TAIWAN: Exiled Tibetans begin a 49-hour long hunger strike in Taipei, ahead of Human Rights Day and in mourning for Tibetans who have burned themselves to death

Record ID: 341015

  • Title: TAIWAN: Exiled Tibetans begin a 49-hour long hunger strike in Taipei, ahead of Human Rights Day and in mourning for Tibetans who have burned themselves to death
  • Date: 8th December 2012
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) TIBETAN WELFARE ASSOCIATION IN TAIWAN CHAIRMAN DAWA TSERING SAYING: "Tibetan Political Leader Lobsang Sangay urges everyone around the world to host activities on December 10 to stand together with Tibetans and let the world know Tibetans' wishes, especially the self-immolated Tibetans' wishes. We want to show them their outcry and the reason behind
  • Embargoed: 23rd December 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Taiwan, Province of China
  • Country: Taiwan
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA5RYXF4TXA1LRKMTWGTITVPMPO
  • Story Text: Exiled Tibetans in Taiwan gathered in front of Taipei's Liberty Square on Saturday (December 8) to begin a 49-hour long hunger strike ahead of Human Rights Day on Monday (December 10).
    Sheltering under a tent in the rain, ten Tibetans from the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress sat on a floor mat and chanted prayers.
    The Tibetan Welfare Association in Taiwan Chairman said the hunger strike was in response to the Tibetan Government in Exile's call to support Tibetans struggling under China's rule.

    "Tibetan Political Leader Lobsang Sangay urges everyone around the world to host activities on December 10 to stand together with Tibetans, and let the world know Tibetans' wishes, especially the self-immolated Tibetans' wishes. We want to show them their outcry and the reason behind self-immolations," Chairman Dawa Tsering said.
    In a statement, the organiser said Tibetans are demanding basic human rights and freedom, and the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet.

    "We want the Chinese government to really follow the Chinese constitution and really advocate for democracy and equality. We want them to become a real republic for the people by giving Tibetans equal treatments, and also stop the assimilation education, let the Tibetans learn their own language, have their own religion, and live a normal life," Tsering said.
    Ninety-two Tibetans have set themselves on fire to protest Chinese rule since 2009, with at least 75 dying from their injuries.
    The number of self-immolations has been sharply increasing this year, with 28 cases alone in November.
    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.
    Beijing blames 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.
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