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The Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama apologized Monday after a video that showed him asking a boy to suck his tongue triggered a backlash on social media. What do you think?
“It looks like the Chinese Communist Party was right once again.”
Ella Tamas, Kiln Supervisor
“People hear ‘suck my tongue’ and assume it’s sexual.”
Jaren Torres, Unemployed
“This is just a cynical attempt to draw followers away from the Catholic Church.”
Gavin Rodriguez, Drone Cleaner
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BEIJING — China has sanctioned two U.S. individuals in retaliation for action taken by Washington over human rights abuses in Tibet, the government said Friday, amid a continuing standoff between the sides over Beijing’s treatment of religious and ethnic minorities.
The Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Todd Stein and Miles Yu Maochun, along with their close family members, would be banned from entering China.
Any assets they had in China would be frozen and they would be barred from contact with people or organizations within China.
The notice said the measures were in response to the U.S. sanctioning two Chinese individuals “under the excuse of the ‘Tibet human rights’ issue.” Neither could immediately be reached for comment.
On Dec. 9, the U.S. imposed sanctions on Wu Yingjie, the top official in Tibet from 2016 to 2021, and Zhang Hongbo, the region’s police chief since 2018.
“Our actions further aim to disrupt and deter the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) arbitrary detention and physical abuse of members of religious minority groups in the Tibetan Autonomous Region,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in announcing the sanctions.
An accompanying Treasury Department notice said Wu had been responsible for “stability policies” in Tibet whose implementation involved “serious human rights abuse, including extrajudicial killings, physical abuse, arbitrary arrests, and mass detentions.”
It said that during Zhang’s tenure, police have been engaged in serious human rights abuses, including “torture, physical abuse, and killings of prisoners, which included those arrested on religious and political grounds.”
The Chinese announcement gave no specific accusations against Stein and Yu.
Stein has been deputy staff director at the Congressional-Executive Commission on China since 2021 and previously served as senior advisor to Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights Sarah Sewall, including serving as her lead staffer on Tibetan issues. Previously, he was director of government relations at the monitoring group International Campaign for Tibet.
The Chinese-born Yu is a senior academic who taught at the U.S. Naval Academy and a noted critic of the regime of Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping. He served as key China adviser under former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
China in recent years has passed legislation mandating tit-for-tat sanctions against foreign individuals from the U.S., the EU and other countries over perceived slights against its national interests. Washington and others have compiled a long list of Chinese officials barred from visiting or engaging in transactions with their financial institutions ranging from the leader of the semi-autonomous city of Hong Kong to local officials accused of human rights abuses.
China claims Tibet has been part of its territory for centuries, although backers of the exiled Buddhist leader the Dalai Lama say it was functionally independent for most of that time.
Communist forces invaded in 1950 and China has ruled the Himalayan region with an iron fist ever since, imposing ever stricter surveillance and travel restrictions since the last uprising against Beijing’s rule in 2008. Lengthy prison sentences in dire conditions are imposed for acts of defiance, including defending the region’s unique language and Buddhist culture from attempts at assimilation.
China has also been accused of detaining hundreds of thousands of Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in reeducation camps as part of a campaign to wipe out their native language and culture, including through forced adoptions and sterilizations. China denies such charges, saying it has only been fighting terrorism, separatism and religious extremism.
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Press Release
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updated: Jul 3, 2018
NEW YORK, July 3, 2018 (Newswire.com)
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Every year on July 6th since his 80th birthday New Yorkers have come together to celebrate H.H. the Dalai Lama’s birthday. The event will be held on Friday, July 6 at 6:00 to 9.30pm, at Marriott Essex House located at 160 Central Park South, New York City. The event is being organized by Gaia Holistic Foundation, The Tibet Fund and Orphans International Worldwide.
Because Tibet has no country nor embassy, a group started to gather on the birthday of H.H. and celebrate his life to convey his most important teaching: “Compassion.” To introduce the idea of ‘World Peace through Compassion’ to the nations of the world and to people who are suffering.
“Compassion means understanding of others and all sentient beings. We celebrate with those who sympathize with this and wish peace for all. Through this kind of caring for others, we can send out energy of collective sympathy throughout the world.”
Kazuko Tatsumura Hillyer, Founder, Gaia Holistic Foundation
The director of Gaia Holistic Foundation, Dr. Kazuko Tatsumura-Hillyer states “Compassion means understanding of others and all sentient beings. We celebrate with those who sympathize with this and wish peace for all. Through this kind of caring for others, we can send out energy of collective sympathy throughout the world.”
“Over 150 people will do this together at our dinner gala, with flags of all nations in hands, and together we will send out this caring energy to the people of each country, creating the ‘100 monkeys effect.’ In addition to Tibetan Monks prayer for H.H. the Dalai Lama’s long life, major religious groups will also pray for the same meaning in their own words. Christian, Jewish, Moslem, Buddhist, native Tribes, and Hindu practitioners will join with us,” she states.
This year’s “World Peace through Compassion” awards will be given to Arvol Looking Horse from Sioux Tribe of the Lacota Nation and Eric Ripert from Le Bernadin for their contributions to the World Peace through Compassion. In addition, the Humanitarian Award will be given to broadcaster Rita Cosby. There will be also performances of Tibetan music and dancers, and Red Hawks Native Tribes. There will be the flag ceremony representing over 190 nations.
In this troubled world especially with so many thousands of displaced refugees, we need to send out the energy of caring for others and pray for the elimination of suffering. This is so appropriate to do this together on H.H.’s Birthday.”
The event is co-sponsored each year by Gaia Holistic Foundation, The Tibet Fund, and Orphans International Worldwide and endorsed by many NGOs
About Gaia Holistic Foundation: Dr.Kazuko Tatsumura-Hillyer, Founder, Director and Philanthropist
Gaia Holistic, Inc. (http://www.gaiaholistic.com) Gaia Holistic strives for the betterment and the happiness of all sentient beings on this planet, constantly working toward dispelling of suffering through various programs building orphanages throughout the world including Manjushree in Himalayas & others and Holistic Medical therapy called Onnetsu Therapy, using unique patented method. Facebook.
About the Tibet Fund: Lobsang Nyandak, President
The Tibet Fund’s mission is to preserve the distinct cultural and national identity of the Tibetan people (www.tibetfund.org). They promote self-reliance and help sustain the cohesiveness of the exile community. In Tibet, their support is directed to orphanages, eye care and other health programs and educational projects that aid impoverished and marginalized Tibetans. Facebook.
About Orphans International Worldwide: Jim Luce, Director
The Mission of Orphans International Worldwide, Inc. (www.OrphansInternational.org) has worked to support orphaned children in Africa, Asia, and the Americas since it’s founding in 1999, including Manjushree Orphanage for Tibetan Children in the Himalayan mountains of India. Facebook.
Media Contact: Dr. Kazuko 212-799-9711 (O), 917-319-0060 (M), Kazuko@gaiaholistic.com
Source: Gaia Holistic Foundation
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