Self-immolator’s wife, daughters ‘tortured’ in detention
December 19, 2016
Radio Free Asia, December 13, 2016 – Police in northwestern China’s Gansu province beat and tortured the wife and daughters of Tibetan self-immolator Tashi Rabten after taking them into custody for questioning following Rabten’s fatal protest last week, local sources say.
The abuse followed authorities’ demands that the three sign a document declaring that Rabten had set himself ablaze not in protest of Chinese policies, but because of problems at home, a Tibetan living in the area told RFA’s Tibetan Service.
“When his wife and two daughters refused to comply, the authorities beat and tortured them,” RFA’s source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
“Finally, they put their thumb prints on a document they did not understand, and only then were they released on Dec. 9,” the source said.
“Many who met Tashi Rabten’s wife and daughters after their release saw marks of physical abuse on their bodies,” he said.
Authorities also raided the family home, “looking everywhere and taking photos as they searched,” he said.
Tashi Rabten, 33, set himself ablaze on Dec. 8 at about 7:00 p.m. local time on a road leading from the Machu (in Chinese, Maqu) county center to the Machu Bridge, local sources said following the protest.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a Tibetan living in the area told RFA next day that witnesses to the protest heard Rabten “call out for freedom for Tibet and for the return of [exiled spiritual leader] the Dalai Lama.”
“He also called out for the release of the [detained] Panchen Lama, Gendun Choekyi Nyima,” RFA’s source said.
Others also detained
Following Rabten’s protest, Chinese police raided teashops and restaurants in Machu and took nine area residents into custody on suspicion of involvement, a second source said.
“Among them, three younger Tibetans were detained on suspicion of having taken photos and video of Rabten’s fatal protest,” he said.
Also detained was a Tibetan woman who had witnessed the self-immolation and prayed aloud for the Dalai Lama’s blessings, another local source told RFA.
“Four of her family members were detained with her, but were later released,” the source said, adding, “The lady, named Tsedzin Lhamo, is still being held.”
Though Rabten’s family had wanted to take his remains to Labrang monastery for a traditional burial, “their wishes were denied,” one source said.
“Instead, authorities took his body to Tsoe [Hezuo] city, where it may have been cremated on Dec. 9,” the source said.
“Later, a bag of ashes said by authorities to be his burnt remains were handed over to his wife and family.”
Prayers being held
Prayers for Rabten are now being held in Machu, with “Tibetans coming from near and far away to offer their condolences to the family,” a Tibetan source said.
“The police are not stopping those who visit from nearby villages except to register their names, but they are blocking everyone coming from distant places.”
Rabten’s protest brings to 146 the number of self-immolations by Tibetans living in China since the wave of fiery protests began in 2009.
Most protests feature demands for Tibetan freedom and the return of the Dalai Lama from India, where he has lived since escaping Tibet during a failed national uprising in 1959.
Reported by Lhuboom and Kunsang Tenzin for RFA’s Tibetan Service. Translated by Karma Dorjee. Written in English by Richard Finney.

European Parliament adopts urgency resolution on Larung Gar and Ilham Tohti
December 19, 2016
European Parliament resolution: the cases of Larung Gar Tibetan Buddhist Academy and Ilham Tohti
The European Parliament –
– having regard to its previous resolutions on Tibet, in particular those of 25 November 2010 on Tibet: plans to make Chinese the main language of instruction , of 27 October 2011 on Tibet, in particular self-immolation by nuns and monks and of 14 June 2012 on the human rights situation in Tibet ,
– having regard to its previous resolutions of 26 November 2009 on China, minority rights and application of the death penalty and of 10 March 2011 on the situation and cultural heritage in Kashgar (Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China) ,
– having regard to its resolution of 16 December 2015 on EU-China relation ,
– having regard to the nine rounds of talks from 2002 to 2010 between high-ranking representatives of the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama; having regard to China’s White Paper on Tibet, entitled ‘Tibet’s Path of Development Is Driven by an Irresistible Historical Tide’ and published by China’s State Council Information Office on 15 April 2015; having regard to the 2008 Memorandum and the 2009 Note on Genuine Autonomy, both presented by the Representatives of the 14th Dalai Lama,
– having regard to Article 36 of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China, which guarantees all citizens the right to freedom of religious belief and to Article 4 that upholds the rights of ‘minority nationalities’,
– having regard to the remarks made by Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, on 29 June 2015 at the joint press conference with Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang following the 17th EU-China Summit, in which he expressed the EU’s ‘concerns on freedom of expression and association in China, including the situation of the persons belonging to minorities such as Tibetans and Uighurs’ and ‘encouraged China to resume a meaningful dialogue with the Dalai Lama’s representatives’,
– having regard to the ‘Sixth Tibet Work Forum’ organised by the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and held in August 2015,
– having regard to the statement of 23 September 2014 by the EEAS Spokesperson condemning the life sentence handed out to Uighur economics professor Ilham Tohti and calling for his immediate and unconditional release,
– having regard to the EU–China dialogue on human rights launched in 1995 and to the 34th round held in Beijing on 30 November and 1 December 2015,
