Global Alliance for Tibet & Persecuted Minorities (GATPM)

London, 23 June 2026 | GATPM

Tibetans, friends and supporters of Tibet, as well as all who stand for human rights and fundamental freedoms, are invited to join a peaceful protest outside the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in London on 1 July 2026, from 5:30pm to 7:30pm.

This demonstration is organised in response to the recently adopted Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress, passed by the National People’s Congress on 12 March 2026 and due to come into effect on 1 July 2026. The law has raised deep concern among Tibetan diaspora communities and human rights advocates due to its far-reaching implications for cultural rights, linguistic diversity, religious freedom, and the survival of distinct minority identities within the PRC.

This London protest is led by the Tibetan Community in Britain and supported by Tibet-related and human rights organisations, including Free Tibet, Voluntary Tibet Advocacy Group (V-TAG), Students for a Free Tibet (UK), and the Global Alliance for Tibet & Persecuted Minorities.

This gathering follows concerns expressed in the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile Resolution on the Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress, which warns that the legislation undermines constitutionally guaranteed autonomy and accelerates policies that threaten the preservation of Tibet’s distinct cultural, linguistic, and religious identity. The resolution calls for urgent international scrutiny and coordinated action.

Speakers from Tibetan and human rights organisations will address the gathering, followed by peaceful chanting and collective expressions of solidarity. This is a static, peaceful demonstration lasting two hours, intended to provide space for reflection, awareness, and a unified public voice.

We call on our friends and allies to stand together with us in London on 1 July 2026.

17 June 2026 | GATPM

The Passing of a Great Tibet Scholar and Activist

The Global Alliance for Tibet and Persecuted Minorities expresses its profound sadness at the passing of Professor Robert Thurman, who died peacefully on Tuesday morning, 16 June 2026, at his home in Woodstock, New York, at the age of 84. 

One of the most influential scholars and public advocates of the modern era, Professor Thurman spent more than half a century serving as a powerful voice for the Tibetan people and a passionate defender of their right to cultural, spiritual, and political survival. 

His departure leaves a void in the international movement for Tibet, yet his extraordinary legacy as a scholar activist ensures that his work will continue to inspire generations of campaigners fighting for justice, freedom, and human dignity.

For many within the Tibetan solidarity movement and our wider global alliance, Professor Thurman was a singular, towering presence. He was intellectually fearless, often delightfully provocative, and animated throughout his life by the conviction that academic scholarship must never be detached from moral action. 

He fiercely resisted the conventional notion that eastern philosophy or Tibetan thought should be treated as a passive, inward looking, or politically irrelevant pursuit. Instead, he presented Tibetan civilisation as a dynamic source of ethical reflection for practical resistance against authoritarian overreach. He brought Tibet’s cause before the world.

A Lifelong Friendship with His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Professor Thurman’s deep, enduring friendship with His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama was a bond of trust that endured for more than six decades. 

Their connection began in the early 1960s, when Thurman, then a young man seeking spiritual meaning, travelled to India and was introduced by his first teacher, the Mongolian lama Geshe Wangyal. Thurman found in the Dalai Lama not only an instructor, but a lasting source of philosophical inspiration, moral courage, and deep personal warmth.

In 1965, Thurman became the first American to be ordained as a Tibetan Buddhist monk by the Dalai Lama himself. Although he later chose to return to lay life to pursue a family life and a distinguished academic career, the friendship and collaborative partnership between the two men remained. 

Their close friendship gave Thurman’s public advocacy its distinctive authority because he was not simply speaking about Tibet from an academic distance, but from within a lifelong relationship of trust, shared purpose, and direct historical witness.

Academic 

Professor Thurman’s formal academic career was equally remarkable. He earned his doctorate from Harvard University and later held the prestigious Jey Tsong Khapa Professorship of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies at Columbia University, establishing the first endowed chair of its kind in the Western world. In that prominent role, he helped establish Tibetan and Indo-Tibetan studies as a serious, respected, and enduring field of global scholarship. 

Yet he never adopted the posture of a detached academic safe inside an ivory tower. Instead, he consistently utilised his academic authority and intellect as a powerful means of cultural defence and public responsibility.

He believed firmly that the study of Tibet could never be separated from the brutal political realities facing Tibetans under Chinese occupation. Through his extensive writing, lecturing, and international organising, Thurman directly challenged the systematic suppression of the Tibetan language, religion, and distinct cultural identity. He argued passionately that the destruction of Tibet was not merely an insular or local issue, but a critical global moral concern that affected all humanity. He viewed Tibetan civilisation as a repository of profound philosophical, ecological, and ethical wisdom, warning that its state sanctioned erasure would permanently impoverish the whole world. In this sense, his scholarship was entirely inseparable from his activism, treating knowledge as something that must actively protect and illuminate.

Political Advocate

Professor Thurman repeatedly defended the right of the Tibetan people to preserve their language, religion, delicate environment, and traditional way of life. 

In his public work, he framed the Tibetan cause not as a romanticised or nostalgic ideal, but as a practical, urgent moral necessity for global stability.

A Forceful Voice for Tibet in the United Kingdom

Professor Thurman’s activist campaign was truly global, including political advocacy in the UK in November 2025, when he delivered an inspiring and urgent address inside the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Speaking to a packed Committee Room in the House of Commons at an event hosted by The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet, Thurman celebrated the Dalai Lama’s nine decades of tireless service to global peace. 

He utilised this high profile parliamentary platform to launch a devastating critique against Western governments, explicitly lambasting them for their reluctance to confront severe human rights abuses due to their transactional trade relationships with authoritarian regimes. He urged the British political establishment to treat the issue of Tibet as a matter of fundamental democratic principle rather than diplomatic convenience.

Tibet House US: Resistance and Cultural Preservation

One of Thurman’s most enduring institutional contributions to the movement was the co-founding of Tibet House US in New York in 1987, established alongside his wife Nena, Richard Gere, and Philip Glass at the explicit request of the Dalai Lama. The institution was designed to function as a cultural embassy for Tibet in exile, dedicated to preserving and presenting Tibetan art, thought, and spiritual heritage. It provided a vital public space for exhibitions, international teaching, performances, and human rights advocacy, ensuring that Tibetan culture remained visible, respected, and politically protected on the world stage.

Thurman also founded the American Institute of Buddhist Studies, through which he spearheaded a monumental translation project for the Tibetan Treasury of literature. He openly viewed this immense textual work as a direct form of political resistance. By translating classical Tibetan texts into modern languages, he sought to rescue them from systematic neglect, state distortion, and total political erasure under occupation. Through both institutions, he combined cultural preservation with intellectual resistance, proving that a culture’s literature is one of its most potent weapons against oppression.

Legacy 

Professor Robert Thurman leaves behind a formidable, unparalleled legacy as a scholar, translator, and unyielding champion of human rights. A great friend of Tibet has passed.

The Global Alliance for Tibet and Persecuted Minorities extends its deepest, most heartfelt condolences to the Thurman family, his colleagues at Tibet House US, and all those whose lives were helped by his teaching. 

Woolwich, London | 7 June 2026 | Tsering Passang | GATPM

Around 500 people gathered at Woolwich Works on the evening of Friday, 5 June, to witness a spectacular cultural performance by a 26-member troupe from the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA), marking a significant highlight of the global Year of Compassion celebrations commemorating the 90th birthday of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.

The performance, the only major public TIPA event in London during its landmark UK tour, showcased the richness of Tibetan performing arts through traditional music, dance and theatrical presentations. The audience included Tibetans, friends of Tibet, local residents and members of the wider public, all of whom were treated to an inspiring celebration of Tibet’s living cultural heritage.

Opening the evening, Her Excellency Madam Tsering Yangkey, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the Office of Tibet, London, reflected on the significance of sharing Tibetan culture with the wider world.

“By sharing Tibetan culture with the wider world, we celebrate not only its beauty, but also the resilience of a people determined to preserve their identity and heritage. This evening is a reminder that Tibetan culture remains vibrant and alive, despite the challenges it faces. Thank you for joining us and supporting the preservation of Tibet’s cultural legacy.”

A particularly meaningful aspect of the evening was the presence of Cllr. David Gardner, His Worshipful Mayor of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, whose attendance added special significance to the event and underscored the borough’s longstanding friendship with the Tibetan people.

Addressing the audience, Mayor Gardner warmly welcomed TIPA to Woolwich and thanked the performers for bringing the spirit of Tibet to the borough. He noted that Woolwich Town Hall has had the honour of raising the Tibetan national flag each year in March as a gesture of solidarity with Tibet and its people. He further highlighted that the Royal Borough of Greenwich is proud to be a place of sanctuary for those fleeing persecution and that it is home to the largest Tibetan community within a single borough anywhere in the United Kingdom.

The Mayor’s presence was warmly received by the audience and reflected the Royal Borough’s continued support for Tibet, human rights, cultural diversity and community cohesion. His participation elevated the evening beyond a cultural performance, transforming it into a powerful expression of friendship and solidarity between the people of Greenwich and the Tibetan community.

In recognition of his special presence and continued support for Tibet and the Tibetan people, Mr Dhondup Tsering, Executive Director of the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts, presented a commemorative memento and Khata (traditional white scarf) to Mayor Gardner. The presentation was accompanied by heartfelt appreciation for the Royal Borough’s enduring friendship with the Tibetan people and its continued support for Tibetan culture and identity within the borough. Madam Tsering Yangkey and Mr Phuntsok Norbu, Chairman of the Tibetan Community in Britain, further honoured Mayor Gardner by offering traditional Tibetan khatas as a symbol of respect and gratitude.

Woolwich’s Historic Connection with Tibet

The choice of Woolwich as the venue carried a deeper historical significance. While the Royal Borough of Greenwich today is home to the largest Tibetan community within a single borough in the United Kingdom, its connection with Tibet extends back more than a century.

