rtyc toronto

Pawo Drupchen Tsering

Dharamshala 28 March 2013: The Tibetan Youth Congress have learnt from reliable sources in Nepal that venerable Drupchen Tsering’s body had been clandestinely cremated on the night of Monday 25 March 2013 at Pashupati Aryaghat (cremation ground).  Despite repeated pleas made to the Government of Nepal, the Kathmandu Administrator went ahead and cremated the body without releasing it to the Tibetan Community. His body was reportedly removed around midnight of Sunday 24^th March from Teaching Hospital, where it was kept since his self-immolation and demise on 13 February 2013.

 According to the same source, the body was cremated by four local youth whose job as undertakers is to cremate unclaimed or unidentified bodies.  It further stated that five policemen including the inspector of Gaushala area police office brought a charred body from the Teaching Hospital to the Aryaghat at Pashupati.  There were no other bodies being cremated at the ground at the time.  The policemen did not even pay for the service of the four youth as had earlier promised. The sources also revealed that the policemen purchased firewood and butter on credit from the depot across the river, which had also been left unpaid. Drupchen Tsering’s body was cremated at ground no. 7 in complete secrecy with no religious or traditional rituals observed, with no one to pay tribute to his heroic sacrifice and with debts pending for his funeral service.

 It provoked the suspicion of the youth when a charred body was brought at such an odd hour and when the Inspector waited on throughout the entire process to ensure that the body was completely reduced to ashes and disposed in the river. The entire cremation lasted approximately four hours until the early hours of the following morning.

 This news comes as a shock and grief to TYC who had made repeated appeals and attempts through various channels to get his body released to the Tibetan community to carry out the necessary Buddhist cremation rituals.  Nepal had earlier declared that it would declare the body ‘unclaimed’ unless a kin of the monk came to receive the body of the deceased within seven days of the release of the notice. This, despite the authorities complete knowledge that the deceased was a Tibetan refugee and didn’t have any relatives outside Tibet and that his parents and kins feared Chinese persecution if they tried to come to Nepal.

 Today, when we observe the one-year death anniversary of Jampel Yeshi we remember the honour and respect the Indian government bestowed Jampel at the time of bringing his body from New Delhi to Dharamshala enabling us to carry out a respectable funeral ceremony. “While Jampel Yeshi was provided treatment befitting a national hero by the Indian Government, we are appalled and deeply disappointed with the government of Nepal which as an independent and constitutionally democratic country has behaved like a totalitarian regime and allowed China to completely undermine its sovereignty”, said the President, Tsewang Rigzin of Tibetan Youth Congress.  “We condemn insensitive this act”, he added.

 Drupchen Tsering had escaped Tibet around the end of January and secured asylum through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee in Nepal.

 end-

kALSANG KYI

Toronto, March 24th 2013:

A Tibetan woman today set herself on fire in an apparent protest against China’s continuing occupation of Tibet.Thirty-year-old Kalsang  Kyi, a mother of four has set herself ablaze protesting near Jonang monastery in Zamthang in Eastern Tibet at 3:30 pm (local time).“The local Tibetans carried her charred body inside the monastery premises to prevent it from falling into the hands of Chinese security personnel”, as per report available. Kal Kyi had died from injuries. She is survived by her husband, Gyepo, and their four children. The total self-immolation list has now reached 110.

Toronto, March 10:

The Tibetans in Toronto and surrounding area took out a strong procession carrying 107 coffins symbolizing their beloved martyrs who set themselves to fire in order to draw world’s attention to the fact that China has turned Tibet into a horrendous inferno.  Procession started from the Chinese consulate with a huge portrait of His Holiness The Dalai Lama. Chinese Consulate at St George, Toronto was virtually surrounded by thousands of Tibetan Youth protesters with strong messages. Tibet’s rich and distinct culture were displayed. Prayers were said for the victory of peace over evil and swift rebirth of the martyrs.  Protest marked the 54^th anniversary of the Tibetan Uprising Day in thousands chocking the busy Toronto Downtown for hours. Various leaders spoke on the occasion. Mr Guru Dorjee, President of RTYC Toronto appealed all that there were more to do than what has already been achieved. We should understand the essence of our struggle and not make error in distinguishing friend from foe and never forget that our enemy is China.

