Exiled Tibetans hold candle light vigil in Dharamshala

Dharamsala (HP), June 17 (ANI): Exiled Tibetans living in Dharamsala took part in a candle light vigil over the weekend to express their solidarity with an elderly Tibetan nomad, who self immolated himself in protest against repressive Chinese rule in Tibet.

The India-based Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) had confirmed that Tibetan nomad Tamdin Thar self immolated himself in protest against the repressive Chinese rule.

Thar belonged to a nomadic family and self-immolated on Friday morning in front of a police station in Chentsa (Jianzha) county in Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. Scores of Tibetan youth had reportedly committed self-immolation against what they termed as rising atrocities by the Chinese administration.

At least 38 Tibetans had set themselves on fire since March 2011 in protest against China's six-decade rule over Tibet, according to Tibetan rights groups and 28 of them had died. The vigil was held by the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress (RTYC) and Regional Tibetan Women's Association (RTWA). RTWA activist, Neema stated that these self-immolations send a strong message that their fellowmen are suffering under the repressive policies of Chinese government in Tibet.

"We find it very disappointing and we find it very sad losing our own people just for the cause of our own country and freedom. The cycle of self-immolating that is happening inside Tibet is a clear cut message that Tibetans inside Tibet are not happy under the Chinese occupation," said Neema.

The Dalai Lama had angered the Chinese government by refusing to condemn the protests and accusing Beijing of overseeing a "cultural genocide" against Tibetans. Activists say China violently had stamped out religious freedom and culture in Tibet, the mountainous region of western China that has been under Chinese control since 1950.

China rejects criticism that it is eroding Tibetan culture and faith, saying its rule has ended serfdom and brought development to a backward region. However, Beijing branded the self-immolators terrorists and criminals and blamed exiled Tibetans and the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, for inciting them.

The Dalai Lama still casts a long shadow over policy-making, and many Tibetans worry what shape their struggle for greater autonomy will take once the charismatic leader, with his message of non-violence, dies.

Beijing considers the Dalai Lama, who fled into exile in India in 1959 after an abortive uprising against Chinese rule, a separatist. The Dalai Lama says he merely seeks greater autonomy for his Himalayan homeland. (ANI)

(2012-06-17/newstrackindia)