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February 27

The State Department on February 26th released its annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2000, as mandated by US law. The report comments on human rights in countries throughout the world. At a special press briefing, Michael E. Parmly, Acting Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, noted that the US State Department believes that "serious and lamentable [human rights] abuses continue to occur" in Tibet.

Below we quote the pertinent section of the 2000 US State Department Human Rights Report commenting on the human rights environment in Tibet since His Holiness Karmapa's escape during New Year 2000.

In January the Karmapa, the highest ranking lama of Tibetan Buddhism's Karma Kargyu school, fled from Tibet to India after he reportedly had been denied access to Kargyu teachers or permission to study with them in India. Soon after officials closed Tsurphu monastery, the home of the Karmapa, to visitors. Many other persons, including lay persons, were questioned in connection with the Karmapa's flight. There were reports that several high ranking TAR officials were called to Beijing after the Karmapa left Tsurphu to account for their actions. According to TIN, authorities replaced monks on the monastic management committee at Tsurphu after the Karmapa's flight, while other monks were admonished to improve their "political attitudes" or face further "patriotic education" sessions. Other officials and monks at the monastery reportedly were under investigation by the authorities. On December 6, foreign officials were allowed to visit the Tsurphu monastery, where approximately 325 monks were said to be in residence. There were few other visitors at the time, even though December usually is a popular time for pilgrims to visit. According to reports, no new monks have been permitted to enter Tsurphu monastery since the Karmapa left; however, religious activity continued at the monastery. Officials reportedly are stationed at the monastery; according to some Western visitors, the atmosphere there is still tense, and monks are reluctant to talk to foreigners.

The dramatic departure of the Karmapa added to tensions and increased the authorities' efforts to control monastic activity in the TAR. TIN reported that the Reting Monastery near Lhasa was closed to visitors in May after the arrest of eight monks for protesting the authorities' selection of 2-year-old Sonam Phuntsog in January as the seventh reincarnation of the Reting Rinpoche. During the summer, another young lama, the 7-year-old Pawo Rinpoche, reportedly was moved to Lhasa from Nenang monastery and was kept under house arrest. He is said to have returned to Nenang Monastery during the fall, where he remains under house arrest, with heavy security. He reportedly has been denied access to his religious tutors. The Pawo Rinpoche was recognized by the Karmapa and is one of the senior Karma Kargyu lamas remaining in Tibet. In December foreign officials were denied permission to visit Nenang Monastery.

TIN reported that the Taglung Drag Monastery in Lhasa municipality was threatened with closure and its monks with expulsion if they refused to denounce the Dalai Lama after monks from the monastery shouted proindependence slogans in two separate incidents in March and August 1999. "Patriotic education" activities reportedly were increased, and 16 of 24 monks reportedly left the monastery in September 1999 rather than denounce the Dalai Lama.

The flight of the Karmapa also has made the authorities pay more attention to illegal border crossings and tighten security on the borders with India and Nepal. As a result, greater numbers of Tibetans have been arrested trying to leave the TAR. According to credible reports, in May as many as 50 Tibetan students returning to Tibet from India were arrested at the Nepal-China border.

The full text of the United States Department of State's Reports on Human Rights Practices in China is available online.

February 26

Times of India

AFP

The Hindu

The Newspaper Today (India) (newsbriefs)

Security was tightened around His Holiness Karmapa as an intruder was arrested on suspicion of intent to harm His Holiness. The man tried to enter the Vajra Vidhya Monastery complex  in Sarnath, India, where the Karmapa is staying. The suspect was reported to have been carrying a weapon in the form of a "sharp knife." AFP

The Times of India reported that the suspect was travelling on a German passport, was named "W O Lfeang Gerhard Frederichs," and attempted a forcible entry. The AFP was more tentative, saying the suspect "tried" to enter the compound, claimed he was carrying the knife for his own safety and that reports of his continuing interrogation were unconfirmed. 

There has been no indication that the Karmapa's security was breached in any way. His Holiness Karmapa remains under tight security in India, with an armed escort of some 8-15 members provided by the central government.

