Tibetan Youth Congress
Encyclopedia
The Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) is an international non-governmental organization
that advocates the independence of Tibet from China. With around 30,000 members in the Tibetan diaspora
, it is the largest of the pro-independence organizations of Tibetan exiles. The organization claims no particular religious or party political affiliation.
However, the government of China claims that Tibetan Youth Congress is a pure terrorist organization, who planned the crimes in Lhasa on March 14, including beating, smashing, looting and arson.
, India, with the 14th Dalai Lama
delivering the inaugural address. The organization was founded by young Tibetans from the first generation to graduate from contemporary schools and colleges. The founding were Tenzin Geyche Tethong (the Congress's first President), Lodi G. Gyari, Sonam Topgyal and Tenzin N. Tethong.
, Do-toe, and Do-med. The group organises cultural exhibitions and festivals to promote global awareness of Tibetan culture
. Its members also undertake social welfare activities, according to the maxim "Service to the people", with the aim of alleviating social, cultural, and educational problems in the exile community. The group's activities include adult education
, health education
, and infrastructure activities from building public facilities like toilets to planting trees.
It also serves as an international pressure group, working to bring international attention to Tibet, and criticises Tibet's government-in-exile
. The organization publishes a quarterly journal, Rangzen, for its members and sponsors. It uses mailing lists to circulate news from time to time.
The TYC observes several annual events, including the anniversary of its founding, Human Rights Day
, the anniversaries of what they consider to be key events in Tibetan political history, and a number of Buddhist and traditional Tibetan holidays. In 2008, members of the group protested at the 2008 Summer Olympics torch relay
through India.
to achieve Tibetan independence
.
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
that advocates the independence of Tibet from China. With around 30,000 members in the Tibetan diaspora
Diaspora
A diaspora is "the movement, migration, or scattering of people away from an established or ancestral homeland" or "people dispersed by whatever cause to more than one location", or "people settled far from their ancestral homelands".The word has come to refer to historical mass-dispersions of...
, it is the largest of the pro-independence organizations of Tibetan exiles. The organization claims no particular religious or party political affiliation.
However, the government of China claims that Tibetan Youth Congress is a pure terrorist organization, who planned the crimes in Lhasa on March 14, including beating, smashing, looting and arson.
Origin
The TYC was founded on October 7, 1970 in DharamsalaDharamsala
Dharamshala or Dharamsala is a city in northern India. It was formerly known as Bhagsu; it is the winter seat of government of the state of Himachal Pradesh and the district headquarters of the Kangra district....
, India, with the 14th Dalai Lama
14th Dalai Lama
The 14th Dalai Lama is the 14th and current Dalai Lama. Dalai Lamas are the most influential figures in the Gelugpa lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, although the 14th has consolidated control over the other lineages in recent years...
delivering the inaugural address. The organization was founded by young Tibetans from the first generation to graduate from contemporary schools and colleges. The founding were Tenzin Geyche Tethong (the Congress's first President), Lodi G. Gyari, Sonam Topgyal and Tenzin N. Tethong.
Organisation
The TYC advocates for the independence from China of Tibet, including the three provinces of U-TsangÜ-Tsang
Ü-Tsang , or Tsang-Ü, is one of the three traditional provinces of Tibet, the other two being Amdo and Kham. Geographically Ü-Tsang covered the central and western portions of the Tibetan cultural area, including the Tsang-po watershed, the western districts surrounding and extending past Mount...
, Do-toe, and Do-med. The group organises cultural exhibitions and festivals to promote global awareness of Tibetan culture
Tibetan culture
Tibetan culture developed under the influence of a number of factors. Contact with neighboring countries and cultures- including Nepal, India and China - have influenced the development of Tibetan culture, but the Himalayan region's remoteness and inaccessibility have preserved distinctive local...
. Its members also undertake social welfare activities, according to the maxim "Service to the people", with the aim of alleviating social, cultural, and educational problems in the exile community. The group's activities include adult education
Adult education
Adult education is the practice of teaching and educating adults. Adult education takes place in the workplace, through 'extension' school or 'school of continuing education' . Other learning places include folk high schools, community colleges, and lifelong learning centers...
, health education
Health education
Health education is the profession of educating people about health. Areas within this profession encompass environmental health, physical health, social health, emotional health, intellectual health, and spiritual health...
, and infrastructure activities from building public facilities like toilets to planting trees.
It also serves as an international pressure group, working to bring international attention to Tibet, and criticises Tibet's government-in-exile
Government in exile
A government in exile is a political group that claims to be a country's legitimate government, but for various reasons is unable to exercise its legal power, and instead resides in a foreign country. Governments in exile usually operate under the assumption that they will one day return to their...
. The organization publishes a quarterly journal, Rangzen, for its members and sponsors. It uses mailing lists to circulate news from time to time.
Membership
Membership in the TYC is open to any Tibetan who subscribes to the organization's aims and objectives and agrees to abide by its rules, including working within the framework of the democratic Constitution of Tibet. Despite the name, membership is not limited to young people, though most members and the leadership are young.T.Y.C Activities
The Congress has held protests at Chinese embassies and in India.The TYC observes several annual events, including the anniversary of its founding, Human Rights Day
Human Rights Day
Human Rights Day is celebrated annually across the world on 10 December.The date was chosen to honor the United NationsGeneral Assembly's adoption and proclamation, on 10 December 1948, of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights , the first global enunciation of human rights...
, the anniversaries of what they consider to be key events in Tibetan political history, and a number of Buddhist and traditional Tibetan holidays. In 2008, members of the group protested at the 2008 Summer Olympics torch relay
2008 Summer Olympics torch relay
The 2008 Summer Olympics torch relay was run from March 24 until August 8, 2008, prior to the 2008 Summer Olympics, with the theme of "one world, one dream". Plans for the relay were announced on April 26, 2007, in Beijing, China...
through India.
Impact
The BBC news described the Congress as "radical but influential". The Chinese state Xinhua news agency reported the view shared by several Chinese tibetologists that the group was a terrorist organization. The TYC in 2008 denied Chinese accusations that it would resort to suicide bombingSuicide attack
A suicide attack is a type of attack in which the attacker expects or intends to die in the process.- Historical :...
to achieve Tibetan independence
International Tibet Independence Movement
The Tibetan independence movement is a movement for the independence of the lands where Tibetan people live and the political separation of those lands from the People's Republic of China. It is principally led by the Tibetan diaspora in countries like India and the United States, and by...
.