.DHARAMSHALA: THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT ON4 February held a lengthy debate on thewave of self-immolations in Tibet. Thedebate was held as part of a motionproposed by Maureen Watt, a Scottishpolitician and Member of Parliament, tohighlight the extraordinary and distressingsituation prevailing inside Tibet. The Scottish Parliament noted with

grave concern that at least 127 (sic)Tibetans have self-immolated, oftenfatally, since February 2009. It said itunderstands that these actions are largelyacts of protest against restrictions onreligion, the Tibetan language, access toemployment and the degradation of waterresources and grazing lands.It expressed concern at China’s attempts

to prevent accurate reports of self-immolations reaching the media andcondemns the criminalisation of familymembers and sometimes witnesses to the incidents.

The parliament stated that 11 countriesurged China to improve the human rightsof Tibetans at the UN Human RightsCouncil in Geneva on 22 October 2013, andcommends the work of the Scottish Centrefor Himalayan studies at the University ofAberdeen, the Grampian Tibet SupportGroup and other groups across Scotland inhighlighting human rights and supportingcultural and educational links with Tibetand beyond.MP Maureen Watt, in her statement,

have criticised the repressive policies ofthe Chinese government leading toTibetan self-immolation and thesubsequent military crackdown byChinese authorities on the Tibetan people.She said that friends and relatives of self-immolators are being threatened orbribed by officials to cover up the genuineaspirations of the Tibetan self-immolators.She raised the issue of, massive

surveillance and restrictions on movement,imposed on the Tibetan people by theChinese authorities in an attempt to create acommunication blackout and curb the flowof information outside Tibet.

She spoke about the Tibetan people’s rightto preserve their language, culture and therampant mining of Tibet’s natural resourceswithout any regard to the Tibetan people’sreligious sentiments. She also raised theissue of mass relocation of ethnic Chineseinto Tibet which is drastically changing thedemographic outlook of the region.She urged the Scottish parliament to

persuade China to end the repression inTibet explicitly saying, repression of cultureis not a sustainable way forward to anyculture or any country. She also urged thecabinet secretary to write to UNESCOencouraging them to do more to protectTibetan heritage and culture. �

9 March, 2014INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR TIBET:CHINESE TRAVELLERS TO TIBET are revealing theextent of the militarisation and repressioninside Tibet that the Chinese government isattempting to cover up through propagandaand censorship, according to a ground-breaking report released today by theInternational Campaign for Tibet on the 55thanniversary of the 1959 uprising and the 2008protests in Tibet.“Chinese tourists are exposing the harsh

truth of life in Tibet and undermining thepeaceful narrative portrayed by Partypropaganda,” said Matteo Mecacci, Presidentof the International Campaign for Tibet. “TheInternet postings of Chinese travellers providean undistorted window into the smotheringsecurity apparatus imposed on Tibetancommunities. Social media in China, which isfacing increasing restrictions, is providing auseful tool to document the tense reality inTibet and get around the government’scensorship regulations.”.ICT collected hundreds of images and

messages from the Chinese microblogging

site Sina Weibo, which enabled use of thecrowd-sourced perspective of Chinese touriststo document conditions inside Tibet. ICT’sanalysis of these messages finds that:1. Chinese tourists have evidenced through

social media the reality of the militarizationand repressive measures that the governmentis implementing in Tibet and seeking to coverup through propaganda.These Weibo observations are possible

because Chinese travellers get access toTibetan areas that are denied to foreigndiplomats and journalists2. Use of social media demonstrates a

double standard in Tibet: Chinese travelersposting Weibo messages on Tibet appear to beafforded greater leeway by the government,while Tibetans who pass on information aboutTibet are considered suspect by the state3. Chinese tourists find a reality in Tibet that

differs sharply from expectations formedthrough official propaganda about Tibet.Chinese tourists express confusion and at

times fear over checkpoints and ID searchesin Tibet.Chinese tourists find their cell phone and

internet service are turned off in Tibetanareas, revealing government efforts to blockTibetans’ communication.Chinese state-run media has sought to

portray Tibet as idyllic and Tibetans as tranquiland grateful. To aid this narrative, Chineseauthorities severely restrict access byforeigners to Tibetan areas. Foreign travellershave been forbidden to enter the TibetanAutonomous Region since February, in anannual blackout to coincide with the ‘sensitive’anniversaries in March, including March 10, theday Tibetans designate as their National Day tocommemorate the flight of the Dalai Lama intoexile following the People’s Liberation Army’sattack on the Potala Palace in Lhasa.As noted in the report, domestic tourists

from Chinese areas of the PRC are not subjectto the same travel restrictions. Thus, theirpostings on Weibo provide documentation ofthe reality on Tibet that diverges from theofficial narrative on Tibet. �

To read the full report, Has Life HereAlways Been Like This? visit:http://www.savetibet.org/newsroom/has-life-here-always-been-like-this/

Chinese Microbloggers Reveal China’sSystemic Militarization of Tibet

REPORT

6 TIBET NEWS January–March 2014

16 March, 2014DHARAMSHALA: A TIBETAN MONK FROM KIRTIMonastery in Ngaba County has set himselfon fire to protest against the repressivepolicies of Chinese government in north-eastern Tibet, according to sources in exile.Meanwhile, China’s official Xinhua newsagency said a Tibetan monk from Shaderimonastery in Zekog county (Tib: Tsekhog) inHuangnan prefecture (Tib: Malho) has self-immolated.Lobsang Palden of Kirti Monastery in his

20s set fire to his gasoline soaked body onthe Martyrs Street in Ngaba County(incorporated into China’s Sichuan Province)around 11:30 am Sunday. He then walkedfew steps raising slogans and wasimmediately bundled away by police in avehicle. His whereabouts and well-beingremain unknown since then.Local Tibetans shut down their shops and

restaurants to mourn and express solidaritywith the monk’s family members. Thesituation in the area remains tense withheavy deployment of police and securityforces.Today’s protest marks the sixth

anniversary of the massacre of monks ofKirti monastery by Chinese forces on 16March 2008, a few days after theunprecedented protest against the Chinesebroke out in Tibet’s capital Lhasa on 10March. Hundreds of Tibetans were killed by

Chinese security forces in the subsequentcrackdown across Tibet.Similar self-immolation protests by

monks of Kirti monastery the same day tookplace in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Meanwhile, China’s official Xinhua news

agency today said a Tibetan monk has self-immolated. “The monk was from theShaderi Monastery in Huangnan Tibetanautonomous prefecture in Qinghai province.The report said police were rushing to thesite and gave no further details,” theAssociated Press said quoting Xinhua’sreport. ”A man at the Zekog county publicsecurity bureau confirmed the immolationand said it took place outside the monastery.He said he had no other information andrefused to be identified,” AP reported. The total number of self-immolation

protests by Tibetans in protest against theChinese government’s repressive policieshas risen to 128. The self-immolators havecalled for the return of His Holiness theDalai Lama to Tibet and freedom forTibetans. Despite repeated appeals by the Tibetan

leadership in exile not to engage in suchdrastic actions, the self-immolations havecontinued. A white paper released by the Tibetan

leadership in Dharamshala last yearexplains the fundamental reasons behindthe ongoing wave of self-immolations inside

Tibet and the alarming escalation in theprotests witnessed in the last few years.The principle reasons listed in the 91-

page report for Tibet’s fiery protests arepolitical repression, Chinese communistleader’s views and policies on Tibet, andcultural assimilation, destruction of TibetanBuddhism. Besides, social discrimination,strangling the Tibetan language,environment destruction, Tibetan Nomadsand ending their way of life and economicmarginalisation, population transfer andwestern China Development Programmeare the other reasons given in the report.(Read and download the White Paper) �

TWO MORE TIBETAN MONKS SELF-IMMOLATE

INTERNATIONAL

10 February, 2014DHARAMSHALA: CHINESE AUTHORITIES IN TIBET'SDriru County have sentenced two Tibetans upto 11 years in prison in January for "illegallygathering crowd" and "leading ademonstration against mining activities". According to Dharamshala based right

group Tibetan Centre for Human Rights andDemocracy, Kelsang Choklang, a monk from

Tarmoe Monastery, was sentenced to tenyears in prison on charges of “illegallygathering a crowd”. Local Tibetans say he waslikely charged of “illegally gathering a crowd”although they believe the charges are false,according to the TCHRD. “Kelsang Choklang isknown for his great love and respect fortraditional Tibetan culture. He has alwayscalled for protection of Tibetan culture and

harmony among differentnationalities,” TCHRDquoted its source. Dorje Dragsel, a layman,

was sentenced to 11 yearsin prison for leading ananti-mining protest at thesacred Naglha DzambaMountain in Driru last year.Dorje Dragtsel wasallegedly involved in manyanti-China protestsincluding protests againstgovernment's forcedexpression of loyalty

whereby Tibetans were forced to raise theChinese national flag atop their houses. Since his arrest on October 3, 2013, Dorje

Dragtsel went missing. Hundreds of Tibetanssat on a hunger strike outside the Chinesepolice station on Oct. 6 demanding his release.However, police fired upon the protestorsinjuring several Tibetans. The right group also noted that hundreds of

Tibetans have been targeted, arrested ordisappeared since crackdown began last yearin Driru County in the name of ChinesePresident Xi Jinping's “mass line” campaignlast year. "Many are targeted and arrested onfalse pretext and the fate of many more remainunknown due to restriction on communicationlines." The right group cited its sources sayingthat communication lines have been blockedin at least three counties in the eastern part ofNagchu Prefecture including Driru. �

Source: Phayul, February 10, 2014Left: Dorje Dragtsel/file/TCHRDRight: Kelsang Choklang/file/TCHRD

Two Tibetans Sentenced to varying prison terms in Driru

January–March 2014 TIBET NEWS 7

6 March, 2014WASHINGTON DC, USA: HIS HOLINESS THE DALAILAMA’S DAY on Capitol Hill began with his beinginvited to offer prayers at the opening ofproceedings in the Senate. He was firstwelcomed and introduced by Majority LeaderSen. Harry Reid who described him as aninspiration to others across the world. Afterreciting a short salutation to the Buddha inTibetan, His Holiness read the followingprepared verses, first in Tibetan and then inEnglish:

With our thoughts we make our world. Ourmind is central and precedes our deeds. Speakor act with a pure mind and happiness willfollow you, like a shadow that never leaves.From the ‘Dhammapada’

May there be joy in the world, with bountifulharvest and spiritual wealth.May every good fortune come to be; and mayall our wishes be fulfilled.As long as space remains, and as long assentient beings remain,Until then, may I too remain and help dispel themisery of the world.

He pointed out that the last verse, fromShantideva’s ‘Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way ofLife’, is his favourite prayer, expressing athought he tries to put into practice every dayof his life.Sen. Reid, in his appreciation mentioned His

Holiness’s efforts to spread the message ofpeace in the world and quoted him as saying:“Be kind whenever possible; it’s alwayspossible” and “The best way to solve problemseverywhere is to sit down and talk”. Sen.Patrick Leahy, another old friend, took up thetheme, praising the way His Holiness hasworked long and hard for the Tibetan people.He recounted an incident several years ago inthe streets of Lhasa, Tibet, as he was

preparing to take a photograph and a localTibetan insisted on posing for him holding aphotograph of His Holiness at his heart.“In doing this he risked imprisonment, so

why did he do it? Because people elsewherehave to know the faith Tibetans have in HisHoliness.”Shortly afterwards His Holiness met with

House Speaker John Boehner and HouseMinority Leader Nancy Pelosi, telling themwhat an honour it was to be with them andreiterating his three commitments to humanvalues, religious harmony and the preservationof the peaceful Buddhist culture of Tibet. Heexplained how Tibet had gained Buddhistknowledge from India in the 8th and 9thcenturies, knowledge that at the time derivedfrom the renowned Nalanda University.“We have kept the Nalanda tradition alive

and along with it knowledge of the mind andemotions that scientists are eager to learnfrom today. This is timely, since across thematerially developed world, people experiencetoo much stress. Fuller understanding of themind and emotions can be very useful. Anadditional aspect of my concern for Tibetrelates to the environment.”Minority Leader Pelosi noted that support

for Tibet is bipartisan and that His Holiness hasbeen received by Republican as well asDemocratic Presidents who regard him as achampion of democracy and freedom. In hisreply, he said:“Despite the challenges of the last 60 years

the Tibetan spirit remains strong. Tibet is nolonger a fresh issue, yet awareness of itremains alive thanks to people like you.Friends tell me that Xi Jinping is more realistic.He’s courageously tackling corruption andtalking about the legal system and the needs ofthe rural masses. Some suggest there is asense that existing policy on Tibet isn’t workingso he is looking for a more realistic approach,but there may be resistance within the Chinese

establishment. At such a time the support ofthe free world and particularly the US issignificant. In the past, when China’s MostFavoured Nation status was being debated, Isaid they should have it. The free world has aresponsibility to guide China into themainstream of democracy. There is a Tibetansaying about one medicine for 100 illnesses;democracy in China will be the solution to 100problems around the world.”His Holiness stated that the Chinese people

want reform. Wen Jiabao even said that Chinaneed American style democracy; activist LiuXiaobo has said that there is both a need and adesire for reform. Therefore, His Holinessrepeated, there is a need for more freedomand a relaxation of censorship. Mrs Pelosinoted that in addition to meeting with HisHoliness, President Obama had expressedsupport for the Middle Way Approach. HisHoliness concurred, noting that whateverhappened in the past is past. Today, Tibet ismaterially backward and will receive help todevelop within the People’s Republic of China,provided Tibetans are granted genuineautonomy, as guaranteed by the Chineseconstitution.At a meeting with several hundred