– having regard to the fact that on 11 October 2016 Ilham Tohti was awarded the Martin Ennals Award for his defence of human rights, and in September 2016 he was nominated for the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought,
– having regard to the EU-China Strategic Partnership launched in 2003 and to the European Commission and EEAS joint communication to the European Parliament and the Council of 22 June 2016 entitled ‘Elements for a new EU strategy on China’,
– having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 16 December 1966,
– having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948,
– having regard to Rules 135(5) and 123(4) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas the promotion of and respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law should remain at the centre the long-standing partnership between the EU and China, in line with the EU’s commitment to uphold these values in its external action and China’s expressed interest in adhering to these same values in its own development and international cooperation;
B. whereas, in its development objectives, the Chinese Government has indicated that it is seeking a greater role in addressing global challenges, such as international peace and security and climate change, and increased influence over both political and economic global governance, and has committed to strengthening the rule of law;
C. whereas the 17th EU-China Summit of 29 June 2015 lifted bilateral relations to a new level, and whereas in its strategic framework on human rights and democracy the EU pledges that it will place human rights at the centre of its relations with all third countries, including its strategic partners; whereas the 18th EU-China Summit of 12-13 July 2016 concluded that another round of the human rights dialogue between EU and China would be held still in 2016;
D. whereas China has made progress over the last decades in the realisation of economic and social rights, reflecting its stated priorities regarding people’s rights to subsistence and development, but its achievements in the area of political and civil rights, together with the promotion of human rights, are limited;
E. whereas, during 34th EU-China Dialogue on Human Rights held in Beijing on 2 December 2015, the EU raised its concerns about respect for the rights of persons belonging to minorities, especially in Tibet and Xinjiang, and about respect for freedom of religion or belief; whereas the case of Ilham Tohti was discussed during the 34th EU-China Dialogue on Human Rights;
F. whereas the Larung Gar Institute, the largest Tibetan Buddhist centre in the world founded in 1980, is currently facing extensive demolition by the Chinese Government with the objective of downsizing the academy by fifty percent, evicting around 4 600 residents by force and destroying around 1 500 dwellings; whereas according to the Chinese authorities this demolition is necessary in order to carry out ‘correction and rectification’;
G. whereas the evictees are to be forcibly enrolled in so-called ‘patriotic education’ exercises; whereas three nuns at the academy committed suicide in protest at the ongoing large-scale demolitions at Larung Gar;
H. whereas an extremely high number of Tibetans, mostly monks and nuns, have reportedly set themselves on fire since 2009 in protest against restrictive Chinese policies in Tibet and in support of the return of the Dalai Lama and the right to religious freedom in the Aba/Ngaba county prefecture in Sichuan Province and other parts of the Tibetan plateau;
I. whereas envoys of His Holiness the Dalai Lama have approached the Government of the People’s Republic of China to find a mutually beneficial solution to the issue of Tibet; whereas no progress has been made in the resolution of the Tibetan crisis in the last few years, as the last round of talks took place in 2010 and the negotiations are currently frozen;
J. whereas the Uighur economics professor Ilham Tohti was sentenced to life imprisonment on 23 September 2014 on the charge of alleged separatism after being arrested in January of the same year; whereas seven of his former students were also detained and condemned to prison sentences of between three and eight years for alleged collaboration with Mr Tohti;
K. whereas there are allegations that the due process of law was not respected, in particular with regard to the right to a proper defence;
L. whereas the Xinjiang region, in which the Muslim Uighur ethnic minority is mainly located, has experienced repeated outbreaks of ethnic unrest and violence; whereas Ilham Tohti has always rejected separatism and violence and sought reconciliation based on respect for Uighur culture;
1. Urges the Chinese authorities to stop the demolition of Larung Gar and the eviction of its residents, and in this way to respect the freedom of religion in accordance with its international commitments in the field of human rights;
2. Calls on the Chinese authorities to initiate a dialogue and to engage constructively on developments in Larung Gar with the local community and its religious leaders, and to address concerns regarding overcrowded religious institutes by allowing Tibetans to establish more institutes and build more facilities; calls for adequate compensation and the re-housing of Tibetans who have been evicted during the demolitions in Larung Gar at the place of their choice to continue their religious activities;
3. Deplores the sentencing of ten Tibetans by the Intermediate People’s Court in Barkham to different terms ranging from 5 to 14 years in prison for taking part in an 80th birthday celebration of His Holiness the Dalai Lana in Ngaba County;
4. Is deeply concerned by the deterioration of the human rights situation in Tibet which has led to an increase in the number of self-immolation cases; criticises the increase in military displays on the Tibetan plateau that will only lead to escalating tension in the region; condemns the increase in the use of surveillance systems in Tibetan private households;
