China Protests India Leader’s Visit to Disputed Border Area
By MICHAEL FORSYTHEFEB. 22, 2015
HONG KONG — China summoned India’s ambassador in Beijing to protest Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to a border area claimed by both countries, a reminder that the world’s two most populous countries have yet to resolve vast territorial disputes that have simmered for more than half a century.
On Friday, Mr. Modi visited Arunachal Pradesh, a state in eastern India that borders Tibet to the north, where he opened a new railroad line. A large portion of the Austria-size state is claimed by China, and the two sides fought a border war over the area in 1962.
China viewed Mr. Modi’s visit as an unnecessary provocation, lodging a diplomatic complaint on Friday. On Saturday, the Chinese deputy foreign minister, Liu Zhenmin, called in Ambassador Ashok Kantha, telling the ambassador that the visit “harmed China’s territorial integrity and rights” and “went against the consensus both sides had of properly handling the border issue,” the official Xinhua News Agency reported.
The dispute has its origins a century ago, when British colonial administrators, negotiating with Tibetan officials, set the border between British India and a then-autonomous Tibet at the so-called McMahon Line in the Himalayan mountains. China, which regained control of Tibet in 1950, claims its border lies well to the south of that line.
The diplomatic row over Mr. Modi’s visit comes a month after President Obama visited India. He and Mr. Modi found common ground in their unease at China’s increasing assertiveness in territorial issues that has come with its rise as an economic power.
Mr. Modi wanted to get relations off to a good start with China when he became prime minister last year. But he was infuriated that even as President Xi Jinping of China was visiting India last September, Chinese troops confronted Indian forces in another disputed border area on the other side of the Himalayan range.
Despite the territorial disputes, China has put great effort into developing its ties with India, whose economy offers a huge market for Chinese companies, from telecommunications equipment makers to builders of coal-fired power stations. Mr. Liu, in his remarks to Mr. Kantha, said China “hopes India cherishes the good momentum of the development of bilateral relations.”
Mr. Modi, leader of a right-of-center party that has long advocated a forceful defense of India’s territorial claims, is scheduled to visit Beijing in May.

Full Transcript of President Obama’s Remarks at the Annual National Prayer Breakfast
February 6, 2015 11:56 am
whitehouse.gov
Washington, D.C.
9:13 A.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Well, good morning. Giving all praise and honor to God. It is wonderful to be back with you here. I want to thank our co-chairs, Bob and Roger. These two don’t always agree in the Senate, but in coming together and uniting us all in prayer, they embody the spirit of our gathering today.
I also want to thank everybody who helped organize this breakfast. It’s wonderful to see so many friends and faith leaders and dignitaries. And Michelle and I are truly honored to be joining you here today.
I want to offer a special welcome to a good friend, His Holiness the Dalai Lama — who is a powerful example of what it means to practice compassion, who inspires us to speak up for the freedom and dignity of all human beings. (Applause.) I’ve been pleased to welcome him to the White House on many occasions, and we’re grateful that he’s able to join us here today. (Applause.)
There aren’t that many occasions that bring His Holiness under the same roof as NASCAR. (Laughter.) This may be the first. (Laughter.) But God works in mysterious ways. (Laughter.) And so I want to thank Darrell for that wonderful presentation. Darrell knows that when you’re going 200 miles an hour, a little prayer cannot hurt. (Laughter.) I suspect that more than once, Darrell has had the same thought as many of us have in our own lives — Jesus, take the wheel. (Laughter.) Although I hope that you kept your hands on the wheel when you were thinking that. (Laughter.)
He and I obviously share something in having married up. And we are so grateful to Stevie for the incredible work that they’ve done together to build a ministry where the fastest drivers can slow down a little bit, and spend some time in prayer and reflection and thanks. And we certainly want to wish Darrell a happy birthday. (Applause.) Happy birthday.
I will note, though, Darrell, when you were reading that list of things folks were saying about you, I was thinking, well, you’re a piker. I mean, that — (laughter.) I mean, if you really want a list, come talk to me. (Laughter.) Because that ain’t nothing. (Laughter.) That’s the best they can do in NASCAR? (Laughter.)
