Exile administration condemns China’s response to self-immolations, Calls for international intervention
Phayul, 10 October 2011
DHARAMSHALA, October 10: The exile based Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) in a press release today called upon the People’s Republic of China to “put an end to its repression in Tibet as demonstrated by the ongoing unrest in Ngaba and other Tibetan areas”.
The release comes after reports confirmed the death of Khayang, an 18-year old Tibetan who set himself ablaze protesting Beijing’s rule over Tibet on October 7 along with Chopephel in Ngaba, eastern Tibet. Choephel, 19, reportedly died the same day while Khayang succumbed to his burn injuries and injuries sustained from indiscriminate beating by Chinese security personnel.
Highlighting the alarming human rights situation inside Tibet, the release noted that since March this year, “seven Tibetans are known to have self-immolated as a form protest against the People’s Republic of China’s occupation of Tibet and in support of the restoration of freedom for the Tibetan people”.
Condemning “the Chinese authorities’ response to the current events”, the CTA pointed out that instead of addressing the grievances of the Tibetans, the “Chinese authorities have reportedly assaulted the individuals who
have self-immolated and taken them into police custody”.
“China is in clear violation of its own laws and international norms with regard to basic human rights,” the release said.
While appealing to the Chinese government to “immediately release those
who survived self-immolation”, the CTA urged Tibetans and supporters “to show solidarity with the people of Ngaba and to highlight the urgency of the grave situation in Tibet”.
“We appeal to the international community to press the government of the People’s Republic of China to resolve the issue of Tibet peacefully through dialogue,” the release said.