5. Is worried about the increasingly repressive regime faced by different minorities, in particular Tibetans and Uighurs, as additional constraints are put on the constitutional guarantees of their right to freedom of cultural expression and religious belief, and to the freedom of speech and expression, peaceful assembly and association, calling into question China’s stated commitment to the rule of law and respect for international obligations; demands that the authorities respect these fundamental freedoms;
6. Is worried about the adoption of the package of security laws and its impact on minorities in China, particularly the law on counter-terrorism that could lead to the penalisation of peaceful expression of Tibetan culture and religion and the law on the management of international NGOs which will come into effect on 1 January 2017 and will place human rights groups under the strict control of the government, as this constitutes a strictly top-down approach instead of encouraging partnership between local and central government and civil society;
7. Urges the Chinese Government to amend the provisions in the security law package that narrow the space for civil society organisations and tighten government control over religious practices; calls on the Chinese Government to provide and guarantee a fair and safe environment for all NGOs and human rights defenders to operate freely in the country, which could greatly complement the state delivery of social services with a bottom-up approach and contribute to the advancement of social and economic, political and civil rights;
8. Calls on the Chinese Government to resume the dialogue with Tibetan representatives, which was ended by China in 2010, in order to find an inclusive political solution to the crisis in Tibet; calls for respect for the freedoms of expression, association and religion of the Tibetan people as enshrined in the Constitution; believes that respect for minority rights is a key element of democracy and the rule of law that is indispensable for political stability;
9. Strongly condemns the imprisonment of Ilham Tohti who is serving a life sentence on alleged charges of separatism; deplores the fact that the due process of law was not respected and that he did not benefit from the right to a proper defence; urges the Chinese authorities to respect the norm of granting one visit per month for family members;
10. Calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Ilham Tohti and of his supporters detained in relation to his case; further calls for Ilham Tohti’s teaching permit to be restored and for his free movement to be guaranteed within and outside China;
11. Recalls the importance of the EU raising the issue of human rights violations in China, in particular the case of minorities in Tibet and Xinjiang, at every political and human rights dialogue with the Chinese authorities, in line with the EU’s commitment to project a strong, clear and unified voice in its approach to the country, including the yearly Human Rights Dialogues; further points out that, as part of its ongoing reform process and increasing global engagement, China has opted into the international human rights framework by signing up to a wide range of international human rights treaties, and therefore calls for dialogue to be pursued with China to live up to these commitments;
12. Deplores the fact that the 35th round of the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue will probably not take place before the end of 2016, as agreed; urges the Chinese Government to agree to a high-level dialogue in the first weeks of 2017;
13. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, and the Government and the Parliament of the Peoples’ Republic of China.
Adopted December 15, 2016: (2016/3026(RSP))

New report on Middle Way Approach launched in New Delhi
December 19, 2016
Central Tibetan Administration, December 17, 2016 – The Central Tibetan Administration on 17th December, launched a report titled ‘Tibet is Not a Part of China but Middle Way Remains a Viable Solution.’ The flagship report which is CTA’s comprehensive report on the situation inside Tibet under Chinese occupation was published today in three languages- Tibetan, English and Chinese.
Along with Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, former diplomat and MP, Shri Mani Shankar Aiyar attended the release of the report held at the Constitution Club of India, New Delhi.
Chinese colonialism on Tibet referred to as roof of the world, has been the biggest disaster the Tibetan people had to confront in thousands of years of its history. The occupation caused not only widespread dismay and disappointment for the Tibetan people but also led to a massive destruction of its culture, religion and language as a result of the failed policies adopted by the government.
However, despite more than fifty years of Chinese brutality and repression, the fact remains that China has failed in its attempt at capturing the heart and soul of Tibet. This is evidenced through the peaceful protests that the Tibetan people have continued to stage over the years particularly the wave of self-immolation protests that have rocked Tibet since 2009.
These evidences point to the fact that contrary to what the Chinese government claims, Tibet is far from the socialist paradise that they have promised and remains one of the most repressed places in the world plagued by a series of unjust policies.
Piqued by these protests and the violent reactions reciprocated by the Chinese government, Tibet has once again began to capture the imagination of the world with its non-violent movement and its realistic Middle Way Approach to resolve the issue.
To buttress its point and to quench the increasing international demand for concise information on the key points of the Tibet issue, the Central Tibetan Administration today released a comprehensive report titled ‘Tibet is Not a Part of China but Middle Way Remains a Viable Solution’.