BY P. GOMPO

Tibetans in  Toronto  celebrated the 100-year anniversary (1913-2013) historic moment of the proclamation of Tibetan independence Day on Wednesday at city’s nerve centre Nathan Philip  Square and in front of Chinese consulate office, St George.

The festivities celebrated the 1913 proclamation of Tibetan independence from China. The Regional Tibetan Youth Congress Toronto collaborated with the SFT Canada chapter supported by TWAO, CSKD and CTAO to organize this unique protest cum festival asserting Tibet’s independent status.

Mr Guru Dorjee, President RTYC Toronto

The day began with the introductory speech of Mr Guru Dorjee, President of RTYC Toronto highlighting the purpose of the day’s gathering in Tibetan and Mr Urgyen Badheytsang , National Director, SFT Canada in English language.  The festivity was attended by more than 200 people with  prominent Canadian Tibet supporters  with the rally starting from Nathan Philip Square chanting  slogans culminating in front of the Chinese Consulate , Toronto. There were  many colorful banners depicting messages to China about Tibet’s independence, Tibetan National  flags and a large portrait of His Holiness The 13^th and 14^th Dalai Lama. The protesters  hoped to spread awareness of the current political state of Tibet and further educate the local public as well as Chinese people on Tibetan culture through the day’s festivities.

Tibetan Youths in Toronto celebrating centennial of Tibet’s Independence Day

“Our goal was to have a celebratory event in front of this Consular Office(China)  and proudly hoist strong our national flag  to send message that Tibet  was  a free country and forcibly occupied by communist China in 1959,” said Mr Guru Dorjee, President of Regional Youth Congress Toronto. “China has been telling people that Tibet was always a part of China, which is not true.” Posters and scrolls depicting facts about Tibet’s past Independence are displayed. Participants in the celebration were dressed in the traditional Tibetan dress. Message was send to Chinese imperialist in traditional dance and song as well as direct slogans.

Mr Urgyen Badheytsang , National Director, SFT Canada unveiled   mega size Rangzen proclamation of 13^th Dalai lama and Mr Kusang Tanzin, President of Canadian Tibetan’s Association of Ontario elaborated in detail of the fact that Tibet has never been a part of China and that all Tibetans clamor  Rangzen, and are determine to achieve that. He reminded that just yesterday another rangzen warrior has self immolated in Kathmandu and another in Tibet becoming the 100^th warrior fighting this unique struggle on this 100^th year of Tibet’s Independence Day.

Portrait of 13th and 14th Dalailama

In challenge to Chinese assertion, Canadian Tibetan leaders Mr Guru Dorjee President TYC, Mr Ugyen Bathetsang, National Director, SFT Canada chapter of SFT and Mr Kusang Tanzin –President of Canadian Tibetan Association of Ontario, countered their claim with the submission of copies of 1913 Tibets independence proclamation letter of His Holliness The 13^th Dalailama to the Chinese Consular office at Toronto.

Members of RTYC Toronto and RTYC NY&NJ at Ottawa during the Testimony of Mr Dhondup Lhadar and Mr Mr Tsewang Dhondup

Ottawa, 29 January 2013:  The Vice President of Tibetan Youth Congress Dhondup Lhadar testified in front of a panel of 15 members of parliament in the House of Commons in Ottawa, Canada.   The prestigious opportunity to testify in front of the Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development of the House of Commons of the Canadian Parliament had arisen out of a lobbying effort in Ottawa on 10 December 2012 on International Human Rights Day during the visit of the Vice President and General Secretary to Toronto organised by RTYC Toronto.  In their invitation they had specified that members would be particularly interested in the issue of self-immolations, including any recommendations we may have for Canadian action that could contribute to reducing or ending the recent wave of self-immolations.

