Information compiled by Thubten Palzang:
WHILE OLD TENSIONS SURFACE
Some relief supplies have begun to arrive in the earthquake-stricken areas of Yushu County, Qinhai Province, China (Tibet). The first truck along with a group of volunteers from the Tibetan Village Project (TVP) arrived in Yushu on April 17. The TVP has set up a website for those wishing to donate to relief efforts, http://www.yushuearthquakeresponse.org/. The TVP is an NGO (non-governmental organization) working to promote sustainable development in Tibet while preserving their cultural heritage.
The home monastery of Thrangu Rinpoche in Tibet was devastated by the earthquake. The learning center collapsed, killing as many as 30 monks and students. Donations to assist the monastery rebuild can be made at the Himalayan Children’s Fund http://www.rinpoche.com/hcfindex.htm.
One side effect of the earthquake has been to further polarize the national identities of those affected. The Chinese are reporting 1,400 dead while Tibetan sources claim the total is closer to 10,000, and the Chinese are taking credit for the relief efforts while in fact much of the rescue work was done by Tibetan monks until the Chinese arrived several days later. Meanwhile the Dalai Lama has requested permission to visit the area. Tibetan inhabitants of the area, who far outnumber Han Chinese, have also request permission for him to visit. The Chinese government, however, is unlikely to grant such a request. The area around Kyegundo has been an epicenter for anti-Chinese activism since the Chinese army invaded Tibet in 1959. For further background on this volatile situation, go here.