The 107-page report directly addresses the many areas of concern, in particular the fundamental question on the historical status of Tibet, the reincarnation issue with regard to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the deteriorating environmental situation of the Tibetan plateau and repression masquerading as urbanisation and economic development inside Tibet.
The report also profoundly illustrates the Central Tibetan Administration’s flagship policy—the Middle Way Approach to resolve the issue of Tibet amicably with China.
The report, described as readable, and brutally informative and poignant at the same time, is CTA’s latest attempt to correctly inform the real situation inside Tibet to the world after a gap of at least 7 years. The last comprehensive report on Tibet ‘Proving Truth from Facts’ was published in 2009 by DIIR.
“As far as the Chinese government is concerned, truth has always been a malleable entity, subverting and twisting at will to suit its agenda. However, this report promises to stick to the truth in its most authentic form and tear China’s pathological obsession with control of information,” Ms Dhardon Sharling, Information Secretary of DIIR said.
“The report vividly documents the unfolding disastrous consequences of China’s atrocities in Tibet and the Central Tibetan Administration’s repeated attempts to ameliorate the situation through dialogue,” she added.
The report also features some bold proclamations and expose the jarring contrast between the Tibet of Chinese propaganda and the Tibet which continues to remain – at least in the popular imagination – a separate entity distinct from what the Chinese government attempts to portray.
Lauding the Central Tibetan Administration for its earnest efforts, Mr Mani Shankar Aiyar said, “The Tibetan proposal to resolve the Tibet issue conforms closely with India’s own efforts to resolve its border disputes with China. Nehru’s vision was in complete harmony with the current approaches proposed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama,” he said.
He also encouraged the Tibetans to continue their efforts and said that he remains hopeful and optimistic for a quick resolution of the Tibet issue.
“It is easier to be a pessimist than an optimist but the fact that there is dialogue, it gives the Tibetan movement a measure of stability and progress,” he remarked.
He further added that India and Tibet know China is not easy to deal with. “However, our efforts also lets China know that Tibet and India are also not easy foes either. Empty military threats doesn’t work anymore,” he said.
To emphasise this particular strain of truth, Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, said at the release of the report today “China has time and again made every effort to create a pristine image of Tibet that is out of touch with reality. Soon after its formation in 1949, the People’s Republic of China occupied Tibet under the guise of ‘liberation.’ Since then, people inside Tibet have expressed their deep resistance against China’s Tibet policies through numerous peaceful protests. It is quite clear that issues such as the reincarnation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the degradation of Tibet’s ecosystem, the rapid urbanization of Tibetan rural areas have a direct impact on the world at large. Therefore we are releasing this publication in three languages to present the current situation inside Tibet under the Chinese rule and share our position on these issues in order to draw international attention and generate public discourse on the best way forward to resolving the issue of Tibet, that is through the Middle Way Approach.”
Ms Jaya Jaitly, recalled the time when George Fernandes, former defense minister of India and a staunch Tibet supporter, organised the first international conference on Tibet in August 1989. “Though I would like India to open its door to Tibetans, I hope your own country will open its door for you first,” she said.
The comprehensive report on Tibet received enthusiastic reception from the audience present, which included Tibetologists, researchers, politicians, scholars and journalists.
“The report, particularly the spirit in which it is compiled, is startlingly relevant today and is bound to draw the attention of the world towards the occupation of Tibet and the Tibetan administration’s repeated efforts to resolve the issue,” Lobsang Yangtso, PHD, JNU, said at the release.
“The non-violent and peaceful approach of reconciliation with Tibet’s invaders by the Tibetan people based on the middle way approach is exemplary and illuminating.” she added.

China jails Tibetans for celebrating Dalai Lama’s birthday
December 12, 2016
Tibetan Centre for Human Rights & Democracy, December 7, 2016 – Chinese authorities have sentenced nine Tibetans to varying terms of six to 14 years in connection with the 80th birthday celebration of the Nobel Peace laureate and Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Ngaba (Ch: Aba) County in Ngaba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, in the Tibetan province of Amdo.
Information received by TCHRD confirms the recent sentencing of four monks, two former monks, two laywomen and two men by the Barkham Intermediate People’s Court. All of them were sentenced after being held incommunicado for months. Their family members learned about their whereabouts and status only after the sentencing.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama turned 80 on 21 June 2015 according to Tibetan calendar (6 July according to Western calendar). The Tibetan spiritual leader’s 80th birthday was celebrated on a grand scale in many countries and communities. In Tibetan tradition, celebrating a person’s 80th birthday holds special significance and is considered a major milestone of life.