Slowing down and pausing for fellowship and prayer — that’s what this breakfast is about. I think it’s fair to say Washington moves a lot slower than NASCAR. Certainly my agenda does sometimes. (Laughter.) But still, it’s easier to get caught up in the rush of our lives, and in the political back-and-forth that can take over this city. We get sidetracked with distractions, large and small. We can’t go 10 minutes without checking our smartphones — and for my staff, that’s every 10 seconds. And so for 63 years, this prayer tradition has brought us together, giving us the opportunity to come together in humility before the Almighty and to be reminded of what it is that we share as children of God.
And certainly for me, this is always a chance to reflect on my own faith journey. Many times as President, I’ve been reminded of a line of prayer that Eleanor Roosevelt was fond of. She said, “Keep us at tasks too hard for us that we may be driven to Thee for strength.” Keep us at tasks too hard for us that we may be driven to Thee for strength. I’ve wondered at times if maybe God was answering that prayer a little too literally. But no matter the challenge, He has been there for all of us. He’s certainly strengthened me “with the power through his Spirit,” as I’ve sought His guidance not just in my own life but in the life of our nation.
Now, over the last few months, we’ve seen a number of challenges — certainly over the last six years. But part of what I want to touch on today is the degree to which we’ve seen professions of faith used both as an instrument of great good, but also twisted and misused in the name of evil.
As we speak, around the world, we see faith inspiring people to lift up one another — to feed the hungry and care for the poor, and comfort the afflicted and make peace where there is strife. We heard the good work that Sister has done in Philadelphia, and the incredible work that Dr. Brantly and his colleagues have done. We see faith driving us to do right.
But we also see faith being twisted and distorted, used as a wedge — or, worse, sometimes used as a weapon. From a school in Pakistan to the streets of Paris, we have seen violence and terror perpetrated by those who profess to stand up for faith, their faith, professed to stand up for Islam, but, in fact, are betraying it. We see ISIL, a brutal, vicious death cult that, in the name of religion, carries out unspeakable acts of barbarism — terrorizing religious minorities like the Yezidis, subjecting women to rape as a weapon of war, and claiming the mantle of religious authority for such actions.
We see sectarian war in Syria, the murder of Muslims and Christians in Nigeria, religious war in the Central African Republic, a rising tide of anti-Semitism and hate crimes in Europe, so often perpetrated in the name of religion.
So how do we, as people of faith, reconcile these realities — the profound good, the strength, the tenacity, the compassion and love that can flow from all of our faiths, operating alongside those who seek to hijack religious for their own murderous ends?
Humanity has been grappling with these questions throughout human history. And lest we get on our high horse and think this is unique to some other place, remember that during the Crusades and the Inquisition, people committed terrible deeds in the name of Christ. In our home country, slavery and Jim Crow all too often was justified in the name of Christ. Michelle and I returned from India — an incredible, beautiful country, full of magnificent diversity — but a place where, in past years, religious faiths of all types have, on occasion, been targeted by other peoples of faith, simply due to their heritage and their beliefs — acts of intolerance that would have shocked Gandhiji, the person who helped to liberate that nation.
So this is not unique to one group or one religion. There is a tendency in us, a sinful tendency that can pervert and distort our faith. In today’s world, when hate groups have their own Twitter accounts and bigotry can fester in hidden places in cyberspace, it can be even harder to counteract such intolerance. But God compels us to try. And in this mission, I believe there are a few principles that can guide us, particularly those of us who profess to believe.
And, first, we should start with some basic humility. I believe that the starting point of faith is some doubt — not being so full of yourself and so confident that you are right and that God speaks only to us, and doesn’t speak to others, that God only cares about us and doesn’t care about others, that somehow we alone are in possession of the truth.
Our job is not to ask that God respond to our notion of truth — our job is to be true to Him, His word, and His commandments. And we should assume humbly that we’re confused and don’t always know what we’re doing and we’re staggering and stumbling towards Him, and have some humility in that process. And that means we have to speak up against those who would misuse His name to justify oppression, or violence, or hatred with that fierce certainty. No God condones terror. No grievance justifies the taking of innocent lives, or the oppression of those who are weaker or fewer in number.
