NEWSLETTERS
Tibet Update – February 2026
INSIDE:
Updates from ICT’s International Leadership Team
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Get the latest news and updates directly from ICT President Tencho Gyatso and the Executive Directors of all three ICT offices from their meeting in Brussels.
CTA preliminary election demonstrates Tibetan commitment to democracy
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ICT congratulates the Central Tibetan Administration on the successful completion of the first stage of its global elections on February 1, 2026, in a democratic, free and fair process.
Tibetan monk released early from prison, remains under strict surveillance
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Trinley Gyatso, a monk from Kirti Monastery in Ngaba, was released in November 2025 before the completion of his five-year sentence. However, ICT has learned from sources inside Tibet that Chinese authorities have placed him under intense surveillance.
Prayers for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s long life offered by former Tibetan political prisoners
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Last week an estimated 4,000 people gathered at the Main Tibetan Temple in Dharamsala, India to offer prayers for the long life of the Dalai Lama. The prayers were requested and supported by former Tibetan political prisoners, who now live 15 countries around the world.
New US Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues hosts Losar event
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ICT warmly welcomes US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s appointment of Mr. Riley M. Barnes to serve as the US Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, and thanks Barnes for hosting the State Department’s annual celebration of Losar, Tibetan New Year, on February 17, 2026.
Anya Sengdra released from Chinese prison
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Anya Sengdra, a prominent Tibetan environmental defender and anti-corruption whistleblower, was released from Mianyang Prison on February 7, 2026. Sengdra’s seven-year sentence ended last year but Chinese authorities arbitrarily extended it by a year before suddenly releasing him earlier this month.
US FY2026 budget preserves crucial Tibet funding
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ICT welcomes the retention of Tibet-related foreign assistance in the fiscal year 2026 Consolidated Appropriations Act, which passed both houses of Congress and was signed into law on February 3, 2026. The bill’s preservation of Tibet clearly reaffirms enduring bipartisan US support for the Tibetan people.
Statement from the ICT Board of Directors on Tenzin Kalsang Gonta and Uzra Zeya
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The Board of Directors of the International Campaign for Tibet is pleased to welcome to ICT’s Board two dynamic leaders and defenders of Tibetans’ human rights and self-determination – Tenzin Kalsang Gonta and Uzra Zeya. The Board elected Gonta and Zeya during its meeting on December 9, 2025.
ICT presses G7 sherpas to integrate Tibet into summit talks on China’s global role
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In preparation for the 2026 G7 Summit in France on June 14 to 16, ICT sent a letter to G7 Sherpas strongly urging them to explicitly reference Tibet in upcoming G7 discussions on China’s global role, foreign policy ambitions and adherence to international norms.
ICT remembers Tendzin Choegyal, youngest brother of His Holiness the Dalai Lama
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ICT mourns the loss of Tendzin Choegyal, the youngest brother of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who passed away today at his home in Dharamsala, India. He was 80 years old. Known popularly as Ngari Rinpoche, he was very close to the Dalai Lama and served him in various capacities.
Applications Open: 2026 Tibetan Youth Leadership Program
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Established in 2001, ICT’s Tibetan Youth Leadership Program (TYLP) is a selective experiential learning program designed for Tibetan American college students interested in the US political process, foreign policy and community leadership. The online application requires the submission of a brief policy query, a statement of interest, a brief biography and a current resume. Applications are due at 11:59pm ET on Sunday, April 12, 2026, and admission is limited to 12-14 students.
As an ICT supporter, we want to share a meaningful way you can protect all those closest to your heart, today and for generations to come, building your legacy and perhaps also, including the future of Tibetan communities. We’ve partnered with FreeWill because their secure online resource helps you create your will in just 20 minutes at no cost.
Sign up to get texts from ICT!
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We’re about to launch something exciting, and we want you to be among the very first to be a part of it: a way to get real-time updates from ICT, participate in urgent advocacy, and get an insider’s look at our work for the Tibetan people. Join in by signing up for text messages from ICT!
When you sign up, you’ll become part of a conversation that brings you closer and more connected to our work—because you’ll hear directly from the ICT team and leaders in the movement for Tibet.
