Gansu, Tibetan self immolates invoking the Dalai Lama
The 146th immolation since 2009. Police have taken the victim's body. The scene was filmed. The Dalai Lama: "Safeguarding life as the highest" value.
Dharamsala (AsiaNews / Agencies) - A Gansu Tibetan self-immolated yesterday in Machu county (Chinese: Maqu). The man set himself on fire at 7 pm (local time) invoking the Dalai Lama. According to sources speaking on condition of anonymity, immediately after the immolation Chinese police intervened it took the body away to an unknown location.
In a video posted online a man is seen in flames lying on the ground, next to a child watching the scene (see photo).
The identity of the man is unknown. The phenomenon of self-immolations began in the aftermath of the 2008 protests that took place in Lhasa Tibetan province. On that occasion, the fighting raged on the anniversary of the Tibetan uprising against Beijing - in March 1959, and violently repressed - costing the lives of nearly 220 people.
Yesterday’s brings the number of self-immolations of Tibetans, men and women, often very young, to 146. They are criticizing Chinese rule in Tibet and demanding the return of the Dalai Lama to his homeland.
The Chinese authorities have increased control over Tibetan areas to prevent the self-immolations and arrest those who promote this type of protest. For his part, the exiled Buddhist leader has repeatedly called on his followers to "not take their life, but instead use it to protest in any other way" and "safeguard life as the highest value."
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