 The hearing lasted about an hour and 15 minutes during which time the translated testimony of Dhondup Lhadar was read out followed by an individual testimony of Tsewang Dhondup and the floor opened to Q&A session.   Questions revolved around the issue of self-immolation and TYC’s position, asks and what it believes the Canadian government should do.

 Responding to the first question on why Tibetans are self-immolating VP Dhondup Lhadar said that there are mainly two reasons behind the self-immolations. “One is the absolute rejection by the Tibetan people of the occupation of Tibet by China and secondly to protest against the systematic and malicious attempts to slander our leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama and eradicate Tibetan culture and race and destroy Tibet’s environment as a result of this occupation.”

 In a positive statement on the self-immolations MP David Sweet (Conservative Party of Canada, CPC) stated that, “I just wanted to be clear that the decisions that are made by the immolators are their own and is not because of some pressure that they are receiving from some other outside group.  I just wanted to make sure that was on the record and I believe that’s the answer we get from the witnesses.”

 Another important question was on what the government of Canada do to resolve the current situation inside Tibet.  Mr. Dhondup Lhadar responded by stating that our foremost appeal to the Canadian government and the Parliament is to pay attention to the testaments of the more than ninety-nine self-immolators in order to understand their real aspirations and investigate the actual situation inside Tibet.  To this effect it must make efforts to send independent investigation team inside Tibet as well as international media and within the Canadian Parliament to pass a resolution and make a statement on the current situation inside Tibet and pressure the government of China to make sincere efforts to bring about positive changes for Tibet.

 Just before wrapping up, Dhondup Lhadar was once again offered the opportunity to address the panel.  In conclusion he said that China’s heavy handed response to self-immolations have prompted Tibetans to resort to other ways of sacrificing their lives such as consumption of poison or jumping into rivers.   “This clearly substantiates the fact that Tibetans in Tibet today do not even have the right and freedom to choose the way they want to sacrifice their lives for their country through self-immolations.  This obstruction to their basic freedom of choice clearly shows the epoch of darkness cast over the universal fundamental human rights and freedom and in order to dispel this darkness Tibetans inside Tibet are urging the leaders and politicians of the free world to take action and this is an appeal I would also like to make on behalf of the six million Tibetans.

 MP Wayne Marston from New Democratic Party (NDP) and the Vice-Chair of the Subcommittee concluded the hearing by expressing that gratitude for bringing before the committee the testimonies and said that this committee is “Ceased with concern for what is happening inside Tibet and I want to assure you that members present from all parties are very concerned and troubled by what we hear.   And your testimony is an important part of our study looking into this.  If o have anything to add that you haven’t given us today be sure to send it to the clerk.”

 The meeting was joined by members of RTYC Toronto and RTYCNY/NJ.

 This is the first time a Tibetan Youth Congress Central Executive member has been accorded the opportunity to testify in the Canadian House of Commons. Proceedings of the hearing can be viewed by clicking this link

 http://parlvu.parl.gc.ca/Parlvu/TimeBandit/PowerBrowser_SilverLight.aspx?ContentEntityId=9953&EssenceFormatID=543&date=20130129&lang=en

Mr Dhondup Lhadar, VP, Centrex, TYC submitting signature campaign document on selfimmolation on 10th December 2012

Upon relentless lobbying and information campaign launched by various Toronto Tibetans Organisation like, SFT, Chushigandruk and TWA lead by Regional Tibetan Youth Congress since 2011, finally after 98 self immolation, the highest law making body of Canada has invited personalities  like, Sikyong Dr Lonsang Sangay, Mr Dhondup Lhadar, Vice President, TYC, Mr Tsewang Dhondup and Mr Richard Gere to speak on issue of self-immolation, including any recommendations they may have for Canadian action that could contribute to reducing or ending the recent wave of self-immolations. RTYC Toronto managed to pierce through diplomatic barrier and reach at the highest level of decision makers armed with the recent signature campaign signed by more than 1000 people and submitted on 10th December 2012. Below is the original letter received by TYC and the copy of Mr Dhondup Lhadar’s testimony. Hearing is fixed on 29th January 2013. To listen the recorded proceeding , follow the link  available below for those  who missed the LIVE telecast. The link will take you straight to the Canadian Parliament site.   Click the link and wait for few seconds to load the audio then listen  for the recording http://parlvu.parl.gc.ca/Parlvu/TimeBandit/PowerBrowser_SilverLight.aspx?ContentEntityId=9953&EssenceFormatID=543&date=20130129&lang=en .   If you need the recording copy, please request at torontortyc@gmail.com and you will get the recorded version as attachment.

