Tsewang Norbu, a popular 25-year-old contemporary Tibetan singer self-immolated on 25th February 2022 in front of the Potala Palace in Tibet’s Capital Lhasa. Chinese Police immediately came to the spot and took him away but succumbed to his injury and passed away after a few days. Tsewang Norbu’s family was informed of his passing by the Chinese Police on 2nd March 2022. However, his body was not handed over to his family.
Tibetans in exile showing respect and solidarity with Pawo Tsewang Norbu.
As a mark of solidarity, TYC along with four major Tibetan NGOs based in Dharamshala organized solidarity Candlelight Vigil in McLeod Ganj. Tsewang Norbu marked the 158th self-immolator inside Tibet.
Self-Immolation as a form of protest is a dramatic and powerful statement. Despite facing oppression, dispossession, and policies that undermine Tibetan religion, culture, and livelihoods over the past half-century, Tibetans have not resorted to any violent means. Most of the self-immolators share a common goal of bringing His Holiness back to Tibet and calling for freedom and independence in Tibet. The crisis grows out of China’s political repression, cultural assimilation, economic marginalization, social discrimination, and environmental destruction in Tibet. The major location of self-immolation happened near government buildings and headquarters to symbolize the continuing occupation in Tibet and to challenge the Chinese government’s legitimacy in Tibet. The people self-immolate to show solidarity with Tibet and to protest against the on-going occupation by the Chinese Government.
TYC President Mr. Gonpo Dhundup was invited as the Chief Guest of RTYC Mundgod Golden Jubilee celebration on 24th February 2022. The program was also attended by Member of Tibetan Parliament in Exile Ven. Atruk Tsetan as Special Guest, Tibetan Settlement Officer, Mundgod Mr. Lhakpa Tsering, and Indo-Tibet Friendship Association President Shri. Amrut Joshi, Community Leaders, former and current members of RTYC Mundgod.
Special Guest MP Atruk Tsetan delicering a speech to the Tibetan General public of Mundgod.
In the address note by the President, Mr. Gonpo Dhundup urged the RTYC members and Tibetan masses to be united and actively involved in Tibetan Freedom Struggle. On the occasion of 50th founding anniversary of RTYC Mundgod, TYC Central Executive Committee thanked the Government of India and particularly, the State of Karnataka for their unwavering support and solidarity with the Tibetans.
On 4th February 2022, the day of the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics, cities across the world held a Global day of action protests to boycott the Games.
Protestors marching towards the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi as Beijing kicks off Winter Olympics.Protestors being taken by the Delhi Police and were detained at the Mandir Marg Police Station.
In New Delhi, Tibetan Youth Congress along with Regional Tibetan Youth Congress Delhi, Samyeling and Rohini organized a protest Rally at Teen Murti Chowk, denouncing the Beijing Winter Olympics and demanding a Free Tibet. More than 70 protestors joined the peaceful protest and 6 got detained at the Mandir Marg Police Station. The venue is just a few meters away from the Chinese Embassy, in New Delhi.
Below is the press statement handed over to the media by the office of the Central Executive Committee, Tibetan Youth Congress:
The Olympic game is a game of glory and an opportunity for sportsmen and women to share the spirit of love and friendship and promote peaceful solutions to the conflicting issues around the world in a fair and friendly manner. But this time it is hosted in Beijing, China – a country that has a record for its Human Rights Violations and for committing genocide of Tibetans, Uyghurs, and others who are colonized and controlled under an oppressive and repressive system. It is hosted by a regime that continues to commit gross Human Rights violations in Tibet and continues to demolish and destroy the monastic institutions down to ashes.
Recently, before a month countdown to the Beijing Winter Olympics, the Chinese government forcefully demolished a 99-foot Buddha statue and burned down 45 prayer wheels amid a wave of ongoing demolitions in Drago and other parts of Tibet. And the CCP continues to detain and imprison Tibetans for expressing their disapproval of the hard-line policies and inhuman treatment.
The situation in Tibet has sharply deteriorated since the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and an alarming number of Tibetans continue to die in custody under Chinese authorities and many have burned themselves in protest against China.
The brutal policies of the Chinese government are increasingly being recognized by the diplomatic boycotts from countries including the US, Lithuania, New Zealand, Scotland, Belgium, Taiwan, Australia, UK, Canada, Kosovo, Denmark, The Netherlands, and Portugal.
The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics run a serious risk of legitimizing these abuses. Despite the increasing abuses against Tibetans, Uyghurs, Hongkongers, Taiwanese, and Inner Mongolians, China has faced no challenge from the IOC.
