DHARAMSHALA, May 23: The democratically elected head of the Tibetan people Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay has said that the exile Tibetan administration discourages self-immolations, calling the act as going “against our philosophy.”
Sikyong Sangay was speaking to an Indian daily, DNA upon his return from official visits to the United States and Europe.
Responding to a question on China’s claims of the Dharamshala based Central Tibetan Administration provoking the wave of self-immolations in Tibet, Sikyong called the allegations “baseless.”
“This allegation is baseless and there is no shred of evidence, whatsoever. We invite them to send a delegation to Dharamsala and check all our records. As a matter of fact we are discouraging self-immolation in Tibet. This is against our philosophy,” the de facto Tibetan prime minister said.
Sikyong Sangay blamed China’s “continuing occupation of Tibet” and the ongoing “repression and the economic marginalisation of Tibetans” for provoking the fiery protests.
“The environmental degradation and forced cultural assimilation brought about by the Chinese are moving in Tibet by taking away their jobs are reasons enough to provoke,” he said.
Since 2009, as many as 117 Tibetans living under China’s rule have set themselves on fire calling for freedom and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile. One hundred of the protesters have died while little is known about the condition of the survivours.
Discussing Chinese Premier Li Keqiang’s recent visit to India, Sikyong welcomed Tibet being raised during the talks but expressed his wish for substantive discussions with Tibet as “one of the core issues.”
“We welcome the fact that Tibet was discussed. We wish that there were substantive discussions where Tibet as the one of the core issues. India’s security is linked to the issue of Tibet.”
In a joint statement issued following meetings between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Premier Li, India avoided committing itself to ‘One China policy’ by omitting “Tibet” from the statement.
Beijing seeks assurances from foreign governments on the policy, which calls for China’s territorial integrity with reference to Tibet, Xinjiang, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, as being “inseparable” parts of China.
When asked how the New Delhi can act on the Tibet issue, Sikyong Sangay asserted that India “needs to make Tibet the core issue with the Chinese government and clearly explain that India’s security is linked to the situation in Tibet.”
“There was never a border between India and China, but there was always a border between Tibet and India. And that solving the issue of Tibet will contribute to peace in the region,” he added.