TYC Centrex Vice President, Mr Dhondup Lhadarla and entourage  from RTYC NY&NJ accorded resounding welcome at Toronto on 27th Jan 2013, 40 Titan Road, Etobicoke by RTYC Toronto and die hard Rangzen proponents. Vice President- on his way to Canadian parliament where he will deliver his testimony before the Sub Committee on Human Rights on 29th Jan 2013

Click here to view invitation letter send to TYC

FOLLOWING IS THE COPY OF TESTIMONY SUBMITTED TO CANADIAN PARLIAMENT

Testimony by Mr. Dhondup Lhadar, Vice-President of Tibetan Youth Congress before the Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development of the House of Commons of the Canadian Parliament

First of all on behalf of all Tibetans and particularly Tibetan Youth Congress, which is the largest non-governmental organization, I would like to thank you for giving me this opportunity to address this important parliament session.

 Acts of aggression on Tibet by the People’s Republic of China started in 1949 soon after it’s formation, and by 1959 PRC had consolidated its illegitimate rule over Tibet. This has resulted in His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s flight into exile and the establishment of the exile Tibetan government in India. Over half-a-century of China’s rule in Tibet has led to deaths of more than 1.2 million Tibetans due to starvation, execution, torture and long-term imprisonment.  The latest act of protest by Tibetans through self-immolations is a powerful non-violent resistance and a highest form of sacrifice a human being can make.

 Between February 2009 and January 2013, there have been ninety-nine confirmed cases of self-immolation protests.  Eighty-two in 2012 alone. In this month of January there were four self-immolations. With such a surge in these protests and concerns that this number will only increase, there is an urgent need to explain these actions to the outside world.

 Therefore, I thank this opportunity to address the self-immolations taking place on the Tibetan Plateau to the House. The Tibetan Youth Congress recognizes these acts as the ultimate form of non-violent resistance against China’s occupation.  Of the ninety-nine reported cases, eighty-six have died and whereabouts and physical condition of thirteen remain unknown. The oldest was a sixty-five-year-old grandfather and the youngest was fifteen years old. The average age of the self-immolators is about twenty-five.  Apart from deaths due to self-immolations, there have also been reported deaths due to consumption of poison and jumping into rivers.

 The self-immolations have taken place all across the Tibetan Plateau and included monks, nuns, parents, students, nomads, farmers and intellectuals. Some of the self-immolators left behind children as young as a few months old. Thirty-two-year-old, Rinchen and a mother of four died after setting her body on fire near a military camp in eastern Tibet.  Her eldest child is 13 while the youngest is a few months old. The children became orphans as Rinchen’s husband had passed away a year before.

A father of two, Tsegyal, twenty-seven-year-old, self-immolated on the eve of the Chinese Communist Party’s 18^th National Congress on 7 November 2012 in Bankar village in Driru County in Kham in eastern Tibet.  Tsegyal was immediately taken into police custody subsequent to his actions and succumbed to his injuries after prolonged neglect and ill-treatment in custody.  Since his detention, he reportedly received no treatment for his burns and finally died in the evening of 18 November in police custody.  Details of this incident surfaced after a month since his protest. Tsegyal left behind two children ¾ a six-year-old and an eight-month-old infant.

On 22 January 2013, twenty-three-year-old Kunchok Kyab set himself on fire in Bora in Amdo, northeastern Tibet, to protest against China’s rule. He left behind a nine-month-old-baby. Beijing Government’s response to the spate of self-immolations has been stepping up security, intensifying oppression, arrests, detention, torture, intimidation and aggressively vilifying the self-immolators by calling them terrorists, mentally sick, and stating that they were “committed by people who previously had got punished for their wrongdoings such as whoring, gambling and burglary, or deep in debt because of gambling”.