Tibetan New Year

Photos from the AP:

Karmapa Blessing Members of Assembly in Sarnath

Glimpse of Karmapa over the roof

Monk waiting for His Holiness

Monks at Losar festival (warning: photo hard to read on screen resolution too high)

The Times of India

AP- New York Times

AP-Washington Post

Fox News

AP-Yahoo

Boston Globe

Canada News

The Times of India

BBC on Losar

Nitartha international on the Tibetan calendar

Atlanta Journal-Constituti on

We are continuing to receive photos out of Bodh Gaya through the world press. The most recent is a striking photograph by Amit Bhargava of His Holiness Karmapa at the Vajra Vidya Institute in Sarnath blessing members of the assembly at Losar celebration. Other photos of His Holiness include a nice glimpse of the Karmapa over the roof. Pictures of monks waiting for His Holiness in Sarnath are also online, one at a clear resolution and another at too high a resolution for screen viewing. Monks at Losar festival.

In print, Rupan Bhattarcharya of the Associated Press reports that "hundreds of monks bowed deeply" as his Holiness Karmapa led prayers for world peace in Sarnath, India, one of the most revered locations for Buddhists, where the Buddha first turned the wheel of dharma. Saturday, February 24, 2001 is also the first day of the new year on the Tibetan calendar, the Year of the Metal Snake. Tibetan New Year is called Losar in Tibetan. A good explanation of Losar may be found in today's BBC article. An in-depth explanation of the Tibetan calendar is available at the website of Nitartha international.

His Holiness sat on a tall throne placed in front of a five-meter (15-foot) high gold and bronze statue of the seated Buddha."Wearing the traditional . . . headdress and yellow silk robes, the Karmapa ushered in the Tibetan year of the 'iron snake.' 'I rejoice in the faith and dedication shown by all of you,''' His Holiness Karmapa said to the assembly of monks. AP. The Karmapa described the new year as "very special, priceless and inspiring." The Times of India.

We note that the AP describes the Karmapa's headdress as "black" and "conical," which we believe is probably a mistake. Typically, a red headdress is worn, as in the illustration of the Karmapa from a picture taken a few years ago in Tibet. We understand that this is the color headdress worn by all the major orders other than the Gelug, and has led to the appellation of "red-hats" for the Kagyu, Nyingma and Sakya sects. The Gelugs are "yellow-hats," an example of which may be seen in the photograph from this article at the BBC's site . The Karmapa's "black hat," is a headdress that pertains specifically to the Karmapa, but is worn only on special occasions.)

The Times of India News Service reports notes that this was also a special "puja," or prayer ceremony, in which the monks sought the "gurudharshan and have blessings of Karmapa.

Security rules continued to be strictly enforced. The assembled monks had to pass through strict security checks, including metal detectors.

Bhattarcharya writes that the Vajra Vidhya Institute, where His Holiness is staying,  was brightly decorated  with flowers, flags and banners to welcome the New Year. The Institute was officially opened in 1999. Thrangu Rinpoche, who founded the Institute and monastery, led prayers, after which the celebrants ate traditional sweets for the auspiciousness of a sweet year, followed by the making of traditional offerings.

The Times of India News Service reports that "the new year celebrations will continue till February 26. Besides visiting Sarnath museum and offering prayers at Mulagandha Kutey Vihara temple and Bodhi tree, Karmapa will also visit the Sampurnanand Sanskrit University (SSU) and the Central Institute for Higher Tibetan Studies (CIHTS) before leaving for Bodh Gaya on March 5.

A happy Losar to all of you from Nalandabodhi.

