Making it clear that self-immolation was a way for Tibetans to seek change, Dr Lobsang Sangay, Prime Minister of Tibet government In-exile on Sunday said, “With repressive policies of the Chinese government, Tibetans do not have any choice other than sacrificing their precious lives to highlight the grave situations in Tibet to the outside world and international communities.”
Speaking to reporters at a press conference organised by the Office of the Chief Representative of Tibetan Settlements (South Zone) on Sunday, he said, “Tibetans do not have freedom of speech and freedom for conventional forms of protests and demonstrations.”
Stating that ‘self-immolation’ was not unique in Tibet, Sangay said that self-immolation was used as a “tool” for political protests universally in Europe, Vietnam etc. Holding the Chinese government responsible for 44 self-immolation in Tibet, Sangay said, “Our Tibetan administration (government) has made several appeals to the people of Tibet not to resort to such acts,” he added. But he further said “As Tibetans, we show solidarity to the voices which have sacrificed their lives fighting repression of Chinese government policies.”
“Of the 44 self-immolated persons, 35 have died and I suspect that the numbers could be much higher also. Those who are participating in any kind of protests or demonstrations are disappearing,” he said.
He further said that the Chinese government is trying to blame their spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, for instigating people of Tibet to resort to self-immolation and protests in Tibet. Citing an example for how repressive the policies of Chinese government might be, Lobsang said that tourism in Tibet has been banned.
Comments
0 comment