For Tenzin Nyima and all stood up with him

 For Tenzin Nyima, 19 year old monk, who passed away from injuries inflicted on him in prison on  in Wonpo township, Kham, Tibet on January 19th 2021.

On November 7 2019, Tenzin Nyima, aka Tamey, carried out a peaceful demonstration with four young monks outside of the local police station, throwing leaflets in the air, calling for Tibet's independence. All were arrested. 

After military troops were deployed in the area following their protest, two other Tibetans were arrested on November 21 2019 for holding a similar protest to express their solidarity to monks arrested on November 7th. 

He was released in May 2020 but re-arrested on August 11 2020 for sharing the news of his arrest and contacting Tibetans in exile in India.

In October 2020, he was returned to his family as the police informed that his health had deteriorated.  The family gathered all fund to get him costly treatments for him but in vain. 

He passed away at his family home on January 19 2021. 

In November and December 2020, the other protesters in Dza Wonpo village had a secret trial by the local People's Court.  Kunsal, Choegyal and Yonten were sentenced four years with a crime of 'inciting separatism. Sotra was sentenced three years in prison, Tsultrim for one year in prison. Another monk called Nyimay was sentenced five years in prison for leaking information to social media. 

"The spirit and dignity of Tibetan people is in our blood and can never be extinguished".  

-A statement posted on social media by the second group which carried out the solidarity protest on November 21 2019, prior to their action. 

May justice prevail so as they are all free in the peaceful land. 

New Video "To Live"

still images from "To Live"       copy right :Tomoyo Ihaya 2021

Video "To Live" is complete with sound and you can view on my Vimeo site.

https://vimeo.com/501938053 ( for " To Live")

https://vimeo.com/user122166328 ( Tomoyo Ihaya, all videos)

The inspiration came when I visited, had exhibitions and workshops in Taiwan and Korea between 2017 and 2019. Especially my visit in Korea and Taiwan in 2019 was a trigger to start learning in depth about women in trans-generational conflicts.

I met many women who taught me both countries' histories of pain and struggles. To touch the issue of what is called 'Comfort Women' ( I am not a fan of this wording) is very sensitive and difficult because of complex social and political conflicts up to present.

However, just as I felt and shared thoughts and heart felt tears with my fellow female friends, I rather wanted to focus on feeling 'grand mothers' by reading real stories by them who spoke up their pain with courage in Taiwan and Korea ( at large other Asian countries). They spoke up in wishing this would never happen again to other women (Late Harumoni Bog-don Kim said that clearly).

And knowing violences and exploitation to women continue in so many levels in every part of the world, I wanted to make something to bring healing and empathy.

I felt so much sadness while reading episodes....and often wondered how I could express this even though I had never gone through as they did.

And I still wonder how we bring collective healing and least sufferings to all fellow sentient beings.

Much gratitude to Kunsang, Yi-Chan for doing such a moving work.

Kunsang did two other videos' editing and compositing and always made my still drawings into something different and moving.

I was introduced to Yi-Chan through Prof Wendy Lai. She understood the sensitivity and feelings of the video and contemplated well to make beautiful, somber and moving sound.

____

To Live

Drawing and scripts: Tomoyo Ihaya

Compositing and editing: Kunsang Kyirong

Sound: Yi-Chan Li

Voices at the last scenes:

Grandma A Tao Huang from "Grandma's Secret"

Harumoni Bog-don Kim from the interview clip by Asia Boss

Special thanks to:

Prof. Wen-Shu Lai for giving me stories and video links of interview

Newton Siao for translating all Taiwanese Ama ( Grandmothers') stories into English, although it was emotionally difficult for him.

Taipei Women's Rescue Foundation

for giving a permission to use a voice from their video

and for supporting this video

Artist would like to acknowledge a support of the Canada Council for the Arts

For Shurmo, who had self immolated on 17 September 2015 ( confirmed on January 12 2021)

 

                                                                                                                                  For Shurmo,  Copy Right Tomoyo Ihaya 2021

For Shurmo, a 26 years old, who had self immolated on September 17 2015 protesting against CCP's repressive policies in Tibet. 

The protest took place around 1 pm local time nearby a bus station in Chagchukha Village in Driru County, Nagchu in Tibet.  Police arrested Shurmo immediately after his protest and he was taken to a local hospital but he passed away on the same day.  

There were many Tibetan eyewitnesses. However due to the immediate shutdown/censorship with means of communication,  the news did not arrive the Tibetan in exile community till now, more than five years later. 

It is said that police also arrested three of his relatives and till date, there is no information whether the three are still detained, sentenced or released. 

Shurmo belonged to Shagchukha Village in Nagchu county.  His picture did not come with the news. 

News source:  Central Tibet Administration's site: Tibet.net

https://tibet.net/2015-tibetan-self-immolation-protest-news-surfaces-more-than-5-years-later/?fbclid=IwAR1OOdjXmT5CCg-9dyqnzTXlxD-pefabgOYIhHBUemG6yRJAQ4ZYd8YPJdE