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Department of Information & International Relations[edit]

The Department of Information and International Relations is one of the seven main departments under Kashag. It has its origin in Chisee Khang (the Foreign Relations Office), which was re-established in exile in 1959, after the Chinese occupation of Tibet. In March 1969, the international relations section of Chisee Khang was placed under the Bureau of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in New Delhi. However, with the overwhelming demand for Information on Tibet by the International community as well as Tibetans; in understanding political, human rights and environmental consciousness, the Department had started publishing Tibetan Bulletin. Thus, in 1971, the information section was expanded with the inclusion of Sheja Publication and renamed as Information and Publicity Office. On 4 April 1988, the Office was further expanded and the international relations section of the Bureau in Delhi was made a part of it again. It was thus that the Office came to be renamed the Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR).

Introduction[edit]

International affairs and information of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) are handled by the Department of Information and International Relations. The Department has its origin in Chisee Khang (the Foreign Relations Office), which was re-established in exile in 1959, after the Chinese occupation of Tibet. In March 1969, the international relations section of Chisee Khang was placed under the Bureau of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in New Delhi.

However, soon the Tibetan Administration was faced with a growing demand from the international community for information on Tibet. The Administration also felt the need to instill political, human rights and environmental consciousness among the Tibetans. Thus, in 1971, the information section was expanded with the inclusion of Sheja Publication and renamed Information and Publicity Office. On 4 April 1988, the Office was further expanded and the international relations section of the Bureau in Delhi was made a part of it again. It was thus that the Office came to be renamed the Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR).

The Department educates the Tibetans and international public opinion on the political, human rights and environmental conditions in Tibet. Towards this end, it publishes both print and video materials on Tibet. The periodicals come out in three languages: Tibetan, English and Chinese.The DIIR serves as a protocol office of the CTA and liaises with the international media and Tibet Support Groups throughout the world.

Under the DIIR are the CTA’s foreign missions in 11 countries. They function as the official agencies of the CTA and are based in New Delhi, Kathmandu, Geneva, New York, Tokyo, London, Moscow, Brussels, Canberra, Pretoria and Taipei.

The Narthang Press and Tibetan Computer Resource Centre (TCRC) also fall under the direct supervision of the DIIR. While the Narthang Press handles the printing responsibilities of the CTA, the TCRC provides computer and Internet services to all the departments of the Tibetan administration.

Information Division[edit]

The Information Division of the DIIR primarily works towards disseminating information about the political, human rights and environmental conditions in Tibet to Tibetans and the world community at large, and to keep the Tibetan issue alive. Under this Division there are four sections:Print Media and Website: The section has further three sub-sections:  

Tibetan Sheja: A monthly journal in Tibetan, first published in 1968, it aims to educate Tibetans about Tibet and the activities of the CTA. The readers are mostly concentrated in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Switzerland, the United States and Canada.

Tibetan Freedom: Tibetan Freedom is the first Tibetan official newspaper published in exile. Now published weekly, it features news items on Tibet and the activities of the CTA. Like Sheja, its main readers are Tibetan-speaking people.

English Tibetan Bulletin: First published in 1967, Tibetan Bulletin is a bimonthly news magazine with sections on Tibet, international and CTA news. It aims to bring out information on His Holiness the Dalai Lama, CTA, Tibet Support Groups and Tibetan people inside and outside Tibet.

Web Site TibetNet, the official website of the CTA, located at http://www.tibet.net, is a trilingual website in Tibetan, English and Chinese languages. A specially developed “dynamic font” for Tibetan script makes it possible for Web surfers from anywhere to download the pages in Tibetan automatically. The site acts as a window to the departments and offices of the CTA, Tibetan settlements, schools and institutes.

Audio Visual Section The Section is further divided into Video, Museum and Web TV segments.  

Audio Visual The Audio Visual Section of the CTA produces video materials on Tibet, teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, activities and policies of the CTA and works to preserve and promote the traditional Tibetan culture and tradition. The section also covers and does live broadcast of the parliamentary sessions of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile. DVDs are made of such parliamentary proceedings that are subsequently distributed free of cost to all the Tibetan settlements, schools, monasteries, and Tibetan organizations scattered all over the India.

The CTA’s WebTV was launched in August 2006 to cover and to broadcast news, teachings, cultural programs, education on democracy and activities of the CTA. The web TV can be watched by logging on to www.tibetonline.tv and also through a local TV Channel (Bhagsu Cable) that was launched in Dharamsala on 4 November 2009.

