Office of Tibet-London’s inaccurate and misleading claim must be corrected: Tibetan Losar Celebration was first held in the UK Parliament in 2018, not in 2024

(By Tsering Passang, a concerned Tibetan in London)

After careful consideration, I decided to post this on my blog to put the record straight in public for future references.

The Tibetan Losar Celebration in the UK Parliament was first held in 2018, and not in 2024, as wrongly reported/claimed by the London-based Office of Tibet.

I sent my letter (see below) to Tibetan media houses and other key stakeholders, yesterday, 21st February 2024, who unwittingly aided the spread of these inaccuracies through their news coverage and interview with the concerned CTA official based in the Office of Tibet-London.

The Voice of Tibet, Radio Free Asia and Voice of America all agreed to look into their reporting and address it accordingly. As of this morning, Tibet.net has only amended the headline of the news article in question but the factual inaccuracy still remains in the main article. In an ideal situation, the London-based Office of Tibet should have immediately rectified the inaccuracy, by issuing clarification notes to the media houses and other stakeholders.

If inaccuracies are not rectified, one way or another, in 50 or 100 years down the line future generations (Tibetans or non Tibetans) will believe the wrong reportage that the first Tibetan Losar celebration was held in UK Parliament in 2024, when it was actually in 2018. My only intention here is to present the facts. If still unconvinced, I have suggested them to contact the Offices of Tim Loughton MP and Chris Law MP, co-chairs of APPG Tibet.

If the Office of Tibet-London and others don’t rectify the inaccuracies on their platforms having presented the facts by someone who was closely associated with the Losar celebration event first held in the UK Parliament in 2018, then I am afraid we are recording a wrong historical event.

(Copy of my Letter sent to Tibetan media houses and key stakeholders):

21st February 2024

FAO: Editors and Directors of

CC: Tim Loughton MP, Chris Law MP

Dear Editors / Directors,

I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to express my concern regarding a recent news article published and reported by your organisations and media outlets – Tibetan New Year Celebrated in the UK Parliament for the First Time. This news was first published in Tibet.net on 8th February 2024, which was filed by the London-based Office of Tibet. Having seen this news on your platforms, I also came across certain media interviews with Office of Tibet-Secretary Lochoe Samten-la who reiterated and confirmed this false claim. Furthermore, it appeared that the London-based CTA official also repeated this misleading claim during the Losar celebrations in UK Parliament on 7th February and at the Stratford Town Hall on 10th February.

After reading the piece in Tibet.net, I felt compelled to address this inaccuracy and misleading information presented in the article, a false narrative started in London. Needless to mention so many Tibetans and others, including guests who participated in the first Losar celebration event in Parliament in 2018 have expressed to me their concern and disappointment regarding this misleading and inaccurate news.

Such misleading information created and distributed by CTA officials could jeopardise the reputations built over the decades by many. This inaccurate claim may seem small and simple in one sense, but this must be corrected with immediate effect for the sake of truth, honesty and integrity of these important offices, which have important roles to play for our Tibetan freedom struggle.

The Fact: For the record, the Tibetan Losar Reception was first held in the UK Parliament on Wednesday, 21st February 2018, from 8pm to 9pm in MacMillan Room, Portcullis House. (Please see evidence below, poster, communication and coverage by the Tibet Sun.)

The Losar Reception was organised by The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Tibet and the Tibet Society, its Secretariat, with the full support and cooperation of Honourable Tim Loughton MP and his Office, led by his senior staff Kari Sargeant. In the absence of Tim Loughton MP that day, the other Co-Chair of APPG Tibet – Chris Law MP hosted the Losar Reception. Four visiting Buddhist monks from Gyuto Monastery in India chanted Buddhist prayers for World Peace and members of the Tibetan Community Dance Group presented cultural performances with speeches by MPs and Tibet Society’s executives. Tibet Society’s Advocacy Officer Gloria Montgomery liaised with Tim’s Office and successfully organised this historic Losar Reception event in the UK Parliament. In addition to facilitating the Gyuto monks for this special cultural event in the Parliament, Tenzin Dakpa, proprietor of Kailash Momo Restaurant sponsored the refreshments for the Losar Reception. 

