By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The President, Regional Tibetan Women Association, Shillong has expressed concern over self-immolation by Tibetans in Tibet. Tibetans all over the world are raising their voices in the freedom struggle for Tibet as Tibetans in India are carrying out a peace march protest rally and hunger strike in New Delhi from October 19-21 in line with protests all over the globe.
The president said that with the presence of human rights organizations and NGOs promoting the same, Tibetans in Tibet are bereft of all the basic rights and freedom, as Tibetans are in a desperation move to draw large scale international response.
Recently, two more Tibetans, Choephel (19) and Khayang (18), both former monks of Kirti Monastery in Eastern Tibet set themselves on fire on October 7 in an apparent anti-China protest.
This was the third incident in a week following the self immolation of Kesang Wangchuk. The president said that the Tibetans are forced to commit the ultimate sacrifice of setting their bodies on fire as a last resort of peaceful action against China’s repressive policies on Tibet.
Choephel and Khayang set themselves ablaze with hands joined in prayers shouting anti-China slogans demanding freedom for Tibet and return of Dalai Lama. The Chinese security personnel started beating the two indiscriminately, dousing the fire, and on the way to hospital, Choephel succumbed to his injuries. On October 15, Norbu Damdul (19), a former monk at Kirti Monastery in Ngaba and Tenzin Wangmo (20), a nun from Mamae Dechen Choekhorling Nunnery, both self immolated themselves in a similar fashion demanding freedom for Tibet and return of Dalai Lama.
This is the ninth incident of the year and fifth in October and there are leaflets in Ngaba and Kirti Monastery warning “if the present situation continued, many more people are prepared to give their lives in protest.”