21 Mai 2020
La Chine affirme que le Panchen Lama mène une « vie normale »
Prix Nobel de la paix, exilé en Inde et bête noire de la Chine, le Dalaï Lama, leader spirituel du Tibet, a déclaré en mai 1995 Gedhun Choekyi Nyima réincarnation du Panchen Lama, numéro deux de la hiérarchie bouddhiste tibétaine.
Arrêté trois jours plus tard, le garçon alors âgé de six ans n’a pas été revu depuis, ce qui a fait de lui le plus jeune prisonnier politique au monde, selon les associations de défense des droits de l’homme. Le chef de la diplomatie américaine, Mike Pompeo, a exigé lundi que la Chine révèle « immédiatement » où il se trouve. « Les bouddhistes tibétains, à l’image des membres de toutes les communautés de foi, doivent pouvoir choisir, éduquer et vénérer leurs chefs religieux selon leurs traditions et sans ingérence du gouvernement », a-t-il insisté dans un communiqué.
Selon un communiqué du ministère chinois des Affaires étrangères, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima a suivi » l’éducation nationale obligatoire » avant d’entrer à l’université, et lui ainsi que sa famille « ne souhaitent pas que des étrangers interviennent dans leur vie normale ». « Il a commencé à travailler », a expliqué le porte-parole du ministère chinois des Affaires étrangères Zhao Lidjian au cours d’un point de presse.
M. Zhao a mis en garde les Etats-Unis contre « l’utilisation des affaires tibétaines pour s’ingérer dans les affaires intérieures de la Chine ». Pékin a nommé son propre Panchen Lama, qui a fait de rares apparitions publiques étroitement programmées, même si de nombreux Tibétains ne le reconnaissent pas. Le gouvernement chinois, officiellement athée, a clairement indiqué qu’il pourrait chercher à nommer un successeur au Dalaï Lama, aujourd’hui âgé de 84 ans.
Leader spirituel du Tibet depuis 80 ans, il a presque toujours occupé cette fonction en exil, sous les attaques constantes de la Chine, et reste aujourd’hui le visage universellement reconnu de l’autonomie du Tibet, devenu province chinoise à part entière depuis 1951.
19/05/2020 17:01:33 – Pékin (AFP) – © 2020 AFP
illustration : 10e et 11e Panchen Lama, gouache du peintre Claude-Max Lochu
19 Mai 2020
Dalai Lama stresses on compassion and interdependence in his first virtual teaching since the pandemic
By Choekyi Lhamo
DHARAMSHALA, May 18: The exiled Tibetan leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama gave his first-ever virtual teaching on Nagarjuna’s “Precious Garland” from his residence on Saturday. Dalai Lama emphasized on the need to be compassionate in this interdependent world as it confronts a crisis like COVID-19. The two-day public teaching online is his first public appearance since late January after his private office cancelled all public engagements and later closed down the Tsuglagkhang temple in Mcleod Ganj.
His Holiness initiated the teaching by focusing on the importance of compassion and mindfulness through one’s inner self. He called for analytical and scientific approach of the Nalanda tradition in the study of the workings of the human mind. He compared it to quantum physics which also distinguishes appearance from reality, “Appearance can be misleading, an object can be dissected into the tiniest molecule. While inherently the object holds no fixed meaning, we as observers ascribe meaning to the object. Therefore, we should instead seek an objective reality.”
The octogenarian leader also pointed out the hollowness of materialistic pursuit of happiness which has undoubtedly brings comfort and ease but ultimately makes people ignorant and unhappy. The importance of mental and emotional wellbeing, he says, is central to self-confidence and happiness. He believes that Tibetan Buddhist philosophy has the wisdom to transform the mind to achieve peace and happiness with oneself and the world.
Dalai Lama said that interdependence as espoused by Buddhist philosophy is the only way to go forward as “we are social animals”. Especially relevant in the present circumstances, he spoke on the interdependence of all living beings, “an individual is reliant on the community to survive which teaches us to strive for kindness and compassion towards one another, qualities intrinsic to human nature.”
His Holiness stressed on global cooperation and unity among communities and religions worldwide in order to focus on what unites us as members of one human family. He stated that “all religions, despite their different philosophies and histories, evoke the practice of compassion”, thus urging all religions to come together in harmony. He noted India as an example. The Tibetan leader also urged the public to pay attention to the long-term issue of global climate change that could have destructive consequences within the next two decades.
The 84-year old Tibetan leader’s office on Monday announced that the Dalai Lama will confer a two-day Avalokiteshvara Initiation (chenresig wang) on May 30 & 31, 2020.
19 Mai 2020
Exile Tibetans commemorate 11th Panchen Lama’s 25th year of disappearance
By Choekyi Lhamo
DHARAMSHALA, May 18: Tibetans across the world commemorated the 25th year marking the disappearance of the 11th Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, on Sunday. Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), parliamentarians, Tibet Support Groups (TSGs) and prominent international organizations voiced their support for an immediate release of the second-highest-ranking lama in Tibet, and also urged China to stop interfering in the traditional Buddhist system of recognizing reincarnated lamas.
