Kungo Sikyong Penpa Tsering, the President, and Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile visited the volunteer desk

On January 2, 2023, Kungo Sikyong Penpa Tsering, the President, and Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile visited the volunteers who had participated in the 15 Days of Social Services program organized by the Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) during the teachings of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama in Bodh Gaya, Bihar. During their visit, they interacted with TYC President and expressed admiration for the organization’s noble social contributions.

The longstanding conflict and border encroachment by China into the actual landlines of Tibet and India have evolved into an security threat for the Indian government. The situation escalated further in December when the Chinese Communist Party claimed a significant portion of Indian territory, resulting in a new flashpoint between the two countries.

On December 15, 2022, five prominent Tibetan non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Dharamshala along with the Indo-Tibetan Friendship Association, organized a protest event. The purpose of this event was to demonstrate against the recent Chinese aggression at the Indo-Tibet border. The protest aimed to raise awareness about the territorial dispute and to express support with India’s position.

The protest event signifies the concern and unity among the Tibetan NGOs and the Indo-Tibetan Friendship Association regarding the Chinese encroachment and the potential implications for both Tibet and India. It highlights the shared commitment to addressing this issue and advocating for a resolution that upholds the interests of the Tibetans while ensuring India’s national security.

On 16th October 2022, the Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) organized a protest rally to voice our concerns about the commencement of the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party in Beijing. The protest took place in collaboration with the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress in Dharamshala and received support from the general public in huge participation.

The purpose of the protest was to draw attention to the ongoing critical situation inside Tibet, which continues to deteriorate under the Chinese repressive policies. The Tibetan Youth Congress demanded that the Chinese Communist Government cease committing acts of genocide under the guise of their Zero-Covid policy.

The protest began with a march from McLeod Ganj to Dharamshala, and the rally was led by four students wearing Covid-kits. This symbolic representation aimed to draw attention to the suffering of Tibetans who continue to face restrictions imposed by China and the inadequate facilities provided to them during quarantine.

During the protest, the President of the Tibetan Youth Congress delivered a powerful speech condemning China for mistreating Tibetans during the Covid lockdowns in Tibet. The speech emphasized the need for China to address the concerns and welfare of the Tibetan people.

By organizing this street protest, the Tibetan Youth Congress sought to raise awareness about the ongoing issues faced by Tibetans under Chinese rule and to put pressure on the Chinese Communist Government to address these concerns. The event demonstrated the TYC’s commitment to advocating for the rights and well-being of Tibetans and our determination to speak out against injustice.

TYC President Gonpo Dhundup actively participated in a protest campaign organized by the Tibetan Community of Switzerland & Liechtenstein at the office of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). The purpose of the protest was to urge the UNHRC to address the Tibet issue and hold China accountable for its actions.

During the protest, the participants expressed their objection to China’s Zero Covid Policy and raised concerns about the genocidal system implemented in Tibet. They demanded an end to the genocide in Tibet and called for an immediate halt to the brutal treatment of Tibetans by the Chinese authorities, particularly during the Covid outbreak in Tibet. The protesters firmly emphasized that Tibet belongs to Tibetans and reiterated their genuine aspiration for justice and freedom for the Tibetan people.

By participating in this protest campaign, TYC President Gonpo Dhundup and other demonstrators aimed to draw international attention to the critical situation in Tibet and advocate for the protection of Tibetan rights and freedoms. The protest aimed to bring awareness to the UNHRC and to urge them to take action in addressing the ongoing human rights violations in Tibet.

On 4^th 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.

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.

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 12^th 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.

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.

Tibetan Youth Congress along with RTYC Dharamshala organized a Basketball Match at Central Institute for Higher Studies, Sarah to extend our heartfelt Thank You to Enes Kanter for resisting CCP’s authority and speaking about genocide, rape, torture, and murder by CCP on 30^th October 2021.

The basketball match was played between members of the Tibetan Youth Congress and Students of the Central Institute for Higher Studies, Sarah. With just a slight difference in the score, the trophy was won by members of TYC. The edited video of the Thank You Enes Kanter Basketball Match posted on our social media was later reposted by Enes Kanter on his official social media platform.

After the match, TYC President Mr. Gonpo Dhundup expressed gratitude to the professional basketball player Enes Kanter of Boston Celtics, National Basketball Association for his invaluable support for the cause of Tibet and urged for his continued support.