Dharamsala (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Two Tibetans set themselves on fire in Ngaba,
Sichuan Province, demanding an end to Chinese
occupation in Tibet and the
return of the Dalai Lama. According to sources
in the Tibetan government in exile,
the incident occurred yesterday around one o'clock (local
time). There is no reliable information
on their conditions. The two were
20 years old and have been identified as Choephag Kyab
and Sonam.
In a statement a few days ago, the Dalai Lama
has called on Chinese
authorities to inquire into the "real causes" of the self immolations in Tibet. The spiritual leader of
Tibetan Buddhists has repeatedly invited
his people to avoid extreme measures, but added that he could not condemn those who were
discouraged to such an extent.
Recently, a video showed Chinese police
officers bloodily beating a Tibetan who had just set himself on fire, while his body was engulfed
in flames. In an interview with
Phayul, Tenzin Chokyi,
general secretary of the Tibetan Youth Congress, said that
the "absolute savagery"
shown by the authorities in Beijing "only feeds more resentment and protest" against the regime.
"Witnessing their sacrifice
- adds Chokyi
- strengthens our resolve to fight for a Free Tibet."
Yesterday's episode brings the number of Tibetans who have set
themselves on fire to criticize the
dictatorship in Beijing and demand
the return of the Dalai Lama in Tibet to a stark 35.