Central Tibetan Administration Seriously Concerned by the Cycle of Self-Immolations Reaching Other Tibetan Regions - CTA Press Release/ENG

2012. május 28./Dharamszala/CTA/TibetPress

The Central Tibetan Administration, based in Dharamsala, India,
expressed its concern over the latest development in Tibet
involving the self-immolation of two Tibetans in Lhasa, on Sunday,
27 May.  These are the first such incidents taking place in the
capital of Tibet.  The two self-immolators have been identified as
Dhargye and Dorjee Tseten from the northeastern Tibet's Ngaba and
Labrang area respectively. It is reported that Dorjee Tseten died
and Dhargye survived with injuries.

The Tibetan men are said to have set themselves on fire in front of
the Jokhang Temple, located in Barkhor Square, one of the few
remaining traditional Tibetan quarters in Lhasa. Arriving in
several convoys, Chinese security forces are said to have swiftly
cleared all traces of the incident.

The situation in Lhasa remains tense with the deployment of huge
number of police and para-military forces in the area.  With these
two latest incidents, 37 Tibetans have set themselves on fire in
Tibet.  All, unanimously called for freedom in Tibet and the return
of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to his homeland.

"No matter how the Chinese government attempts to present the cycle
of self-immolations to the international community, such
explanation will be met with deep skepticism so long as access to
Tibetan areas, particularly where self-immolations took place, is
denied to impartial observers such as members of the press, and
representatives of international bodies such as the United
Nations," said Kalon Dicki Chhoyang of the Department of
Information & International Relations for the Central Tibetan
Administration.

A few days ago, on 24 May, the US Government released its 2011
annual report on the human rights situation in Tibet.  The report
documents in detail the Chinese government's policies which are
pushing Tibetans to set themselves on fire.  It states that
“repressive measures such as forcing Tibetans to denounce the Dalai
Lama through patriotic and legal education campaigns, occupation of
monasteries by security forces, provoked acts of resistance among
the Tibetan population, who saw it as a threat to the foundations
of Tibet’s distinct religious, linguistic, and cultural identity.
These acts of resistance, in turn, led to enhanced attempts by PRC
authorities to maintain control, thus creating cycles of repression
that resulted in increasingly desperate acts by Tibetans, such as a
series of self- immolations by Tibetans.”

“The report accurately depicts the circumstances leading to the
current tense situation in Tibet.  This information is further
supported by video footage from smuggled out of Tibet. It shows
Chinese police night raids into monastic living quarters, a monk
being arrested for possession of photos of His Holiness the Dalai
Lama, and State security forces' seal-off of Drepung Monastery in
Lhasa.  Although the footage dates back to 2008, it remains
relevant to this day as it illustrates repressive policies that
continue to be enforced across the Tibetan plateau and thus leading
Tibetans to self-immolate,” states Kalon Dicki Chhoyang.