Beijing government also resorted to corrupt practices by detaining spouses of protestors for their refusal to accept bribes to claim to that their husbands/wives self-immolated due to family disputes.  It also offered cash rewards of $8000-$30,000 for intelligence and information about impending or past self-immolations.

In many cases Chinese authorities have confiscated the bodies of self-immolators and barred family members from carrying out religious rites and rituals after their death. Security forces harassed witnesses, family members and relatives of those who have chosen to take this non-violent action.  Citizen journalists who have relayed information to the outside world have been arrested, tortured and sentenced to long-term prison terms.

 In a further use of intimidation, China’s Supreme Court, top prosecution body and police issued a joint legal opinion whereby the charge of “intentional murder” should apply to anyone urging Tibetans to set themselves alight.  Efforts at damage control and attempts to avert international criticism and scrutiny also included blaming the exile community, His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Youth Congress of “instigating” these protests.  Earlier this month, in their official Xinhua News Agency it said that, “police investigation found that the self-immolation by a 26-year-old in Gansu province’s Hezuo City was “masterminded by key members of the Tibetan Youth Congress of the overseas Dalai Clique.

Additionally to hide the real situation from the world, foreign media is banned from Tibet and travel is curtailed for non-Chinese tourists.  Within Tibet, Beijing has imposed strict restrictions on freedom of movement for Tibetans in their own homeland.

 If there are any questions as to why such an unprecedented number of Tibetans have resorted to this form of protest, then the last testaments left by some of the self-immolators provide answers.  As poet/writer/blogger,Gudrup forty-one-year-old, who self-immolated in October 2012, said, “…since China is uninterested in the well being of the Tibetan people, we are sharpening our nonviolent movement. We are declaring the reality of Tibet by burning our own bodies to call for freedom of Tibet… We will win the battle through truth, by shooting the arrows of our lives, by using the bow of our mind”.

In their last message, Choephak Kyab and Sonam, both in their twenties, who set themselves ablaze on 19 April 2012, said: ‘After the Chinese occupation, Tibetans suffer without basic human rights. It is for this reason, and in order for peace to prevail on earth; we offer our lives by setting ourselves on fire. The suffering of Tibetans without basic human rights is far worse than the suffering that we endure when we set ourselves on fire. You must do as we have written – even if the Chinese takes us away, do not do anything. We will be happy if nobody gets harmed because of us.’

 Likewise, in his last message, Tamdin Thar, in his fifties, who self-immolated on 15 June 2012, said, ‘I am setting myself on fire as an offering of light with hope that His Holiness the Dalai Lama will return to Tibet, that peace will prevail on earth and Tibet will be ruled by Tibetans.’

 On 19 February 2012, eighteen-year-old Nangdrol set himself on fire. In his last message he said, ‘May Tibetan people be free from China’s oppressive rule, There is immense suffering under China’s rule, and this suffering is unbearable. There is no way to further endure this Chinese occupation, its terrible rule, this torture without trace.’

 The fundamental aspirations and reasons for the self-immolators to choose this non-violent action are clear from these messages. The Chinese Government and the world at large should not misinterpret these acts as ethnic conflicts or China’s flawed repressive policies or simply a struggle for religious freedom. The immolations are a symptom of a far greater problem: the Chinese occupation of Tibet. So long as China continues to occupy Tibet and oppress the Tibetan people, they will continue to resist.

 Additionally supporting China’s aggressive condemnation of the immolations, as an act of “violence” is to blame the victim while completely neglecting to see the violence of the oppressor.  Rather than debating the ethics of immolation, we need to look at the horrible conditions that motivated these actions.  Without solving the root problem, the immolations will persist because Beijing’s rule of over half-a-century has only resulted in cultural destruction, economic marginalization and irreparable environmental damages.  Furthermore, forcing the Tibetans to denounce His Holiness the Dalai Lama and undermine his spiritual leadership only exacerbates the grim situation.

