Sad birthday

TCHRD: 25 April 2010
Press Statement on the 21st Birthday of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima” the XIth

25 April 2010: Today marks the 21st birthday of the XIth Panchen Lama: Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, one of Tibet’s most important religious leaders, who was abducted by the Chinese authorities on 17 May 1995 when he was just six years old. He and his parents were not seen for the past 15 years and there has been no clear information on their exact whereabouts and well being. Over the years the Panchen Lama’s plight has come to symbolize the crisis facing the survival of Tibet’s religious culture.

Just imagine, being an adult (assuming he is still alive) and being imprisoned for 15 years just for being yourself.

Love & clear light,
Rudy

Handling help after earthquake by chasing monks away and stopping aid

Phayul [Thursday, April 22, 2010 10:57]
By Kalsang Rinchen

Dharamsala, April 22 – Chinese government has ordered monasteries to recall their monks who have been helping in relief and rescue effort in Yushu County ... which was hit by a 6.9 magnitude earthquake on April 14, according to the Associated Press. Survivors of the deadly earthquake say the Tibetan monks helped first, bringing food, pitching tents, digging through rubble and cremating bodies.

“Now the Buddhist monks who responded first are being pushed out of the disaster area and off of state media — apparently sidelined by Beijing's unease with their heroism and influence”, reported the AP.

Yet state-run broadcasters and news agency have given scant attention to the Tibetan monks and instead highlighted the hard work of the military and the People's Army. ... local Tibetans were frustrated because the monks are still needed to help dig out the dead and perform funeral rites.

Meanwhile, Chinese authorities in Driru County have stopped 14 trucks loaded with relief materials from heading to the quake hit area of Kyegudo, said Ngawang Tharpa, an exile Tibetan with contact in the area.

I thought communism was about power to the people?

Love & clear light,
Rudy

Earthquake in Shinghai Province

The heavy earthquake in Shinghai province has apparently left many hundreds of Tibetans dead, including monks and nuns, and unknown numbers wounded. It seems that many monasteries were severely damaged.
The Chinese government advertised that Chinese troops 'immediately responded with help'.

Radio Free Asia reported:

Sources in Tibet have told the National Democratic Party of Tibet that the Chinese government’s rescue teams are concentrated in areas dwelled by elites and government officials, and the ordinary Tibetans are being neglected. “The Chinese rescue workers helped mainly at official Chinese buildings that had collapsed. Residents where predominantly Tibetans live did not receive immediate help”.

Estimates by Tibetans of the death toll are considerably higher then the official Chinese numbers.

His Holiness the Gyalwang Karmapa has asked practitioners to recite OM MANI PADME HUM mantras for the victims.

The International Campaign for Tibet collects donations for the Tibetans in trouble in the area.

Love & clear light,
Rudy