Tashi Delek (Hello)
Upon arrival in Dharamsala I have learned more about the political movement to assist the Tibetans in obtaining autonomy with the Chinese government. McLeod Ganj in Dharamsala is the seat of the Tibetan Exiled Government and there are many political activists groups located here. It is also home to the Dalai Lama so you can imagine the movement surrounding the area. The group of students from the U of A met with The Tibetan Women’s Association, The Tibetan Youth Congress, The Tibetan Children’s Village and The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy. All were very informative of the ways in which they work towards a free Tibet and how they assist Tibetan refugees. Most nerving and moving was the meeting with an ex-political prisoner. To protect the victim and family members I am unable to identify him but I will tell part of his story until I know for certain I can release his identity. He spoke of the scares on his back from carrying huge slabs of rocks from morning to evening some days without food while some guards would kick and slap them. He spoke of being put in a dark room in the bitter cold with no blanket or food for days. They used an electric rod on him and he said he could feel the pain in his heart. He under went horrible torture as the story got even worse with brutal details of having a rope tightened around his neck. He worried they were going to kill him and more than once he lost consciousness while under going abuse. He spoke of an electric rod inserted in his mouth and the rest of the details are so horrendous I am going to ask that you wait to access the online archives of the actual interview. It got so bad he said he wanted to die. He has written a book telling his story along with poetry but these writings are only in Tibetan. I hope to meet with him again and he mentioned he would transcribe some poetry for me at which time I will ask for permission of the release of more details.
I cannot begin to tell you the need for global awareness and support of the concerns of Tibetans. They have the right as all humans to free speech and freedom of religion. Since the uprising on March 10, 2008 hundreds of Tibetans have been arrested for protesting human rights violations and support for dialog between the Dalai Lama and Chinese officials. I look forward to writing more to you about the information I learn while working at The Tibetan Women’s Association.
Yesterday June 24th I started my internship. The first project I have been given is to obtain additional research about the “Drapchi 14” Tibet’s Singing Nuns in Exile who are also ex-political prisoners. I have been asked to research the efforts of these courageous women after their release from prison. More details to follow with regards to this project that is to keep me busy for a few days while my internship supervisor is involved in a women’s leadership workshop of which I will be attending on Saturday June 28th.
The Tibetan Women’s Association is the second largest Tibetan NGO and they focus on the empowerment of women as well as support for a Free Tibet. Their efforts focus on creating awareness of abuses to women such as forced abortions and forced sterilization. They also focus on empowerment of women in the culture and encourage women to take leadership positions in the community. The donation of $851.88 was made yesterday and received with gratitude. As well it was acknowledged as a very generous gift thanks to the contributors of Pennies for Partnership. The contributions will go to support efforts of the Stitches of Tibet economic development program for women and also a publication to be released next year on the 50th anniversary of the original uprising of March 10, 1959. The publication is called “Tears of Silence” and reports of the status of Tibetan women. As I learn more I will inform you.
Our group met with the president of Tibetan Youth Congress which is a political activists group that supports Independence for Tibet. The president lived in the US for 15 years and is highly educated. The perspective of TYC differs from that of the Dalai Lama who requests the Middle Way approach and asks that China allow autonomy for Tibet while remaining a part of China. The Dalai Lama feels this is a reasonable request which will provide the Tibetan culture an opportunity to preserver and Tibetans will have their freedoms. TYC supports Independence and claims that Tibet must be free from Chinese occupation.
We also met with the executive director of the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy Mr. Urgen Tenzin. This organization provides very up to date information of the situations in Tibet today. Please visit their website at www.tchrd.org to learn more of their efforts to create awareness of the human rights concerns. It is important to know that the Tibetan Government in Exile if a democracy and supports and respects democracy.
We then visited the Tibetan Children’s Village which is an organization responsible for the care and education of Tibetan Children living in exile. We met with the Mr. Phuntsok Namgyal director of the school. Many parents in Tibet send their children into exile so they can be educated and taught the Tibetan cultural values which is forbidden in Tibet under the Chinese rule. The school we visited has an enrollment of 2000 children from infants to high school. There are TCV schools throughout the exiled communities and was originally started at the request of the Dalai Lama due to the care and concern of Tibetan children sent into exile by their parents. It is run much like a boarding school where the children live in a home with a house mom but most of their parents are still in Tibet and the children do not get to see their parents as they grow up due to refugee status. The Tibetan Children’s Village operates on contributions which are mostly supported from the Western communities.
I would just like to note the difference between The Tibetan Children’s Village and the new project of The Tibetan Children’s Heritage. The Tibetan Children’s Heritage addresses the needs of children living in camps with their parents and who are very poor. It differs in that the TCV addresses the needs of the children who have been sent over by their parents so the children live at the school. The TCV has a great deal more support than the camps so this is why there has been the development of the new project to support the schools in the camps. Thank you to your support for these children.
Thank you for reading and looking at my pictures. I appreciate you all and your continued support and understanding of the need to support the Tibetan people. This trip is absolutely amazing. The newest photos have been uploaded and they are of the Dalai Lama’s arrival, the rituals of Tibetan Buddhists, and photos from the interviews for TEXT. Hope you enjoy them and please comment if you have questions or anything to add.
http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk100/lhdawg/?start=all
Slideshow view:
http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk100/lhdawg/?albumview=slideshow
Thug jeche (Thank you)
Leann
Once again continued thanks to Daniel for helping post pictures on the site.
Hi Dad…All is well. I will call on Sunday. Love you all.
Thank you for overlooking any typos.
