Meeting 17 December 2007
ATJ celebrates tenth anniversary
The Fearless Speaker silver medal
Secretary of the Information Department, Thubten Samphel (right) and ATJ President, Lobsang Wangyal, during the 10th anniversary function
A view of the commemoration of the 10th anniversary
Dukar Bum speaking during the function
Narkyid Nawang Thondup and Dekyi Metok holding the Fearless Speaker silver medal
DHARAMSHALA, India, 17 December 2007 — The Association of Tibetan Journalists (ATJ) celebrated the tenth anniversary of its founding today with a function in Dharamshala.
In attandance were the Secretary of the Information Department of the Tibetan government-in-exile Mr Thubten Samphel, a consultant for the Private Office of the Dalai Lama Mr Nawang Thondup Narkyid, heads of different Tibetan NGOs and the members of ATJ.
The occasion was marked by the conferring of ATJ's first "Fearless Speaker Award", a Silver Medal, to Tibetan woman writer Mrs Tsering Woeser. The medal was presented by the Secretary of the Information Department of the Tibetan government-in-exile Mr Thubten Samphel. The medal was received by a proxy, Ms. Dekyi Metok, an editor of Voice of Tibet radio, who is a friend of Woeser.
Tsering Woeser, 40, is one of the few Tibetan women writers. Despite heavy restrictions imposed on her life, she persistently speaks out about China's wrong policies and has written 10 books, including two on China's Cultural Revolution. Most of her works have been banned inside China. Her blog was blocked by authorities last year after she published a photo of the Dalai Lama.
Lobsang Wangyal, the President of ATJ, enumerated to the audience how the Association was started in 1997 with a modest beginning, the aims and objectives and achievements of the Association.
Briefing them about the newly-introduced "Fearless Speaker" award, he said, "We are happy to present ATJ's premier "Fearless Speaker" award to Tsering Woeser. She is a rare Tibetan woman. Her writings have become the voice of the voiceless Tibetans in Tibet."
ATJ plans to present this award every three years, Wangyal says.
Three other executive members, Ling Regyal, Serta Tsultrim and Dukar Bum spoke at length about Woeser's writings.
Yeshe Choesang, the Secretary of the Association, read Woeser's message on being honoured the award.
Woeser pointed out in her letter that China under the current authoritarian regime has the worst human rights record in the world.
"Tibetans in the whole of Tibet are suffering under the current autoritarian regime," she says, adding, "Denial of the basic human rights must not be tolerated. One must have the courage to fight for the rights."
She also said that there is no freedom of speech and that the Chinese authorities have imprisoned 40 journalists and writers in China, three among them being Tibetans.
She feels that the best way to have a certain degree of freedom of speech is to confront the repressive polices and to sacrifice certain conveniences.
ATJ is a non-governmental organisation of working Tibetan Journalists. There are 40 members registered with the Association.
