Self-immolations due to China hardliners: Kalon Tripa/ENG

2012. március 10./Tibet Sun/TibetPress

Kalon Tripa of the Central Tibetan Administration, Lobsang Sangay, blamed China for the spate of self-immolations in Tibet as the exile Tibetans marked the 53rd Anniversary of the Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule in Tibet.

Twenty-six Tibetans have set themselves on fire since 2009, 14 of them in 2012. At least 16 have died, and the whereabouts and current status of the others remain unknown.

Sangay said that he always discouraged extreme actions and that the self-immolations are an emphatic rejection of the empty promises of the so-called “socialist paradise.”

He also pointed out that there is no space within the Chinese system for any conventional protests such as hunger strikes, demonstrations and even peaceful gatherings.

“When Tibetans gather peacefully and demand basic rights as outlined in the Chinese constitution, they are arrested, fired upon and killed as in the 23-24 January peaceful protests when Chinese were celebrating their new year,” Sangay said.

“Fault lies squarely with the hardline leaders in Beijing.”

Therefore, he said, the “solution” to the Tibetan issue lies with the Chinese leaders.

He asked China to address the tragedy in Tibet by acknowledging the depth of the problems in Tibet and accepting the ‘Middle-way’ policy, which seeks genuine autonomy for Tibetans within the framework of the Chinese constitution.

He said the Tibetan issue cannot be solved through violence and that the ‘Middle-way’ policy through dialogue is a mutually beneficial path.

“Dialogue and a peaceful resolution to the Tibet issue are in the best interest of China, the Chinese people and Tibetans.”

Pointing out that Hong Kong and Macao have been granted a high degree of autonomy by China, he asked, “Why are Tibetans still not granted genuine autonomy as stipulated in the Chinese constitution?”

Nine rounds of talks were held between the envoys of the Dalai Lama and the Chinese leaders since 2002 to find ways to resolve the Tibetan issue. But the meetings have failed to produce tangible results.

Sangay reiterated his commitment to dialogue and resumption of talks.

“We stand ready to send envoys to resume the dialogue process even though the Chinese envoy belonging to the United Front Work Department has of late invested far more energy travelling around the world and making outrageous attacks on His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the CTA led by the Kalon Tripa. In the process they have actually further internationalized the Tibet issue.”

Seeking attention from the international community for the Tibetan issue, Sangay urged the United Nations to live up to its objectives and address the crisis in Tibet by appointing a Special Rapporteur to visit Tibet.

He also appealed to the officials and member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) to include the Tibet issue in their agenda given Tibet’s geopolitical and environmental significance affecting billions of Asians.

Thousands of exile Tibetans and several hundred supporters gathered at Tsuglakhang Temple to commemorate the uprising day. Supporters included an Italian Parliamentary Delegation led by Gianni Vernetti and Chinese human rights and pro-democracy activists including Harry Wu.

It was for the first time that someone other than the Dalai Lama delivered the official 10 March statement. The Dalai Lama, who stepped down as the political leader of the Tibetan people last year, attended the meeting but he did not speak. It was the new Kalon Tripa Lobsang Sangay who delivered the official 10 March statement.

Last updated on 11 March. This corrected version deleted the mention of a member of parliament of Democratic Republic of Congo.
By Lobsang Wangyal