Beijing (AsiaNews) - As Diaspora Tibetans held a great summit in Dharamsala to formulate a strategy vis-à-vis self-immolations in the homeland, Chinese authorities continued their relentless crackdown on the local population. Chinese courts sentenced four people (monks and a member of the laity) to long prison terms for "leaking news of protests" and passing "news from inside Tibet to outside contacts".
Lobsang Tsultrim, 19, and Lobsang Jangchub, 17, are the youngest of the four. Both are monks from Kirti, Ngaba County, a centre of anti-Chinese protest. They were found guilty on all charges and sentenced to 11 and 8 years respectively.
Separately, a court in Sichuan's Barkham County sentenced a monk and a layman to long prison terms for passing "news from inside Tibet to outside contacts". Lobsang Tashi, a 26-year-old monk also from Kirti Monastery, was sentenced to 7 years, whilst Bu Thubdor, 25, was given a seven-and-half sentence. At present, both are held in Mianyang, Sichuan.
Since 2009, 52 self-immolations have taken place in Tibet and Chinese provinces with Tibetan majorities. Chinese authorities have condemned these acts, and blamed the Dalai Lama as the instigator.
All those who died demanded religious freedom for Tibet and a return of their spiritual leader, who has always called on his fellow believers to "consider their life the most sacred gift of all."
In order to stop self-immolations, the Dharamsala-based Tibetan government-in-exile organised a meeting with delegations from Tibetan communities around the world.
For four days, 420 delegates from 26 nations met and discussed, ending the proceedings with 31 recommendations for the Tibetan people.
After expressing their utmost respect for the sacrifice of the 52 people who self-immolated, summit participants blamed the Chinese government for the situation. They also said they were prepared to sue Chinese leaders before the International Court of Justice for crimes against the local population.
At the same time, the delegates urged Tibetans to follow the Dalai Lama's "middle way" and "avoid extreme acts".