During the reign of His Holiness the 13th Dalai Lama, Tibet embarked upon efforts to modernise key sectors of government and administration. As part of this vision, four young Tibetan boys arrived in Britain in 1913 on government scholarships to receive a modern education. Later known as the “Rugby Boys”, they became pioneers in Tibet’s early engagement with modern Western learning during a period when Britain maintained close ties with Tibet.

Two of these young Tibetans subsequently forged direct links with Woolwich. Sonam Gonpa Gongkar received military training at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, during the First World War and was attached for a period to the Northumberland Fusiliers. The youngest student, Rigzin Dorje Ringang, pursued engineering studies before undertaking specialist training at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, in 1920. Both later returned to Tibet, bringing with them valuable knowledge and expertise intended to support the country’s development.

This remarkable chapter of shared history makes Woolwich one of the few places in Britain with a direct connection to pre-1950 Tibet. More than a century later, the return of Tibetan performers to the Royal Arsenal area represented not only a cultural event but also a symbolic continuation of these historic ties.

A Living Tradition Returns to Britain

Founded in 1959 under the guidance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, TIPA remains the premier institution dedicated to preserving Tibetan performing arts in exile. Based in Dharamsala, India, the institute has played a central role in safeguarding Tibet’s rich artistic traditions and transmitting them to future generations.

The 2026 UK tour marks TIPA’s first visit to Britain in more than two decades and forms part of the Central Tibetan Administration’s global Year of Compassion celebrations. Organised by Tibet House Trust and the Office of Tibet in collaboration with the Tibetan Community in Britain, Free Tibet, Tibet Relief Fund, London Kagyu Samye Dzong, Tibet Action Institute, Tashi Lhunpo Monastery UK Trust, and TIPA, the tour seeks to promote the universal values of compassion, non-violence and cultural understanding.

The cultural programme featured a rich variety of traditional performances, including Nangma Tala Shipa, Markham Aekor Lenmo, Do-mey Dakar Neyri, Damshung Drok Shay, Kongpo Tashi Choepa Yoedo, Ngari Gongtoe Thoe-la, Shacham, Ngonpai Dhon, Ralpa Dance and the much-loved Yak Dance, each representing distinct regional traditions from across Tibet.

The performers captivated the audience with colourful costumes, vibrant choreography and melodies rooted in centuries-old traditions. Throughout the evening, the performances reflected the diversity and vitality of Tibetan culture, demonstrating how these artistic traditions continue to thrive despite decades of displacement and political challenges.

Following a short interval, the audience was presented with a powerful theatrical production highlighting the plight of more than one million Tibetan children enrolled in China’s colonial boarding school system. Written and directed by Lhasho Sonam Tsetan, the production depicted the profound cultural and emotional consequences of policies that separate Tibetan children from their families and communities.

The performance explored one of the most pressing contemporary issues facing Tibet. Human rights advocates, Tibetan organisations and independent experts have expressed concern over China’s vast network of state-run boarding schools, where Tibetan children are educated primarily in Mandarin Chinese and often spend much of the year away from their families.

Through drama, music and visual storytelling, the production illustrated fears that the system weakens children’s connection to Tibetan language, culture, religion and traditional values. The presentation proved both moving and thought-provoking, receiving sustained applause from the audience.

Reflections from the Audience

As the audience departed Woolwich Works following an evening of colour, music and celebration, many reflected on the enduring message conveyed through Tibetan performing arts: that compassion, resilience and cultural identity continue to flourish despite adversity.

One spectator, who had attended TIPA’s acclaimed production of Shakuntala during the troupe’s 2004 UK tour, fondly recalled his earlier experience and expressed delight at seeing TIPA return to London after more than two decades.

Among those attending were the granddaughter of Sir Basil Gould and her husband, who were deeply moved by the performances. They had recently returned from India, where they visited Dharamsala, the headquarters of the Central Tibetan Administration, and received an audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Their presence carried particular historical resonance. Sir Basil Gould attended the enthronement ceremony of the 14th Dalai Lama in Lhasa in February 1940 as the official representative of the British Government in his capacity as Political Officer for Sikkim, Bhutan and Tibet. His family’s attendance at the Woolwich performance served as a poignant reminder of the longstanding historical relationship between Britain and Tibet.

An Evening of Culture, History and Friendship

The Woolwich performance was far more than a cultural presentation. It brought together history, community and shared values in a borough that has become an important home for Tibetans in Britain.

The presence of Mayor David Gardner demonstrated the Royal Borough of Greenwich’s continued friendship with the Tibetan people, while the performances themselves showcased the resilience of a culture that continues to flourish in exile. At the same time, the historic links between Woolwich and Tibet – from the Rugby Boys to the present-day Tibetan community – provided a powerful backdrop to the evening’s celebrations.

As TIPA continues its first UK tour in more than twenty years, the success of the Woolwich performance stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of Tibetan culture and to the universal message of compassion that lies at the heart of the Year of Compassion celebrations.

A rare public recognition for one of the most trusted and discreet figures in the service of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet

London, 20 May 2026 – In a rare public recognition of a life spent largely behind the scenes, Tenzin Taklha was honoured at Thiksey Monastery on 20 May 2026 during celebrations marking the 84th birthday of the 9th Thiksey Rinpoche. The longtime aide to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama received a commemorative citation and medal in recognition of more than three decades of devoted service to the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Tibetan community in exile and the wider Himalayan world.

For many Tibetans and those who have worked closely with the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the recognition carried particular significance. Taklha, who has served as Chief of Security since 1996 and as Secretary to His Holiness since 2014, is widely regarded as a calm, disciplined and deeply trusted figure whose work has quietly supported the Dalai Lama’s global engagements for nearly three decades.

A Life Shaped by Exile and Service

The award itself reflects that spirit of continuity and dedication. Instituted by Thiksey Rinpoche in 2016, with His Holiness the Dalai Lama as its first recipient, the honour recognises individuals whose lives embody service, responsibility and commitment to the Tibetan cause. In its citation, Thiksey Monastery praised Taklha’s “integrity, discretion and wisdom” – qualities frequently associated with a man known less for public prominence than for steady reliability and humility.

Born Tenzin Namdhak in Calcutta in 1965, Taklha’s early life mirrored the wider Tibetan exile experience. After spending his infancy in Switzerland and part of his childhood in the United States, he returned to Dharamsala in 1978 and studied at the Tibetan Children’s Village. Though initially struggling with Tibetan language studies, he persevered academically and later graduated from St Stephen’s College, Delhi, in 1988 before pursuing graduate studies in Foreign Service at Georgetown University.

His path soon shifted from academia to direct service. In 1990, Taklha helped coordinate the resettlement of 1,000 Tibetan refugees across sixteen communities in the United States, a role that demanded both organisational skill and human sensitivity. A visit to Tibet in 1993, including a pilgrimage to the Potala Palace in Lhasa, further deepened his commitment to preserving Tibetan identity and serving the Tibetan people in exile.

Decades Beside His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Following professional security training in the United States, he joined the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and became Chief of Security in 1996. Over the years, his responsibilities expanded far beyond protection duties to include coordinating international travel, overseeing logistics and health arrangements, managing audiences, and liaising with governments and hosts around the world. His appointment as Secretary to His Holiness in 2014 further cemented his role as a key figure supporting the daily work and global activities of the Dalai Lama.

Despite the significance of those responsibilities, Taklha has long been known for his understated and self-effacing demeanour. Colleagues and members of the Tibetan community often describe him as warm, approachable and quietly compassionate — someone who carries immense responsibility without seeking attention or recognition.

He has frequently summarised his spiritual outlook in simple terms: “My practice is serving His Holiness the Dalai Lama.” For many who know him, that principle has defined not only his professional life but also his character.

Recognition Beyond Public Acclaim

The recognition at Thiksey Monastery also highlighted the often unseen role played by administrators, caretakers and long-serving custodians within Tibetan institutions. In honouring Taklha, the monastery underscored the idea that the preservation of Tibetan culture, spirituality and community life depends not only on prominent public figures, but also on those who dedicate themselves to careful, patient and often uncelebrated work.

Former Tibetan parliamentarian Pema Chagzoetsang, now based in the United States, also paid tribute to Taklha in a social media post following the announcement.

“Kungo Tenzin Taklha is one of the unsung heroes of our time,” she wrote, describing him as “a man whose humility, integrity and devotion are beyond words.” She praised his decades of service to His Holiness and noted that, despite being a relative of the Dalai Lama, he has always carried himself with humility and deep reverence.

She further described him as “a living example of kindness, compassion and integrity”, adding that his warm and thoughtful presence has touched countless people across generations and communities.

For many in the Tibetan world, the honour at Thiksey was not simply recognition of long service, but acknowledgement of a life defined by humility, loyalty and quiet dedication. In celebrating Tenzin Taklha, the monastery paid tribute to a man whose steady presence has become an enduring part of the living history surrounding His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan people in exile.

His wife, Tenzin Dolker, received the award on his behalf during the official ceremony, which was presented by His Eminence The Thiksey Rinpoche at the Thiksey Monastery in Ladakh, as he continues his service alongside His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, headquarters of the Central Tibetan Administration (Tibet’s government-in-exile).

24 April 2026 | GATPM | London |

On 25 April, Tibetans and supporters around the world will mark the birthday of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima – a spiritual figure who has not been seen in public since May 1995, when he was just six years old. Recognised by the exile-based His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama as the 11th Panchen Lama, his disappearance remains one of the most enduring and troubling cases of enforced disappearance in modern history.

More than three decades on, his fate and whereabouts remain unknown. For Tibetans, this is not only a personal tragedy but a profound assault on religious freedom, identity, and the integrity of Tibetan Buddhism itself.