And so, as people of faith, we are summoned to push back against those who try to distort our religion — any religion — for their own nihilistic ends. And here at home and around the world, we will constantly reaffirm that fundamental freedom — freedom of religion — the right to practice our faith how we choose, to change our faith if we choose, to practice no faith at all if we choose, and to do so free of persecution and fear and discrimination.
There’s wisdom in our founders writing in those documents that help found this nation the notion of freedom of religion, because they understood the need for humility. They also understood the need to uphold freedom of speech, that there was a connection between freedom of speech and freedom of religion. For to infringe on one right under the pretext of protecting another is a betrayal of both.
But part of humility is also recognizing in modern, complicated, diverse societies, the functioning of these rights, the concern for the protection of these rights calls for each of us to exercise civility and restraint and judgment. And if, in fact, we defend the legal right of a person to insult another’s religion, we’re equally obligated to use our free speech to condemn such insults — (applause) — and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with religious communities, particularly religious minorities who are the targets of such attacks. Just because you have the right to say something doesn’t mean the rest of us shouldn’t question those who would insult others in the name of free speech. Because we know that our nations are stronger when people of all faiths feel that they are welcome, that they, too, are full and equal members of our countries.
So humility I think is needed. And the second thing we need is to uphold the distinction between our faith and our governments. Between church and between state. The United States is one of the most religious countries in the world — far more religious than most Western developed countries. And one of the reasons is that our founders wisely embraced the separation of church and state. Our government does not sponsor a religion, nor does it pressure anyone to practice a particular faith, or any faith at all. And the result is a culture where people of all backgrounds and beliefs can freely and proudly worship, without fear, or coercion — so that when you listen to Darrell talk about his faith journey you know it’s real. You know he’s not saying it because it helps him advance, or because somebody told him to. It’s from the heart.
That’s not the case in theocracies that restrict people’s choice of faith. It’s not the case in authoritarian governments that elevate an individual leader or a political party above the people, or in some cases, above the concept of God Himself. So the freedom of religion is a value we will continue to protect here at home and stand up for around the world, and is one that we guard vigilantly here in the United States.
Last year, we joined together to pray for the release of Christian missionary Kenneth Bae, held in North Korea for two years. And today, we give thanks that Kenneth is finally back where he belongs — home, with his family. (Applause.)
Last year, we prayed together for Pastor Saeed Abedini, detained in Iran since 2012. And I was recently in Boise, Idaho, and had the opportunity to meet with Pastor Abedini’s beautiful wife and wonderful children and to convey to them that our country has not forgotten brother Saeed and that we’re doing everything we can to bring him home. (Applause.) And then, I received an extraordinary letter from Pastor Abedini. And in it, he describes his captivity, and expressed his gratitude for my visit with his family, and thanked us all for standing in solidarity with him during his captivity.
And Pastor Abedini wrote, “Nothing is more valuable to the Body of Christ than to see how the Lord is in control, and moves ahead of countries and leadership through united prayer.” And he closed his letter by describing himself as “prisoner for Christ, who is proud to be part of this great nation of the United States of America that cares for religious freedom around the world.” (Applause.)
We’re going to keep up this work — for Pastor Abedini and all those around the world who are unjustly held or persecuted because of their faith. And we’re grateful to our new Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, Rabbi David Saperstein — who has hit the ground running, and is heading to Iraq in a few days to help religious communities there address some of those challenges. Where’s David? I know he’s here somewhere. Thank you, David, for the great work you’re doing. (Applause.)
Humility; a suspicion of government getting between us and our faiths, or trying to dictate our faiths, or elevate one faith over another. And, finally, let’s remember that if there is one law that we can all be most certain of that seems to bind people of all faiths, and people who are still finding their way towards faith but have a sense of ethics and morality in them — that one law, that Golden Rule that we should treat one another as we wish to be treated. The Torah says “Love thy neighbor as yourself.” In Islam, there is a Hadith that states: “None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” The Holy Bible tells us to “put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” Put on love.