It’s noteworthy that six of the 10 Tibetans sentenced are former political prisoners who had recently served prison time. It only demonstrates the failure of Chinese policy in Tibet that relies on repression as a tool to obtain Tibetan obedience and loyalty. Unsurprisingly the six former political prisoners received heavy sentences which attest to the fact that Chinese authorities have no intention to improve the human rights situation in Tibet.
Dukdra, 50, received 14 years in prison for organising a public picnic to celebrate the Dalai Lama’s 80th birthday in Ngaba. He was arbitrarily detained at night from his monastic quarter at the local Kirti Monastery around the end of November 2015. A native of Soruma Village in Ngaba County, he had earlier served in prison for one year and four months for his role in 2008 protests in Ngaba.
A laywoman named Bhonkho Kyi, 48, was given seven years for helping organise a public picnic to celebrate the Dalai Lama’s 80th birthday. It is not known whether she and Dukda were connected to the same picnic. Daughter of Mr Yarphel of Lhade Gabma village in Ngaba County, Kyi was arbitrarily detained at around 20 November 2015. She had been detained earlier for unknown reasons for several months in 2011 and 2012. With help from some relatives, she was released at the time but remained under close surveillance by the authorities.
Another monk from Kirti Monastery named Lobsang Khedup, 44, was given 13 years for creating a WeChat group chat to register names of local Tibetans wishing to offer prayers for the Dalai Lama’s 80th birthday. He was arbitrarily detained in December 2015 and remained incommunicado until his sentencing. He had earlier been sentenced to three years for unknown reasons in 2011. He was however released before the completion of his term due to serious illness. The authorities feared that he might die in prison. Post release, Khedup’s family members had to spend a huge amount on his treatment for a long time. Given his precarious health condition, relatives fear that he might not survive long enough to serve 13 years in prison. At the time of his detention, he was about to sit for the exams to get his Geshe degree, a Buddhist doctorate degree. He is the son of Mr Thoeli from Chukle Gabma village in Ngaba County.
A Kirti monk named Lobsang Gephel, 29, received 12 years for suspected connection with the Dalai Lama’s birthday celebration. As previously reported, he was detained on the night of 30 November 2015 while he was returning to the monastery. He was held incommunicado at Ngaba County detention centre until his sentencing. He had earlier been sentenced to three years after being detained in May 2011. He was released a few months before the completion of the term in the end of 2013. He was a store manager at the medical college of Kirti Monastery.
The same court also sentenced three other Tibetans from Ngaba. A former monk named Trotsik Tsultrim, 33, was sentenced to six years for organising a public picnic to celebrate the Dalai Lama’s birthday. He had been sentenced earlier to one and a half years; he was among the six monks from Trotsik Monastery who were arbitrarily arrested and sentenced for their role in the 2008 protests. Trotsik Tsultrim, son of Mr Topgyal and Mrs Norlha, belongs to Yarjong family of Dowa Village in Trotsik (Ch: Hezhi) Township, Ngaba County.
Another man named Tsultrim (also known as ‘Tsultey’) was sentenced to five years after being detained at around 25 November 2015. A former Kirti monk, he had been imprisoned earlier in 2008 for taking part in protest that rocked Ngaba county that year. At the time, he was sentenced to one and a half years in prison. He is married and father of two children both of whom are not older than five. He is the son of Mrs Tapo and a native of Lhade Ghongma in Ngaba County.
A laywoman named Tarey Kyi was given eight years in prison. No other details are immediately available on them.
Sources TCHRD talked to are unavailable to provide confirmed information on the exact charges used to imprison the Tibetans. It appears that they were sentenced for ‘inciting separatism’, a vague and overbroad provision commonly used to stifle freedom of expression and opinion in Tibet.
In June 2015, Chinese authorities imposed severe restrictions on attempts made by local Tibetans to celebrate Dalai Lama’s 80th birthday. Last year, TCHRD reported on the arbitrary detention of two Tibetans a layman and woman in connection with the Dalai Lama’s birthday

Tibetan self-immolates in eastern Tibet
December 12, 2016
Radio Free Asia, December 9, 2016 – A Tibetan living in northwestern China’s Gansu province self-immolated on Thursday in the first such protest in Tibetan areas of China since May, Tibetan sources say.
The protest took place at about 7:00 p.m. local time on a main road leading from the Machu (in Chinese, Maqu) county center to the Machu Bridge, a local source told RFA’s Tibetan Service.
“Many who saw the protest said the self-immolator was praying to [exiled spiritual leader] the Dalai Lama,” RFA’s source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
“Not long after, Chinese police arrived and took the self-immolator away,” the source said.
No details on the protester’s identity or condition were immediately available.
The protest brings to 146 the number of self-immolations by Tibetans living in China since the wave of fiery protests began in 2009.
Most protests feature demands for Tibetan freedom and the return of the Dalai Lama from India, where he has lived since escaping Tibet during a failed national uprising in 1959.
