Dharamshala: A Tibetan journalists' group, the Association of Tibetan Journalists (ATJ), based in Dharamshala, today released a statement that condemns the secret sentence held by the so-called Xining Chinese People’s Court in the province of Qinghai for 35-year-old moviemaker Dhondup Wangchen, who was sentenced to six years in prison on December 28, 2009, for the crime of “splitting the motherland,” an offence supposedly stemming from his documentary “Leaving Fear Behind”.

Bodhgaya: At the end of this four day-long traditional prayer ceremony, which began on the 24th of last month, the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA) presented a drama about Jetsun Milarepa, one of Tibet's most famous yogis and poets, and a major figure in the history of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. The drama was based on the seven chapter-long biography of Milarepa, written by His Eminence the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa.

Dharamshala: Hundreds of Tibetans and well-wishers carrying incense, traditional scarves (khata) and bouquets lined the road in Dharamshala this morning as His Holiness the Dalai lama left for visits to Gujarat and Bodhgaya.

Dharamshala: Hundreds of Tibetans in Lithang County staged a hunger strike last month for the release of Trulku Tenzin Delek Ringpoche, a popular local religious figure who was arrested by Chinese authorities under false charges. In response, the Chinese authorities cracked down on the protestors, arresting 160 and seriously injuring 20.

Bangalore, December 25; The fifth annual Tibetan Women's Leadership Program (TWLP) commenced today in Bangalore. Organized by the Tibetan Women's Association (TWA), the program gathered 27 young female participants from 10 different colleges and 6 states in India: Tamil Nadu, Hyderbad, Karnataka, Gujurat, Delhi and Himachal Pradesh.

Dharamshala: Central Tibetan Government In-Exile released a statement today to extend its heartfelt condolences to the family of Ngabo Ngawang Jigme, a former Tibetan minister who assumed various military and political responsibilities in Tibet both before and after 1959.