As leader of all Tibetans, when the Dalai Lama celebrates his birthday, that’s on a festival day, his people sing his name and cry their disappeared and tortured souls. Under a burning blue sky it sent symbols. The holly Tibetan man is moved with ceremony and set above the even most important guests. Talking of the latter, he’s a representative of the government but he is not a representative of the government’s policy.
I note because the guy shake hands with a Tibetan group that just been arrested at the border with TAR, furthermore, nearly all the Tibetans in front of him have been arrested by Nepali police, even further the government doesn’t provide anymore refugee cards to the new-comer nor it grants Tibetan born in Nepal of a Nepali nationality –which is unlawful. Nevertheless, as The important man of the Government for the refugee topic he’s a guest who declared Tibetans brethren of Nepal.
What’s worrying is that new measures rejecting a bit more Tibetans took place before the assembly election where Maoists were the winners. Maoist who may be said nothing about the question – that’s already not really reassuring- but as the new power they already criticized journalists and an official photo happened to be photoshopped…
As the Tibetans demonstrates their attachment to their native land, this guest can indeed underlined his love for their host because patriotism is a very important data of Asian Identity as well as one’s ethnicity.
Such facts help the Nepali double-faced talk, especially if you know that the Nepali people of Humla, Dolpo, Mustang etc. are of Tibetan culture and their dialects is nearer from Tibetan than Nepali.
Of course this contradicted situation is in part the result of a very active Chinese lobby at the same time as Beijing
scolds the West not to intervene in its policy over TAR or Death Penalty. Do what I say, not I do…
To frame this, no better than the Dharamsala/Beijing talks which would have never happened without pressure from the West but where the Chinese side decided to hold the negotiations until the end of the Olympics, such an hypocrite way to avoid its promise to accept journalists in TAR during the International Event that it reveal the passivity of the Occidental Nations. That’s because photos and article from nowadays Chinese policy in Tar would go against the beautiful picture of clean Olympics.
In Kathmandu, the Dalai Lama’s birthday took place at the Srongtsen Bhrikuti Academy. Unavoidable was the Tibetan hymn, or the balloons holding the Tibetan flag in the sky with some pigeons and doves (same family), plus the communal rice meal and… sufferance.
While they heard the speech ladies started to cry. Later on they asked a photo with them and I. With the children’s translation we learnt that the lady on my side had her leg broken by a Chineses soldier.
It’s just like the doves, some of them stayed on top of the tents, not because they longed for their cage but in direct consequence of the overpopulation of the cage, those birds had their wing or leg badly injured. That’s what could be called broken symbols.
Sir James, whose wife works for the UN charity wing, noted.
After ceremony all teachers and volunteers headed for the restaurant.
Teachers on one side, on another the volunteers and the end of the long table the two headmasters, a settings which describes a certain hierarchy as well as the volunteers seen as guests – and parenthesis.
To be here since several month now I can specify that the teachers don’t mix much nor with the volunteers, nor the direction, two populations that make them uncomfortable.
As I go on with this, the lack of solidarity between schools reemerged this day.
But understand, It is not so much a non-willing that to protect its network. As Tibetan schools have no government help, they need not only kids’ sponsors but also sponsors for themselves. Those NGOs usually focus on one school. Up to the school to get a rich enough NGO to help with the building of the school, with the sport ground, the computer, internet etc.
In Other words this egoistic Tibetan behaviour is in reaction of a social structure in disarray, in Tibet, in Nepal
and internationally. As though the cruelty of China amplify the Tibetan patriotism while being a refugee, following UNHCR or a split Asia, just curse Tibetans (as well as all refugees in the world), an eternal curse. And there is also the whole world who sees Tibet only as a Shangrila, far from reality.
Somehow the Tibetan community try to say no like did the children by avoid superposing themselves with sufferance, but for the grown up the curse is already in progress.
China chews Tibetans on their soil that the all-powerful unique communist party sees as another piece of Africa. On this territory there is a mean of isolation by pauperism, to frame it, it is just like taking out original shoots and seeding GM instead. Imperialism goes on. And outside this territory the Tibetan refugees are trapped in a parallel world, without official country or I.D., trapped between a western vortex and the rejection of Asia.