Reported by RFA’s Tibetan Service. Translated by Karma Dorjee. Written in English by Richard Finney.

Climate change likely cause of 2016 avalanche in Tibet
December 12, 2016
By Jaimee Bruce
Nature World, December 11, 2016 – An international team of researchers has concluded that climate change has greatly affected the previously stable region of the Tibetan Plateau, causing the devastating avalanche of 2016.
Published in an issue of the Journal of Glaciology, the study was done by researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences joined by two glaciologists from The Ohio State University: Lonnie Thompson, Distinguished University Professor in the School of Earth Sciences and research scientist at the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center, and Ellen Mosley-Thompson, Distinguished University Professor in Geography and director of the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center.
Tibet has avoided climate change for decades despite glaciers in southern and eastern Tibet melting at an increasing rate. Extra snowfall had most likely created additional meltwater according to Lide Tian, a glaciologist at the Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and lead author of the paper.
More than 70 million tons of ice broke off from the Aru glacier in western Tibet, falling onto nomadic yak herders in the valley below. “Given the rate at which the event occurred and the area covered, I think it could only happen in the presence of meltwater,” Thompson said. Other nearby glaciers may be headed the same way, he added, “but unfortunately as of today, we have no ability to predict such disasters.”
According to Thompson, the most vital fact about the avalanche was that it only lasted four or five minutes but still buried 3.7 square miles of the valley floor in that time. Thompson believes that the meltwater at the base of the glacier could have sped the avalanche’s descent down the mountain.
Another glacier in the same mountain range gave way a couple of months later, this time without fatalities. Researchers were able to get precise measurements of how much ice fell in the first avalanche by utilizing satellite data and GPS. By working with computer modelers who were able to replicate the avalanche virtually, the researchers were able to conclude by the simulations that the cause of the avalanche was the presence of meltwater.
“We still don’t know exactly where the meltwater came from, but given that the average temperature at the nearest weather station has risen by about 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) over the last 50 years, it makes sense that snow and ice are melting and the resulting water is seeping down beneath the glacier,” Thompson explained.

First Tibetan American to be appointed a Commissioner of the US International Religious Freedom Commission
International Campaign For Tibet ON DECEMBER 8, 2016
In a historic first, Dr. Tenzin Dorjee, a Tibetan American, has been appointed as a Commissioner of the bipartisan US International Religious Freedom Commission. This federal government commission was created by the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) that monitors the universal right to freedom of religion or belief abroad.
Dr. Dorjee is Associate Professor at the Department of Human Communication Studies, California State University at Fullerton (CSUF).
The International Religious Freedom Act mandates that three Commissioners are selected by the President, two by the leaders of the President’s party in Congress, and four by the congressional leaders of the party not in the White House. Dr. Dorjee was nominated by Leader Nancy Pelosi.
In reaction to his appointment, Dr. Dorjee said, “It is my great honor and privilege to be appointed a Commissioner of the US International Religious Freedom Commission. I deeply care about the freedom of religion and take it seriously, and look at my position as a vital platform to provide an all-inclusive-secular ethics perspective of His Holiness the Dalai Lama as well as unique Tibetan Buddhist perspective and voice on global religious freedom and rights.”
Commissioners are appointed for two year terms, and are eligible for reappointment. According to IRFA, Commissioners are “selected among distinguished individuals noted for their knowledge and experience in fields relevant to the issue of international religious freedom, including foreign affairs, direct experience abroad, human rights, and international law.”
Matteo Mecacci, President of the International Campaign for Tibet, said, “Dr. Tenzin Dorjee’s appointment is indeed a very strong recognition of the Tibetan American community, and the contribution that it can make towards fulfilling the broader American policy towards the world on the issue of religious freedom.” ICT looks forward to working with the Commission and Dr. Dorjee on issues of Tibetan religious freedom.
USCIRF makes policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress.
Following is Dr. Dorjee’s bio;
Dr. Tenzin Dorjee
California State University at Fullerton
Tenzin Dorjee (Ph.D., University of California, Santa Barbara) is Associate Professor at the Department of Human Communication Studies, California State University at Fullerton (CSUF). He is an intergroup and intercultural communication expert whose primary teaching and research interests are in intergroup, intercultural, intergenerational communication, identity issues, peace building, and conflict resolution. He has authored and co-authored peer-reviewed articles and chapters on Tibetan culture, identity, and communication, nonviolence and middle way approaches to Sino-Tibetan conflict, intergenerational communication context, and others.
