Tibet news

  • Karma Samdrup, Wrongfully Imprisoned Tibetan Environmentalist, Freed After 15 Years

    Karma Samdrup, Wrongfully Imprisoned Tibetan Environmentalist, Freed After 15 Years

    Prominent Tibetan environmentalist and philanthropist, Karma Samdrup, has been released after serving a 15-year prison sentence. Detained on January 7, 2010, Karma was sentenced on June 24, 2010, by the Yanqi Hui Autonomous County People’s Court in Xinjiang, a region that has long been a site of tension for Tibetans. His sentence, which was initially…

  • Tibetan Youth Whistleblower Sheds Light on Environmental Exploitation in Tibet

    Tibetan Youth Whistleblower Sheds Light on Environmental Exploitation in Tibet

    A brave 29-year-old Tibetan activist has exposed illegal sand and gravel mining in Tsaruma, Kakhog County, as part of a larger pattern of environmental exploitation in Tibet under Chinese rule. His reports highlight the ongoing destruction of the Tsaruma River, which is vital to the Yangtze and Yellow river systems. This incident underscores a broader…

  • China Detains Tibetan Teens Over Resistance to State-Run  Boarding Schools

    China Detains Tibetan Teens Over Resistance to State-Run Boarding Schools

    Chinese authorities have forcibly detained four Tibetan students, aged 15 to 18, for refusing to attend state-run boarding schools following the recent closure of the Buddhist primary school at Taktsang Lhamo Kirti Monastery in Dzoge County, according to a report by Radio Free Asia. The detentions come as part of the Chinese government’s broader campaign…

  • French Museum Reverts to “Tibet” After Protests Over “Xizang” Labeling Mandated by China

    French Museum Reverts to “Tibet” After Protests Over “Xizang” Labeling Mandated by China

    In a significant victory for Tibetan activists, the Musée du Quai Branly-Jacques Chirac in Paris has committed to reverting to the use of “Tibet” instead of “Xizang” in its exhibits. The term “Xizang,” aggressively promoted by the Chinese government as a tool to erase their cultural and linguistic heritage.

  • China Sentenced a Tibetan Monk to 18 Months for Sharing Dalai Lama Teachings Online

    China Sentenced a Tibetan Monk to 18 Months for Sharing Dalai Lama Teachings Online

    Last week, relatives of Tibetan monk Jampa Choephel from Rebkong received confirmation that he had been sentenced to 18 months in jail last August. The family had not been previously informed of the trial or the decision. Rebgong, part of historical Tibet, is now the capital of the Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai province.

  • Tibetan Live-Streamer Detained, Assaulted and Suspended for Promoting Language on Social Media

    Tibetan Live-Streamer Detained, Assaulted and Suspended for Promoting Language on Social Media

    Chinese authorities have escalated their suppression of Tibetan cultural expression by detaining and assaulting Gang Lhaja, a popular Tibetan live-streamer known for advocating the preservation of Tibetan language and culture. Lhaja, who frequently used his platform to teach and promote Tibetan language, was detained, beaten, and had his live-streaming account suspended. This incident is part…

  • Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile Session Emerges Through Setbacks to Push Forward: Key Takeaways

    Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile Session Emerges Through Setbacks to Push Forward: Key Takeaways

    The 8th session of the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile (TPiE), held from September 11 to 19, 2024, was marked by key legislative discussions, but also significant disruptions and disappointments. The session, which brought together Tibetan leaders, including Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel and Sikyong Penpa Tsering, dealt with challenges that highlighted the complex dynamics within the Tibetan…

  • Chinese-American Academic Convicted of Spying on Tibetan Activists for Beijing

    Chinese-American Academic Convicted of Spying on Tibetan Activists for Beijing

    A recent conviction in the United States has shed light on the continued threats faced by those who advocate for democratic reforms and human rights, including Tibetans, at the hands of Chinese intelligence operations. Wang Shujun, a Chinese-American academic, was found guilty on Tuesday for unlawfully acting as a foreign agent. He was convicted of…

  • China Shuts Prominent Tibetan School to Wipe Out Tibetan Cultural Identity

    China Shuts Prominent Tibetan School to Wipe Out Tibetan Cultural Identity

    Chinese government has forcibly closed Gangjong Sherig Norbu Lobling, also known as Jigme Gyaltsen Nationalities Vocational School. This highly respected Tibetan private institution, located in Golok Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, had been a beacon of Tibetan education and culture for nearly three decades. The closure, which took place just days after the school’s 27th graduation ceremony,…

  • Tibetan Women’s Football Team Unable to Obtain Visas Withdraws from CONIFA World Football Cup 2024

    Tibetan Women’s Football Team Unable to Obtain Visas Withdraws from CONIFA World Football Cup 2024

    The Tibetan Women’s Football Team has announced its withdrawal from the Confederation of Independent Football Association (CONIFA) Women’s World Football Cup 2024 due to complicated visa delays. Scheduled to compete in Norway from June 4th to 8th, the team faced bureaucratic hurdles that ultimately prevented their participation in the much-anticipated tournament.