The initial idea of the Tibetan Losar Reception in the UK Parliament was conceived in 2016 and finally got to implement in 2018 after the Tibet Society Council’s appointment of Tsering Passang as its Special Adviser. (See Tsering Passang’s initial communication with Tim Loughton MP and his office, sent on 21st December 2017.)

I view it as essential for the Tibet.net and media houses like yours to uphold the highest standards of journalism by ensuring accuracy and fairness in reporting. In this case, the inaccuracies, reported by the London-based Office of Tibet, present a distorted fact of the events and have already misled readers, potentially damaging the reputation of individuals or all organisations involved, including the media houses. In an ideal situation, the London-based Office of Tibet should have immediately rectified the inaccuracy, by issuing clarification notes to the media houses and other stakeholders.

Someone, who has long been campaigning for truth and justice for Tibet and the Tibetan people, including against the BBC for running their distorted facts on our spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 2023, their action encouraged other local and national media houses coverage on the subject, it is my duty to urge you all concerned, especially the CTA offices, to rectify the errors published / covered on your platforms by issuing a correction or clarification in a timely manner. Doing so will not only uphold the integrity of your media houses but also demonstrate your commitment to providing accurate and reliable information to your readership and audience.

As a concerned reader and seeker of truth and justice, I trust that you will take appropriate action to address this matter promptly for the sake of public records and for future references. If you require any further information or clarification regarding the events in question, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to seeing the necessary corrections made in your outlets. I’ll appreciate a copy of your corrections.

Sincerely,

Published in Tibet Sun

https://www.tibetsun.com/news_you_witness/2018/02/23/reception-in-uk-parliament-to-celebrate-tibetan-new-year

Reception in UK Parliament to celebrate Tibetan New Year

By Riki Hyde-Chambers | Tibet Society

LONDON, UK, 23 February 2018:

On the evening of 21 February 201, Tibet Society and the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet (APPGT) hosted a joint reception to celebrate the Tibetan New Year (Losar) in the UK Parliament.

The reception included a performance by monks from the Gyuto Monastery in India who are world renowned for their deep harmonic chanting of traditional Tibetan prayer, as well as a performance by members of the Tibetan Community in Britain, Jamyang Dorjee and Tenzin Samphel.

The Gyuto order was originally based in Lhasa, Tibet. Following the Chinese invasion in 1950, thousands of men, women, and children were massacred. Only 59 Gyuto monks were able to escape and followed His Holiness the Dalai Lama into exile in India.

Speaking at the reception, Tsering Tashi, vice-chair of Tibet Society, said: 

“Today, there are over 500 monks living in the Gyuto monastery in India, and through their hard work and dedication, they have been able to keep alive the Gyuto’s unique tradition of overtone prayer chanting dating back more than 6000 years.” He also added that the Gyuto monks “are and have been the most wonderful ambassadors for the just cause of Tibet, Tibetan culture, and world peace.”

During the event, the Gyuto monks expressed their concern at the ongoing human rights situation in Tibet:

“We are deeply concerned at the lack of religious freedom in Tibet, which is currently occupied by China. We would like to take this opportunity to urge all the parliamentarians as well as the UK government to press China to respect the right to freedom of religion and belief for all peoples in China and in our Tibetan homeland.”

Co-Chair of the APPGT, The Rt Hon Chris Law MP, encouraged his fellow MPs to join the group in promoting and protecting human rights in Tibet and reiterated his firm belief in the right of the Tibetan people to self-determination.

The reception ended with President of Tibet Society, The Rt Hon Norman Baker, handing out khatas (a Tibetan scarf offering) and certificates to MPs, diplomatic staff, and highly-valued supporters of the Tibetan cause.

This was the first-ever Parliamentary Losar reception. It was hosted by Chris Law MP, Co-Chair of the APPGT, and compered by Rt. Hon. Norman Baker, President of Tibet Society. We hope this to be an annual event going forward.

In attendance: MPs, Representatives of various diplomatic embassies, International Campaign for Tibet, Free Tibet, Tibetan Community of Britain, Lelung Dharma Centre, and members of the Tibet Society.

Below poster shared by Honourable Tim Loughton’s office to MPs and invited guests.

