Dharamshala – Tibet Museum organized an exhibition on Tuesday entitled "The Burning Question - Why do Tibetans turn to self-immolation?" The Deputy Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile opened the exhibition by stating, "China claims that Tibetans live happily in Tibet, but why do Tibetans self-immolate?
This crucial question should be posed to the Chinese leaders: if they are living happily, why are Tibetans inside Tibet self-immolating?"
The Tibet Museum is presenting an exhibition entitled "The Burning Question" for a fortnight, from February 27 to March 8, 2024, in the main Tibetan temple (Tsuglakhang), McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala, H.P., India. The exhibition aims to explain why 157 Tibetans have self-immolated in peaceful protest against the Chinese government's oppressive policies in Tibet and what their final demands are: freedom or independence for Tibet, the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and the reunification of Tibetans in Tibet and in exile.
Dolma Tsering Teykhang, Deputy Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, opened the exhibition after lighting a lamp in honor of the self-immolators. The Deputy Speaker then spoke to the media about today's exhibition.
Deputy Speaker Dolma Tsering said, "Today's exhibition entitled 'The Burning Question - Why do Tibetans turn to self-immolation?' is a very critical question. This question should be directed to the Chinese leaders. China claims that Tibetans live happily in Tibet, but why do Tibetans self-immolate? This crucial question should be put to the Chinese leaders: if they are living happily, why are Tibetans inside Tibet self-immolating?"
The Deputy Speaker said, "The second question we need to ask the international community is why 157 Tibetans have self-immolated to date. These are not just numbers but lives, people aged 15 to 81. Why have they self-immolated? They have done it for the freedom of Tibetans. Tibet is like an open-air prison in the world. Even keeping a photo of their own spiritual leader, they are imprisoned. Because of the oppressive policies of the Chinese government in Tibet and the lack of appeal to the Chinese government about the true wishes or freedom of Tibetans, they sacrificed their lives and sent the following message to the world: 'Whatever you see of Chinese propaganda, don't believe it, it's all a lie'."
The exhibition highlights the aspirations of Tibetans who have self-immolated and features a map of self-immolation sites in Tibet's three provinces. The exhibition also marks the 15th anniversary of the first Tibetan self-immolation in Tibet, by Tapey of Kirti Monastery, who self-immolated on February 27, 2009.