California State University at Fullerton honored him with several outstanding recognitions for his superior teaching, peer-reviewed journal publications of the Highest Quality Scholarly and Creative Activity, and extraordinary community service: Faculty Recognition: Teacher-Scholar Award in 2011, Faculty Recognition: Scholarly and Creative Activity in 2013 and 2016, and Faculty Recognition: Extraordinary and Sustained Service in 2015. The Western States of Communication Association (WSCA) elected him to the WSCA Executive Council and Chair of the Committee for Teaching Excellence Award in 2013.
Dr. Dorjee is a published author and translator of Tibetan Buddhism into English and had also served as translator to His Holiness the Dalai Lama during teachings and talks in India and USA. He is also a prominent native translator (Lotsawa) of over 30 years with many articles. For more information, see Dr. Tenzin Dorjee, Commissioner at USCIRF website.

Taiwan Preps for Closer US Cooperation After Trump Phone Call

http://www.voanews.com/a/taiwan-preps-for-closer-us-cooperation-after-trump-phone-call/3629408.html
China and the United States are sniping at each other over President-elect Donald Trump’s phone call last week with the president of Taiwan, but the exchange of hard words between them has largely missed Taiwan itself, and the island may ultimately gain from long-term closer contact with Washington. That afterglow from the December 2 phone call between Trump and Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen could ease Taiwan’s diplomatic isolation, bolster trade ties and give it a new edge in military defense against Beijing – its most likely foe in any conflict. “I think from the outset (the call with Trump) is good for Taiwan,” said Shane Lee, political scientist at Chang Jung Christian University in Taiwan. “Tsai Ing-wen will have better access to the White House or to the administration in general. In what way, it’s hard to say. When Trump steps into the White House, he will have to talk with his advisers.”
Communist Party newspaper mocks the President-elect
China’s Communist Party-run Global Times newspaper expects more trouble than ever between the two superpowers after Trump takes office and says a lot of his words won’t turn into action. On Thursday, the paper’s website called him a “political rookie in wake of a protocol-smashing phone call with Taiwan.” But tighter relations with the United States would also put Taiwan at risk of a backlash from China, which already distrusts Tsai. Taiwan has been self-ruled since the 1940s and polls show most Taiwanese oppose Beijing’s goal of unification with China. To isolate Taiwan’s government, China asks its 170-plus diplomatic allies to avoid formal contact with Taipei. Washington broke ties with Taiwan in 1979 and switched to the larger, fast-growing China. But it has remained a staunch informal supporter of Taiwan since then.
Phone call from Trump may help Taiwan’s military
Following the Trump phone call, Taiwan should expect more arms sales and better quality weaponry for its defense against China, said Ross Feingold, Taipei-based senior adviser with the American political risk manager DC International Advisory. Trump’s Asia advisers will want more military-to-military contact as well, he forecasted. “There is also going to be people who are very supportive of higher-level military contact,” said Feingold. “The people who are advising on Asia policy, these are people who made it very clear they are very supportive of reducing the restriction on military-to-military contact.” Taiwan has the world’s 19th biggest military compared to China at number three, according to the statistical database GlobalFirePower.com. It looks to Washington as its chief weapons supplier, though China’s pressure on the U.S. government to stop arms sales has spawned a homegrown defense industry in Taiwan.
Phone call could also have an economic effect
The 12-minute call to Trump may lead to deeper discussion of trade and investment cooperation than what President Barack Obama has offered, some experts say. Trump’s administration may also try to help Taiwan open doors to international agencies where China blocks its access. On the call, Tsai asked for American help in participating and contributing to those agencies. More strategically, the Tsai government that took office in May should have the ear of Trump’s administration as needed, analysts say. Trump transition team member Ed Feulner pushed for the phone call, per media reports in Taipei. Taiwan’s foreign ministry on Wednesday thanked former U.S. Sen. Bob Dole for his “deep support,” though the president’s office says that contrary to some media reports, Dole’s company did not arrange the phone call. Tsai has expressed hope for meeting members of Trump’s transition team during a proposed stopover in the United States en route to Guatemala, a diplomatic ally, next month.
The phone call has ‘excited’ the people of Taiwan
Taiwanese are “excited” about the phone call as a sign that a U.S. leader cares about their homeland, said Ku Chung-hwa, standing committee member with the Taipei advocacy group Citizens’ Congress Watch. People on the island have also made “psychological preparation” for a Beijing backlash since Tsai won the presidential election in January, he said.
