Tibet continues to burn

Phayul[Monday, November 12, 2012 14:03]

Nyingkar Tashi, 24, set himself on fire in Rebkong region of eastern Tibet on November 12, 2012. DHARAMSHALA, November 12: In confirmed reports and photos coming out of Tibet, another Tibetan has set himself on fire today in an apparent protest against China's continued occupation of Tibet. In one of the photos received by Phayul, a Tibetan man can be seen engulfed in flames, lying down on the ground. Sources have identified the Tibetan as Nyingkar Tashi,24 years of age. The self-immolation is being reported from Rebkong region of eastern Tibet, the same region which witnessed two self-immolations and massive protests involving thousands of Tibetans and students last week alone. "I am getting confirmed reports of a self-immolation protest by a Tibetan man Nyiga, 24 in Rebkong this afternoon at around 3.30 pm(local time)," Ajam Amchok, an exile Tibetan with close contacts in the region told Phayul. "There is too much of a chaos right now in the area making it difficult to get more information." Details on Nyingkar Tashi's condition is still awaited at the time of filing this report. In less than week, beginning from the eve of Chinese Communist Party's 18th National Congress in Beijing, eight Tibetans have set themselves on fire demanding freedom and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile. On the sidelines of the meeting, Chinese government officials from Tibet last week reiterated the government’s view that the self-immolations were being instigated by external separatist groups.  “External Tibetan separatist forces and the Dalai clique are sacrificing the lives of others to achieve ulterior political motives,” Lobsang Gyaltsen, the TAR Deputy Governor, was quoted as saying by Reuters.  Qiangba Puncog, the head of the TAR government’s People’s Congress, ruled out allowing foreign observers into Tibetan areas, as recommended recently by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay.  Speaking to reporters in Tokyo earlier today, the Dalai Lama said the Chinese government is not 'seriously' probing the cause of a spate of self-immolations. "The Chinese government should investigate the cause (of the incidents). China does not look into it seriously and tries to end (the incidents) only by criticising me," Kyodo News reported in Japanese. 71 Tibetans have set themselves on fire since the wave of self-immolations began in 2009. A number of mass protests involving thousands of people have also erupted across the Tibetan plateau over the last several months.