By Phuntsok Yangchen
DHARAMSHALA, August 23: Tibetan exiles on Friday offered prayers for the five Tibetans who have succumbed to gunshot injuries during a firing by Chinese armed forces in Denma town in Sershul County, Kardze Tibet Autonomous Prefecture earlier this week.
Monks and laypeople including local Tibetans from Derge took part in prayers at the Martyrs Memorial near the Tsuglakhang temple.
Lobsang Yeshi, Tibetan Parliamentarian from Dotoe constituency, attended the prayer service that was jointly organized by Central Derge Association and Dharamshala regional Derge Association as the chief guest.
Addressing at the prayer service, Lobsang Yeshi said that Lo Pelsang, who killed himself, sends a strong message and the Tibetans living in exile must work hard to fulfill their aspirations.
On August 17, two Tibetans had died at the same detention center; Lo Pelsang killed himself refusing to undergo further atrocities at the hands of Chinese police while the other Tibetan died of untreated gunshot wounds.
Last week, three more Tibetans, Tsewang Gonpo, 60; Yeshe, 42; and Jinpa Tharhin, 18; succumbed to injuries as Chinese authorities continue to deny medical attention to the Tibetans injured in a firing on unarmed protesters demanding release of a local village chief in Denma town in Sershul County.
“Such violent response towards the Tibetan peaceful protestors is not the first of its kind. This is not the way a government should handle with people when the problem arises.”
He also called on Tibetans around the world to express their solidarity with the people of Denma and talk about the ongoing crackdown in Denma on international platforms.
Geshe Jigme Dorjee, executive member of the Central Derge Association noted that all villagers of Shukpa Village above 17 years of age were arrested and that the wounded Tibetans continue to remain untreated.
In its statement, Tibetan Parliament in exile condemned the shooting of unarmed Tibetans and urged the Chinese government to immediately release the detainees, provide medical treatment to those injured and compensation to the families who lost their relatives in the police firing.