A Community Remembers in London

In the United Kingdom, members of the Tibetan Community in Britain will gather at the Palyul Centre in Plumstead, south-east London, from 3 pm to 7 pm to commemorate the Panchen Lama’s birthday. The event will bring together community members and supporters for prayers and reflections, with addresses by the Dalai Lama’s Representative based at the Office of Tibet-London, Her Excellency Tsering Yangkey; the community’s Chairman, Phuntsok Norbu; and Tashi Lhunpo UK Trust trustee, Michael Whitewood.

The gathering reflects a broader commitment among Tibetans in exile and their allies to ensure that the Panchen Lama is neither forgotten nor reduced to a footnote in geopolitical discourse. It is also a reminder that, even in exile, Tibetan spiritual traditions continue to be upheld with dignity and resolve.

“His Absence Is a Global Moral Failure”

Tsering Passang, founder-chair of the Global Alliance for Tibet & Persecuted Minorities, underscored the urgency of continued advocacy:

“The Panchen Lama’s disappearance is not just a Tibetan issue – it is a global moral failure. Each year that passes without answers deepens the injustice. We must keep his story alive and demand accountability. We call on the UK government and the international community to press China to respect the fundamental freedom of religion or belief for the Tibetan people.”

The Wider Stakes for Tibetan Buddhism

The Panchen Lama holds a central role in Tibetan Buddhism, traditionally responsible for recognising the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama. His disappearance – and the subsequent imposition by Chinese authorities of a state-appointed alternative – represents a direct intervention in sacred religious processes.

This concern has been powerfully articulated by Ven. Arjia Rinpoche, a senior Tibetan lama who fled Tibet into exile after refusing to legitimise Beijing’s appointed Panchen Lama.

In his memoir, Surviving the Dragon: A Tibetan Lama’s Account of 40 Years Under Chinese Rule, he reflects on the spiritual bond between Tibet’s two highest figures:

“As for the people of Tibet, no matter how politics changed, for them the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama remained the sun and the moon. To this day they believe that the reincarnations of both must be mutually recognised to be valid.”

He further underscores the centrality of spiritual legitimacy over political authority:

“Tibetans clearly wanted the Fourteenth Dalai Lama to be the final arbiter of the identity of the true reincarnation of the Panchen Lama.”

These insights highlight why Beijing’s attempt to control the recognition process is viewed by Tibetans not merely as political interference, but as a profound violation of their faith.

Arjia Rinpoche’s account also sheds light on the intense pressure placed on Tibetan religious leaders to conform to state directives – pressures he ultimately resisted, choosing exile over complicity. His testimony remains one of the most authoritative insider perspectives on the systematic effort to reshape Tibetan Buddhism under Chinese rule.

New Legal Framework: “Ethnic Unity” and Deeper Control

Concerns over religious freedom in Tibet have been further heightened by China’s newly adopted Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress Law, introduced on 12 March 2026 and set to come into force on 1 July 2026.

While framed in the language of cohesion and national unity, key elements of the law point to an expansion of state control over cultural and religious life:

• It emphasises the “Sinicisation” of religion, requiring all faiths to align with state-defined socialist values.
• It promotes the standardisation of language and education, raising concerns about the erosion of Tibetan language and cultural transmission.
• It strengthens mechanisms for surveillance and ideological “guidance” in ethnic minority regions.
• It reinforces the role of the state in regulating religious institutions, including leadership recognition processes.

For Tibetans, this law signals not unity, but the institutionalisation of policies that have long sought to dilute and control their identity. In the context of the Panchen Lama’s disappearance, it deepens fears that future reincarnations – including that of the Dalai Lama – may be subject to even tighter state manipulation.

A Call That Endures

As the Panchen Lama would turn 37 this year, his absence continues to resonate across generations. His story has become emblematic of a broader pattern of repression – one that extends beyond Tibet to other religious and ethnic communities facing systemic restrictions on belief and identity.

The Global Alliance for Tibet & Persecuted Minorities reiterates its call for:

• Full disclosure of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima’s whereabouts and well-being
• Respect for Tibetans’ right to determine their own religious leaders
• International pressure on China to uphold its obligations under international human rights law

The anniversary is not only a moment of remembrance, but a renewed call to action. Until answers are provided and rights are restored, the Panchen Lama’s story will remain a symbol of unfinished justice – and a test of the international community’s commitment to defending freedom of religion or belief.

Link:

A Stolen Child, A Silenced Voice: The Enforced Disappearance of Tibet’s Panchen Lama

GATPM | 22 April 2026

The Global Alliance for Tibet & Persecuted Minorities, in collaboration with a broad coalition of international civil society and human rights organisations, calls for urgent support of the Falun Gong and Victims of Forced Organ Harvesting Protection Act 2026. We further recognise the leadership of the International Coalition to End Transplant Abuse in China in advancing this critical advocacy effort.

This bipartisan legislation represents a decisive and necessary step toward addressing the grave and well-documented practice of forced organ harvesting in China, which has affected Falun Gong practitioners, Uyghurs, and other persecuted communities.

Given the severity and scale of these violations, we urge partners, stakeholders, and members of the public to engage directly with their United States Senators and advocate for swift passage of this legislation. Such action is essential to strengthening accountability, protecting vulnerable populations, and upholding fundamental international human rights standards.

Re: Falun Gong and Victims of Forced Organ Harvesting Protection Act 2026 

Dear Senator,

The undersigned civil society groups and human rights organizations urge you to act on S 4009 the Falun Gong and Victims of Forced Organ Harvesting Protection Act, a bipartisan bill recently introduced by Senator Cruz (R-TX) and Senator Merkley (D-OR) members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. 

This bill is a critical piece of legislation that imposes sanctions on those responsible for organ harvesting in China and directs the Secretary of State to report to Congress on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)’s organ harvesting policies and transplant system.

It specifically addresses crimes committed against all victims of forced organ harvesting in China including Falun Gong practitioners, Uyghurs and others. 

The legislation would require the President to create an annual report on China’s organ transplant system and maintain a list of foreign persons that the President determines to be involved in forced organ harvesting within China and limit access to visas, passports, and financial transactions for such persons within the United States.

This Act strengthens previous legislative efforts by defining “forced organ harvesting” as the “removal of organs by means of coercion, abduction, deception, fraud, or abuse of power or a position of vulnerability.”  The bill also explicitly broadens protections beyond Falun Gong practitioners to encompass all victims of forced organ harvesting. Crucially, the bill’s bipartisan sponsorship reflects cross-party recognition that this critical human rights issue warrants attention and action by the Senate.

Organ trafficking is a human rights abuse that occurs around the globe. For decades, the CCP has systematically harvested the organs of prisoners of conscience. The victims have been primarily Falun Gong practitioners (a spiritual qigong practice in the Buddhist tradition), though mounting evidence today shows that Uyghurs are also now killed for organs. Since 2015, China’s organ transplantation system has claimed to only source organs from voluntary donors, but evidence demonstrates that this data has been falsified and that claimed legal changes to ban the use of prisoners’ organs have not taken place. A close examination shows that Chinese hospitals have performed at least several times more transplants than even the largest estimates of death row prisoners can account for.

The China Tribunal, an independent, international people’s tribunal chaired by Sir Geoffrey Nice KC, lead prosecutor of Slobodan Milosevic at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, concluded “unanimously, and beyond reasonable doubt – that in China forced organ harvesting from prisoners of conscience has been practiced for a substantial period of time involving a very substantial number of victims.” The China Tribunal’s judgment presents the first-ever independent legal analysis of all available evidence regarding forced organ harvesting from prisoners of conscience in China. After reviewing multiple lines of evidence over twelve months and conducting public hearings, the China Tribunal concluded that state-sanctioned forced organ harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners in China amounts to crimes against humanity.

In 2021, a joint correspondence issued by nine UN Special Rapporteurs called on China to “promptly respond to the allegations of ‘organ harvesting’ and to allow independent monitoring by international human rights mechanisms.” In 2022, the European Parliament passed a resolution on reports of continued organ harvesting in China and laws have been passed in the UK and Canada. The International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) introduced a policy banning surgeons from China from presenting at ISHLT conferences and publishing in their journal. In addition, international law firm Global Rights Compliance published a legal advisory report and policy guidance that outlines the complicity risks of interacting with China in relation to organ transplantation medicine, research and training.

In November, 2025, the Inter-parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), an international cross-party network of legislators from over 30 countries, with more than 250 members, adopted a Statement of Legislative Intent, pledging to advance national legislation to prohibit and prevent forced organ harvesting and organ trafficking.  

We urge you to support the Falun Gong and Victims of Forced Organ Harvesting Protection Act so the Senate can send a bipartisan, unified message to China and the world that the United States is combating the heinous practice of forced organ harvesting and ensuring that U.S.-based businesses, universities, hospitals, and citizens are not unknowingly entangled in these unethical and criminal activities.

Thank you for your leadership and for swiftly considering this important legislation.

