Ngaba (AsiaNews) - A Tibetan set himself on fire yesterday afternoon in Ngaba (Sichuan). According to eyewitnesses, the Chinese authorities immediately put out the flames enveloping the body of man who is in serious condition, but alive. His identity is still unknown, immediately after the episode, authorities took him from the center, where dozens of people had already gathered. After this latest self-immolation to protest the Chinese occupation of Tibet, residents of Ngaba have began calling the city's central square, "the square of the martyrs."
Stephanie Bridgen, director of Free Tibet, notes that "as the world's media focusses on the discipline of Chinese athletes, Chinese state repression is driving Tibetans to set fire to themselves under a media blackout." Bridgen stresses that China is participating in the Olympic Games despite the continued violations of human rights, already at its height during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. "China is competing in the Olympic Games despite having broken every commitment on human rights made during its bid for the 2008 games; while we celebrate human endeavour, we must rigorously defend human rights".
Since March 2011, more than 40 Tibetans, religious and lay people have set themselves on fire in protest against the crackdown by Chinese authorities who oversee the practice of worship and the opening and closing of the monasteries. The Dalai Lama has always emphasized he is "not encouraging" these extreme forms of rebellion, but has praised the "courage" of those who make the ultimate gesture, the result of "cultural genocide" is taking place in Tibet at China's hands. Beijing responds by attacking the Tibetan spiritual leader, guilty of supporting the extreme gestures of "terrorists, criminals or mentally ill."