The Hindu

AP-India Times Photo 1

AP-India Times photo 2

Photos of Vajra Vidhya Institute

"The Eight Places of Buddhist Pilgrimage"

Toronto Star

Seattle Post Intelligencer

China Times

VOA News

February 21-22

AP-San Francisco Chronicle

The Statesman

Indian Express front page

The Indian Express

AP-New Jersey Online

The Hindu

Zee News India

Independent (SA)

Los Angeles Times

Inside China

AP

The Tribune

Photos.
AP
AP-2
AFP
Indian Express
 

South Nexus

Continued coverage of Karmapa in New Delhi
Karmapa Prepares To Depart for Varanasi

Laurinda Keys continues her extensive coverage for the AP by describing the scene in front of Majnu Ka Tila, the refugee area in New Delhi which is home to some of the 120,000 Tibetans sheltered by India since their escape from Tibet. "Tibetans lined the streets of the Indian capital on Thursday for a glimpse of a teen-age lama who escaped Chinese-controlled Tibet last year and is beginning a pilgrimage to Buddhist holy sites in northern India. Ugyen Thinley Dorje, 15, was whisked in a silver Mercedes past throngs of Tibetan men, women and children. They stood in rows seven deep to see the monk who has spent the last 13 months restricted to monasteries near Dharmsala, the exile headquarters of the Dalai Lama, the senior Tibetan religious and political leader." AP-San Francisco Chronicle

The Statesman describes the scene upon  His Holiness's arrival at his hotel in New Delhi: "As soon as Dorjee stepped down from one of the swanky cars, the cameramen swooped in, crowding him from all corners. The 6-feet tall composed Dorjee was startled by the flashing cameras and sudden jostling around him.The 15-year-old, slightly tanned Dorjee had to be escorted to his room upstairs but not without hassles. The crowd did not let his escalator move until they had a full view of him and got his blessings.After almost half-an-hour, Dorjee in the simplest lama attire, a maroon toche and shanthap, came to the balcony along with Sikkim chief minister PK Chamling and his wife. Cameras went into action again, capturing his composure and powerful gaze."

His Holiness continues to travel under heavy security kindly provided by the government of India. One report indicates that security personnel wanted to prevent His Holiness from any public appearances, until one former official pointed out that the "world is watching," and that isolating the Karmapa would send the wrong signals. The Indian Express.

His Holiness received a ceremonial welcome at Majnu Ka Tila, as described by Keys' report, and though he was not allowed to leave his car or even to stop to talk, it did not seem to diminish the crowd's enthusiasm. Photo opportunities with the press were limited, but reporters were able to obtain information on a number of meetings between his Holiness and various Indian officials.

Choudhury of the Indian Express appears to have obtained the biggest scoop by describing the behind-closed-door meetings between the Karmapa and former government Law Minister Ram Jethmalani, in which the Karmapa is purportedly quoted as saying "I have come to see my devotees and followers all across India. We want to especially meet the devotees in Sikkim, which is a state of India." The Statesman news service reports on the the meeting between His Holiness and Chief Minister Chamling from the state of Sikkim. As noted below, the Sikkim Chief Minister has been reported to be pressing the federal government to bring His Holiness to Sikkim.

Photos. The scoop leads the Indian Express, which features a front page photograph of the Karmapa on its website. The AP has now released a photograph of the Karmapa in New Delhi, available at the India Times website. In this photograph, His Holiness is being welcomed by Buta Singh, a former Indian federal government official. Another photo from the AP is available here. Also see the photo in The Hindu and the previously noted photograph from AFP.

February 21

The Hindu

AFP photo

Rediff.com

The Times of India

Reuters-New York Times

Reuters-Yahoo

AFP

Express India

UPI

CNN

The Indian Express

February 21

NDTV

NDTV

Star News live telecast index page

First trip in India since arrival in Dharamsala
Karmapa On The  Road

NDTV reports that His Holiness Karmapa arrives in Delhi today. The Karmapa "began his first pilgrimage in India by road and made an unscheduled stop at Chandigarh on his way to Delhi. He is expected to go by air to Varanasi on Thursday." As of noon India Standard Time, NDTV was broadcasting the story on TV and online over the internet on StarNew's English language news broadcast. Footage of the Karmapa's security contingent, apparently in Chandigarh, an interview with a Tibet government-in-exile official and background footage of Gyuto Monastery comprise the newsfeed. The online streaming videofeed is available from StarNews India's website. The videofeed rotates between English and Hindi; the English language broadcast begins on the hour, the Hindi broadcast on the half-hour. The segment on the Karmapa is one of the three lead stories.

Initial print media coverage on the Karmapa's trip to Sarnath, Varanasi and Bodhgaya is summarized below.

