Dharamsala (AsiaNews) - Nyingkar Tashi, a Tibetan woman of about 25 years, set herself on fire yesterday afternoon in the city of Dowa (Rebkong county, eastern Tibet). The woman self immolated during a prayer ceremony for Tamdin Tso, a young mother who also died from self immolation in the same area on November 7 last year. Before she was consumed by the flames, Nyingkar Tashi shouted for the freedom of Tibet and the Dalai Lama.
In the last six days, since the eve of the Congress of the Chinese Communist Party in Beijing, seven Tibetans have set themselves on fire to challenge the Chinese oppression of Tibet and demand the return of the Dalai Lama to the country. Since 2011, when many young people began to choose this fatal form of opposing the regime, at least 70 Tibetans have been killed.
Yesterday, almost simultaneously with yet another self-immolation, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry criticized the Dalai Lama of wanting to "glorify" the immolations. In fact, the head of Tibetan Buddhism, who was visiting Tokyo, had criticized Beijing for not understanding the underlying causes that lead these young people, monks and lay people, to suicide, and that is the despair about their future and the future of Tibetan culture and religion.
"China - said the Dalai Lama - does not seriously verify what is happening and tries to put an end to these incidents only criticizing me as a person."
For years, Beijing has been accusing the Tibetan spiritual leader of stoking hatred and separatism, branding him a "wolf in sheep's clothing" and "a demon in the guise of an angel."
The Dalai Lama, who has resigned from all political offices, is appealing for Tibet's cultural and religious autonomy, but not political, but has always found a strong opposition to the government in Beijing. Since the beginning of immolations he has urged young people who commit this act of desperation not to do it because they lose their lives, and the chance to make a positive contribution to the revival of Tibet.
(with the collaboration of Nirmala Carvalho)