Exile is a heart far from its stolen body…
As trapped the government in exile is in peril, a boat ashore. Via Second World War we know that such governments are re-conquest mechanisms, but in this case, neither is war nor any efficiency of UNO. While the whole world, 50 years ago just gave Tibet to China - That was an imperialistic share of the world which is still active today - Tibetan people should reinvents Tibet outside its boundaries, creates little Tibets and push the people to reactivate non-alignment and work to change UN for a real peace structure and not a controlled machine for a still unbalanced world.
Saturday 2 May was a peculiar day for the school. Since the School New Year a kid had broken his arm and others needed the emergency kit. _ 8.30 pm! Papa is very strict !
And so, some phatasms could become reality… 
Nepalese school lessons, the look it gives to its children ….
The texts are exactly the same as in the book of Social Studies, Class VIII.
For the reasons you’ll discover, some Tibetan schools study with Indian books.
This is the last chapter of the year which is called Our International Relations and Cooperation. It presents the relationship of Nepal with China, Japan, France, Germany, USA and UK… May I ask sir? Where is India? The Unit is organised in 4 lessons and so matches couples, like France-Germany, Japan-China, or US-UK
a/ Nepal – China Relations
Manjushree is a bodhisattva who brought Buddhism to China, therefore is Indian.
The kind of relationship talked about is between Buddhist countries, But Srang Chong is badly spelt from the Tibetan: Srongtsen who was a powerful king of Tibet. He did conquered part of Nepal and part of China. As such he married a princess from Nepal and another princess from China, for the one he built the Jokhang temple. There is a school in Bouddhanath called Srongtsen-Bhrikuti… it is a Tibetan school. Sadly, here the Nepali government just bow to historical changes made by China.
At last I managed to upload one video from April, 17th, Tibetan protest
New day of protest for Tibetans in Kathmandu, unrest of persecution and imprisonments in Tibet
Kathmandu, April 17. Because of the elections in Nepal Tibetans stopped protesting. As soon as the 11th the hunger strike started in a monastery of Swoyombunath. Street protests resume the next day with no stop till today. The whole days of praying hasn’t stopped either as scarce but dreadful news passes the border with Tibet. We know that some monasteries are under siege as Drepung Gompa where no one is allowed to go in or out and the supply of food and water is forbidden by the Chinese security forces.
The only news comes from Amdo, the only region where Internet is not cut off.
After the sport tuitions it is miss Phela who told me there were a bus meant to go the Chinese embassy. I went in with Tinley who arrived in Nepal
two years ago. Once on site in a small road reaching the embassy’s street cops seeing us started the chase. The alleys were so narrow that both groups were quite slow and the Tibetans manage to hide themselves in a house. Then, it was like the Nepalese forgot us but four police lorries were both side of the main road. Journalists and a representative of the UNHCR were also there. Everybody lets took rest for the lunch break.
Waiting in one of the narrow alley, we talked with Kalsiang, who was the leader of our group. He was dressed in white a chain around his neck. On his clothes it was written: “human rights first, Olympics games after.” He was as middle way as the Dalai Lama. The Chinese people have got nothing to do with its authoritarian government, said he. The plan was simple. We run, and once the police is in front of us we sit closely tied.
It is what happened. The police was taken by surprise and had to run behind, catch up in a sufficient number before being able to stop the protesters. The second important objective was to be in visual contact with the journalists. As though the police had stopped using its harmful bamboo sticks but it used to pinch, to touch at the girls’ intimate parts as to take watches and mobile phones.
As the police was busy with this first group of 56, a second group arrived from behind with the same strategy. This people were dragged, pushed, carried by their four limbs. The police was discipline in the way they had to bear the journalists presence. Policewomen on site were also to show some care for human rights. In the whole it looked like a boring routine for the Nepalese troops while some police women looked disgusted by this work of putting meaningless the Tibetans in the trucks for the usual hours at the police stations. The previous day they had arrested 500 of them. Today they arrested everybody. They check the press card of only the Tibetans reporters, making difficulties with one of them who works for Radio Free Asia. Why not letting the Tibetans protesting in the streets? That’s a Chinese order like in India
. Some kind of alliance which goes against Democracy, doesn’t it?