February 19-20

Times of India

USA Today

Kyodo News

AP-Washington Post

The Statesman

Gangtok Times

AP-New York Times

PTI-Rediff.com

AP-San Francisco Chronicle

The Hindu

South Nexus

Fox News

The Week

Karma Triyana Dharmachakar

Karmapa On Pilgrimage to Varanasi and Bodhgaya

International media outlets are widely reporting  that the Karmapa is beginning a pilgrimage to two of the holiest sites in India. This trip out of the Dharamsala area will be the Karmapa's first since he arrived unexpectedly in Dharamsala in January 2000. Since that time, the government of India has required His Holiness to remain at Gyuto monastery and its environs, in nearby Sidbhari. These travel restrictions were partially lifted in early February, when the Karmapa was granted official refugee status by the government of India.

Although the travel and security restrictions still remain unclear in certain respects, His Holiness has according to widespread press reports been granted permission to travel to Varanasi and Bodhgaya. These are two of the holiest pilgrimage spots in Buddhism. Four locations are traditionally commemorated as the holiest places in Buddhism. The place of the Buddha's first teachings is Sarnath, near Varanasi, the first stop for His Holiness. Buddha's teachings are called "turning the wheel of dharma," and Sarnath is where Buddha first turned the wheel of dharma. Prior to his teaching, the Buddha attained enlightenment. This event took place in Bodhgaya, the second stop for His Holiness. (The other two most holy Buddhist pilgrimage sites Lumbini, where the Buddha was born, Kushinagar, where the Buddha entered parinirvana.)

Karma Triyana Dharmachakra, the seat of His Holiness in Northa America, has announced that His Holiness "will perform a Mahakala puja and participate in other religious activities and celebrations during Losar in Sarnath (at Varanasi)." Losar, Tibetan new year, is February 24th.

Other reports indicate that His Holiness also may visit Rajgir. Rajgir is the location of the teachings known as the second turning of the wheel of dharma, focusing on the Prajnaparamita teachings. In addition, the Karmapa Ugyen Trinley Dorje may visit the Indian archeological excavation site of Nalanda University, the renowned Buddhist university where many famous Buddhist masters, such as Nagarjuna and Naropa, were said to have studied and taught.

The Karmapa's specific itinerary is officially being withheld. Nalandabodhi has not independently confirmed the Karmapa's itinerary and it is said to be subject to change for security reasons. Initially, the Times of India and PTI, reported the an itinerary as follows: February 21, New Delhi; February 22 -March 5. Sarnath and Varanasi; March 6-13, Bodhgaya; March 14-17, New Delhi, March 18, Dharamsala.

However, PTI subsequently reported on February 19th that "According to sources, the 17th Karmapa would leave Gyuto University premises at Sidhbari tomorrow for a 27-day tour during which he would visit Chandigarh, Delhi, Varanasi and Bodh Gaya where he would participate in 'Losar' (the Tibetan New Year) celebrations. The details of his visits to various places is being kept a closely-guarded secret due to security reasons. The Karmapa, being provided a thick security cover, is expected back on 18 March."

Moreover, the The Statesman on the 20th reports that "The 17th Karmapa, Urgyen Thinley Dorjee, is arriving here tomorrow from Dharamshala, en route his pilgrimage to the Buddhist circuit."

The Statesman News Service continues: "Meanwhile, preparations are on to give a warm welcome to the Karmapa here. He will be received at the Delhi-Haryana border by members of the National Commission of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and various other organisations. Besides, the Sikkim chief minister, Mr PK Chamling, several dignitaries are expected to present at the reception ceremony. After spending the night here, he will leave for Varanasi, where he is likely to spend five days and then leave for Bodh Gaya, Nalanda and Rajgir, according to Mr T Topgay, representative of the Joint Action Committee of Sikkim."

The Karmapa is reported to have undergone a recent medical check in Chandigarh in preparation for his trip. Kyodo News is reporting that the Karmapa returned from Chandigarh to Dharamsala, before his planned departure for New Delhi.