Respectfully,

Susie Hughes
Executive Director
International Coalition to End Transplant Abuse in China (ETAC)

Dr. Stephen Bronner
President & Executive Director
American Council for Justice and Conflict Resolution

Rushan Abbas
Founder & Executive Director
Campaign for Uyghurs

Abdulhakim Idris
Executive Director
Centre for Uyghur Studies

Yumna Rizvi
Senior Policy Analyst
Center for Victims of Torture

Dr. Bob Fu
Founder & President
China Aid

Tanja Zondervan-Will
Founder
China Alarm

Wendy Wright
President
Christian Freedom International

Dr. Jianli Yang
Founder and President
Citizen Power Initiatives for China

Thierry Valle
Director
Coordination des Assciations et des Particuliers pour la Liberté de Conscience

Dr. Torsten Trey
Executive Director
Doctors Against Forced Organ Harvesting

Levi Browde
Executive Director
Falun Dafa Information Center

Cynthia Sun
Senior Researcher
Falun Dafa Information Center: First Freedom Foundation

Benedict Rogers
Senior Director
Fortify Rights

Joanna Ewart-James
Executive Director
Freedom United

Alan Adler
Executive Director
Friends of Falun Gong USA

Dr. Gregory Stanton
President
Genocide Watch

Tsering Passang
Founder & Chair
Global Alliance for Tibet & Persecuted Minorities

Aris Tsilfidis
Founder
Greek Genocide Resource Center

Sarah Teich
Co-founder & CEO
Human Rights Action Group

Dr. Terri Marsh
Executive Director and Senior Litigation partner
Human Rights Law Foundation

Peter Ebertz
Chairman
International Society for Human Rights – Sweden

Eleonora Mongelli
Vice President, Italian Federation for Human Rights (FIDU)
Italian Federation for Human Rights (FIDU)

Hena Zuberi
Director of Advocacy
Justice For All

Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett
President
Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice

Dr. William Clark
Program Director
Peace Catalyst International

Peter Tatchell
CEO
Peter Tatchell Foundation

Hon. Irwin Cotler
Founder and International Chair
Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights

Emily Huang
DMD – President, Students for Falun Gong
Students for Falun Gong

Kristina Olney
Executive Director
The Remembrance Society

Dr. Rishat Abbas
President
Uyghur Academy International

Misran Dolan
President
Uyghur American Association

Dolkun Isa
President
Uyghur Center for Democracy and Human Rights

Omer Kanat
Executive Director
Uyghur Human Rights Project

Dr. Adrian Zenz
Senior Fellow and Director of China Studies
Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation

Dr. Ellen J. Kennedy, Ph.D.
Executive Director
World Without Genocide

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June 2026 will bring a rare and meaningful cultural moment to the United Kingdom as the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA) returns for a landmark tour hosted by Tibet House Trust. From 1–9 June, a 26-member troupe will share the richness of Tibetan artistic traditions through performances of Ache Lhamo (traditional Tibetan opera), music, dance, and theatre – offering audiences a vibrant window into one of the world’s most enduring cultural legacies.

Founded in 1959 under the guidance of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, TIPA stands as the foremost institution dedicated to preserving Tibetan performing arts in exile. Based in Dharamsala, headquarters of Tibet’s government-in-exile in northern India, it has safeguarded centuries-old traditions that embody values of compassion, non-violence, and harmony with nature. These traditions, recognised as part of the world’s intangible cultural heritage, continue to resonate deeply in today’s increasingly complex global landscape.

This upcoming visit is especially significant. It marks the first TIPA tour to the UK in over two decades and coincides with the 90th birthday year of His Holiness the Dalai Lama – celebrated as the “Year of Compassion” by the Central Tibetan Administration. The timing lends the tour an added sense of reflection and celebration, highlighting the enduring relevance of Tibetan culture and its message of universal responsibility.

TIPA’s connection with the UK stretches back nearly four decades. In 1988, the troupe first toured UK at the invitation of the Tibet Foundation, introducing audiences to Tibetan opera and performance traditions at a time when such cultural exchanges were rare. They returned in 2004, invited by the Asian Music Circuit (AMC), where they performed the Tibetan Lhamo Opera Sugkyi Nyima to great acclaim. That same tour included a memorable performance at Conway Hall in central London, hosted by the Tibet Foundation, as well as an appearance at the Tibetan Peace Garden within the grounds of the Imperial War Museum – symbolically linking Tibetan culture with themes of peace and remembrance.

London Performance at Woolwich Work – Friday, 5 June 2026

The 2026 programme continues this legacy while reaching new audiences. One of the most anticipated highlights will be the London performance on Friday, 5 June 2026 – the only main public performance in the capital. Particularly noteworthy is the inclusion of a performance at Woolwich Works in the Royal Arsenal, located in the Royal Borough of Greenwich. This borough is home to the largest Tibetan community within a single borough in the UK, making it a deeply fitting setting. The Royal Borough of Greenwich has long demonstrated solidarity with the Tibetan people, including the annual raising of the Tibetan flag at the Town Hall, Woolwich – a gesture that reflects enduring support and shared values.

In keeping with the spirit of cultural exchange, organisers of the ‘Spirit of Tibet’ tour said that TIPA will not charge performance fees, underscoring the intention to share rather than commercialise this artistic heritage. At a time marked by global uncertainty, these performances offer more than artistic enjoyment – they provide a space for reflection on compassion, resilience, and our shared humanity.

TIPA’s return is not just a cultural event; it is a reaffirmation of the importance of preserving and celebrating diverse traditions. For UK audiences, it is a rare opportunity to witness an ancient art form that continues to speak powerfully to the present moment.

Tsering Passang, former Art & Culture Programme Manager at the Tibet Foundation and current Chair of the Global Alliance for Tibet & Persecuted Minorities, who was involved in hosting TIPA’s performance in London in 2004, said:

“We warmly welcome the return of the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts, the premier cultural institution of the Tibetan people. Its work embodies not only artistic excellence but also a powerful form of cultural diplomacy. At a time when compassion and understanding are urgently needed, these performances serve as a timely reminder of the values that unite us across cultures. Having witnessed their impact in London in 2004, I am deeply encouraged to see them return, bringing with them a living tradition that continues to inspire resilience, dialogue, and hope.”

Tsering Passang

On the evening of Sunday, 29th March 2026, I attended the screening of Milarepa at the Tramshed Theatre in Woolwich, London – an event that proved to be as culturally meaningful as it was personally clarifying. Not long ago, I was part of organising an important Tibet event at this same venue.

When my good friend Tenzin Dakpa – proprietor of Kailash Momo Restaurant, who, in association with Chhong Sherpa of Iro Sushi Ltd., jointly sponsored the community screening and hosted the dinner reception that followed – invited me, I initially told him I was considering attending in protest. When he asked why, it became clear that he was entirely unaware of Mr Buddhi Tamang’s public use of the term “Xizang” on his social platforms.

In fact, upon first discovering this, I had already challenged the use of the term directly on his Facebook page. My concern was immediate and principled. Language is never neutral in such contexts, and silence would have implied acceptance.

My intention in attending was never to disrupt the event. It was to take a clear and principled stand – while remaining open to dialogue.

This was not unfamiliar ground. During 2024–2025, I took a firm and sustained position with the British Museum against the use of the term “Xizang” in its international Silk Roads exhibition – an effort that contributed to the withdrawal of that terminology in the final weeks. That experience reinforced a simple but enduring truth: language matters, and it can – and must – be challenged.

Yet on this occasion, I chose a more direct and personal course: to engage.

I attended the screening carrying with me a letter addressed to Mr Buddhi Tamang, which I hand-delivered to him. Alongside it, I offered a copy of Voice for the Voiceless book authored by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama – a work that speaks to truth, moral courage, and the responsibility of voice. As a gesture of personal respect for his artistic contribution, I also offered him a traditional white scarf (khata).

These gestures were intentional. They reflected both appreciation and responsibility – respect for the artist, alongside clarity of concern.

What followed was a respectful, candid, and necessary conversation. To his credit, Mr Buddhi Tamang engaged with openness and humility. It is precisely because of my admiration for him that this reflection must remain both measured and unequivocal.

First, the artistic achievement of Milarepa deserves clear and unqualified recognition.

Originally staged in Nepal as an ambitious theatrical production involving 54 artists, Milarepa was widely acclaimed for its scale, depth, and spiritual authenticity. Bringing such a production to international audiences in its original form would have been logistically and financially unfeasible. In response, the Aldershot-based Buddhist Community Centre UK (BCCUK) commissioned an innovative adaptation: the entire play was filmed on a constructed set in a single continuous production, later shaped into a nearly two-hour cinematic work.

The result is a remarkable achievement – disciplined, immersive, and spiritually resonant. It communicates the Buddha’s core teachings through the lived experience of the 11th-century Tibetan saint Milarepa with clarity and emotional force. Crucially, it does so while consistently and correctly using the term “Tibet.”

This matters. It stands in stark contrast to a separate and deeply concerning reality that cannot be overlooked.

Mr Buddhi Tamang’s recent participation in a Chinese government-sponsored visit to China and Tibet – alongside other public figures from multiple countries – must be understood within its proper context. These are not neutral cultural exchanges. They are curated environments shaped by state-backed interests, often involving controlled narratives, guided exposure, and high-level hospitality – including five-star accommodation and carefully managed cultural presentation.

It is within this setting that images and video clips emerged – captured and disseminated by Chinese government-linked entities – featuring the use of the term “Xizang.”

This is not incidental. Nor is it neutral.

“Xizang” is a politically constructed term embedded within a broader state narrative that many Tibetans experience as an attempt to reframe, diminish, or erase their historical identity. When such terminology is repeated or amplified by respected international figures – regardless of personal intent – it carries weight and consequence.

Intent, in such circumstances, is not sufficient.

Following our in-person cordial discussion, I also took the step of reinforcing these concerns in writing the following day – ensuring that the message was clear, considered, and documented.

During the evening, I also held constructive discussions with leaders of BCCUK. It is to their credit that, despite hosting Mr Buddhi Tamang as a guest from Nepal, they have not adopted or used the term “Xizang” in any of their communications or programming. This reflects both awareness and principled restraint.

I hold long-standing respect for BCCUK’s work. During my time as Chairman of the Tibetan Community in Britain (2014–2016), I worked closely with them, including during the visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Aldershot in June 2015. That history of cooperation makes their continued clarity on this issue all the more meaningful.

At the same time, a broader pattern is becoming increasingly visible in the UK – one that warrants careful attention.

Chinese state-linked actors have, in recent years, intensified their outreach to Buddhist communities, extending invitations to cultural and religious conferences in China, frequently accompanied by fully sponsored travel, hospitality, and curated experiences. These initiatives are presented as cultural exchange, but function as instruments of soft influence – subtle, strategic, and cumulative.

This is the environment in which terminology like “Xizang” is introduced, repeated, and normalised.

And this is precisely why clarity – and courage – are required.

As an advocate, I state this plainly: the use of “Xizang” by influential public figures must stop.