Therefore, we urge the international community and world leaders to condemn the IOC’s complicity in sports washing crime against humanity and to make China accountable for not only posing a threat to the survival of Tibetan culture and identity but also for posing a strategic and security threat to the free nations of the world.
We believe Olympians are people of conscience who are committed to the Olympic Charter and its Fundamental Principles of Olympism that include a focus on “the harmonious development of humankind, “promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity”, and rights and freedoms for all “secured without discrimination of any kind.”
Therefore, we urge and appeal to the participating athletes to show their support and solidarity to our fight for the just cause by returning the blood-stained Medal that has cost countless lives, a medal made up of the minerals extracted by exploiting the rich natural resources of the Tibetan plateau and a medal known for the history of oppressions.
We, therefore call to commit the boycott of the winter 2022 Beijing Olympics and to make China Accountable for the appalling rights abuses and crackdowns on dissent.
TYC Cultural Secretary Mr. Yeshi Chomphel addressing the media about the hunger strike event.
In McLeod Ganj, TYC along with four major NGOs organized a press conference and a day-long hunger strike at McLeod Ganj Square, Dharamshala to condemn the Winter Olympics in Beijing. The five Tibetan NGOs have joined international rights groups representing Tibet, East Turkestan, Hong Kong, Southern Mongolia, and Taiwan as a part of Global Day of Action, 4th January 2022, marking a one-month countdown to the genocide Beijing Olympics 2022 in McLeod Ganj.
On 22nd January 2022, as a part of the Social Service Program, Tibetan Youth Congress along with the Regional Chapters managed to raise an amount of Rs. 5,09,945/- as a gesture of support and solidarity to the Tibetan families in Ambala, whose winter sweater-selling business was completely burned down to ashes by an unfortunate fire incident.
TYC visit to Ambala and extended support to the victims of the fire incident.
TYC General Secretary Mr. Sonam Tsering and TYC Tibetan Researcher Mr. Ngawang Yamphel went to Ambala on the next day after the fire incident and met with the families there. They expressed their concerns and handed over the donation amount to the leaders of the Sweater Seller of Ambala.
On 9th January 2022, RTYC Delhi who organized a bike rally to boycott Winter Olympics in Beijing, China reached Dharamshala amid heavy rains and severe colds.
TYC General Secretary welcomed the bikers and thanked for their efforts to create awareness on the upcoming Genocide Games in Beijing.
TYC Centrex along with RTYC Dharamshala received the organizers and the bikers with Khatak at McLoed Ganj Main Square. They were later called in TYC Office for tea and snacks and held a Press Conference with the bikers.
15 Tibetan youth activists with seven bikes are taking part in this rally which was started from Bangalore. RTYC Delhi Samyeling kicked off its cross-country bike rally from Bangalore to Delhi to boycott 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
On 4th January 2022, under the leadership of RTYC NYNJ a protest rally was organized in front of the Chinese Consulate Office in New York. TYC President Mr. Gonpo Dhundup, TYC Joint Secretary Mr. Tsewang Rabgyal and TYC Cultural Secretary Mr. Yeshi Chomphel joined the protest rally.
TYC Centrex takes part in Boycott Winter Olympics Rally in New York.Protestors in front of the Chinese Consulate Office, New York demanding the boycott of Winter Olympics.
Mr. Gonpo Dhundup delivered a speech in front of the Chinese Consulate Office, objecting IOC’s decision to host Winter Olympics in Beijing, China and turning a blind eye to all the atrocities committed by the CCP. He also condemned CCP for their repressive policies in Tibet and other occupied nations.
After the speech, the protestors marched towards NBC headquarters to object their decision to live telecast the Winter Olympics in Beijing.
On 2nd January 2022, TYC President Mr. Gonpo Dhundup along with the Organizational Secretary Mr. Penpa Tsering represented Tibetan Youth Congress at the first Asian American Alliance Conference on preserving peace, freedom and democracy in Asia held at Phuntsok Deshi Community Hall, New York organized by Regional Tibetan Youth Congress, New York and New Jersey.
Participants of the first Asian American Alliance Conference organized by RTYC NYNJ.
The conference was attended by more than 20 delegates from 7 different organization representing their own country namely Tibet, Uyghur, Taiwan, Southern Mongolia, Hong Kong, Burma and Vietnam.
Mr. Gonpo Dhundup gave the keynote address during the conference and in his speech, he highlighted the importance of forming common alliance to combat against the Chinese Communist aggression. Moreover, he focused the significance of this kind of conference to strengthen our collective campaign and amplify our voice against the Chinese atrocities.
TYC President Gonpo Dhundup delivering his keynote address at the conference.
The program was concluded with a closed door meeting and discussion on the future action plans of respective organizations. TYC Organizational Secretary Mr. Penpa Tsering thanked all the delegations for their participation and requested for further collaboration in the near future.
