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Dharamshala: - The self-immolation protest has a long history of being used as a political tool around the world, today's realities in Tibet because there is no room for freedom of speech and conventional forms of protest, said the political leader of Tibet, Dr Lobsang Sangay during the 'flame of truth' torch relay function being held in the Himalayan town of Dharamshala, India on Thursday, July 26 2012.
Hundreds of Tibetans and supporters living in Dharamshala wore upbeat expressions on their faces on Thursday after witnessing the Northern India zone 'flame of truth' for Tibet, a symbol of their struggle for freedom which toured a long way from Ladakh to other Himalayan towns and cities and arrived here in Dharamshala, the Heart of Tibet in Exile today.
Dharamshala Tibetan settlement office has organised an official function at the main Tibetan temple in Dharamshala, H.P, India, hundreds of Tibetans and supporters, including top officials; Chief Justice Commission Ngawang Phelgye, Tibetan Parliament Speaker Penpa Tsering, Kalon Tripa Dr. Lobsang Sangay and Dharamshala Tibetan welfare officer Sonam Dorjee, and other top officials, representatives of Tibetan NGOs were attended the Dharamshala leg 'Flame of Truth' Torch relay function being held in the Himalayan town of McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala, India.
Kalon Tripa, Dr. Lobsang Sangay said his administration will be continued full support for the 'Flame Of Truth' torch relay and also urged fellow Tibetans from all over the world to participate in the global torch relay campaign for justice. "The Tibetans in Tibet are giving up even their lives, because of the injustice and repressive policies of the Chinese government," it is unacceptable and We should never forget those who have sacrificed their lives," Dr. Sangay said.
Chinese authorities always try to blame the self-immolations on His Holiness the Dalai Lama without giving any single sufficient reason, however baseless allegations. What are the causes and reasons behind the self-immolations in Tibet? Kalon Tripa formally asked the world and China to answer under an international independent investigation panel. "Because of the severe repression in Tibet by the government of China, at least 44 Tibetans have set fire to themselves in Tibet in protest against the policies adopted by the Chinese government in Tibet," he added during the function.
"We are all humans and life is precious and important to every human being on this earth. Nobody wants to die that way. So how does such a situation arise in Tibet? The only reason is that they want to highlight the awareness of the grave situation in Tibet to the outside world," he said.
"It's important movement and every Tibetans should show their support to the Flame of Truth torch relay, without forgetting our self-determination and unite to make our voices heard all over the world," Kalon Tripa told the Tibetans both inside and outside occupied Tibet.
"The Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile is a legislative organisation, however, when we are concentrating on the current urgent situation inside Tibet and when we are thinking the reasons why we became refugee, the parliament has decided to continue various movements in every exile settlements and all over world, until we have victory for the Tibetan struggle," Penpa Tsering, the speaker of Tibetan Parliament In exile told the gathering, crowd.
"There are always many talks behind in our society, whether staging a movement or not, some people say, they are doing this and they are doing it, if not staging movement, many say they are not staging any movement. Whatever others may say, the Tibetan people have to take responsibility for their own political destiny, therefore the current movement of 'Flame of Truth came after months of discussing and planning," he said.
"I think the 'Flame of Truth' torch relay is the first major movement conducted by the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile and an approach to create opportunity, it is to be the longest chain of the Tibetan movement, connecting all Tibetans living in exile," Mr. Penpa Tsering added.
The global torch relay was organized by the Tibetan Parliament in Exile to appeal to the international community to support the issue of Tibet. The relay is strongly appealing the United Nations. There are three demands as follows:
1. The United Nations must discuss the issue of Tibet based on the resolutions that it has passed in 1959, 1961 and 1965, and continuously make efforts to fulfill the substance of these resolutions.
2. An independent international fact-finding delegations must immediately be sent to investigate the ongoing crisis in Tibet.
3. The United Nations must take special responsibility to ensure that the basic aspirations of the Tibetans inside Tibet are fulfilled.
