Empty original: Five more Tibetans burn themselves to death to protest against China
From 2009 more than have been registered 80 immolations to demand the independence of Tibet and the return of the Dalai Lama, exiled in India
Pablo m. TEN / CORRESPONDENT IN BEIJING
Day 27/11/2012
Five more Tibetans have burned themselves to death in recent days to protest against what they consider the Chinese occupation., raising to more than 80 immolations of this type recorded since 2009.
According to the Tibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD, in its acronym in English), Suicides have taken place in Tibetan areas of Gansu provinces, Sichuan y Qinghai. In this last region, besides, remain hospitalized at least 20 students injured in a clash with police that took place on Monday in Hainan prefecture. According to the radio station Radio Free Asia, a thousand students demonstrated over the distribution of pamphlets at the Tsolho Medical Institute that condemned the immolations as «acts of stupidity».
Since mid-November, Chinese authorities have strengthened their attempts to stop mass immolations, punishing relatives of suicide bombers and forcing Tibetans to sign written statements promising not to burn themselves for the Dalai Lama, exiled in India.
Among the latest deceased are a nun and nomadic shepherds from among 19 and 30 years
Among the latest deceased are a nun and nomadic shepherds from among 19 and 30 years, who have decided to take their own lives in such a painful way to demand the independence of Tibet and demand the return of the highest religious figure of Buddhism. Pro-Tibetan groups denounce that, to prevent bonzo-style immolations from continuing to spread, the police have cut off the internet, increased repression and «pricked» the phones. How the authoritarian regime in Beijing keeps Tibet closed to foreign media and observers, It is difficult to corroborate this information.
Tension has been growing in Tibet since the last outbreak of violence in 2008, when very serious riots burned down Lhasa and other Tibetan areas months before the Beijing Olympic Games. According to Chinese authorities, about twenty people died, among which there was 18 civilians of the majority ethnic group «he» who were lynched and burned alive. But, in the opinion of the Tibetan Government in exile, The riots and subsequent repression took their toll 203 lives.
Under Chinese control
Like any other border area, Tibet has been under Chinese control since the 13th century depending on the strength of its successive empires. in 1911, coinciding with the fall of the last emperor and the weakness of the Chinese Republic, Tibet achieved its de facto independence until Mao Zedong reconquered it in 1950, just after the civil war and the founding of the new communist state. nine years later, The then very young Dalai Lama went into exile in India, where in 1989 won the Nobel Peace Prize.
Since then, It is estimated that some have been exiled 200.000 Tibetans, half of them in India, and? 1,2 Millions of people have died as a result of Chinese repression. Although the Chinese authorities demonize the Dalai Lama, who is accused of being a separatist terrorist, He has modulated his speech and no longer asks for the independence of Tibet, but greater respect for their religion and culture.