Tibetans and Tibet supporters held a candlelight vigil in Dharamsala to express solidarity with the critical situation in Kham Drago after the Chinese authorities destroyed a 99 feet high Buddha statue.
A 99-foot statue of Buddha, built with a financial contribution of 4,000,000 Yuan from local Tibetans in Drago, in the Kardze region in the traditional Tibetan province of Kham along with 45 huge prayer wheels erected near Drago Monastery were also destroyed by the Chinese authorities on 12th December 2021.
Regional Tibetan Youth Congress (RTYC), Dharamsala, and Student for a Free Tibet (SFT)-India has jointly organized the candlelight vigil to make a strong case of China’s “continued disregard and desecration of the religion of the Tibetan people, their culture and their custom.”
Many local Tibetans joined the vigil to express their solidarity with the people of Drago. After the vigil, Mr. Sonam Tsering, General Secretary of TYC gave a talk highlighting the severe restrictions on basic human freedoms, arbitrary arrests, incommunicado detentions, torture, and unnatural deaths that have all become the traits of Chinese rule in Tibet. He also mentioned how China’s policy of Sinicization has caused an assault on all the Tibetan national identities, most notably their language, religion, and culture, and that the Chinese government accelerated policies that reduce Tibetans as a proportion of the population and undermine their cultural and religious identity by 2020.
Kham Drago Candlelight vigil at McLeod Main Square.
He concluded by calling on the governments around the world for strong, collective, and immediate action to send a clear message to China and boycott the Beijing winter Olympic 2022 games.
On 10th December 2022, to commemorate the conferment of the Noble Peace Prize to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and to mark the International Day of Human Rights, RTYC Samyeling, Delhi has started an all-India Bike Rally from Bangalore. This was organized to protest against the Winter Olympics in China and to condemn all the atrocities caused by the Communist Party of China.
Mr. Sonam Tsering TYC General Secretary with other guests flagged off the All- India Bike Rally from Bangalore to Delhi.
Mr. Sonam Tsering, TYC General Secretary attended the opening event in Bangalore and delivered a speech emphasizing how the Tibetan Youth Congress has been at the forefront of organization in the Tibetan community in organizing protests marches, and peaceful demonstrations against China and how these events have impacted the Tibetan Freedom Movement at large.
As a gesture of support, Mr. Sonam Tsering went from Bangalore to the Dalai Lama Institution for Higher Education with the bikers as they move forward to their next destination.
TYC Centrex Organizing Committee with the guests and dignitaries of the North America Golden Jubilee ceremony in Washington DC.
On 25th December 2022, as a part of the Golden Jubilee Celebration, Mr. Gonpo Dhundup, President of TYC, Mr. Tsewang Rabgyal, Joint Secretary, Mr. Penpa Tsering, Organizational Secretary, and Mr. Yeshi Chomphel, Cultural Secretary organized the 50th Year founding anniversary at Takna Jigme Sangpo Memorial Hall at Washington DC, USA.
The Chief Guest for the Opening Ceremony was the Co-founder of TYC and former Kalon Trisur, Mr. Tethong Tenzin Namgyal with Special Guest Dr. Lobsang Sangay, former TYC Centrex and former President of the Central Tibetan Administration. The event was also attended by Dr. Namgyal Choedup, Representative of the Office of Tibet, Washington DC, Mr. Ngodup Tsering, former Representative of the Office of Tibet, Washington DC, and Mr. Tenzing Jigme, Former TYC President and the 17th Member of Tibetan Parliament in Exile from North America. Along with them, former TYC Central Executive Members residing in the North American region also attended the ceremony.
Founding Member of TYC, Trisur Tenzin Namgyal Tethong addressed the gathering.
Mr. Penpa Tsering led the opening event with an opening address by Mr. Gonpo Dhundup, President of TYC. In his address note, he talked about the significance of celebrating the 50th founding anniversary of TYC and briefed on the major timelines of TYC as an organization striving for independent Tibet.
TYC Centrex members presented a Gold medal with 50 years TYC logo with all the new books published by TYC to the guests and all the former TYC Centrex members across North America. After which, the guests delivered their speeches.
After the opening program, a two day long indoor meeting was held. This meeting was chaired by TYC Centrex and was attended by former Centrex members and representatives of 5 Regional Chapters. In the meeting, the delegates discussed on the future of TYC and how to mobilise youths in TYC’s campaign activities.
Sisur Dr. Lobsang Sangay speaking during the indoor meeting with the current Centrex members and former TYC executives.
The ceremony concluded with a word of thanks by TYC President for the members of RTYC Washington DC and all the other Tibetan supporters in DC.