Congressional Staffers in the CongressionalVisitor Center Auditorium, His Holiness wasasked if he ever feels sad and frustrated and ifhe does what he does about it.“Firstly, as a simple Buddhist monk and a

long-term friend of this country, a greatadmirer of this great nation, it’s an honour forme to be here. Sadness and frustration areexperienced by all 7 billion human beings alivetoday, although maybe less among children.People ask me if human nature is destructiveand humanity doomed. I tell them that whensomething sad happens, it is linked to manyother factors. And whenever you feelfrustration it always seems less significant ifyou look at the situation from a widerperspective.”Sen. John McCain took the platform and

spoke of Human Rights not being American,but universal. They distinguish us as humanbeings; they cannot be rescinded or grantedbecause they belong to us. He said His

His Holiness the Dalai Lama spends the day on Capitol Hill

INTERNATIONAL

PRINTPOST

POSTAGEPAID

AUSTRALIA

8 TIBET NEWS January–March 2014

If undelivered, return to: Tibet Information Office, 8/13 Napier Close, Deakin ACT 2600 Australia

NEWSLETTER OF THE TIBET INFORMATION OFFICE, CANBERRAPrint Post Approval No. PP 229219 00 131

Tibet News

Holiness has given his life to the struggle tofulfil the just cause of Tibet. In hisdetermination he is an inspiration to all people.Saying that His Holiness inhabits Tibetanhearts and they inhabit his, he quoted JohnDonne’s Meditation XVII:“Any man’s death diminishes me, because I

am involved in mankind; and therefore neversend to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls forthee.”Questioned about whether he would see

change in China and Tibet in his lifetime, HisHoliness mentioned the changes that havealready taken place. He described China in aseries of eras: Mao Xedong’s era characterisedby ideology gave way to Deng Xiaoping’s era ofeconomic development. Jiang Zemin’s era thenextended the scope of the Party to include thebetter off and Hu Jintao, faced with growinginequality, sought harmony. Xi Jinping’s erawill be the fifth. Over the last 40 years Chinahas changed a great deal, but because ofentrenched views within the establishedcollective leadership further change may taketime. He said:

“I am hopeful. We have had relations withChina since 7th century. China is a Buddhistcountry and these days many ChineseBuddhists are showing an interest in TibetanBuddhism. We Tibetans have our ownlanguage and script, which is the bestlanguage in which to explain Buddhism.”When Nancy Pelosi, who had been delayed

by business in the House, arrived and took theplatform, she recalled visiting Dharamsala andmeeting with Tibetans who had just come outof Tibet, with harrowing tales of what they’dbeen through. She reiterated the bipartisannature of support for Tibet, noting Sen.McCain’s presence and the His Holiness’smeetings with both President Bush andPresident Obama. She said America’srelationship with His Holiness is long-standing,recalling that President Roosevelt sent a gift ofa watch to the young Dalai Lama. Saying, “Ithought you might bring that up, here it is!” HisHoliness held up the watch for all to see.Asked what his favourite lesson from his

childhood was, His Holiness replied withouthesitation:

“My mother’s affection. That’s the seed ofany compassion I’ve been able to developtoday.”After lunch with seven Senators, His

Holiness met with the Senate ForeignRelations Committee over coffee and tea,followed by a meeting with Senators Reid andMcConnell. His Holiness remarked that he hadalways known that United States was a greatnation, recalling its action to defend democracyand the rule of law in World War II and theKorean War. The U.S. Capitol is filled withstatues and busts of men who have contributedto that greatness. Their words, inscribed on thewalls, include the following in Cox Corridor IIfrom Franklin D Roosevelt, the President wholong ago sent a watch to His Holiness:“We must remember that any oppression,

any injustice, any hatred is a wedge designed toattack our civilisation.” �

Photo: His Holiness the Dalai Lama greeting SenateChaplain Barry Black, Senate Majority Leader HarryReid (D-NV) and Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) on hisarrival at Capitol Hill in Washington DC on March 6,2014. Photo/Sonam Zoksang

Left) 3 March, 2014: Joining the Tibetansresiding in Minneapolis, Minnesota on March1, HH the Dalai Lama celebrated Losar, Hisfirst Tibetan New Year outside India in 55years. During the Losar ceremony, Mayor ofMinneapolis, Besty Hodges read theProclamation of declaring March 2 as the

'Peace and Compassion Day of the DalaiLama' in Minneapolis.Middle) 6 March, 2014: Sikyong Dr Lobsang

Sangay, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi(D-CA), Senator John McCain (R-AZ), HisHoliness the Dalai Lama and His interpreter,Thubten Jinpa during a talk to Congressional

staff at the Congressional Visitors’ CenterAuditorium at Capitol Hill in Washington DC. Right) 26 March, 2014: First Lady Michelle

Obama greeted by Tibetan students at theZangxiang Village Tea House in Chengdu, thecapital of Sichuan province, following a weeklong trip to China, 19-26 March.

IN BRIEF

Photo/Sonam Zoksang

Official W

hite House Photo: A

manda Lucidon

Photo/Jeremy Russell/OHHDL