In a press statement issued yesterday, The Tibetan Pariliament-in-Exile called on China to stop its repressive policies in Tibet in order to prevent further self-immolations.
In the first week of 2012, Tibet witnessed three self-immolations. Tsultrim and Tennyi, both in their early 20s, self-immolated on 6 January in Ngaba (Chinese-Aba), calling for the ‘Return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet’. And on January 8th, Sonam Wangyal, known affectionately as Sopa Tulku or Sopa Tulku, aged42, a venerated spiritual figure and abboy of Tongkyap Monastery in Golok Darlag county set himself on fire. All three of them succumbed to their injuries.
Geshe Monlam Tharchin, standing committee member of Tibetan Parliament in Exile called on China to hear the demands of these three Tibetans and the other 13 who have self- immolated since 2009, and to let Tibetan exercise freedom of religion and expression. He also urged China to allow international fact finding groups to visit the areas where the self-immolations have taken place.
The press statement included the fact that Norbu Damdul, who self-immolated in Ngaba on October 15, 2011, had died on 5 January.
Geshe Monlam Tharchin applauds the US statement on the issue of self-immolations and urges the United Nations and the world community to exert more pressure on China to reform its failed policies.