Thousands killed as earthquake hits Tibetan areas (International Campaign for Tibet, May 13th, 2008)
A magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck Sichuan province yesterday (May 12), killing an estimated 12,000 people according to official sources, with the number expected to rise. The epicenter of the earthquake was located in Lungu County (Ch: Wenchuan), Ngaba Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (Ch: Aba) in Sichuan Province (the Tibetan area of Kham).

Message for earthquake victims (His Holiness the Dalai Lama, May 13th, 2008)
I am deeply saddened by the loss of many lives and many more who have been injured in the catastrophic earthquake that struck Sichuan province of China. I would like to extend my deep sympathy and heartfelt condolences to those families who have been directly affected by the strong earthquake on 12 May 2008. I offer my prayers for those who have lost their lives and those injured in the quake.

U.S. Senators Ask White House for Action Plan on Tibet (May 13th, 2008)
On May 9, U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Joe Biden (D-DE), Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and John Kerry (D-MA) wrote to President Bush asking the Administration to take a number of concrete steps to addresses the ongoing crisis in Tibet. The letter is a follow-up to a April 23 Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee hearing on Tibet chaired by Sen. Boxer, in which she and other senators called for an action plan on Tibet, and which featured Special Envoy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama Lodi Gyari and ICT Chairman Richard Gere.

Dalai Lama's envoys hold press conference following talks (International Campaign for Tibet, May 8th, 2008)
The Dalai Lama's envoys reported back today on talks with officials from the United Front Work Department in Shenzhen, China, on Sunday [May 4]. Special Envoy Lodi Gyari, speaking to press in Dharamsala, India, after briefing the Dalai Lama, referred to the significance of a comment by Chinese President and Party Secretary Hu Jintao yesterday that "our attitude towards contacts and consultation with the Dalai Lama is serious". Lodi Gyari said: "It is welcome that the leader of such an important nation stands in front of the world and says that China is serious about the relationship at the highest level. Not only was it a direct comment about the recent meeting that took place, but it was also in the context of a historic press conference [with Japanese PM Yasuo Fukuda]." President Hu's visit to Tokyo marks the first time in 10 years that a Chinese president has visited Japan, and is widely regarded as an effort to repair strained relations between the two nations. Lodi Gyari added that it was encouraging because many Tibetans as well as many world leaders were skeptical, for good reason, about the dialogue process.

Vermont State Senate passes Tibet resolution (International Campaign for Tibet, May 6th, 2008)
Following China's crackdown in Tibet since protests began on March 10, the Vermont State Senate passed a resolution expressing "its strong opposition to the government of the People's Republic of China's fundamental human rights violations in the geographic areas known as Tibet".

Dalai Lama's envoys to begin talks in China (International Campaign for Tibet, May 2nd, 2008)
The Dalai Lama's office announced in a statement today that the Dalai Lama's Special Envoy, Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari, along with Envoy Kelsang Gyaltsen, will arrive in China on May 3 for "informal talks" with Chinese leadership. The envoys will "convey His Holiness the Dalai Lama's deep concerns about the Chinese authorities' handling of the situation and also provide suggestions to bring peace to the region."

President George W. Bush calls on China to engage in substantive dialogue (International Campaign for Tibet, May 2nd, 2008)
US President George W. Bush speaking yesterday to a gathering of Asian Americans at the White House, said "I welcome the recent statements by the Chinese government expressing its willingness to meet with representatives of the Dalai Lama - precisely what I have suggested President Hu Jintao do. I think it's important that there be a renewed dialogue, and that dialogue must be substantive so we can address in a real way the deep and legitimate concerns of the Tibetan people." The Central Tibetan Administration in Dharamsala, India, announced today that envoys of the Dalai Lama were due to arrive in China on Saturday May 3 for "informal talks with representatives of the Chinese leadership."

His Holiness the Dalai Lama's Envoys to leave for China (Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, May 2nd, 2008)
His Holiness the Dalai Lama's Special Envoy Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari and Envoy Kelsang Gyaltsen will arrive in China on May 3, 2008 for informal talks with representatives of the Chinese leadership.

First sentences since Tibet protests began: monks to serve life, 20 years (International Campaign for Tibet, April 30th, 2008)
The Chinese authorities have announced the first sentences of Tibetans, ranging from three years to life, since the protests and unrest began on the Tibetan plateau on March 10. Thirty sentences were handed down yesterday in connection with the riots in Lhasa on March 14, according to a Xinhua report, citing the Intermediate People's Court of Lhasa. One monk was sentenced to life, and two others to 20 years.

Mass detentions of monks, suicides and despair as enforced condemnation of Dalai Lama provokes dissent (International Campaign for Tibet, April 29th, 2008)
Mass detentions of monks have continued in the past week and more monasteries have been sealed off by armed troops as a rigorous patriotic education campaign across the Tibetan plateau leads to increasing unrest. As the crackdown deepens, reports have reached ICT of the suicide of monks in different areas in protest at hardline policies or in despair due to the climate of fear and uncertainty. New images published on ICT's website show pictures of the Dalai Lama and important religious teachers that have been defaced by troops or officials, and further reports have emerged of officials or police trampling on photographs of the Tibetan religious leader.

International opinion influences China's call for meeting with Dalai Lama representative (International Campaign for Tibet, April 25th, 2008)
In an unprecedented public move, Chinese state media issued a statement today saying that Chinese officials will have "contact and consultation" with the Dalai Lama's representative "in the coming days", and claimed that "the door to dialogue has remained open".

Authorities prepare ceremony for Olympic torch in Potala Square: fear prevails in Lhasa during crackdown (International Campaign for Tibet, April 24th, 2008)
As the crackdown deepens in Tibet and people continue to 'disappear' almost every day in Lhasa, preparations are underway by the authorities for a ceremony known as 'safeguard the torch and love one's country' to be held in the Potala Square to mark the torch's ascent of Mt. Chomolungma (Everest) in early May. The ceremony, which is likely to be attended by thousands of Chinese people, is due to take place when the torch passes through Lhasa, according to a report published on a well-known and unofficial Chinese language website citing several sources. It will take place against the backdrop of the Dalai Lama's former home, the Potala Palace, the political and religious center of Tibetan government before the Chinese invasion and the Dalai Lama's escape into exile. The report stated that travel agencies in Lhasa had been informed about the ceremony.

US government urged to enact an ‘action plan’ on Tibet (International Campaign for Tibet, April 24th, 2008)
The Senate Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs, chaired by Senator Barbara Boxer, on April 23 convened a hearing on "The Crisis in Tibet: Finding a Path to Peace", where members of the committee discussed working with the Bush administration on an "action plan" on Tibet to highlight several key areas the US government should use as leverage for improving the human rights situation in Tibet, as well as encouraging dialog between the Chinese government and representatives of the Dalai Lama.

U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Testimony (Lodi Gyari, Special Envoy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, April 23rd, 2008)

Senate Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs
Testimony of Mr. Lodi Gyari
Special Envoy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama
April 23, 2008

ICT testifies to Dutch MPs, Green MPs call for Dalai Lama invite to Dutch Parliament (April 23rd, 2008)
On Tuesday 23 April, the Executive Director of ICT Europe, Ms. Tsering Jampa, testified before the Dutch Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee on the current situation in Tibet. The hearing on Human Rights in China was called for parliamentarians to gather information and perspectives from Dutch civil society ahead of a General Debate in the Parliament with the Dutch Prime Minister on 13 May.