The AP reports that a spokesman for the government of Tibet in exile in Dharamsala has stated that thus far the government has granted permission to the Karmapa only to travel to these Buddhist holy places. A number of sources report consternation among the Buddhist community as to the government's refusal to permit His Holiness the Seventeenth Karmapa to go to his traditional seat in Rumtek, or visit the seat of his main teacher in India at Sherab Ling. Nevertheless, the pilgrimage to Bodhgaya and Varanasi is a cause for celebrations by Buddhists worldwide.

Nalandabodhi will provide additional details on the Karmapa's schedule and actual travels as they become available. The story is carried widely in a variety of online outlets indicating the continuing widespread interest in the activities of His Holiness. Numerous other sites reporting these stories are omitted, but we have provided a sampling. The reports are available at the respective websites of the Times of India, USA Today, Kyodo News , Washington Post, Gangtok Times, New York Times, PTI-Rediff.com, AP-San Francisco Chronicle, The Hindu, South Nexus, Fox News.

February 14

Dawn

Xinhua

South Nexus

Economist

SCMP (paid archive)

SCMP/Economist analysis
The View from Beijing on Karmapa's new status

As noted previously, the Indian media reported that Indian officials had informed Chinese officials of India's decision to confer refugee status on the Karmapa. The communications took place at a recent Sino-Indian security conference in Delhi, which involved ministry officials from both countries. The reports of the communication were given by Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman R.S. Jassal. India took the position that the "treatment meted out to Karmapa had been in keeping with India's policy in respect of refugees, and was not motivated by any anti-Chinese agenda." Dawn.

Xinhua and South Nexus report, however, that Chinese Foreign Ministry officials are still claiming to be uninformed about India's decision. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Zhu Bangzao is quoted as saying that "China urged India to honor its commitment in this regard. Meanwhile, China expressed concerns about rumors that the Indian government has granted Karmapa the status of refugee, and demanded India to clarify the issue." It is unclear whether Zhu is seeking some technical clarification from India, or is otherwise motivated in making this request.

The South China Morning Post and the Economist recently reviewed the Chinese position on the Karmapa. The article in the SCMP is entitled "Beijing keeps door open for boy lama." In the Economist, it is entitled, "About a boy." The SCMP/Economist notes that for the thirteen months since the Karmapa fled Tsurphu, Beijing has claimed that the Karmapa intended to return to China. Although Beijing's position "stretches credulity," and is seemingly "pure self delusion," these media analysts conclude that Beijing is pragmatically motivated in so reacting to the Karmapa's flight.

The pragmatism stems from China's interests in Tibet and its  relations with India. The SCMP/Economist argues that Beijing is carefully balancing its own self-interest in expanding relations with India in face of renewed American influence in Asia, with a realistic attitude about India's inevitable decision to permit to grant the Karmapa refugee status. "China has urged India to handle the Karmapa's case 'prudently' and has demanded that he be kept from engaging in any 'anti-China activities'. At the same time, though, it has carefully refrained from protesting at the decision to grant the boy asylum. That is just as well. India had quietly made clear that it would never consider sending the Karmapa back to China, so a ruckus would only interfere with China's efforts to improve relations with its neighbour."

The SCMP/Economist further concludes that the Chinese leadership is leaving open the possibility of future communications with the Karmapa . Hence, Beijing authorities have never "directly criticised him, and never has China shut the door to his possible return. The Karmapa, the Foreign Ministry's spokesman, Sun Yuxi, stresses, 'is just a boy' and Beijing publicly claims to worry that he might be maliciously used by others with an anti-China agenda. The clear message is that the boy himself is not to blame."

Whatever the motivations inclining Bejing to pragmatism regarding the Karmapa, it remains remarkable that this 15 year old continues to be seen as central to the entire policy making apparatus of India and China, two nations with a combined population of some two billion persons. The Dawn , Xinhua, South Nexus and Economist articles are available without charge at the respective websites for those organizations. The SCMP version of the Economist article is apparently available only from the paid archive of the SCMP website.