As an admirer of Mr Buddhi Tamang for many years, I say this with equal sincerity: his voice matters, and so do his choices. His work in Milarepa reflects a deep respect for truth, history, and cultural authenticity. That same standard must extend beyond artistic performance into public expression.

We cannot uphold authenticity in art while permitting distortion in language.

The relationship between Nepal and Tibet is not incidental – it is civilisational. It is rooted in shared spiritual heritage, centuries of exchange, and enduring cultural bonds. That legacy carries weight, and it demands care.

Choosing to use “Tibet” is not an act of defiance. It is an act of accuracy. Of integrity. Of respect.

This is not a call for disengagement. It is a call for awareness, consistency, and responsibility.

At the Global Alliance for Tibet & Persecuted Minorities, we believe in engagement – but not at the expense of truth. Dialogue – but not dilution. Respect – but never silence.

The evening at Tramshed Theatre, followed by continued conversation over dinner at Kailash Momo Restaurant, reinforced a vital lesson: advocacy is not only about protest. It is about presence. About drawing clear lines – calmly, firmly, and without compromise.

Milarepa reminds us that transformation begins within. But in today’s world, integrity must also be visible – expressed through the words we choose, the narratives we affirm, and the positions we are willing to take.

There remains an opportunity here – for alignment between artistic truth and public voice.

It is an opportunity that should be recognised – and taken.

Tsering Passang is a London-based Tibetan blogger and the founder and chair of the Global Alliance for Tibet & Persecuted Minorities. A long-standing Tibetan human rights advocate, he works internationally to advance justice, freedom, and peaceful solutions for Tibetans and other persecuted communities living under authoritarian rule. His writing can be found at www.Tsamtruk.com.

Tsering Passang | 29 March 2026 |

Following my recent participation in the conference “DISSENT! Museums and Political Disagreement in a Time of Culture Wars and Conflict” at the University of Manchester, from 25–26 March 2026, I have been reflecting on both the discussions we had and the wider implications for Tibet and other marginalised histories.

Shortly after the roundtable, Dr Emma Martin, an organiser of the conference, wrote to me: “Thank you so much for joining the panel yesterday. Your work drew a lot of conversation and people attending the conference were really inspired by the discussion. I look forward to continuing these discussions in the coming months.”

That message captures something important. This was not just an academic gathering – it was a space where ideas translated into urgency, and where museum practice was openly questioned.

Museums Are No Longer Neutral

The conference brought together a wide range of voices – scholars, curators, artists, activists, and researchers working across Tibet, Palestine, Iran, India, Australia, Bangladesh, and beyond. As Bhanu Ghalot, a Chevening Scholar and practice-based researcher from Delhi, reflected:

“Loved hearing perspectives on museum and heritage projects and practices from Palestine, Tibet, Bangladesh, Iran, and more, so many voices we don’t always get to hear.

We talk so often about building knowledge for the practices of the Global South, but too often the messiness, tensions, and contradictions of these perspectives and practices get left out. This conference really leaned into that messiness, staying true to the theme of dissent and highlighting unconventional approaches, contested histories, and the critical tensions that shape museum and heritage work today.”

Her reflection speaks directly to what made the conference distinctive: it did not attempt to simplify or smooth over disagreement. Instead, it created space for complexity – and for voices that are often marginalised within institutional narratives.

For communities like Tibetans, who do not have equal access to global platforms, these spaces matter profoundly.

The Tibet Roundtable: From Theory to Practice

The Tibet roundtable, chaired by Dr Emma Martin, brought together:
– Dr Dawa Lokyitsang, International Institute for Asian Studies of Leiden University, The Netherlands
– Tenzin Namgyal (Tenam), International Tibet Network from Paris (online)
– and myself (online)

What stood out was how quickly the discussion moved beyond theory into lived and ongoing struggles.

Cultural Anthropologist Dr. Dawa Lokyitsang grounded the conversation in scholarly responsibility with her personal background as a Tibetan.

Tenam brought urgency through activism – particularly by highlighting the ongoing legal challenge involving the Guimet Museum in Paris, where the use of the term “Xizang” is being contested.

This is significant. It shows that the issue of naming Tibet is not isolated to one institution – it is systemic and transnational.

The Expanding Digital Dimension

The conference also pushed these questions beyond physical museum spaces into the digital realm. As Isabella Salsano, a legal scholar working on international law and cultural heritage, observed:

“Very glad to have kicked it off by speaking at the international conference – “DISSENT! Museums and Political Disagreement in a Time of Culture Wars and Conflict” at The University of Manchester.

My presentation looked at how algorithmic systems are increasingly shaping what becomes visible, sayable, and ultimately remembered in digital museum spaces. What might seem like a technical layer actually has significant implications for international law and human rights: when visibility is governed by opaque systems, certain narratives risk being pushed to the margins. This becomes especially delicate when we think about colonial collections, indigenous heritage, or the cultural expressions of communities living through occupation or conflict.

In these contexts, algorithmic mediation can inadvertently (or not…) reinforce existing asymmetries, raising questions that international cultural heritage law has only just begun to confront.

It also made me reflect on how international law and human rights are still catching up with all of this. We have strong frameworks to protect heritage and, to some extent, expression; but much less clarity when it comes to visibility, digital memory, and the quieter forms of exclusion that happen online.”

Her intervention is especially relevant to the Tibetan case. The politics of naming does not only unfold in gallery labels or exhibition texts; it is increasingly embedded in search systems, metadata, and digital archives.

In this sense, the issue is no longer just what museums say – but what is made visible, searchable, and retrievable in the first place.

My Intervention: The Politics of Naming Tibet

In my own contribution, I focused on a simple but urgent issue: how Tibet is being named in major institutions.

At the British Museum, Tibetan objects in the Silk Roads exhibition (Sept 2024 – Feb 2025) were labelled: “Tibet or Xizang Autonomous Region, China”.

The British Museum presented this as balanced. But from a Tibetan perspective, it is not.

“Xizang” is not a neutral term. It is a state-imposed designation, promoted by the Chinese government. Tibet was invaded by the People’s Republic of China in 1950, and the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) was established in 1965 after Beijing took full control of the Tibetan Buddhist nation. Its increasing use internationally, especially since Xi Jinping took office in Beijing, reflects power, not scholarly agreement.

For Tibetans, this is not semantics.
It is something much deeper: a gradual erasure of identity through language.

What I wanted to emphasise is this: terminology does not simply describe reality – it helps construct it.

Advocacy Can Work – But It Takes Pressure

Our response, through the Global Alliance for Tibet & Persecuted Minorities, was deliberate and sustained.

We engaged the institution through formal correspondence, Freedom of Information requests, and continued advocacy.

In the final weeks of the exhibition, the term “Xizang” was withdrawn.

But it also raises a harder question: how did such terminology enter museum practice in the first place?

The Harder Question: Influence Without Instruction

One of the most important discussions was about power operating indirectly. I described this as anticipatory compliance.

Institutions do not always need to be told what to do.

This creates a quiet alignment with powerful actors.

Reclaiming Tibetan History: A Different Outcome

Alongside these challenges, I also shared a more positive example.

Through our engagement with Bonhams, the Global Alliance for Tibet & Persecuted Minorities was able to secure the withdrawal of a historically significant 1947 correspondence between the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan Regent, and Sir Basil Gould.

These documents – from a time when Tibet was not under Chinese occupation – could easily have disappeared into private collections or state-linked archives.

Instead, they were repatriated to the Tibet Museum in Dharamsala, northern India, the seat of Tibet’s government-in-exile, the Central Tibetan Administration. Their return has already sparked meaningful discussion beyond the Tibetan community. Notably, Sir Basil Gould’s granddaughter, Mrs. France C. Cutler, is set to attend as a Special Guest at the Frontier Diplomacy: Britain, Tibet and Sir Basil Gould event hosted by the Tibet Museum in early April, alongside Sikyong Penpa Tsering, President of the Central Tibetan Administration, who will serve as Chief Guest.

The Global Alliance for Tibet & Persecuted Minorities encouraged Sir Basil Gould’s family to donate these documents to the Tibet Museum to coincide with the 90th birthday of the 14th Dalai Lama as well as to visit Dharamsala to meet with the Tibetan spiritual leader – a moment designated by the Central Tibetan Administration as a Year of Compassion.

For us, this was not simply about preservation.

It was about historical evidential value – ensuring that Tibet’s past remains accessible and interpretable beyond state control.

Because ultimately, where history is held shapes how history is told.

What Museums Must Now Confront

Reflecting on the discussions in Manchester, I believe there are clear actions museums must take:
– Use historically grounded terminology, not politically expedient language
– Engage affected communities as participants, not afterthoughts
– Ensure transparency in funding and partnerships
– Recognise indirect forms of influence, not just explicit interference

Neutrality is often presented as the goal.

But in unequal contexts, neutrality can reinforce the status quo.

Final Reflection

The conference made one thing clear to me:

We are living in a time where museums are no longer just about preserving the past – they are actively shaping the political realities of the present.

For Tibetans, this is deeply personal.

When the name “Tibet” is replaced, diluted, or qualified, something more than language is at stake.

It is about whether a people can still be recognised on their own terms.

But there is also reason for cautious optimism:
– the removal of “Xizang” from a major institution
– the legal challenge in Paris
– the recovery of Tibetan historical documents
– and the growing presence of Tibetan voices in these spaces

These are signs of movement.

The question now is not whether museums are neutral.

It is this: Will they remain aware of the power they hold – and the histories they may be reshaping?

Tsering Passang is a London-based Tibetan blogger and the founder and chair of the Global Alliance for Tibet & Persecuted Minorities. A long-standing Tibetan human rights advocate, he works internationally to advance justice, freedom, and peaceful solutions for Tibetans and other persecuted communities living under authoritarian rule. His writing can be found at www.Tsamtruk.com.

