Tibetan Self Immolation: Get Involved In The Global Intervention

By Associated Press
DHARMSALA, India -- Chinese repression has lead to the self-immolations of nearly two dozen Tibetans and deadly clashes with Chinese authorities, the head of Tibet's government-in-exile said Wednesday.

"Tibetans inside Tibet are giving up their lives. They're saying, 'I choose to die,'" Lobsang Sangay, the leader of the self-declared exile government, said after an afternoon prayer vigil at the main temple in this Indian hill town.

Around 20 Tibetans, many of them monks or nuns, have set themselves on fire over the past year, mostly in ethnic Tibetan areas of China's Sichuan province. Many had chanted for Tibetan freedom and the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet before lighting themselves on fire.

In recent weeks, Sichuan has also seen bloody clashes between Tibetans and China's forces.

Sangay said convoys of Chinese security forces had been seen moving toward Tibet in recent days, ahead of the Tibetan New Year, on Feb. 22, and the March anniversary of the failed 1959 uprising that sent the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader, fleeing into exile.

"If the Chinese government think that the Tibet issue can be solved through violence, intimidation, then it's not going to happen, because the Tibetan spirit is strong," he said.

On Tuesday, China vowed to crack down on the unrest, and accused overseas activist groups and the Dalai Lama of fomenting the violence.

"We believe that this is a case of a handful of criminals illegally gathering and smashing and looting," Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said in a routine briefing.

It has been the region's most violent period since 2008, when deadly rioting spread from Tibet's capital, Lhasa. China responded then by flooding the area with troops and closing Tibetan regions entirely to foreigners for about a year.

Earlier Wednesday, hundreds of Tibetan activists marched through the streets of New Delhi, calling for freedom for their homeland and decrying Chinese rule.

The government-in-exile had called for vigils to be held Wednesday amid the immolations and clashes.

To help those fighting for the freedom of Tibet and the return of the Dalai Lama, sign the Stand Up For Tibet pledge, an initiative that aims to demonstrate solidarity and call on governments worldwide to heed the call to action. Learn more here.

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Comments

[Pod-gers]

12:07 AM on 03/29/2012

The best way to end self-immolations is to have the Dalai Lama speak out against them. Where is the compassion he jets around the world preaching about?

[Americanwoman55]

10:50 AM on 02/09/2012

We need to stay out of everyones business.

have we learned nothing from our intervening in other countries.

Leave these people alone and let them deal with their business.

[Maosome]

08:27 AM on 02/10/2012

True dat. Especially we are talking about China here. One of the few countries who has both spines and sticks.

[southingtonian]

01:24 AM on 02/12/2012

PROP- a -gander! Get your PROP-a-gander here! PROP-a-gander!

[Maosome]

08:47 AM on 02/09/2012

We should do nothing. Dalai Lama will learn that he's not getting his ways. He will not return to be god king and setup his theocracy again.

When he sees that, he will tell his followers to stop burn themselves.

[southingtonian]

01:25 AM on 02/12/2012

STEP right UP! PROP- a -gander! Get your PROP-a-gan­der here! PROP-a-gan­der!

[zenju2]

05:52 AM on 02/09/2012

Why can't Islamists self-immolate instead of attacking civilian targets?
Indeed. Why can't militant Islamists just go ahead and self-immolate now and get it over with, for ALL our sakes?

[dil123]

11:28 PM on 02/11/2012

Why can't the anti-women's righters self-immolate themselves so that we know that they're serious?

[Pod-gers]

03:58 AM on 02/09/2012

This is SAD, and Tibet tops the list.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Activities_Division

CeyeA propaganda is the best, and they do not care who is sacrificed to their agenda.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=8673

Life in Tibet is good
http://tibet.news.cn/english/
.

[Maosome]

08:44 AM on 02/09/2012

You got it right, brother.

Dalai Lama was a paid CIA agent. People just refuse to see it.

[southingtonian]

01:26 AM on 02/12/2012

Don't miss this OP-por-TU-nity! PROP- a -gander! Get your PROP-a-gan­der here! PROP-a-gan­der!

[Gadgetman]

03:40 AM on 02/09/2012

"Everything is made in China, even the 'FREE TIBET' stickers." ~Robin Williams

[Lady Saera]

03:01 AM on 02/09/2012

Independent Tibet - The Facts, and The Cause.

It concerns a previously independent country that was invaded by communist China in 1949 and since that time has been brutally occupied, its people and culture ruthlessly exploited and oppressed. Tibetans are distinct people with their own language, and culture, having had their own currency, postal system, Government and treaties with neighbouring countries. That national freedom. which Tibetans had enjoyed for over two millennia, was shattered by China’s invasion. For over 60 years since that illegal military annexation inside Tibet there has been resistance to China’s illegal occupation, waged by Tibetans who are determined to regain their independence.

Within international law Tibet remains an independent nation under illegal occupation. As recognised by the US Congress:

[s002wjh]

11:02 AM on 02/09/2012

lol. bs. tibet always was part of china or puppet state throughout chinese history. there are 7million tibetan in china, the only one not satisfy with chinese rule are monks, and unemployee workers. All the land in N.america are illegal occupation.

BS, within internaional law tibet is part of china. US, europe all agree about that. the fact is tibet become part of china nothing gonna change it now. the only thing tibetan can hope for is better living condition and better political freedom under chinese rules.

[Pod-gers]

12:10 AM on 03/29/2012

The US does NOT recognise Tibet as an independent country. No country does. Both the PRC and the ROC state that Tibet is an inseperable part of China.

[irrenmann]

10:42 PM on 02/08/2012

Dear Tibetans,

Try setting some Chinese on fire instead. Fight for freedom rather than soliciting pity through shock imagery of self-harm.

[Sergio Andrade]

05:40 PM on 02/08/2012

Poor Tibetans so close to the heavens and to china.....

[alumnus]

03:43 PM on 02/08/2012

Whenever Americans bring up Tibetans or Uighurs the Chinese bring up how we treated the Native Americans. They intend to repeat our mistakes. What is our responsibility? We prop up this authoritarian regime with our economic policies and by giving them huge amounts of technology through our universities and corporations. This is not good for the American economy or national security. We must change incentives and laws to slow the flow of tech from America to China. Read more www.china-threat.com

[Maosome]

03:38 PM on 02/08/2012

It clearly shows that Dalai Lama leads a cult. He laughs all the way to the banks while young people burn themselves to death.

[Nyingje]

10:26 PM on 02/08/2012

What clearly shows that the Dalai Lama leads a cult? You'll have to provide evidence because your credibility is zero. Don't you know what the Beatles said about carrying pictures of Chairman Mao?

[Gadgetman]

03:41 AM on 02/09/2012

You don't have a clue about what is going on.