INDIA: Exiled Tibetans hope for stronger global intervention to halt Chinese 'atrocities'

Record ID: 1377582

  • Title: INDIA: Exiled Tibetans hope for stronger global intervention to halt Chinese 'atrocities'
  • Date: 31st December 2012
  • Summary: PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DECEASED PROTESTORS
  • Embargoed: 15th January 2013 19:32
  • Keywords:
  • Location: India
  • Country: India
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVADZYRYFZ05JRHSN38OFBIUICCX
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Following a string of self-immolations in protest against Chinese rule and what they termed as atrocities, exiled Tibetans are hopeful of stronger intervention by international communities to resolve the issue of their homeland.
    On Monday (December 31), exiled Tibetans at Dharamsala in India's northern state of Himachal Pradesh said they were looking forward for a solution to the disputed restive Himalayan region.

    "We have seen unprecedented tragic self-immolations this year, around 80 Tibetans have set themselves on fire in protest against the Chinese government this year. But we hope that in the coming year, the international community will encourage the Chinese, the new leadership, which is taking reign of China in March, to engage with Tibetan leadership to find a lasting solution to the problem of Tibet," said Lobsang Cheodak, Public Relations Officer of Central Tibetan Administration in-exile, Dharamsala.
    As the number of self-immolations in restive Tibetan regions has risen sharply, Beijing appears to be tightening rules against the anti-China protests despite hopes the new Communist Party chief Xi Jinping may take a softer line against Tibet.
    There has been a steep increase in cases of self-immolation this year, and in November alone -- when Xi was named the new head of the Party -- 29 people set themselves on fire.
    In all, there have been 94 burnings to protest Chinese rule since 2009, according to the Tibet-government-in-exile. At least 77 people have died from the burn injuries.
    Meanwhile, Director of Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) in-exile, Tsering Tsomo added that the Tibetan refugees are not too keen to usher in the New Year in a festive mood.

    "I really don't think that Tibetans have anything to celebrate, because in light of all the self-immolations and the crackdown on peaceful protests in Tibet, you know; owing to all these reasons we feel that it is really inappropriate for many Tibetans to celebrate the New Year this year, but then again we always have hope that change will come in Tibet. And the new leaders, who have already been appointed in China, will have the wisdom and vision to resolve the Tibet issue," said Tsomo.
    China has defended its iron-fisted rule in Tibet, saying the remote region suffered from dire poverty, brutal exploitation of serfs and economic stagnation until 1950 when Communist troops "peacefully liberated" it.
    China repeated the official stance that Tibetans had enjoyed unprecedented advances and rights under Communist Party rule, blaming exiled spiritual leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner the Dalai Lama for inciting the self-immolations.
    The Dalai Lama fled into exile in 1959 following a failed uprising against Chinese rule.
    Recently, the United Nations called on China to allow independent human rights monitors to visit Tibet and address deep-rooted frustrations.
    China has barred foreign journalists from Tibet and prevented many others from travelling to surrounding Tibetan regions, making independent verification difficult.
    The country has branded the self-immolators 'terrorists' and criminals, and has blamed the Dalai Lama for inciting them.
    The United States and several other countries have made calls for China to negotiate with the Dalai Lama and end repressive policies.
  • Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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