Whatever our beliefs, whatever our traditions, we must seek to be instruments of peace, and bringing light where there is darkness, and sowing love where there is hatred. And this is the loving message of His Holiness, Pope Francis. And like so many people around the world, I’ve been touched by his call to relieve suffering, and to show justice and mercy and compassion to the most vulnerable; to walk with The Lord and ask “Who am I to judge?” He challenges us to press on in what he calls our “march of living hope.” And like millions of Americans, I am very much looking forward to welcoming Pope Francis to the United States later this year. (Applause.)
His Holiness expresses that basic law: Treat thy neighbor as yourself. The Dalai Lama — anybody who’s had an opportunity to be with him senses that same spirit. Kent Brantly expresses that same spirit. Kent was with Samaritan’s Purse, treating Ebola patients in Liberia, when he contracted the virus himself. And with world-class medical care and a deep reliance on faith — with God’s help, Kent survived. (Applause.)
And then by donating his plasma, he helped others survive as well. And he continues to advocate for a global response in West Africa, reminding us that “our efforts needs to be on loving the people there.” And I could not have been prouder to welcome Kent and his wonderful wife Amber to the Oval Office. We are blessed to have him here today — because he reminds us of what it means to really “love thy neighbor as thyself.” Not just words, but deeds.
Each of us has a role in fulfilling our common, greater purpose — not merely to seek high position, but to plumb greater depths so that we may find the strength to love more fully. And this is perhaps our greatest challenge — to see our own reflection in each other; to be our brother’s keepers and sister’s keepers, and to keep faith with one another. As children of God, let’s make that our work, together.
As children of God, let’s work to end injustice — injustice of poverty and hunger. No one should ever suffer from such want amidst such plenty. As children of God, let’s work to eliminate the scourge of homelessness, because, as Sister Mary says, “None of us are home until all of us are home.” None of us are home until all of us are home.
As children of God, let’s stand up for the dignity and value of every woman, and man, and child, because we are all equal in His eyes, and work to send the scourge and the sin of modern-day slavery and human trafficking, and “set the oppressed free.” (Applause.)
If we are properly humble, if we drop to our knees on occasion, we will acknowledge that we never fully know God’s purpose. We can never fully fathom His amazing grace. “We see through a glass, darkly” — grappling with the expanse of His awesome love. But even with our limits, we can heed that which is required: To do justice, and love kindness, and walk humbly with our God.
I pray that we will. And as we journey together on this “march of living hope,” I pray that, in His name, we will run and not be weary, and walk and not be faint, and we’ll heed those words and “put on love.”
May the Lord bless you and keep you, and may He bless this precious country that we love.
Thank you all very much. (Applause.)

Beijing sends a new flood of Han migrants to Lhasa: Tibetans risk disappearing

hhttp://www.asianews.it/index.php?art=33294&l=en
Dharamsala (AsiaNews) – The Chinese government has authorized the transfer of 280 thousand Chinese Han (majority ethnic group in China) to Lhasa, capital of Tibet. According to the executive, it is a move to “strengthen the permanent urban population”; for Tibetans it is yet another attempt to destroy the local identity. This new influx of residents will increase 30% by 2020 and will bring the urban population to exceed one million units. The natives, on the contrary, are settled in the countryside or in small towns and do not exceed 5 thousand inhabitants.
Beijing approved the urbanization plan proposed by the local government of Tibet. Lobsang Jamcan, Chairman of the regional Tibetan government, said that Tibet’s urbanization still lags behind many regions and that Tibet must improve public services in small cities and towns to attract more talent and to boost local economy”.
The project is part of a master plan prepared by Deng Xiaoping in the late 1970’s. The then communist leader gave a strong impetus to the migration policies of ethnic Han – the majority in China – already launched by Mao Zedong to “integrate” Tibet to the motherland. With increasing technical capacity and infrastructure, between the 1980’sand 2013, the non-Tibetan urban population has increased tenfold.
With the opening of the railway that links Gormo (in China) to Lhasa (Tibet), in 2006, every day about 3 thousand han arrive in the region: of these, say the official statistics, “half stops for an indefinite period of time”. In September 2011, Beijing announced an allocation of 300 billion yuan (38 billion euro) to support 226 “key projects” for the development of Tibet. These range from the railway sector to dams, through the exploitation of the subsoil and the promotion of tourism. All have been entrusted to Han owned companies.