February 8

Reuters India

AFP/Yahoo

The Hindu

Times India

SCMP

Hindustan Times

The Tribune

Dawn (Pakistan)

United Press International

India on Thursday officially confirmed to Chinese officials that it has given refugee status to the Karmapa. Reuters India  reports that  Indian Foreign Ministry R.S. Jassal told a news conference that Chinese officials were in New Delhi for talks with India about security issues. They officials "asked us whether reports about the Karmapa Lama being given refugee status were true, and it was confirmed yes." The report was independently confirmed by The Hindu and The Times of India.

The AFP added that "China also warned India not to allow a Tibetan boy lama to engage in anti-Chinese activities . . . . 'The issue was briefly touched upon,' Jassal said, adding that India had allayed Chinese fears regarding the Karmapa's stay.

The reports are at the respective websites of Reuters India, Yahoo and The Hindu, Times India, South China Morning Post, The Tribune, Dawn (Pakistan).  United Press International is at Virtual New York's website.

February 6-7 Breaking News

Looking At India Policy
Indo-Sino Relations And The Karmapa

Indrani Bagchi for The Economic Times  writes about an upcoming Sino-Indian summit, and implies that India's restrictions on the Karmapa's travels in India have been taken with China's interests in mind. Bagchi's article exposes a gap in press reporting on restrictions on the Karmapa's ability to travel in India, since the reported restrictions on the Karmapa seem contrary to China's interests.

Bagchi begins by noting that India this week hosts an important security summit between China and India. He goes on to say that (as discussed by Nalandabodhi below), that "China is not overly concerned" about India's decision to grant refugee status to His Holiness Karmapa, since India has committed to precluding His Holiness from engaging in "anti-China activities." 

Then Bagchi states that "But it is highly unlikely that India would allow the 15-year-old head of the Black Hat sect to travel to the Rumtek monastery in Sikkim. [Ministry of External Affairs] MEA officials made it clear that travel restrictions of the kind imposed on foreign nationals would apply to him."

Although Bagchi's report implies that India is respecting China's interest in barring the Karmapa from travelling to Rumtek, we do not understand why this is so. China considers the hub of Tibetan "anti-China" activity to be in Dharamsala, where the Dalai Lama and Tibetan Government in Exile are headquartered. Dharamsala is, after, the center of what Beijing calls the "Dalai clique." TIN.

There are no monasteries affiliated with the Kagyu, the Karmapa's order, in Dharamsala. Thus, the religious impact of the Karmapa's presence is minimized. On the other hand, from the Beijing point of view, it is natural that the Karmapa's presence in Dharamsala will be interpreted in a political light, in relation to the activities of the Tibetan government offices, as well as His Holiness Dalai Lama's duties in leading the Tibetan state.

On the other hand, the traditional monastic seat of the Karmapa is located in Rumtek, Sikkim, India. At his monastic seat, the Karmapa activities will be more likely to be interpreted in the context of the religious affairs of the Kagyu order. Accordingly, as we have remarked before, it would seem China has little interest in requiring the Karmapa to remain in Dharamsala. Thus we encourage the Indian press to clarify the Centre's reasoning for continuing travel restrictions on His Holiness.

Next, a nomenclature point. Bagchi refers to the Karmapa as head of the "Black Hat" order. His Holiness is head of the Karma Kagyu order, not the "black hat" order, which is not a proper characterization of Karma Kagyu. The reference to the Kagyu as the "Black Hat" sect mixes metaphors. The ceremonial hat worn by the Karmapa is black, but Kagyu monks wear red hats during prayer ceremonies.  The "x color hat" appellation was originally given to Tibetan orders based on the color of certain hats worn in liturgical ceremonies by all the monks of the order. The standard use seems originally to have referred to monks of the Gelug order as the "Yellow Hats." Monks of the other main orders, Kagyu, Sakya and Nyingma, wore red hats at ceremonies and were generically referred to as "Red Hats."  Melvyn Goldstein's A History Of Modern Tibet, 1913-1951, p. 1 n.1 (Univ. Berkeley Press 1987). Such headdress may still be observed in the present-day monastic orders.

