Mass vigil in Dharamshala

Phayul[Tuesday, May 29, 2012 13:09]

By Tendar Tsering Exiled Tibetan Buddhist monk holds a portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama during the mass vigil Dharamshala, India, May 28, 2012. (Phayul photo/Norbu Wangyal DHARAMSHALA, May 29: As the fiery wave of self-immolation continues to spread inside Tibet, the Dharamshala based Central Tibetan Administration in a release yesterday evening expressed grave concern over the ongoing critical situation inside Tibet. Two Tibetans had set themselves on fire in front of the historic Jokhang Temple in the Tibetan capital Lhasa on Sunday in an apparent protest against the Chinese government. One of them has been identified as 19-year-old Dorjee Tseten, while the other, a 25-year old male, is believed to be his friend and a colleague at a restaurant where they both worked. Dorjee Tseten is feared dead. The CTA in its release said that “several convoys” of Chinese security forces immediately arrived and the scene and “swiftly cleared” all traces of the incident. “The situation in Lhasa remains tense with the deployment of huge number of police and para-military forces in the area,” CTA noted. The exile Tibetan administration renewed its call for China to open Tibet to international observers and the press. “No matter how the Chinese government attempts to present the cycle of self-immolations to the international community, such explanation will be met with deep scepticism so long as access to Tibetan areas, particularly where self-immolations took place, is denied to impartial observers such as members of the press, and representatives of international bodies such as the United Nations,” Dicki Chhoyang, Minister of the Department of Information and International Relations said. Candle light vigil Exiled Tibetans and supporters gathered at the Upper TCV School’s football ground for a mass vigil, Dharamshala, India, May 28, 2012 (Phayul photo/Norbu Wangyal) Thousands of Tibetans and supporters gathered at the Upper Tibetan Children’s Village School’s football ground yesterday evening for a mass vigil in solidarity with the ongoing self-immolations inside Tibet. Speaking at the candle light vigil, organised by the Dharamshala regional chapters of the youth congress and women’s association, Tsewang Rigzin, the President of the largest pro-independence group in exile, condemned the Chinese government for its repressive policies in Tibet. “The will, the wishes and the slogans of all Tibetans are same and united. All Tibetans long for the return of the Dalai Lama and restoration of Tibet’s independence,” Rigzin said. The major Tibetan settlements in the south Indian state of Karnataka are also carrying out prayer services today for the two self-immolators. Since 2009, thirty seven Tibetans have set themselves on fire demanding the return of the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama from exile and freedom in Tibet.