[04. November 2011] The Washington Post

By Kalon Tripa Dr Lobsang Sangyay

Eleven Tibetans have set fire to themselves in eastern Tibet since March. Six have died. The Chinese government describes them as “terrorists in disguise.” The reality is that their desperate acts were a scathing indictment of the People’s Republic of China’s rule in occupied Tibet. They highlight the dramatic struggle for survival as a people with a unique culture and identity.

Tibetans in exile have reacted to the pain and suffering inside Tibet, particularly in the Ngaba and Karze areas, where most of these self-immolations have occurred, with horror and anxiety. The monks and nuns who immolated themselves were sacrificing their bodies to draw the world’s attention to Chinese repression in Tibet. Read more