All this took place at one minute from an official building called: The Commission against the Abuse of Authority…
UN, where are you is another slogan.
UN, We Want Justice… to this one UN says its disability
Community Awareness Team
Last month I’ve started the link through email. Ravi was very happy that someone was interested in his project so he replied quickly and few days later we met.
He came to Boudha, we had tea. He described is association I talked about Free Radicals. He talked about their actions, I gave him a bag of 150 condoms. Like that Emeline, my GP and others know where are their donations 
More about the assocation here (past activities, aims, etc.), signed by Ravi.
The 19th march, we met again, this time a made the move. I went to freak street (behind Durbar Square, with Coralie, a French girl on the road who was interested in the visit and the sort of activities Saarathi was into.
We arrived in their apartment when a social worker volunteer just started his tuition for 2 new comers in the Saarathi family. The tuition: how to get out from addiction. As Ravi, the teacher himself is an ex-drug addict.
This tuition room is the bigger one, empty but the white board and the sentences on the walls. The second and last room is the office, quite small but everything is there for a warm welcome.
Through the photos, while Ravi’s new wife was preparing tea, we were presented the main big events organized by the association.
Their New Year was on the Royal Place itself, DJ and workshop “how to use a condom”
Last October they set up a day to prevent the use of drugs. That was still on Durbar Square, with a famous Nepali actor, a general of the army and of course doctors to talk the best of the day’s topic.
Of course the volunteers were also active for the condoms day. More than the core of 25 volunteers, there are more ready for special events.
Daily, they welcome people dealing with HIV contamination and/or addiction. They do it everyday, the phone’s always on.
They do a real social work. What they want to achieve is reflected in how they call themselves. Saarathi are the strong warriors of the Mahabharata. Don’t think that there are traditionalist though. Their leitmotiv is to encourage their neighbours at an everyday awareness. STD, drugs but also pollution. In Kathmandu the rivers are disgusting; in the streets open-air corners play the role of bins!
Noticeable, they’ve got money for the rent through an aid which will end in June… there they depend on generous landlords-helpers.
AIMS
SAARATHI NEPAL aims to improve the quality of life for families living with HIV and drug users in Nepal by providing opportunities for empowerment, taking control of issues controlling their life .Empowerment of families living with HIV and drug addiction concerns not only health related issues but the protection of human rights, involvement in the development of policy, non discriminatory access to the legal and health care system and the education of the wider community.
SAARATHI NEPAL aims to provide a voice for families living with HIV, drug users and their children at the local, regional and national levels in order to facilitate systemic change in critical areas such as care and support, after treatment care, community and school awareness program assist to treatment and addressing issues of discrimination in society.
At Saarathi’s every one’s got the smile. When we went, Pritesh walked with us, led us to an optician for Coralie. While we waited he asked me if I gave a gift to Ravi? … “because I didn’t know what was it and I opened the package in Ravi’s home in front of his mother and his sister… the bag was so well closed that when I insisted it burst! All the condoms scattered in the room. I was so ashamed.”
I can’t even imagine what went up in Ravi’s mother head in front of such a sight a day before his wedding!
Individuals, organizations, companies : Sponsor a child or sponsor a school it’s cheap and enlighten your and the children’s future.
Last week miss Tsultrim ask me to take photos of the new musical instruments bought with funds especially for this purpose from Graines d’Avenir (seeds’ future, french association). 2 ungyen and da.nyen, a drum set, an electronic keyboard…
The music teacher came to see me, ‘It was the only school where I taught whith no instrument. I teach in 6 schools.’
What he wass not saying: schools are not really fond of solidarity while coming to let their material. Futhermore many child, wall, teacher, material depend on outside money which inevitable as a school is not a business and need famillies and governement’s help.
The music teacher also forgot to tell is fees are high if compared with other teachers. In in his clothes and behaviour we can see he focuses on the West. Would he plan to go abroad?
If the music muses are now satisfied, the building is still to sell. The tensions are still high. These days Miss T., who never read newspaper, read carefully the articles about the kidneys black market. She says that may be one of the doctors involved in the traffic is part of the practionners’ group which is interesting in the building… may be but “the doctor’s name starting by a ‘B’ ” he’s still not printed/wanted.
