By Tenzin Monlam
DHARAMSHALA, July 21: The Central Tibetan Administration today held a prayer service to mourn the death of Chinese human rights activist Liu Xiaobo while also praying for the recovery of latest Tibetan self-immolator Tenzin Choeying at the Tsuglakhang temple.
Sikyong said that Liu was one of the first signatories of the 12-point petition to the Chinese authorities calling for dialogue between the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama. “He had always maintained that the Dalai Lama’s vision of genuine autonomy for Tibet as morally correct and practically sound. Moreover, he had specifically come out in support of dialogue between Beijing and envoy of His Holiness as the best solution for resolving the Tibet issue,” said President Sangay.
Due to his support towards Tibetan issues and the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet, the 61-year-old had to face harsh consequences as well, Sangday said. Comparing Liu’s fate with many other Tibetan political prisoners who pass away owing to the injuries sustained during their time in prison, he said that it is imperative that we express our solidarity and pray for him and his family.
According to the statement issued by Bureau of Justice, Shenyang City on July 13 Liu died due to multiple organ failure. Liu was out on a medical parole after being diagnosed with terminal liver cancer.
Meanwhile, the condition of Tenzin Choeying who set himself ablaze in Varanasi has deteriorated, according to sources close to him. President Sangay said Choeying’s burn percentage has now reached around 90 percent. The Tibetan Youth Congress also organized a prayer session for his recovery at the TCV dayschool.
“We have always urged every Tibetan inside and outside Tibet to refrain from resorting to self-immolation because lives of entire six million Tibetans matter. We understand that Tibetans inside Tibet are taking such step under extreme oppression. Yet we have always urged them to refrain. As for Tibetans in exile, we have the freedom to resort to other forms of protest, which do not involve sacrificing precious human life,” said President (Sikyong) Dr. Lobsang Sangay.
The student of the Sarnath-based Central University of Tibetan Studies was airlifted from Varanasi and was admitted at the Safdarjung Hospital yesterday.