Tsering Passang | 25 March 2025 |

The passing of Kyabje Chime Rinpoche on 24 March 2026 at University College London Hospital marks the departure of a foundational figure in the history of Tibetan Buddhism in the United Kingdom. As one of the first Tibetan lamas to settle in England, Rinpoche served for decades as a living bridge between the ancient lineages of the Kham region and the first generation of Western seekers who encountered the Dharma in the 1960s. For many of those seekers, their first encounter with an authentic Tibetan teacher was through Chime Rinpoche himself.

The news was first shared by the Aldershot-based Buddhist Community Centre UK on social media. Its President, Ang Dawa Sherpa, stated:

“With deep sadness, we share the passing of Lama Chime Rinpoche, a highly respected Tibetan Buddhist master who greatly contributed to the spread of Tibetan Buddhism in the UK. He founded Marpa House, guided BCCUK from its early days, and served as a teacher and curator of the British Library’s Tibetan collection. May his teachings continue to inspire us all. Om Ami Dewa Rhi (108).”

The Tibetan Community in Britain also paid tribute, noting that Rinpoche was a deeply respected and active member who played a vital role in the community’s development over many decades, offering guidance, leadership, and unwavering support. The community extended heartfelt condolences to his family, students, and all those touched by his life and teachings.

His life also represented a vanishing link to a Tibet that existed before the profound political upheavals of the mid-twentieth century. As a Tibetan senior who was born into a world in which Tibet was still free – before the establishment of the People’s Republic of China on 1 October 1949, and before the subsequent occupation – his passing marks not only the loss of a great teacher, but the further fading of direct human memory of that earlier era. In this sense, his life forms part of a longer historical continuum that also includes Britain’s own early twentieth-century engagement with Tibet, such as the 1913 government scholarship programme that brought four Tibetan students – later known as the “Rugby Boys” – to the United Kingdom, and the presence of Sir Basil Gould, who represented the British Government at the enthronement of the 14th Dalai Lama in Lhasa in 1940. Rinpoche’s life, therefore, stands within a broader tapestry of cultural and historical connections between Tibet and Britain.

Early Life and Lineage

Born in 1941 near Jyekundo in eastern Tibet, Rinpoche was a descendant of the Radha family, the chieftains who originally donated the land upon which Benchen Monastery was built in the fourteenth century, in an act of devotion to the 4th Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche. Recognised at the age of two as the ninth incarnation of Chime Youngdong of Benchen Monastery, he received a complete traditional education, earning the degrees of Khenpo (Master of Studies), Kyorpon (Shrine Ritual Master), and Dorje Lobpon (Vajra Master). He also completed the full three-year, three-month solitary retreat of the Kagyü Karmapa lineage.

His training came from great masters. Both Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and the 9th Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche were his maternal uncles as well as his root gurus. From Sangye Nyenpa, he received the complete transmission of Mahamudra, and from Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche the complete transmission of Dzogchen. He also received direct instructions on the nature of mind from the master Khenpo Gangshar. These transmissions would later form the heart of his own teaching, a union of Mahamudra and Dzogchen conveyed with great simplicity and clarity.

Following the 1959 national uprising, Rinpoche fled Tibet via Bhutan to India, travelling alongside his root gurus and maternal uncles. In India, he attended the Young Lamas Home School, established in close collaboration with His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and the remarkable English-born Buddhist nun and social reformer Freda Bedi, who was instrumental in educating young Tibetan tulkus and preparing them for life and teaching in the wider world. Her work at this critical juncture ensured that the continuity of the lineage was not lost during the challenging period of exile. Rinpoche’s time in India, where he also began to learn English, equipped him for the entirely new mission that awaited him in the West.

The Buddhist Society and the Meeting with Bowie

In 1965, Rinpoche arrived in England and became associated with the Buddhist Society in London, where he served as a point of contact for curious young Londoners seeking to understand the Dharma. He encountered a teenage David Jones before he became David Bowie. Bowie vividly recalled the meeting with the Tibetan spiritual figure in a 2001 interview:

“One day, I walked into the office, and it was empty. I went down the stairs and saw a man in saffron robes. He said, in very broken English, ‘You are looking for me.’ I realised years later that it was a question, but as a 16-year-old, I took it as a statement, ‘You are looking for me.’”

For several months, Rinpoche served as Bowie’s teacher and friend. When the young musician expressed a desire to ordain as a monk, Rinpoche gave him counsel that would, in retrospect, shape popular music history: “You don’t want to be Buddhist… You should follow music.” Bowie paid tribute to his teacher on his 1967 debut album in the song “Silly Boy Blue,” written as an homage to his teacher and to the Tibetan Buddhist world Rinpoche had carried with him into exile. Tony Visconti later invited Rinpoche to advise on Bowie’s idea of staging a rock concert at the Potala Palace in Lhasa whilst recording Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) in 1980. Nothing materialised, but the warmth and mutual imaginative trust behind the idea is itself telling.

There is a live version of Bowie performed in 2001 at the New York-based Tibet House Benefit Concert in Carnegie Hall with Philip Glass on piano:

A Life of Service

Rinpoche’s approach to the Dharma was pragmatic. Choosing the life of a lay teacher, he married and raised a family whilst maintaining his responsibilities as a lineage holder. From 1973 to 1989, he served as Curator of the Tibetan Language Collection at the British Library, where he was instrumental in safeguarding and cataloguing thousands of rare manuscripts for future generations of scholars, ensuring that the literary heritage of Tibet survived not only as a monastic memory but within a great institutional archive.

In 1973, he established Kham Tibetan House in Ashdon, Essex, later renamed Marpa House, the first Tibetan Buddhist retreat centre in England. Over the following decades, Marpa House became a sanctuary for the transmission of Mahamudra and Dzogchen teachings. His Holiness the 16th Karmapa visited and gave Milarepa empowerments on his 1974–75 and 1977 European tours. Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche has also taught there, maintaining a living connection to the lineage from which Rinpoche himself had received his formation. It was during the 16th Karmapa’s 1975 visit that Rinpoche was formally recognised and installed as the Radha Tulku, one of the four principal incarnate lamas of Benchen Monastery.

Community and Legacy

Within the broader Tibetan diaspora, Rinpoche was a pillar of cultural continuity. He served as the first chairman of the Tibetan Community in Britain (1970–71) and was a generous patron of the Tibetan Community Dance Group, recognising that cultural expression through music and performance was as essential to identity in exile as prayer. He extended his patronage to the Tibet Society and the Buddhist Society, quietly supporting institutions that have served both spiritual seekers and the Tibetan cause for generations. He also served as President of the Tibetan Terrier Association, reflecting a commitment to preserving Tibetan life in all its dimensions.

Among his most enduring contributions was his formation of a community of lay students whom he authorised to carry on his teaching work, demonstrating that the Dharma could take root not only in monasteries but in ordinary professional and family life. Those who knew him remember a teacher of remarkable depth and authenticity, yet also of great warmth, humility, and gentle humour – a man whose “21st-century anecdotes” made the most timeless truths feel immediate and alive.

Kyabje Chime Rinpoche stands as a giant of the first generation of Tibetan lamas in the West. He was a master who showed that the essence of the Dharma is not found in titles or exoticism, but in the warmth of the heart and the clarity of the ordinary mind.

May his swift rebirth continue to benefit all sentient beings. Om Mani Padme Hum.

Tsering Passang is a London-based Tibetan blogger and former Chairman of the Tibetan Community in Britain. Tsering’s personal blog: www.Tsamtruk.com.

Tsering Passang | GATPM |

On Thursday, 19 March, I had the privilege of attending a timely and impactful meeting at Amnesty International UK’s office in London, convened by Benedict Rogers of Fortify Rights and hosted by Amnesty International UK’s Hong Kong Desk. The gathering brought together activists and representatives from Tibet, Burma, Hong Kong, and other affected communities – including Falun Gong practitioners and pro-democracy advocates from mainland China – by a shared commitment to human rights, freedom, and justice.

At a time of rising authoritarianism – where regimes are increasingly coordinated, emboldened, and willing to curtail fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression – the importance of strengthening alliances across our movements cannot be overstated. This meeting was a powerful example of that shared resolve.

I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Dr. Sasa for his powerful insights and steadfast leadership, and I look forward to remaining in close contact as we continue this vital work together.

Dr. Sasa’s journey is both remarkable and deeply inspiring. Born in a remote village in Chin State, he rose from humble beginnings marked by hardship and systemic neglect to become a medical doctor, humanitarian leader, and one of Burma’s most prominent voices for democracy. He went on to serve as Myanmar’s Special Envoy to the United Nations, as well as Union Minister for International Cooperation and Spokesperson for the National Unity Government (NUG) – the legitimate, democratically elected government of Myanmar.

In these roles, he became a leading international advocate for the Burmese people following the military coup, mobilising global support and exposing the atrocities committed by the junta. In December 2025, as part of broader reforms within the NUG, he transitioned from his ministerial role to launch new initiatives under a “People’s Platforms” framework, including the Institute of Peace and Federal Democracy (IPFD).

Reflecting on this transition, Dr. Sasa stated: “Serving the courageous people of Myanmar during the darkest period in our modern history has been the greatest honour of my life… Though this chapter closes, my commitment to our nation continues with even greater purpose.”

He further emphasised: “It is not a departure from our shared struggle, but a continuation of it in a new capacity.”

At the centre of our discussion was his ongoing effort to build coordinated international support. Currently in the UK, Dr. Sasa is engaging parliamentarians, government officials, and key stakeholders to strengthen cooperation in support of Burma’s democratic future.

The discussion itself was both sobering and galvanising. We heard stark accounts of realities on the ground: over 300 churches destroyed, widespread denial of fundamental freedoms, and a sham electoral process rejected by 95% of respondents in a recent survey. The scale of external influence – particularly from China, which supplies over 55% of the arms used by the military junta – underscores the geopolitical complexity and urgency of the crisis.

Dr. Sasa spoke with clarity and conviction about what is at stake:

“If Burma doesn’t become a fully democratic country, there will be no more Burma.”