Finally, Bagchi also notes that New Delhi's decision comes amidst signs that that China has relaxed its repressive Tibet policy: "China has recently been seen to have nuanced its Tibetan policy by transferring the chief party official in charge of Tibet, widely regarded as repressive towards Tibetan Buddhism." In December, the Tibet Information Network reported that there had been a reported easing of the recent crackdown on religious expression that had been reported earlier in the year. Beijing replaced Chen Kuiyuan, the outgoing Party Secretary in the "Tibet Autonomous Region," who had been "responsible within the TAR for the implementation of the recent crackdown against Tibetan religion and culture that some Tibetans have described as "a second Cultural Revolution."

"The pressure on Chen Kuiyuan from the central authorities is said to have increased in recent months following the escape into exile earlier this year of the 15-year old boy Ugyen Trinley Dorje, recognised by the Dalai Lama and accepted by Beijing as the 17th Karmapa. According to reports from Tibet, there is a joke in Lhasa that "the Karmapa killed Chen Kuiyuan", meaning that the escape of the teenage spiritual leader contributed to Chen's downfall as Party Secretary. A further joke told in Lhasa this year is that Chinese President Jiang Zemin asked Chen Kuiyuan whether he was expecting the Panchen Lama to escape next. The jokes refer to contributory factors in Chen Kuiyuan's departure as Party Secretary rather than the reasons for his replacement as Tibet's most senior Party official. His removal is likely to be a combination of normal rotation or the fact that his policies and the implementation of them have created difficulties for Beijing. It may also signify that his implementation of the ideological line is out of step with current Party thinking

As the Dalai Lama put it in September of last year, in general, Tibet is undergoing a "cultural genocide", China had stepped up religious repression and Tibet's ancient cities were being destroyed. Associated Press. Thus, TIN concludes that "It is too early to tell whether the current easing of repressive measures against religious practices is the beginning of a trend, or a lull before the new TAR Party Secretary Guo Jinlong, who is said to have taken over as Party Secretary several weeks before his appointment was announced on 16 October, makes his mark on the region."  TIN.

Perhaps the greatest protector of the Tibetan culture and Tibetan people over the past decades has been India, whose own culture has protected religious cultures for many millenia. We trust that New Delhi will find a way to continue this tradition despite the competing agendas of modern-day realpolitik. 

The comment is made in the context of a discussion of India's continuing diplomatic overtures to China. This week, China's deputy minister is arriving in New Delhi to meet with their Indian counteparts over security issues. The Indian delegation is to be led by the joint secretary in charge of disarmament. The The Economic Times and TIN reports are at their respective websites. The AP report may be found at the News24 website.

The Hindustan Times

The Hindu

AP/Yahoo

Rediff

SCMP

More Reaction To India's Decision
China Perceived As "Turning Up Heat" Over Karmapa

The day after a statement about India's decision on the Karmapa was released by the Foreign Ministry in Beijing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi met with reporters and answered questions about China's position on the Indian grant of refugee status to His Holiness the Seventeenth Karmapa. The spokesman's remarks appeared to escalate the tone of the Chinese diplomatic expectations by a few notches, resulting in the more strident headlines in the India press.

The Hindustan Times carries a PTI report indicating that ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi told reporters that China was not overly concerned about the grant of status because India had made "explicit commitments" to China regarding limitations on His Holiness Karmapa's activity in India. He continued that "It is our hope that the Indian side will honour its commitment."

The nature of the commitment? Sun Yuxi is quoted as saying that "The Indian Government has explicitly stated that it will not allow the karmapa to engage in any anti-China activities, nor will it allow any foreign force to use him to engage in such activities." The unsurprising interpretation put on these remarks by the AP is that "The assurances [from India] referred to by [foreign ministry spokesman] Sun appear to target the struggle for Tibetan self-determination led by the Dalai Lama, who accuses China of trying to eradicate Tibetan culture, language and religion through restrictions and mass migrations of Chinese from other parts of the country. China accuses the Dalai Lama of trying to split China and has rejected his calls for dialogue." 

The Hindu carries the same PTI story, under the title: "India must not interfere in Tibetan affairs: China."

What this means for the Karmapa is unclear, since we understand that India has made similar representations to China about the activities of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

The relationship between China and India over Tibet is a long an