New Delhi (AsiaNews) - "The new president Xi Jinping can not ignore what is happening in Tibet and the reasons that lie behind the escalation of protests in the region. The new premier is yet to take over, it will happen in March. We hope that truth will prevail upon him". This is the appeal of Tempa Tsering, the Dalai Lama's representative in New Delhi and in charge of negotiations with the Chinese government, to the new Chinese Communist party secretary.
Judged by many as a reformer, so far Xi has not yet commented on the situation in Tibet, where dozens of young people have set themselves on fire to protest against the abuses of the regime. The latest self-immolation took place on January 22, bringing to over 100 the number of victims, among them also adolescents of 17 years of age.
"The Tibetan administration - says Tsering - have been urging and pleading with the Tibetans, but unfortunately the Chinese government's severe repressive rule and religious repression make our Tibetans take the drastic step of self-immolation "
For the Tibetan leader, China react this way because it fears the moral authority of the Dalai Lama, considered a threat to its economic and military power: "He is not only revered and loved by the international community, but also by millions of Chinese". Beijing responded to love for the greatest authority of Tibetan Buddhism, with repression, force, denial of basic human rights.
Tsering said that China has always had an insatiable hunger for land and still has the ambition to dominate other peoples. "In this climate - he said - there is no the basis to build trust and mutual confidence. The solution to the self-immolations lies in Beijing. It is urgent that the Chinese government review their severe policies and address the grievances of our people who suffer untold misery and oppression The Chinese government needs to allow independent journalists, NGOs to go into Tibet and tell the international community the truth"