He also issued a powerful call for unity: “Together – one voice, one mission, one future – we must stand united against Min Aung Hlaing and his unlawful junta.”

Crucially, he reminded us of the enduring spirit of the Burmese people and the necessity of unwavering commitment: “I will not rest until the people of Myanmar are free. We must never give up.”

He emphasised that the struggle in Burma is not isolated, but deeply interconnected with the experiences of Tibetans, Uyghurs, Hongkongers, and pro-democracy advocates from mainland China – all facing repression under authoritarian regimes. His message was clear: greater cooperation, coordination, and solidarity across these movements is essential to challenge impunity and uphold the aspirations of oppressed peoples.

Underscoring the need for accountability, he stated: “Perpetrators must not be allowed to travel freely.”

Western governments, including the UK and the US, have a critical responsibility to ensure that those responsible for atrocities are held accountable, while meaningfully supporting the democratic will of the Burmese people.

Through the Institute of Peace and Federal Democracy, Dr. Sasa continues to advance a vision rooted in inclusive governance, respect for diversity, and bottom-up federalism – amplifying the voices of Myanmar’s many communities and accelerating the path toward a genuine federal democracy.

This meeting served as a powerful reminder that the fight for freedom, justice, and human dignity transcends borders. In the face of growing authoritarian coordination, our response must be equally united, strategic, and sustained.

A GATPM Report | London |

On Tuesday, 10 March 2026, Tibetans and supporters across London commemorated the 67th anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising of 1959, renewing calls for freedom, justice, and human rights for the Tibetan people. The day brought together community members, parliamentarians, and human rights advocates through a series of events combining symbolic civic solidarity, peaceful demonstrations, and a public commemorative event.

Woolwich Town Hall – Civic Solidarity

The day began at Woolwich Town Hall, where the Tibetan national flag was displayed as a symbol of solidarity with the Tibetan people. The gathering was organised by the Greenwich Tibetan Association (GTA) in collaboration with the Royal Borough of Greenwich (RBG).

Although the formal flag-raising ceremony could not take place this year due to scaffolding and building repair works, the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and Deputy Leader warmly welcomed members of the Tibetan community and local residents for a photo session with the Tibetan flag. The Mayor’s Office confirmed that the Tibet Flag hoisting ceremony will resume next year, reflecting the borough’s continued support for the Tibetan cause.

Whitehall Rally – Parliamentary Support

Participants then gathered at Whitehall, opposite Downing Street, at the heart of the United Kingdom’s political landscape, for a rally highlighting the ongoing human rights situation in Tibet.

Speakers included:

• Lord David Alton, Chair of the Joint Committee on Human Rights
• Alicia Kearns MP, Shadow Minister for Home Affairs and former Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee
• Luke de Pulford, Co-founder and Executive Director of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC)
• Norman Baker, former UK Government Minister and a long-time Tibet supporter
• Phuntsok Norbu, Chairman of the Tibetan Community in Britain

Speakers emphasised the need for democratic governments to address ongoing human rights violations in Tibet and urged the Chinese government to respect the religious and cultural rights of the Tibetan people, including their right to determine their own spiritual leaders – particularly the recognition of the next Dalai Lama.

Following the rally, participants marched through central London in the annual Peace March, reaffirming the Tibetan people’s commitment to non-violence and peaceful advocacy.

Rally Outside the Chinese Embassy – Shared Struggles

The march concluded outside the Chinese Embassy, where activists from multiple communities expressed solidarity with Tibet and other persecuted peoples.

They highlighted the shared challenges faced by Tibetans, Uyghurs, and Hong Kongers, stressing the importance of international solidarity in defending human rights and freedom. Chants of “Free Tibet,” “China Out of Tibet,” “Human Rights in Tibet,” “Stop the Killing in Tibet,” and “Long Live the Dalai Lama” rang out, echoing across the Chinese Embassy compound where officials were at work.

Tibetan Commemorative Event – Indian YMCA

The day-long programme, organised by the Tibetan Community in Britain in association with the Global Alliance for Tibet & Persecuted Minorities, Free Tibet, Students for a Free Tibet, and the Voluntary Tibet Advocacy Group, concluded with a commemorative function at the Indian YMCA.

Held under the theme “Year of Compassion: Calling for Freedom and Justice in Tibet,” the function opened with the Tibetan national anthem, followed by a one-minute silence, a Buddhist prayer for world peace, and commemorative songs honouring those who sacrificed their lives during the 1959 uprising.

Her Excellency Madam Tsering Yangkey, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the United Kingdom, read the official Kashag statement and spoke about the importance of international solidarity. In an emotional address in Tibetan, she emphasised the urgent need to safeguard the Tibetan language, culture, and identity.

Phuntsok Norbu, Chairman of the Tibetan Community in Britain, highlighted the unity and resilience of the Tibetan diaspora and encouraged continued advocacy to ensure Tibet’s voice remains strong in the United Kingdom.

A deeply thoughtful address was delivered by Dr. Shao Jiang, a Chinese dissident, scholar-activist, and former student leader during the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, who was imprisoned as a political prisoner of conscience for his activism.

Reflecting on decades of Chinese rule in Tibet, Dr. Jiang argued that official narratives may have changed, but the underlying system of control has remained constant:

“For decades, the Chinese Communist Party has enforced its illegal occupation of Tibet under shifting slogans… The slogans change. The structure does not. Tibet has been ruled without Tibetan consent.”

He outlined four interconnected areas shaping Tibetan life today – land and livelihood, environment, language and culture, and religion – describing them as part of a broader structure of political domination.

“Land enclosure, resource extraction, linguistic marginalisation, and religious control form one integrated system.”

Dr. Jiang described the displacement of Tibetan communities, ecological exploitation of the Tibetan plateau, suppression of Tibetan language in education, and restrictions on Tibetan Buddhism.

Despite these challenges, he highlighted the resilience of Tibetans in exile, pointing to their democratic institutions and cultural initiatives as evidence of their capacity to shape their own future.

He concluded with a message of determination:

“Power cannot erase history. It cannot extinguish a people’s identity. We remain committed to self-determination, to basic freedoms, and to democratic participation… Tibet will be free.”

Advocacy and Youth Leadership

Benedict Rogers, Senior Director at Fortify Rights and co-founder of Hong Kong Watch, reaffirmed his solidarity with Tibet. He recalled meeting the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala three years ago and noted that ahead of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s visit to China in January 2026, 19 human rights organisations had urged the UK Government to raise concerns about Tibet.

Youth speakers Tenzin Rabga of Free Tibet and Kunsel Dorjee of Students for a Free Tibet spoke about the importance of sustaining the Tibetan freedom movement through youth activism and global grassroots engagement.

The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Drukthar Gyal, General Secretary of the Tibetan Community in Britain.

Tsering Passang, Founder-Chair of the Global Alliance for Tibet & Persecuted Minorities, who served as host of the afternoon event, reflected on the significance of the day:

“We honour the courage of the Tibetan people who rose up in Lhasa on 10 March 1959, and we reaffirm our commitment to freedom, justice, human rights, and the preservation of Tibet’s unique cultural and spiritual heritage.

“Sixty-seven years ago, tens of thousands of Tibetans rose peacefully to defend their freedom, dignity, identity, and their spiritual leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Their courage and sacrifice continue to inspire Tibetans and supporters across the world. As we commemorate this day in London, we gather in remembrance, solidarity, and hope – renewing our shared commitment to freedom, justice, and human dignity for the Tibetan people.”

Continuing the Call for Justice

The events held across Woolwich Town Hall, Whitehall, the Chinese Embassy, and the Indian YMCA demonstrated the strength of international solidarity with Tibet.

Speakers from Tibetan, Uyghur, and Hong Kong communities emphasised the interconnected nature of struggles for freedom and human dignity.

Sixty-seven years after the uprising in Lhasa, the message resonating across London was clear:

The Tibetan struggle for freedom, dignity, and cultural survival continues – sustained by resilience, global solidarity, and an enduring hope for justice.

Today, more than 1,500 Tibetans remain imprisoned for exercising their fundamental rights, while restrictions on language, religion, and cultural expression persist inside Tibet. Commemorations such as these ensure that the voices of Tibetans – both inside Tibet and in exile – continue to be heard around the world. 

Photos: Drukthar Gyal | 10 March 2026

Tsering Passang | London |

On Tuesday, 10 March 2026 at 9 am, members of the Tibetan community in the UK, local residents, and leaders of the Royal Borough of Greenwich gathered at Woolwich Town Hall to mark the 67th anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan National Uprising in Lhasa, Tibet’s capital, and to express solidarity with the Tibetan people.

Although the formal Tibet Flag Raising Ceremony could not take place this year due to ongoing scaffolding and essential building repair works at the Town Hall, the event remained a meaningful occasion for reflection, unity, and community engagement.

The gathering was graciously attended by the Mayor of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, Councillor Linda Bird, the Deputy Mayor Councillor David Gardner, the Deputy Leader of the Council Averil Lekau, and Cllr. Mariam Lolavar, also a cabinet member. They joined members of the Tibetan community and local residents for a group photograph with the Tibetan national flag in the Town Hall foyer. All the council leaders have previously participated in the Tibet Flag Raising Ceremony at the Town Hall in past years.

The event was also honoured by the presence of Her Excellency Madam Tsering Yangkey, Representative of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama at the Office of Tibet in London. She was joined by Mr. Phuntsok Norbu, Chairman of the Tibetan Community in Britain, along with leaders and members of the Greenwich Tibetan Association and other local residents.

Madam Tsering Yangkey expressed her sincere appreciation and gratitude to the Council leaders for their symbolic gesture and their continued support and solidarity with the Tibetan community. She thanked them for standing with the Tibetan people and encouraged their continued support for Tibetans’ peaceful struggle for freedom, justice, and human rights.