The Tibetan government in exile, based in Dharamsala with the Dalai Lama since his escape in 1959, accuses the new immigration policies: “Under the guise of the economic and social development, Beijing encourages its population to migrate to Tibet with the clear aim to marginalize Tibetans from the economic, educational, political and social life of the region”
According to Tibetan exiles, currently the region is home to about 7.5 million Han Chinese compared to 6 million Tibetans. Moreover, since 1992 Beijing has allocated 40 thousand soldiers to the region: the figure reached 100 thousand units in 2010, during the crisis of the self-immolations of residents, scores of whom have set themselves on fire to protest against communist persecution.

Tibetan Families Are Evicted From Government Housing in Kyegudo
2015-01-23
Chinese security forces moved this week to evict Tibetan families from new homes in an earthquake-hit region of western China’s Qinghai province after occupants said they could not pay the government back for the costs of additional construction, sources said.
The Jan. 21 action by authorities in the town of Kyegudo in the Yulshul (in Chinese, Yushu) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture followed official demands for payment and saw hundreds of police deployed into government-built housing projects, a local source told RFA’s Tibetan Service.
“The Tibetans were told that all land belongs to the state, and that they should therefore reimburse the costs” of their resettlement, RFA’s source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
“But many families had lost loved ones and all their belongings and are in no position to pay the money back,” he said.
Also speaking to RFA, a second local source said that the government had provided uniform lots of 80 square meters for families displaced by the devastating April 14, 2010 Kyegudo earthquake that largely destroyed the town and killed almost 3,000 residents by official count.
“But many families complained about the size of the lots and demanded larger sites, with the understanding that they would one day reimburse the added expense,” the source said.
“So now the government is demanding that a part of this payment for the additional land and work should be made.”
Many are evicted
Armed Chinese police and other security forces are now going “door to door” to demand payment, a third source said.
“They started with the families of government employees, and those who are unable to pay are being told to leave their homes and move to smaller houses provided by the government for free in unpopular areas.”
“Those who refuse and resist are taken away,” he said.
Similar evictions are taking place from businesses and shops built by the government on land owned by the Tibetans themselves, the source said.
“The authorities quickly sell the properties taken from those who cannot pay to other local businessmen who are willing to buy,” he added.
In March 2014, Kyegudo authorities demolished several brick factories operated by Tibetans in response to pleas by rival Chinese plants concerned over increasing competition, sources told RFA in an earlier report.
“The brick kilns owned and operated by Tibetans were destroyed, while those owned by the Chinese immigrants were left untouched,” a Tibetan living in exile said, citing local sources.
Tibetans living in China frequently complain of political, economic, and religious discrimination as well as human rights abuses.
A total of 136 Tibetans have self-immolated in China since 2009 to protest Beijing’s rule in Tibetan-populated areas and to call for the return of exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.
Reported by Kunsang Tenzin and Guru Choegyi for RFA’s Tibetan Service. Translated by Karma Dorjee. Written in English by Richard Finney.

Statement of the Kashag on the 53rd anniversary of Tibetan Democracy Day
Today on the occasion of 53rd anniversary of Tibetan Democracy Day, the Kashag, on behalf of the people of Tibet, offer our heartful reverence and gratitude to His Holiness the Great Fourteenth Dalai Lama and extend warm greetings to all fellow Tibetans, both inside Tibet as well as outside.
Fifty-three years ago, it was on this day, that the first Tibetan people’s representatives took oath of office at Dharamshala, India. This was the initial step towards a future in exile, guided by the principles of democracy envisioned by His Holiness the Great Fourteenth Dalai Lama of Tibet.
Bereft from the loss of their country, Tibetans were uplifted by His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s wisdom and prescience. His vision of a democratic Tibetan society empowered them to work towards preserving their culture, language, religion and way of life, thus establishing a solid foundation upon which the community sustained its identity in exile.
Buddha Shakyamuni had already introduced the revolutionary concepts of social equality and democratic processes within the Sangha more than 2500 years ago.