 Tibetans place high hopes on democratic countries such as yours to pressure China to respect and fulfil the aspirations of Tibetans who set themselves on fire. To this effect, I would like to request this parliament to address the following recommendations:

- Send a fact-finding parliamentary delegation into Tibet.

- Issue a statement and pass a resolution in the Canadian Parliament condemning China’s continued occupation and oppression of the Tibetan people leading to self-immolation and harassment of their relatives, friends and crackdown on citizen journalists and human rights defenders.

- Recognize that Canadian companies doing business with China such as Continental Minerals, Lara Exploration, Eldorado Gold, Inter-Citic Minerals Inc. Sterling Group Ventures, Bombardier, Vancouver-based China Gold International Resources Corp ltd. Nexen-CNOOC deal etc. are indirectly funding PRC’s human rights abuses and its undermining of Tibet’s unique culture, language, tradition and its fragile ecosystem.

I put these recommendations before you on behalf on six million Tibetans and especially those who have set themselves on fire. This resistance movement in Tibet will continue unless those in the world who have power break their silence and above all, hold China accountable for forcing Tibetans to take such drastic actions. By speaking up you are not only standing in solidarity with the Tibetan cause but also defending not least your own democratic values.

 The world recognized and supported Thich Quang Duc, who self-immolated in 1963 to protest against discrimination and mistreatment of Buddhist monks in Vietnam, which ultimately led to the end of Diem’s regime. In the same way, I strongly urge the world to support Tibet’s struggle for freedom and stand in solidarity with those Tibetans who have set themselves on fire so that the basic aspirations are met and this non-violent action does not spiral out of control.

 History condemns those who walked silently away from holocausts and genocides.  The tragedy of Tibet is playing out before a largely mute world audience. To believe that the People’s Republic of China cannot be brought to book for its illegal rule in Tibet is to slide onto the wrong side of history.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Canadian Government and its people for allowing a large number of exile Tibetans to reside and make this country their second home. The fact that you have given me this opportunity to stand before you is a clear indication of your support Tibet and its people in their pursuit for freedom. It also shows Canada’s strength and courage to face China.

 Thank you.

 Dhondup Lhadar

Vice-President,

Tibetan Youth Congress

29 January 2013

Former Kalon Tripa Mr Sonam Topgyal 77, who had a life-long stint in the service of the Central Tibetan Administration, is no more with us. He left this world on Sunday morning 4.30 am after a prolonged illness from stomach cancer at his residence near Norbulingka Institute in Dharamshala. He was one of the four conveners of the first Tibetan youth conference in Dharamshala, along with Tenzin Geyche, Lodi Gyari and Tenzin Tethong. This conference resulted in the formation of the Tibetan Youth Congress. In acknowledgment of his selfless act in service of Tibet and its people, RTYC Toronto is holding monlam tomorrow  and sends heartfelt condolence to the bereaved family. We urge all to join us for prayer.

Mr John Baird, Foreign Minister, Government of Canada.

Canada’s Foreign Minister John Baird has issued a statement of concern about the events unfolding inside Tibet. Earlier this week, a Tibetan delegation led by the Tibetan Youth Congress, the largest pro-independence group in exile  and Canadian Friends of Tibet met with prominent Canadian leaders urging them to take concrete actions on the crisis inside Tibet.

Dhondup Lhadar, vice president and Tenzin Chokey, general secretary of TYC met with Paul Hong, Senior Policy Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and held “in depth, frank, and open discussions” for almost an hour.

The TYC delegation also individually met with a host of Canadian MPs including David Sweet, Conservative Party of Canada and a member of the Sub-Committee on Human Rights and International Trade and is also the Co-Chair of Parliamentary Friends of Tibet; Bernard Trottier, CPC; Wayne Marston, New Democratic Party and member of the sub-Committee on Human Rights and International Trade; Rob Anders; Joe Daniel, CPC; and Wladyslaw Lizon, CPC.