The exiled Tibetan government, officially known as CTA, held a panel discussion and an official candlelight vigil to mark the day. CTA President Dr. Lobsang Sangay, former USCIRF Commissioner Tenzin Dorjee, Abbot of exile Tashi Lhunpo monastery Zeekyab Rinpoche, ICT Vice-president Bhuchung K. Tsering and Secretary of DIIR Karma Choeying joined the discussion to highlight the plight of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, by connecting the Tibetan religious figure to the larger Tibetan struggle. Earlier this month, CTA called for a month-long campaign and also urged the global audience to participate in a global candlelight vigil for his release and all other Tibetan prisoners of conscience.
Parliamentarians and officeholders from US, Italy, Czech Republic, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Lithuania, Britain, Scotland, Estonia, Taiwan, and India also expressed their solidarity with the youngest political prisoner abducted by China on May 17, 1995.
US Ambassador for International Religious Freedom, Samuel Brownback, said in a recent interview with AFP said, “No, we do not have any idea of the whereabouts, and yes, we continue to press the Chinese authorities to release the Panchen Lama and let him free (…and) let the world know where he is. And this takes on, I think, an increased interest and focus and importance as China continues to assert – the Chinese Communist Party continues to assert their right to appoint the next Dalai Lama, and – which they do not have the right to do.”
Similarly, USCIRF Commissioner Tenzin Dorjee remarked on his 31st birthday in April, “The Panchen Lama of Tibet has been kept isolated since he was a child and denied the opportunity to live a normal life. We urge the Chinese government to show a video evidence of his safety during this COVID-19 pandemic out of human dignity and free the Panchen Lama immediately.”
Moreover, many committees and international organizations demanded China’s response to the issue of his disappearance including the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, Citizen’s Power Initiatives for China, Unrepresented People’s Organization and Human Rights Watch (HRW), UN Watch, Amnesty International, Society for Threatened Peoples, Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO). Messages of support and concern flooded social media on Sunday so as to remind China of its international obligation to protect the human rights of all Tibetans. 159 organizations also submitted a joint petition to the United Nations (UN), Geneva to hold China accountable for the disappearance of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and his parents, Dechen Choedron and Konchog Phuntsog, and Chatral Rinpoche.
China claims that his whereabouts are kept undisclosed to protect him. It has repeatedly denied any access to the Panchen Lama as no one has been allowed to visit him since his disappearance. Beijing appointed its own Panchen Lama, Gyaltsen Norbu, whose legitimacy to the throne has been rejected by Tibetans.
13 Mai 2020
Tibet : la répression subie par les religieux bouddhistes continue et risque de passer inaperçue
Cliquez sur l'image
Le Tibet, cette région autonome chinoise, est gouvernée d’une main de fer par Pékin. Des religieux bouddhistes y sont chassés de leurs monastères et forcés de devenir de « bons communistes ». Pendant que la planète entière a les yeux rivés sur les ravages causés par la pandémie du Covid-19
10 Mai 2020
CTA announce 50 Lakh rupees Covid-19 emergency support fund
By Tenzin Dharpo
DHARAMSHALA, May 8: The exile Tibetan government known officially as the Central Tibetan Administration on Thursday announced ‘Covid-19 emergency support fund’ of 50 lakh rupees for Tibetans in distress across India and Nepal.
“The distress relief fund is to support those Tibetans who are stranded outside their settlements and those who have lost their jobs and cannot afford rents in cities and major towns in India and Nepal,” the CTA President Dr.Lobsang Sangay said yesterday during a live briefing online. 1000 Tibetans in distress will be provided 5000 rupees each through the COVID-19 emergency support fund.
The head of the Tibetan polity also said that persistent efforts are being made in coordination with relevant authorities to bring back some 83 students and 50 odd Tibetans that are stranded across cities, towns and educational institutions in India. The logistical efforts are made as New Delhi has permitted lax on the otherwise strict interstate travel ban within the country.
Last week Dr. Sangay said that his presidency has never neglected the poor and destitute whether it was in regards to livelihood, health or education, as he revealed that close to 10 crore rupees is spent annually for the old and destitute Tibetan refugees in India and Nepal, as well as nearly 5 crore rupees to students in the education sector in scholarships annually.
The announcement for financial assistance specific to the Covid-19 pandemic comes days after the administration hit back against criticism over the lack of support during the pandemic, to those from poorer economic background. Dr. Sangay said that since mid-April, 1000 Tibetans as well as those in the ‘below poverty line’ (BPL) list were distributed dry and packages of Rs 2000 to 297 students in BPL category and Rs 5000 relief for 200 college students were dispensed by the administration.
However, more concrete measures such as the Covid-19 emergency fund for stranded Tibetans are being implemented only in May as the Indian government extended the nation-wide lockdown, for the third time until May 17. The administration will provide assistance to Tibetan sweater sellers in the coming days, the President said.
The Covid-19 death toll in India rose to 1,886 and the number of confirmed cases climbed to 56,342 in the country as of Friday, registering an increase of 103 deaths and 3,390 cases in the last 24 hours, sources said. Fears over jump in community transmission loom as India is set to open the country later this month after close to two-month of nationwide lockdown.
