Dharamshala: - The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) Sunday, 11 November has rejected the accusations and claims by officials of the so called Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) that oversea Tibetans have encouraged the self-immolations. The political leader's response came after some official mouthpieces of the Chinese Communist party claimed that the protests were being instigated by external separatist groups.
Addressing a grand prayer service for self-immolators at the main temple here today, the Tibetan political leader, (Sikyong) Dr Lobsang Sangay reiterated the CTA's grave concern over the prevailing grim situation in Tibet, adding that the Tibetan people are passing through one of saddest periods in its history.
The international community, including the UN, EU and US had repeatedly criticized China over the widespread self-immolation protests in Tibet, reflecting the lack of respect for the fundamental freedom and human rights in Tibet, as well as communist regime's policies that threatening the traditional religious, cultural, and linguistic preservation that underpin the Tibetan identity.
The elected political leader of Tibet said the escalating number of self-immolations by Tibetans reflects how repressive and unbearable is the situation under the Chinese rule.
"The massive protest by thousands of Tibetan students in Rebgong in north-eastern Tibet (China's Tongren in Qinghai) on Friday reflect their deep resentment against China's policies to undermine the Tibetan language and cultural identity," Dr Sangay added.
"We categorically reject the accusations and claims by a handful of Tibetan leaders of Tibet Autonomous Region that Tibetans in exile have encouraged the self-immolations and Tibetans in Tibet are enjoying freedom and happy, during their press conference in Beijing on Friday. We are saddened to hear such false statements on the situation in Tibet from Tibetans," Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay said.
Dr Sangay reiterated the blame and solution for the crisis in Tibet lies squarely with the Chinese government, adding, the self-immolations will end if Beijing its repressive policies and find a lasting solution to the issue of Tibet through dialogue.
Exile political leader said his administration and Tibetans in exile would do everything to fulfill the unequivocal universal aspiration of Tibetans inside Tibet for the restoration of freedom for Tibetans and His Holiness the Dalai Lama's return to Tibet.
The political leader of Tibetans urged the US government to provide strong support to meaningful efforts made by Tibetans in exile in democracy and non-violence as part of Obama administration's "pivot to Asia" policy.
He also strongly called on the media to draw the attention of the international community, including Chinese people, on the escalating tragic situation in Tibet.
Despite repeated appeals by the Central Tibetan Administration to refrain from drastic actions, over 70 Tibetans have set themselves on fire in Tibet since 2009, calling for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet and freedom for Tibetans.
Officials from the so called TAR held a meeting in Beijing on Friday along the sidelines of the CCP's 18th National Congress, which opened on Thursday. "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.
"We believe that this is contrary to humanity's common conscience and morality, they will never achieve their evil purposes and will also suffer intense condemnation.", Jampa Phuntsok, (Chinese: Qiangba Puncog), the head of the so called TAR government's People's Congress, added that the protests were "concentrated around six to seven monasteries out of more than 10,000 in the region".
He ruled out allowing foreign observers into Tibetan areas, as suggested recently by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay., Mr Phuntsok said on Friday the government "hoped that people from all fields within the country and outside go to Tibet often to look around, study and travel, but as to some other aspects, we are not that welcoming," referring to foreign observers.
"Those who think there are any problems in Tibet, human rights problems, arrogantly wanting to pursue investigations, to use these situations to propose entering Tibet," he added, "I am afraid we feel it's inappropriate."
Since 2009, all Tibetan self-immolators called for China to end its repressive policies in Tibet and demanded the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile and freedom in Tibet.
Over 70 self-immolation protests occurred in different parts of Tibet since 2009 and and most of them died from severe burn injuries. At-least six people, including mother and teenagers committed self-immolation, a day before the start of the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in Beijing.
