The Tibet Update eNewsletter is a bimonthly summary of news and governmental actions related to Tibet. Past issues in PDF format are located at http://www.savetibet.org/media-center/tibet-weekly-updates/.
INSIDE TIBET:
Envoy urges Chinese response to Dalai Lama's wish to visit earthquake victims; rebuts Chinese charges of exploitation
Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari, Special Envoy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, has urged the Chinese central government to respond positively to the Dalai Lama's request to visit the earthquake-hit Tibetan area of Kyegundu (Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture), and he has strongly criticized Chinese allegations of exploitation by the Tibetan government in exile in relation to the earthquake. Read the complete news item . . .
ICT Report: "An eco-friendly tourist city": China's emerging reconstruction plans for Kyegu
Details are beginning to emerge in the official Chinese press of reconstruction plans for the worst-hit town of Kyegu, and its surrounding areas. A government advisor overseeing the reconstruction said that the rebuilt town would be "an eco-friendly tourist city," which may suggest that reconstruction is to be more sympathetic to the interests of outside influences than those of the local Tibetan people. Read the complete report . . .
Earthquake victims in remote areas of Yushu still await relief
On May 10, TibetNet reported that some of the Tibetan nomadic and agricultural communities located in isolated areas near Kyegudo are still facing enormous difficulties and are yet to receive aid and that there have been no reports about them in the media. On condition of anonymity, a monk from nearby Ranyag Monastery, which also suffered heavy damages said that the monks succeeded in retrieving around 200 people from the quake rubble and have been providing much needed relief materials to these communities. Read the complete article . . .
Tibetan protestor calling for proper allocation of earthquake relief arrested
According to information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), an exile Tibetan returnee, Samdup Gyatso was arrested on May 2nd for staging a solo protest in front of the main Tsuglakhang in Lhasa, Tibet. The sources said that Samdup carried the banned Tibetan National flag in hand and had another stitched on the back of his shirt. He shouted slogans calling for the "quick return of the exiled Tibetan leader to Tibet," "release of the Panchen Lama," and "proper allocation and delivery of earthquake relief received from international donors to the much needed nomadic communities in Kyegudo." Read the complete article . . .
THE DALAI LAMA:
Dalai Lama begins U.S. tour
The Dalai Lama arrived in Bloomington, Indiana on May 11 for the start of a two week U.S. tour. As part of the tour, he will be visiting Indianapolis (IN), Madison (WI), Cedar Falls (IA), and New York City giving teachings, and public talks. See the Dalai Lama's complete schedule for this visit.
Dalai Lama says Tibetan Exiles must press for talks despite no progress
On May 7, in an hour-long interview with the Associated Press, the Dalai Lama speaking about years of negotiations with Beijing, said, "So far, dialogue failed, but that does not mean in future no possibility." While admitting that he was deeply frustrated by the lack of progress during nine rounds of dialogue, he said that there was clear signs of progress in Beijing. He insisted that talks still needed to press ahead and that the Chinese leadership could - eventually - soften its stand on Tibet. He said, "They are realistic ... They have the ability to act according to a new reality." Read the complete article . . .
U.S. GOVERNMENT:
US Congress expresses condolences and sympathies for victims of Yushu earthquake
A resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives expresses Congress' condolences and sympathies for the victims of the Yushu earthquake. House Resolution 1324, introduced by Congressman McMahon (D-NY) and co-sponsored by eight others, was referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on May 4, 2010. View the full text of the resolution.
China, US to renew human rights talks
This week's resumption of U.S.-China human rights talks after two years will spotlight Beijing's record on legal protections, free speech and civil society. The meetings in Washington on Thursday and Friday are the first such dialogue in two years. The talks offer the chance for President Obama's administration to show that human rights remain an important issue, despite the dialogue's past failure to produce substantive results. Read the complete article . . .
U.S. Panel names 13 countries including China as serious religious violators
China is one of the 13 countries that the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom named as serious violators of religious freedom. The report said, "In China, the government continues to engage in systematic and egregious violations of the freedom of religion or belief," and that it found, "a marked deterioration in the past year, particularly in Tibetan Buddhist and Uighur Muslim areas." The report can be viewed at www.uscirf.gov.
CHINA:
Propaganda Department sets rule for covering Shanghai Expo and Qinghai earthquake
The Reporters without Borders published a report on April 29, stating that the Chinese Propaganda Department and the Government Information Office have directed media to reduce coverage of the consequences of the Qinghai earthquake and to increase the number of reports and features about the Shanghai exhibition. The report states that rules set by the Propaganda Department include: Talk of the earthquake in "scientific terms"; Do not criticize the earthquake forecasting agency; Do not focus too much on the efforts by Buddhist monks to help victims; and Give extensive coverage to the appeals for donations organized by state-owned CCTV. Read the complete article . . .
FROM THE ICT BLOG:
The Tibetan Challenge in the U.S.-China Human Rights Dialogue - May 13, 2010
Media monopoly - with Chinese characteristics - April 30, 2010
Kyegu 'Dhondup Lungpa' - Monday, May 3, 2010
International Campaign for Tibet
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