Facilitator of the Tibet flag initiative, Tsering Passang, also conveyed his heartfelt thanks to the leaders of the Royal Borough of Greenwich for their long-standing support of the Tibetan community. He recalled that the first Tibet flag raising in the borough took place in September 2015 as a welcoming gesture during the visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to London, when His Holiness delivered public teachings and talks to more than 10,000 people at The O2 and met with the then Mayor of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, Councillor Norman Adams. He further noted that the annual Tibet Flag Raising Ceremony has been held at Woolwich Town Hall since 2020 in collaboration with the Royal Borough of Greenwich. He also acknowledged the kind support and cooperation of the Mayor’s Office in facilitating this meeting between the Council leaders and the Tibetan community.

Mayor Linda Bird also shared her fond memories of participating in the celebration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 90th Birthday last July at the Tibetan Peace Garden in the grounds of the Imperial War Museum, where she addressed a large gathering of Tibetans and supporters during the commemorative event.

Hours after the meeting, the Royal Borough of Greenwich acknowledged the occasion on its official social media account, posting:

“Today we raised the Tibetan flag inside Woolwich Town Hall to mark Tibetan Uprising Day. Showing solidarity here in Royal Greenwich with those marking the day around the world to remember the events of 1959 and the resilience of Tibetan communities.”

Deputy Mayor Councillor David Gardner also shared his reflections in an X post, stating: 

“Honoured to mark the 67th anniversary of the Tibetan Uprising @Royal_Greenwich  with @CllrLindaBird  @averil_lekau  + Greenwich Tibetan community (UK’s largest) @tsamtruk”

While the traditional outdoor flag-raising ceremony could not be held this year, the leaders of the Royal Borough of Greenwich kindly assured the community that the official Tibet Flag Raising Ceremony will resume next year once the building works at the Town Hall are completed. Their presence and engagement with the Tibetan community served as a genuine gesture of friendship, solidarity, and continued support. They also conveyed their best wishes to the Tibetan community for the day’s programme of events, including the rally at Whitehall.

The meeting reaffirmed the borough’s respect for the Tibetan people and their peaceful quest for freedom, justice, and human rights through non-violent means, as well as their admiration for the Tibetan spiritual leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

The annual Tibet flag initiative in Greenwich, organised by the Greenwich Tibetan Association in collaboration with the Royal Borough of Greenwich, has become a meaningful symbol of civic solidarity. Woolwich Town Hall remains the only town hall in the United Kingdom that consistently demonstrates such visible civic support for the Tibetan people. On the same day, more than 300 towns and cities worldwide, including in Germany, France, and the United States, raise the Tibetan flag as a show of support and solidarity with the people of Tibet.

Despite the temporary limitations this year, the gathering demonstrated the strength, unity, and resilience of the Tibetan community in this Royal Borough and the continued goodwill of local civic leaders. The community looks forward to resuming the full Tibet Flag Raising Ceremony next year and continuing this important tradition of remembrance, solidarity, and friendship.

Tsering Passang | 9 March 2026 |

March 10 is not merely an anniversary for Tibetans. It is a day of national remembrance, political resolve, and global solidarity. As geopolitics shifts and China’s global influence deepens, this date has acquired renewed relevance – not only for Tibetans in exile, but also for democracies grappling with Beijing’s growing assertiveness and transnational repression.

From “Peaceful Liberation” to Military Invasion

After the Chinese Communist Party established the People’s Republic of China in 1949, Chairman Mao declared the “peaceful liberation” of Tibet from foreign imperialists. Soon afterwards, the People’s Liberation Army entered Tibetan territory from the eastern frontiers and never left the peaceful Buddhist nation, which has rich and unexploited natural resources, and also a geo-strategic location. For Tibetans, this marked the beginning of modern China’s invasion, which subsequently saw the death of over 1.2 million Tibetans and the destruction of Tibet’s great learning centres – over 6000 Buddhist monasteries and nunneries.

On 23 May 1951, Tibetan representatives in Lhasa signed the so-called “Seventeen-Point Agreement” with Beijing. Tibetans have consistently maintained that the agreement was signed under duress. Lukhangwa, the Tibetan Prime Minister, made clear in 1952 that the Tibetan people did not accept it.

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, then still a teenager, with very little option, chose to work with the Chinese authorities in an effort to prevent further destruction. In his memoir My Land and My People, he wrote that he did so to “save my people and country from total destruction.” For eight years, he attempted to honour the agreement.

In 1954, the Dalai Lama travelled to Beijing, where he met Mao Tsetung and Premier Zhou Enlai, both of whom assured him of Tibet’s future autonomy. In 1956, during a visit to India for the 2500th Buddha Jayanti celebrations, he discussed Tibet’s deteriorating situation with Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Although he considered seeking asylum, he was advised to return to Lhasa and pursue dialogue.

10 March 1959: The Uprising

By early 1959, tensions in Lhasa had reached breaking point. Around 20,000 Chinese troops were stationed in the capital, while fighting in eastern Tibet had already displaced thousands.

On 10 March 1959, amid fears that the Dalai Lama would be abducted after being invited to a Chinese military function without bodyguards, more than 30,000 Tibetans surrounded the Norbulingka Palace to protect him. The situation escalated rapidly. Days later, artillery shells landed near the Dalai Lama’s summer palace.

On the night of 17 March, disguised as a soldier, the young Dalai Lama escaped Lhasa. After a perilous journey, he reached India on 31 March 1959. Nearly 80,000 Tibetans followed him into exile in India, while many others fled to Nepal and Bhutan.

Democracy in Exile

In Dharamsala, northern India, the Tibetan leadership re-established itself as the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA). Over the decades, the Dalai Lama gradually introduced democratic reforms. In 2011, he formally relinquished political authority, transferring leadership to a directly elected Sikyong (President), marking the end of a 400-year-old tradition of combined spiritual and temporal leadership.

Today, Tibetans in exile elect both their Sikyong and their Chithues (Members of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile), reflecting a maturing democratic culture. These elections are not symbolic; they embody a deep commitment to democratic governance – standing in stark contrast to the authoritarian system imposed inside Tibet.

The exile administration has built schools, monasteries, healthcare centres, and cultural institutions across India, Nepal and Bhutan, preserving Tibetan identity under extraordinarily difficult conditions. Yet the diaspora faces mounting challenges: funding constraints, generational transition, questions of identity preservation, and increasing pressure stemming from Chinese diplomatic and economic leverage in host countries.

A Changing Geopolitical Landscape

The Tibet issue now unfolds within a dramatically altered geopolitical environment. China is no longer the isolated power of the 1950s; it is a global superpower with vast economic reach. Through trade, infrastructure projects, and political influence, Beijing shapes international responses to Tibet.

At the same time, concerns over human rights in Tibet intersect with broader global anxieties about Xinjiang (East Turkestan), Hong Kong, and Taiwan. The Chinese government’s insistence on its “One-China” Principle leaves no room for alternative identities or meaningful self-determination within territories it controls.

More troubling still is the rise of transnational repression. Tibetan activists in democratic countries report surveillance, intimidation, and pressure exerted on family members back in Tibet. This export of authoritarian control beyond China’s borders has become an increasingly visible feature of Beijing’s global posture.

Thus, March 10 has evolved from a commemoration of past tragedy into a platform to highlight ongoing repression and defend democratic values worldwide.

Annual Commemoration and Global Action

Every year on March 10, Tibetans across India, Nepal, Europe, North America, and Australasia hold prayer services, public gatherings, and political demonstrations. The Sikyong and the Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile issue official statements reviewing conditions inside Tibet and reaffirming the Tibetan people’s aspirations.

Grassroots organisations such as the Tibetan Youth Congress advocate for Rangzen – full independence – and organise protests outside Chinese embassies and at international institutions – calling for justice in Tibet.

In recent years, activism has adapted to global realities. Campaigns such as “Repeal One-China Policy” seek to challenge the diplomatic orthodoxy that sidelines Tibet. Prominent Tibetan activist-writer Tenzin Tsundue has mobilised supporters through long-distance marches and grassroots advocacy, symbolising resilience and visibility amid shrinking civic space.

In cities such as London, New York, Paris, Toronto, and Delhi, Tibetans and their supporters march to Chinese embassies, often stopping at symbolic sites – including Indian diplomatic missions – to underscore the regional dimension of the Tibet question. Acts of solidarity, including more than 300 towns and cities worldwide raising the Tibetan flag, send important moral signals even when governments remain cautious.

Why March 10 Still Matters

For Tibetans inside Tibet, open commemoration is impossible. Daily life is shaped by pervasive surveillance, restrictions on religious practice, limits on Tibetan-language education, and severe constraints on political expression. Information from within Tibet is tightly controlled, making the voice of the diaspora all the more vital. 

For younger Tibetans born in exile, March 10 represents both inheritance and responsibility – a reminder that their democratic freedoms were hard-won and must be safeguarded. In Nepal, expressions related to the Tibetan people’s political and human rights aspirations have also been banned, and under China’s growing influence, the country has increasingly been described by some observers as a “second Tibet.” 

For the international community, the day offers an opportunity to reassess policies shaped primarily by economic considerations. As China’s global influence expands, so too does the need for principled engagement rooted in human rights and the rule of law.

Nearly seven decades after the 1959 uprising, Tibetans remain stateless yet steadfast. Through the democratic election of Sikyong and Chithues, through peaceful protest, and through unwavering commitment to non-violence inspired by the Dalai Lama’s leadership, they continue to assert their identity and aspirations.

March 10 keeps the flame alive – not only for Tibet’s past, but for its future in a rapidly changing world.

Tsering Passang is a London-based Tibetan blogger and the founder–chair of the Global Alliance for Tibet & Persecuted Minorities. A long-standing Tibetan human rights advocate, he works internationally to advance justice, freedom, and peaceful paths for Tibetans and other persecuted communities living under authoritarian rule. His writing and advocacy works can be found at www.Tsamtruk.com.