Tibet Society’s Special Adviser – Tsering Passang’s communication re: Tibetan Losar Reception in UK Parliament with Tim Loughton MP and his staff Kari Sargeant – sent on 21st December 2017:

Dear Tim Loughton and Kari, 

Good morning! May I first thank you both for your wonderful support during Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay’s recent engagement in the parliament. I always appreciate your vital contribution to keeping the issue of Tibet alive through your good offices. 

After speaking to Riki and Tsering Tashi yesterday I am pleased to confirm now that we have secured the availability of the five visiting Gyuto Monks from India, who are currently on UK Tour of “Open Mind, Loving Heart” (please see below for their background), for the Losar Reception (Tibetan New Year celebration) at the Parliament anytime between 19th and 24th February 2018. I hope this gives us plenty of options for room booking.

The Tibetan New Year falls on 16th February next year. Riki suggests the reception starting at 6 pm. The Gyuto Monks are famous for their deep throat chanting, Richard Gere is a big-time supporter of the monks especially with their US tours. 

Gyuto Monks chanting and Sand Mandala creation: In addition to the Sacred Buddhist chanting, the monks can do a live exhibition of the creation of the Sand Mandala at the reception, so I suggest, if it’s possible, please book the room for one and half hours for the reception (this includes Tim’s welcome address, monks chanting and thank you note from Riki or Tsering Tashi and enjoyment of food and drinks whilst watching the sand mandala being created). It would be great if we can get access to the room an hour before the event for the preparation. 

With regards to the detailed arrangement, we shall discuss in the coming weeks, after the New Year, but our initial thought is that food/drinks are to be placed order in-house catering, and few additional bits for e.g. Khabsey (Tibetan cookies) and Dresil (ceremonial rice) are to be brought from outside if this is allowed. 

The marking of the Losar (Tibetan New Year) is a celebration of Tibetan culture, a show of respect, support and recognition of the peaceful Tibetan culture, a joyful occasion too! This can be a good way of engaging with our parliamentarians, their assistants and other key stakeholders. 

We hope the Losar event becomes an annual event for the APPGT and Tibet Society in the parliament as part of a continued engagement with key stakeholders (enabling the Tibetan issue being kept alive through this event). In the US, the State Department officially hosts the Tibetan Losar in a show of support to Tibetan culture. 

Invitees: In addition to the MPs invitation and concerned FO officials as well as other key stakeholders, we would like to invite a limited number of the Tibet Society supporters as part of ongoing engagements. 

I am copying this email to Gloria, in addition to Riki and Tsering Tashi, who is our key staff and liaising with the key contacts for this special event.  

If you require any information, please feel free to email me or call me on 07927 376 532. Finally, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year!

NOTE: The author has been noting the development of this false reporting by CTA and several other Tibet media houses. As of 28th February 2024:

RFA Tibetan

The Radio Free Asia (RFA) Tibetan noted its oversight and issued its Correction immediately. Here is the link to the news article: https://www.rfa.org/tibetan/sargyur/losar-uk-02092024154733.html

Tibet.net

Received a note from Tibet.net Editor confirming the correction of the earlier inaccurate reporting. Here is the link to the corrected news article: https://tibet.net/tibetan-new-year-celebrated-in-the-uk-parliament/

TibetTV

The misreporting broadcast by TibetTV still remains uncorrected. Have not seen any note to this effect. Here is the link to the original inaccurate broadcast: https://youtu.be/G3ZlImgJz_o

VOA Tibetan

It appears that the VOA Tibetan, a leading Tibet news agency based in Washington DC, has yet to rectify its inaccurate reporting of this news. The VOA’s interview of false claim by the CTA official is still available at: https://www.voatibetan.com/a/tibetan-new-year-celebrated-in-the-uk-parliament-for-the-first-time—2024-tibetan-lunar-year-2151-/7480625.html

Author’s Note: “If inaccuracies are not rectified, one way or another, in 50 or 100 years down the line future generations (Tibetans or non Tibetans) will believe the wrong reportage that the first Tibetan Losar celebration was held in UK Parliament in 2024 when it was actually in 2018. Having already presented facts to the concerned stakeholders and if they still refuse to take corrective actions, I am afraid we are recording a wrong historical account of this Tibetan cultural event held in the UK Parliament.” Tsering Passang.