Amongst the headlines in this news overview:
- the Guardian take a look at whether Beijing is on track with promised media freedom at the games;
- the Australian documentary ‘Salute’ urges Olympians to protest against human rights violations;
- the Dalai Lama talks about the growing frustration being felt by Tibetans over the dialogue;
- there are reports of new arrests of protesting monks and nuns in Kardze;
- ICT reports on the prayer ceremonies for quake victims being held by Tibetan monks in monasteries still under lockdown; and
- Avaaz.org delivers a 1.67 million signature petition supporting dialogue.

China needs to stop playing games (Guardian)
As 20,000 journalists get ready for the Beijing Olympics, just how much freedom will they have to report what is happening on and off the track? Read the full article

In-flight Film Will Urge Olympians to Protest (News.com.au)
A film in which the great Australian sprinter Peter Norman implores the current generation of Olympians to protest against human rights violations will be screened on all Qantas flights carrying team members to Beijing. The film “Salute” documents the so-called Black Power Protest during the medal ceremony for the men’s 200m at the 1968 Mexico Olympic Games. Read the full article

Tibetans losing faith in talks, says Dalai Lama (Financial Times)
The Dalai Lama has given a stark warning that he is losing the support of many of his followers inside Tibet because of the Chinese Government’s refusal to strike a deal with him over the territory’s future. He indicated that more radical Tibetans, who urge violent confrontation with China, were increasingly losing faith in his strategy of securing autonomy through peaceful dialogue. Asked whether he was losing control over his followers, the Dalai Lama replied, “Yes, naturally. My efforts have failed to bring concrete results, so this criticism is becoming stronger and stronger.” (Includes links to video interview with the Dalai Lama.) Read the full article

Tibet could be ‘swamped’ by mass Chinese settlement after Olympics, says Dalai Lama (Guardian)
The Dalai Lama claimed that Beijing was planning the mass settlement of 1 million ethnic Chinese people in Tibet after the Olympics with the aim of diluting Tibetan culture and identity. He had been informed by Tibetan residents that large areas of empty land had been marked out, as if for construction, in the past two years. “Then last year we received information - after the Olympics 1 million Chinese are going to settle in the autonomous region of Tibet,” he said, adding the information came from a “military source” in Tibet. Read the full article

China arrests two young monks of Tehor Tsitsang Monastery in Kardze (TCHRD)
On 20th May two young monks in their early 20s from Tsitsang Monastery were detained by Chinese security forces for peaceful protesting, including chanting pro-Dalai Lama slogans, in Kardze County. There is no information on the condition of two arrestees, who have identified as Loyang from Tsaklab Village, Lhopa Township, Kardze County, and Tenzin Ngodup from Pharingtsang, Kardze County. Read the full article

China arrests three nuns of Tehor Nyagay Nunnery in Kardze (TCHRD)
On 20th May three nuns from Tehor Nyagay Nunnery, in Kardze County, Sichuan, were arrested by Chinese security forces for staging a peaceful protest. The three nuns (Achoe from Rida Village, Soe Choekyi from Lamna Village and Tashi Yangtso from Noekab Village) shouted slogans outside the county headquarters before being arrested, Their whereabouts and condition is unknown. Read the full article

Monasteries under lockdown hold prayer ceremonies for quake victims (ICT)
Monks in Tibetan monasteries have held prayer ceremonies for those who died and have donated money to relief efforts. Many of the monasteries are still under lockdown in the crackdown that has followed recent protests. One such monastery, Kirti Monastery in Ngaba (Ch: Aba) TAP, Sichuan, is in the same Tibetan prefecture as the epicenter of the earthquake and is where at least 10 Tibetans were shot dead during recent protests. Also reports on the deaths of prisoners and prison guards at Maowun Prison in Wenchuan, which was partially destroyed in the earthquake. Read the full article

Dalai Lama urges Olympics respect (BBC)
The Dalai Lama has appealed for Tibetans not to protest during the Olympic Torch visit to the region. The Dalai Lama said, “I appeal particularly to inside Tibet to not disturb… the torch when they visit.” He continued, “I made clear right from the beginning we fully support Olympic Games. The Olympic Torch is part of that. We must respect, we must protect that.” Read the full article

Dalai Lama sees change in China (BBC)
The Dalai Lama has told the BBC he believes China is changing and that this could lead to a “more transparent” attitude over Tibet. He said China’s reaction to the devastating earthquake in Sichuan Province was one sign of change (Includes video clip of interview). Read the full article

Avaaz delivers 1.67 million petition for Tibet dialogue
Avaaz.org mounted a dramatic 3-mile-long “human chain handshake” in London on Thursday. The Dalai Lama’s handshake on leaving the Royal Albert Hall was passed along a human chain of over 2000 e-activists who took to the streets of the city, shaking hands with each other right up to the Chinese Embassy. The event culminated in the delivery of Avaaz’s 1.67-million global petition for meaningful dialogue between China and the Dalai Lama at the embassy.Read more