By order of the central government, the authorities of Qinghai Province cancel aid to the victims' relatives and suspend all development projects in villages and towns where self-immolations have occurred. In two weeks, nine Tibetans have set themselves on fire in the province. All those who have paid tribute, even with small messages of condolence, to the young people who committed suicide, will be punished. Severe penalties also for party officials who are too "soft" with the activists.

Dharamsala (AsiaNews) - The Chinese authorities of Malho (Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai Province) are cancelling aid to the families of the Tibetans who set themselves on fire in protest against the Chinese occupation of Tibet. The local government has also canceled all development projects initiated in the villages involved in demonstrations against Beijing.

In the last three weeks, nine people have committed self-immolation in Rebkong county (Qinghai). On November 9, about 5,000 children and teachers from the schools of Rongwo city organized a peaceful demonstration denouncing the apathy of the authorities and the media towards the increase in cases of self-immolation. The day before in Dowa, some young students lowered the Chinese flag from their institutes and from government offices, in protest.

After these events, on November 14 the authorities of Malho Prefecture and local Communist Party officials issued a five-point directive to punish cases of self-immolation.

In the first point, the government orders all forms of support to be cancelled for three years for the relatives of the Tibetan people who committed suicide in protest, pointing out that all local officials are required to implement the directive. Those who violate this order will be punished in exemplary fashion. The measure also cancels development projects and public investments in the villages and cities where such protests have occurred. The second point orders the authorities to investigate officials who have shown solidarity with the victims, by attending a funeral, making a visit or sending a message of condolence. The Communist Party members have an obligation to report the possible involvement of peers or superiors. In the third point, Beijing instead punishes all religious and secular authorities who celebrated the funeral or made visits to the families of those who have committed self-immolation. The fourth orders local police to launch an immediate investigation into all those who were involved in the demonstrations, public ceremonies or joint prayer services in memory of those who committed suicide. The agents are authorized to conduct interrogations and stop any suspects. The fifth orders all local governments to publish the regulation and enforce it. Those who do not abide by the rules will be arrested and prosecuted.

To increase the directive's effectiveness, Beijing announced the news on all local media, accusing "the Dalai clique" of encouraging young people to set themselves on fire in protest, creating instability in the Tibetan-majority areas. In reality, the Tibetan leader has consistently criticized the form of self-immolation, in various messages inviting young people not to waste their lives with these extreme gestures.

Since 2011, when many young people have chosen this fatal way of criticizing the regime, at least 70 Tibetans have immolated themselves. 

 

 

 

• tibet
• cina
• libertà
• religiosa
• autoimmolazioni
• proteste