DHARAMSHALA, September 24: The Department of Information and International Relations of the Central Tibetan Administration today released a documentary film aimed at highlighting the critical situation inside Tibet heralded by the series of self-immolations that has engulfed the region.
The 30-minute long film, “The Burning Question: Why are Tibetans Turning to Self-immolation?” depicts the background and the underlying causes of the self-immolations.
51 Tibetans in Tibet have set themselves in fire since 2009 demanding freedom and the return of the Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile.
Speaking to the press at the release, Tashi Phuntsok, additional secretary of DIIR said the film was part of CTA’s constant effort in reporting on the facts and the underlying causes of the self-immolations.
“We request to use the film as much as possible so that it can reach a large audience – nationally and internationally,” Phuntsok said.
“The Tibetans who have set themselves on fire deserve all the attention of the world and world leaders.”
Five Hundred copies of the film in English have been released. DIIR said the documentary will be very soon released in both Tibetan and Chinese languages.
Tibet’s elected leader, Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay recently expressed disappointment at the global response to the ongoing crisis inside Tibet and said that the wave of fiery protests inside Tibet were a reflection of Chinese government policies.
Calling the self-immolations “political action” Dr Sangay has blamed China’s failed policies in Tibet – founded on “political oppression, social marginalisation, cultural assimilation and environmental destruction” – as root causes of the protests.
“The fact that these Tibetans are going to such lengths of protest means the [promised Chinese] ‘socialist paradise’ never touched the land of Tibet – the welfare and education policies they always write on paper were never realised,” the de facto Tibetan prime minister had said.
“The responsibility for the tragic self-immolations of Tibetans lies entirely with the Chinese government and so does the solution.”
A special report by the United States Congressional-Executive Commission on China released last month on the self-immolations inside Tibet listed multiple political, social, and environmental factors, including the “deteriorating outlook” for Tibetan culture, language, and environment as causes behind the ongoing crisis.
The report noted that the “steepening decline” in the status of religious freedom; the ongoing security crackdowns and enforced “education” campaigns; and the “lack of hope” of China engaging in substantive discussions with the Dalai Lama’s envoys are factors leading to the rise of self-immolations inside Tibet.
