Tibet’s top political leader voices support for autonomy and nonviolent protest amidst a string of self-immolations by Tibetan nuns and monks.
Since March this year, at least 11 Tibetans have self-immolated in protest of what they call repressive policies by the Chinese government. Activists say the self-immolations are a response to the increasingly desperate situation within the Tibetan Autonomous Region, where restrictions on freedom to practice Tibetan religion, language and culture prevail. Since the 2008 Tibetan unrest, China has been ramping up security in regions with large Tibetan communities.
During his trip to Washington last week, Prime Minister of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile Lobsang Sangay called on U.S. politicians to apply greater political pressure on China for improved Tibetan autonomy.
Sangay is the first secular and democratically-elected political leader of the Tibetan exile community. He took office in August after the Dalai Lama stepped down from political duties. Chinese state media have labeled Sangay a “terrorist” for his involvement in a pro-independence group two decades earlier.
In this episode of The Stream, Lobsang Sangay discusses the ongoing crisis in his homeland and answers questions from our viewers.
What do you think of the recent wave of self-immolations? Send us your thoughts and comments on Facebook or Twitter using hashtag #AJStream.
http://stream.aljazeera.com/story/tibetan-pm-speaks-out-after-self-immolations-0021835
Since March this year, at least 11 Tibetans have self-immolated in protest of what they call repressive policies by the Chinese government. Activists say the self-immolations are a response to the increasingly desperate situation within the Tibetan Autonomous Region, where restrictions on freedom to practice Tibetan religion, language and culture prevail. Since the 2008 Tibetan unrest, China has been ramping up security in regions with large Tibetan communities.
During his trip to Washington last week, Prime Minister of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile Lobsang Sangay called on U.S. politicians to apply greater political pressure on China for improved Tibetan autonomy.
Sangay is the first secular and democratically-elected political leader of the Tibetan exile community. He took office in August after the Dalai Lama stepped down from political duties. Chinese state media have labeled Sangay a “terrorist” for his involvement in a pro-independence group two decades earlier.
In this episode of The Stream, Lobsang Sangay discusses the ongoing crisis in his homeland and answers questions from our viewers.
What do you think of the recent wave of self-immolations? Send us your thoughts and comments on Facebook or Twitter using hashtag #AJStream.
http://stream.aljazeera.com/story/tibetan-pm-speaks-out-after-self-immolations-0021835
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