Four children from the school need a sponsor. So I had to take them in photo to send in Japan. Finding a sponsor can sometimes last for years said the headmasters.
However, Miss T. stressed that the more needful would be a fund to pay part of the rent… and the bills. Only 5300 NRs (1 nepalese roupie = 63 dollars) are needed per month for the rent but the landlord request to pay the water bill per room, where a room is an average size (so some represent two!) and not all of them give access to water and anyway not the same amount. This way the average water bill is around 250 Rs per room and there are 40 rooms (=10.000 Nrs!) It’s said that’s the price to pay to get water all the time while Boudha lacks water.
With a fund, at first the children would get fruits and vegetable for lunch to change a bit their daily dhal bat, if enough is given every month, the school could also raise the teachers’s salary. In Nepal most won’t even think of becoming a teacher just because of it. For not helping, all basic prices have increased with the lack of them: fuel, oil, gaz, transports…
First day you actually not us! that will be Losar. Anyway this day we headed with the children to Godavari for a picnic. That was a surprise for them as the place’s name has been kept secret. Goda Valley is a natural reserve flanked of three mountains.
To present where we were, Mrs. B. noted that few people regularly disappear… due to the jungle’s inhabitants : tigers and leopards. Such words needed to be taken as a warning not to let our Mowglis being too adventurous on their own.
In this small paradise, we were not far from a buddhist monastery and its neighbour hindu pilgrimage place.
To explain what a picinic is in Nepal let me tell you how we departed in the early morning:
Sumitra, our gifted cook, prepared everything the day before. We just had to load the coach, first on its roof then we put some material in the alley. To carry pan, marmites, gaz containers, a cooker, blankets, oil, rice, jam. bread. etc. it took us half an hour. Plus a radio, Miss Tsultrim planned to hire a battery for it.
Now you start to understand how nepalese picnics are slightly different from our sandwich and salad meeting in a quiet place. In other words, the school’s kitchen went from fresh air.
As soon as we arrived on site children to spread around with their rackets and balls while Miss Pema and her radio made their way towards a plug between two trees.
Picnic areas are spread all along the central road of the park, all provided with electricity and a shelter only made with a tin roof. That’s where our kitchen settled.
To prepare the breakfast we sit at the sun, cutting tibetan bread into two, spreading chocolate and jam.
After breakfast the children went on with their game on the rythm of music, not with nature. That was all the same on the other picnic areas.
Not far, there were the national botanical gardens (no more royal). All of us went for a visit towards the greenhouses, their roses and cactii. As we passed along water, the students took pleasure in aquatic game, sometimes involving a teacher without her will. To rest, some of us didn’t get much sleep the night before, we settled on a lawn were throned a giant pine tree. For children it was playtime again, badminton and mimicry of catch fighting seen on TV. Girls were shouting and applauding at the young amateurs. The glistening happiness found soon its fireman, a warden with a rule: “It is forbidden to play on the grass”. The man, his pockets full of his hands, made the pointof his rule. The sleepy teachers listened. He went back, standing at the sun, his pockets still full. At the same four woman were struggling with their task, ploughing a soil stiffened by the cold nights and the dry season of winter. Welcome to Nepal, self-proclamed republique on her way to democracy.
So we moved towards an allowed lawn, brooks and trees ready to host children genuine entertainment. Hurra, take mother Nature in your arms !
Before more adventures, direction the blankets for lunch, our plates floaded with dhal, chicken, spinach and potatoes. Each of us could even get two plates… that’s there is no no sweet not starter is the reason.
Then games claimed their young souls and teachers set the carpets for cards and started to play money. 3 pupils asked for an expedition into the jungle, I agreed and our departure emptied the area of all their players but the reachers. Only Miss Bijaya nodded her head for the ascent.
If coats were needed on our arrival on site, now the sun was by too far generous to keep it our shoulders. The smaller ones kept on beside the olders, the slopes was a difficult one and we mainly went straight but helped with excitement everybody reached the top. I had to run after some of them, even too excited who were leading to the next summit. 2000 M is only jungle in Nepal. Some children were frightened, the forest growth were pressing on the path and the small aventurers.
On our way down we passed an impressive den, big enough for a tiger and reached quickly the coach. It was time to put the kitchen back on the roof’s top et to head towards Bouddha.
