DHARAMSHALA: CTA President Dr Lobsang Sangay today expressed his deep concern at reports of yet another self-immolation protest in Ngaba county (incorporated into China’s Sichuan Province) in northeastern Tibet.
Tsekho, popularly known as Tsekho Tugchak, a middle-aged man in his 40s, died after setting himself on fire today in protest against China’s repressive policies in Tibet. He reportedly hails from a nomadic village in Meuruma Township in Ngaba County.
“Despite repeated appeals from the Central Tibetan Administration not to resort to drastic measures such as self-immolation, at least 152 Tibetans including Tsekho have set themselves on fire since 2009 in Tibet,” President Dr Lobsang Sangay said.
“Such sacrifices by Tibetans in Tibet evidences that repression in Tibet under the Chinese rule is making lives unlivable.”
“Therefore it is time the Chinese Government heed to the calls of Tibetans in Tibet who long for freedom in Tibet and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama back to Tibet. China must address the legitimate grievances of people in Tibet. The issue of Tibet can be best resolved amicably through the middle way approach, by resuming dialogue with the Tibetan representatives,” he said.
With Tsekho’s self-immolation, 152 Tibetans have self-immolated in protest against Chinese repressive policies of which 130 have succumbed to their burns. Tsekho’s self-immolation marks the first self-immolation protest in the year 2018.