At the tender age of seventeen, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, while in Tibet, established a Reform Committee to alleviate the burden of indigent Tibetans and poor farmers by reducing their taxes and by re-distributing land equitably. However, the objectives of the Reform Committee could not be fully realized due to several external as well as internal factors.
Under the guidance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tibetan democracy in exile evolved over the years with major landmark decisions: establishment of Tibetan Parliament in 1960, the framing of the Constitution for future Tibet in 1963, the adoption of the Charter for Tibetans in exile in 1991 and the direct election of Kalon Tripa in 2001. Each of these accomplishments has prepared Tibetans for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s devolution of political authority to the democratically elected leadership in March 2011.
On the day of Kalon Tripa’s inauguration on August 8, 2011, Ka-dham Si-shi De-kyi ma, the official seal of the Kashag created by the VIIth Dalai Lama in 1751, was handed over to the democratically elected Kalon Tripa, thus ensuring both historical legitimacy and continuity in leadership.
These significant achievements have taken place in India, a land with a deep understanding and practice of democracy. When His Holiness the Dalai Lama visited India in 1956, he found that the principles of social equality and democratic processes were inherent in the Indian governance system. His Holiness the Dalai Lama was impressed with the robust debates within the multi-party Indian parliament.
India exemplifies the concept of unity in diversity. Despite a diverse populace of different faiths, languages and customs, India remains rooted and united in democratic ideals. This unity in diversity has been conducive to developing a thriving and evolving Tibetan democracy in exile. Words cannot adequately express our gratitude towards India.
In the wake of this historic devolution of political authority, the present Kashag faced a formidable challenge of ensuring a smooth transition and of taking the Tibetan struggle forward. We thus presented a CAN strategy: Consolidation, Action and Negotiation, an integrated three-phased strategy.
The international community also took note of the transition. The International Network of Parliamentarians on Tibet stated, “It is remarkable that an exiled refugee community has been able to organize, for many decades, such an orderly managed democratic exercise.” The US Senate Resolution 356 acknowledged that the direct election of Kalon Tripa was “competitive, free, fair and met international electoral standards.” The European Parliament resolution of June 14, 2012 commended the very important and successful democratization process in the governance of Tibetans in exile by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the recent transfer by him of his political powers and responsibilities to the democratically elected Kalon Tripa of the Central Tibetan Administration, which represents the aspirations of the Tibetan people.
The most significant expressions of approval and support came from Tibetans inside Tibet through their songs, thangkha paintings and offerings of prayers.
The situation inside Tibet, as you know, continues to be grim. This is reflected in the alarming incidents of self-immolations, now numbering 120, including 22 in 2013 alone. 103 of them have died. The only way to end this heartrending and grave situation is for China to respect the aspirations of the Tibetan people: freedom for the Tibetan people and the return of His Holiness the Great Fourteenth Dalai Lama to Tibet.
We firmly believe that the Middle-Way Approach is the only way, as the basis for negotiations, to peacefully resolve the issue of Tibet. The Middle-Way Approach traverses the middle path between the two positions: one, accepting the current repression in Tibet and two, seeking separation from the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Such an arrangement does not challenge PRC’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, two of its core concerns.
We hope that the Chinese leadership will take note of the merits of this approach and resolve the Tibet issue, so that we can end the suffering of Tibetans inside Tibet. It is also in China’s interest to peacefully resolve the Tibet issue as it will help boost its international image and add to its much-needed soft power. The 26th meeting of the Task Force on Negotiations will be held in the coming days.
Tibetans in exile and in the diaspora must rise to the occasion. We strongly urge all of you to exercise your democratic rights and responsibilities diligently, bearing in mind the need for solidarity and unity with the sufferings of Tibetans in Tibet.
On the 53rd anniversary of Tibetan Democracy Day, the Central Tibetan Administration re-affirms its resolve to work in unity to fulfill the aspirations of Tibetans inside Tibet. We call upon all Tibetans to join us in this effort and take this opportunity to thank, on behalf of the Kashag, all our friends for their support and cooperation.
Together, we can and must march forward.
Long live His Holiness the Great Fourteenth Dalai Lama.