12/23/2014, 00.00
TIBET - CHINA
Send to a friend

Young Tibetan sets woman herself on fire in protest against Chinese repression

The tragic episode took place in Sichuan province. Since 2009, 135 Tibetans have taken their lives demanding an end to Chinese dictatorship and the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet.

Dharamsala (AsiaNews/Agencies) - A 20 year old woman died after setting herself ablaze in "protest against the repressive policy" of China that oppresses religion and Tibetan culture.

Tsepe Kyi (see photo), set herself on fire yesterday afternoon at Meruma, Ngaba County (Aba in Chinese), in the region of Sichuan. Local sources describe Tsepe as a girl of "good character and personal integrity." She lived as a nomad with her parents and six brothers and sisters. She had no formal education.

Chinese police immediately took her body away and questioned her relatives.

Since 2009, at least 135 Tibetan men and women, many of them very young, have chosen to make gestures of self-immolation in protest against Chinese dictatorship that is leading to the Tibetan genocide.

Tsepe's self-immolation is the second in December. Last December 16, 33-year-old Sanghye Khar set himself on fire in front of a police station in Amchok in Sangchu County (Xiahe), in the Chinese province of Gansu.

Chinese authorities have increased control over Tibetan areas in the attempt to prevent self-immolations and have arrested Tibetans who promote this kind of protest.

Those who sacrifice themselves are asking for the free return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet.

The Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, is branded by China as a secessionist and as "a wolf in sheep's clothing." He has repeatedly appealed to young people to preserve their lives, using them to protest in a more constructive and less desperate manner.

 

 

TAGs
Send to a friend
Printable version
CLOSE X
See also
China condemns Tibetan monk to death for "instigating" self immolations
31/01/2013
A Tibetan killed, six arrested in protest against Chinese mines
16/08/2012
Tibetan woman self immolates in Qinghai to protest seizure of home
03/07/2012
Beijing arrests hundreds of Tibetans to stop self-immolations
31/05/2012
Ngaba, two Tibetan monks set themselves on fire. The police prevent their rescue
31/03/2012


Newsletter

Subscribe to Asia News updates or change your preferences

Subscribe now
“L’Asia: ecco il nostro comune compito per il terzo millennio!” - Giovanni Paolo II, da “Alzatevi, andiamo”