 Tibet Museum The Tibet Museum was established in 1998 to serve as a remembrance of the loss of Tibetan culture and lives; to collect photographs and life histories of Tibetans; to present the hopes and aspirations of the Tibetan people. The Museum aims to:

Present Tibet’s modern history, with an emphasis on the period of Chinese occupation, by establishing the “Tibet Museum”, housing permanent and temporary special exhibitions, lectures, special events, and by the development of travelling museum kit, exhibitions and educational activities;
Strengthen the Tibetan spirit and collective pride through its presentations and publications on Tibet’s rich history and culture, the struggle for Tibet and hopes for its future;
Collect and archive documents, photographs, objects and first hand accounts relating to Tibet and Tibetan issues

For information on the current activities of the Tibet Museum, click here: http://www.thetibetmuseum.org

Translation and Publication Section This Section translates relevant materials between English and Tibetan for all DIIR publications. It produces books, booklets and pamphlets in Tibetan, English and Hindi on various aspects of the Tibetan issue.  

Media Coordinator Section Among the duties of this Section are:  

To receive and help international and national (India) media personnel in gathering information on Tibetans and Tibet;
To supply reference materials like books, video footage and still photographs to media personnel and writers;
To arrange interviews between them and Tibetans who can speak on the subject of the researcher’s choice;
To serve as interpreters for interviews as requested;
To arrange audiences with His Holiness the Dalai Lama for media persons;
To issue press releases.

International Relations Division

To promote the Tibetan cause, the International Relations Division of the DIIR aims to establish contact with governments, International Tibet Support Groups, associations of students, international non-governmental organisations, parliaments and members of parliaments, politicians, Chinese democracy activists, and the UN. Through these international bodies, the Department strives to forge a positive change in the China’s Tibet policy, and to induce China to resolve the Tibet issue through dialogue and negotiation. This Division has two sections:

International Relations Section This section has five sub-sections:  

Offices of Tibet Under the International Relations, there are representative offices in 10 countries. These offices act as de facto embassies of the CTA and are based in New Delhi, India; New York, USA; Geneva, Switzerland; Tokyo, Japan; London, UK; Canberra, Australia; Paris, France; Moscow, Russia; Pretoria, South Africa; and Taipei, Taiwan. They spearhead the CTA’s international relations and UN initiatives. They establish contacts with governments, parliamentarians, Tibet Support Groups, non-governmental organisations and human rights groups and keep them posted on recent developments in Tibet. They also help to coordinate the exchange of information between individuals and organisations working for the welfare of the Tibetan people.  For contact addresses of the Offices of Tibet,  click here: Offices of Tibet  

Tibet Support Groups Desk The main functions of the TSG Desk are to: -Inform TSGs about the policies and initiatives of the CTA;-Inform TSGs about Tibet and the Tibetan communities in exile;-Interact with members of TSGs, and coordinate their programme during their visit to Dharamshala;-Act as an observer to the ITN Steering Committee;-Facilitate international conferences of TSGs;-Keep records of campaigns and activities of TSGs, and present annual reports on the state of the worldwide Tibet movement.

For information on worldwide Tibet movement, click here: Global Tibet Movement

Environment and Development Desk Established in March 1990, this Desk was earlier known as Environment Desk. In addition to monitoring and reporting environmental situation inside Tibet, it used to be active in environmental education projects in Tibetan communities in exile. Over the years, EDD has begun to focus more on environment and development issues inside Tibet.  EDD’s sphere of activities are mainly focused on Tibet, and its chief goals are: -To monitor and research on environment and development issues inside Tibet;-To disseminate information and carry out selective advocacy on promoting sustainable development inside Tibet;-To create awareness on environmental issues in the exiled Tibetan community.

For information on Tibet’s environment and development issues,  click here: Environment and Development

China Desk Established in 1994, Chinese Desk’s main aim is to outreach the Chinese people outside China. It strives to: -

Establish contacts with the Chinese people outside China, and hold meetings and discussions with them on issues related with Tibet;
Disseminate Tibet related information to the Chinese people;
Update and maintain official website in Chinese language: http://www.xizang-zhiye.org The website provides current news and general information on Tibet and Tibetan community in exile.
Translate and publish books and other materials into Chinese language;
Publish a bimonthly journal in Chinese, Tibet Bulletin (Xi Zang Tong Xun), featuring Tibet related news and information. This journal is also available online at http://www.xizang-zhiye.org

UN, EU and Human Rights Desk The main activities of this Desk are:  -Monitoring and reporting human rights situation in Tibet;-To provide information and materials related to human rights in Tibet to the UN and related organisations, rights groups, governments, parliaments and individuals.

Protocol Section This Section is assigned to extend official reception to the official guests visiting Dharamshala. It is responsible for making necessary arrangements for their visit. It coordinates the visitors program, accompany them on local visits to Tibetan institutes, and arrange meetings with Tibetan officials and individuals in Dharamshala. It aims to make their visit educative and informative on various aspects of Tibet: religious, cultural and political. The visitors may include diplomats, government officials, parliamentarians, Tibet and China watchers, members of human rights groups and NGOs, researchers on Tibet related subjects, and individuals interested in Tibet and the Tibetan people.