May be a price to pay
Beijing resents Tsai for not seeing Taiwan as part of China, a precondition for any dialogue. Since her election over a candidate who took a friendlier view toward China, travel agents say Beijing has discouraged tour groups from traveling to the island and the Communist leadership has formed relations with a former Taiwan ally in Africa. China has also put Taiwanese fraud suspects on trial after being arrested abroad. But China has avoided action that would upset Taiwanese to the point of pushing for constitutional independence. The constitution, written before the Chinese civil war, identifies Taiwan and China as part of the same country. Scholars in Taipei warn of a stronger backlash, such as military threats or picking off some of Taiwan’s remaining 22 diplomatic allies, if Taiwan gets too close to the United States. “A high expectation is not realistic politically and peacefully,” said Liu Yi-jian, public affairs professor at Fo Guang University in Taiwan. “I just don’t see (that) this thing will do Taiwan any good at this moment. I just don’t see the kind of high expectation on the part of the Taiwan people will help the peaceful resolution of the political conflict between two different sides of Taiwan Strait.”

His Holiness the Dalai Lama and President of India grace Laureates and Leaders for Children Summit

December 10, 2016
By Staff Writer
His Holiness the Dalai Lama and President of India Mr Pranab Mukherjee graced the inaugural session of the first ever Laureates and Leaders for Children Summit held today at the Rashtrapati Bhavan (Presidential Palace) in New Delhi.
The summit brought together around 25 laureates and leaders.

The honorary guests include Princess Charlene of Monaco, Julia Gallard, former Prime Minister of Australia, Princess Laurentien of Netherlands, Nobel Peace laureate Jose Ramos Horta, who is also former the President of East Timor, Kerry Kennedy, President, Robert F Kennedy Human Rights Centre and the First Lady of Panama, Lorena Castillo.
His Holiness Dalai Lama called for making the 21st century a century of peace and said today’s education was “materialistic”. “The world is facing a lot of troubles, a lot of issues most of which are man-made. Basic human nature is of compassion, so there is hope,” said His Holiness.
Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi envisioned the Summit to harness the collective intellectual, moral and political will of the Laureates and Leaders for the benefit of the world’s children. The summit will deliberate on issues such as child trafficking and child slavery. The inaugural ceremony the leaders called for urgent action for the world to allow children to enjoy their childhood years unhindered.

China slaps new fees on Mongolian exporters amid Dalai Lama row
http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-china-mongolia-idUKKBN13Q3IU
A major border crossing between China and Mongolia has imposed new fees on commodity shipments between the two countries, amid a diplomatic row sparked by the visit to Ulaanbaatar of the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama last week.
The Dalai Lama is cherished as a spiritual leader in predominantly Buddhist Mongolia, but China regards him as a dangerous separatist and warned the visit could damage bilateral relations.
The crossing at Gashuun Sukhait is used to export copper from the giant Oyu Tolgoi mine run by Rio Tinto, as well as coal from the Tavan Tolgoi mine, which China’s state-owned Shenhua Group is currently in the running to develop.
The crossing in the Chinese region of Inner Mongolia would charge vehicles a transit fee of 10 yuan ($1.45) each time they pass through the border, and would also impose an additional charge of 8 yuan per tonne for any goods they are delivering, according to a notice issued by local authorities and published by the Mongolian Mining Journal on Wednesday.
For precious metals and copper concentrate worth more than 10,000 yuan per tonne, exporters would be charged 0.2 percent of the total value of the cargo, the notice said, adding that the new charges would come into effect on Dec 1.
Dale Choi, an independent mining analyst in Ulaanbaatar, said 900 trucks pass through Gashuun Sukhait every day, adding that around 133,000 tonnes of copper concentrate is delivered into China every month via the crossing.
Local government officials contacted by Reuters on Thursday could not confirm the veracity of the announcement, but a senior industry representative in Ulaanbaatar who is familiar with the matter said the new charges were now in effect.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang did not confirm whether or not the new border fees were connected to the Dalai Lama’s visit, saying only that he was aware of the situation.
“As for the Dalai Lama’s visit to Mongolia, China has expressed its position many times,” he said at the ministry’s regular press briefing on Thursday.
The Dalai Lama fled Tibet after an abortive uprising against Chinese rule in 1959. Beijing regards him as a “splittist”, though he says he merely seeks genuine autonomy for his Himalayan homeland, which Communist Chinese troops “peacefully liberated” in 1950.
Geng said in a statement last month that Mongolia needed to “adopt effective measures to eliminate the negative effects of the Dalai Lama’s visit”.
The diplomatic repercussions could hit Mongolia hard, with the crisis-hit government desperate to boost economic ties with its powerful southern neighbour and use Chinese investment and knowhow to kickstart key mining and infrastructure projects.
China has already postponed a Nov. 28 meeting between the two sides, Mongolian government spokesman G. Otgonbayar said via Twitter last week.
Mongolian government officials are due to hold talks on Friday with international partners, including the International Monetary Fund and the Development Bank of China, to discuss Mongolia’s currency and balance of payments crisis.
(Reporting by Terrence Edwards in ULAANBAATAR and David Stanway in SHANGHAI, Additional Reporting by Ben Blanchard in BEIJING; Editing by Nick Macfie)