Exiled Tibetans remember fallen heroes and urge world action on oppression in Tibet

["Taiwan Church News" <enews@pctpress.org>]

3129 Edition

February 13~19, 2012

Headline News

Exiled Tibetans remember fallen heroes and urge world action on oppression in 
Tibet

Reported by Chiou Kuo-rong

Written by Lydia Ma

According to reports from Tibet, 1 person died from self-immolation in 2009 in 
Tibet as Tibetans fought for their human rights but the number surged to 13 in 
2011. Now, barely two months into the year 2012, there are reports that 7 
Tibetans have already set themselves on fire and died in their attempt to fight 
for freedom in Tibet.

For exiled Tibetans around the world, February 8 is a day set aside to 
commemorate Tibetans who sacrificed their lives for the cause of freedom and 
Tibetans around the world either held a vigil or a rally to raise awareness 
about martial law and oppression in Tibet under the hands of China’s People 
Liberation Army.

Exiled Tibetans living in Taiwan held a candlelight prayer service in the 
evening of February 8, 2012 at National Taiwan Normal University Park to raise 
awareness in Taiwan about the dire situation in Tibet and in support of other 
Tibetans doing the same around the world.

Commenting on this event, Taiwan’s Regional Tibetan Youth Congress Chairman 
Tashi Tsering fired a broadside at Taiwan’s newly-reelected president for 
reneging his promise of speaking out on behalf of oppressed Tibetans to express 
his concern. According to Tsering, President Ma Ying-jeou has remained silent 
in spite of stories of self-immolation in Tibet and such a gesture is an 
intentional act from Ma’s part to please and side with Beijing.

Just 2 days before this vigil, there was news that 3 more protesters had set 
themselves on fire as a protest against Chinese repression. Their quest for 
cultural and religious freedoms and their stories finally caught the attention 
of many world leaders and average citizens who spoke up. In contrast, the 
Taiwanese government has remained silent, said Tsering, a tell-tale sign of 
either a China-leaning government or a government that doesn’t know much about 
human rights.

According to reports, a few governments around the world have already spoken 
out for Tibet. The Italian legislature passed a bill on February 8, urging 
Beijing to stop the clampdown. Meanwhile, the Canadian parliament has urged 
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to address this issue in an upcoming 
4-day visit to China.

Commenting on the unrest and the large number of self-immolations in the past 2 
years, Tibet’s exiled government representative in Taiwan. Dawa Tsering, said 
that Tibet is currently under Martial Law and all communication with the 
outside world has been interrupted. His sources tell him that 21 people have 
already died this year by setting themselves on fire and at least 6 or 7 of 
them were shot while immolating themselves. He predicted that the number of 
casualties now is most likely higher.

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