- Updates from ICT’s International Leadership Team
- CTA preliminary election demonstrates Tibetan commitment to democracy
- Tibetan monk released early from prison, remains under strict surveillance
- Prayers for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s long life offered by former Tibetan political prisoners
- New US Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues hosts Losar event
- Anya Sengdra released from Chinese prison
- US FY2026 budget preserves crucial Tibet funding
- Statement from the ICT Board of Directors on Tenzin Kalsang Gonta and Uzra Zeya
- ICT presses G7 sherpas to integrate Tibet into summit talks on China’s global role
- ICT remembers Tendzin Choegyal, youngest brother of His Holiness the Dalai Lama
- Applications Open: 2026 Tibetan Youth Leadership Program
- Make a plan for your future self and all that matters to you, shifting the balance toward compassion and kindness
- Sign up to get texts from ICT!
- BLOG: ICT remembers T. Kumar, a human rights champion who lived a meaningful life helping Tibetans and others
- BLOG: The Dalai Lama and the Epstein Files: Much Ado About Nothing
- Going fast: exclusive new items in ICT’s online store…
- Smart Giving: A savvy choice to make a big impact during periods of financial unpredictability
BLOG
ICT remembers T. Kumar, a human rights champion who lived a meaningful life helping Tibetans and others
By: Bhuchung K. Tsering
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The news about the passing of Thambithurai Muthukumarasamy (commonly known as T. Kumar) on January 26, 2026, brought back memories of the many years we at the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) were privileged to work with him when he was at Amnesty International. Kumar was a familiar face in the human rights community in Washington, DC, aggressively advocating for communities in every corner of the globe that were suffering under authoritarian rules throughout the world.
ICT President Tencho Gyatso and I attended his memorial service on February 1, 2026, where I delivered remarks on our behalf.
The Dalai Lama and the Epstein Files: Much Ado About Nothing
By: Bhuchung K. Tsering
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The January 30 release of the latest tranche of materials related to Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender who died in 2019, is being used by vested interest to attempt to smear His Holiness the Dalai Lama by claiming some kind of relationship between the two. On February 8, Gaden Phodrang, the Office of H.H. the Dalai Lama, issued a clear and unequivocal statement debunking these false allegations. “We can unequivocally confirm that His Holiness has never met Jeffrey Epstein or authorized any meeting or interaction with him by anyone on His Holiness’s behalf,” the statement made clear.
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Going fast: exclusive new items in ICT's online store…
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Exciting news! We've added new items to our online store! Illustrated notepads, t-shirts, mugs, note cards, new tote bags, and more…
Also, we have just 40 copies of ICT's 2026 calendar remaining! Great Compassion is a celebration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday and the power of compassion—the quiet strength and the power it holds to heal and transform. We are deeply honored to collaborate with our friends at Mutts Comics to share some of our favorite illustrations and quotes from Heart to Heart, a remarkable collaboration between His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and renowned illustrator Patrick McDonnell. With gentle wisdom and moving simplicity, this book invites us to reflect on our connection to one another and to this Earth we all live on. It is a call for a Compassionate Revolution—a reminder, as His Holiness writes, that "we are indeed all members of a single family, sharing one little house."
Smart Giving: A savvy choice to make a big impact during periods of financial unpredictability
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From climate change to the survival of democracy, Tibet is at the heart of the biggest challenges facing our world. That's why we're thrilled to share financially smart ways to give that will promote human rights and democratic freedoms for the people of Tibet:
- Stock: When you donate appreciated stock, you can save on two types of taxes by avoiding capital gains tax and often getting a full deduction for the value of your gift.
- IRA gifts: If you're 70.5 or older, donations from your IRA reduce your taxable income and can help meet a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) if you must take one.
- Donor-Advised Funds: With a grant recommendation from your Donor-Advised Fund, you can give from the money you've already set aside without spending an additional cent!
- Crypto: A donation of appreciated cryptocurrency can help you avoid capital gains taxes and get a big tax deduction.
We hope you consider the donation option(s) best for you, and together, we can shift the balance toward compassion and kindness.
When you give these types of gifts, please use the tools linked above so we can track your gift, send you the right receipt and ensure you get the tax savings you deserve.