DHARAMSHALA: The spirit of Tibetans living inside Tibet remains strong even after more than fifty years of separation, Kalon Tripa said at a function marking the arrival of the flame of truth relay in Dharamsala today.

“Many of Tibetans inside Tibet neither met His Holiness the Dalai Lama nor know about the Tibetan administration in exile, but their spirit for our common cause remain strong and alive even after more than five decades of separation,” Kalon Tripa Dr Lobsang Sangay said.

Repudiating the Chinese leadership’s baseless allegations, Kalon Tripa said the responsibility for tragic self-immolations in Tibet lies entirely with the Chinese government. “Lack of freedom and the repressive policies of the Chinese government are pushing Tibetans to set themselves on fire. So it is very important to let the international community know about the situation in Tibet,” he said.

“History shows that people resort to self-immolation thousands of years ago for political cause. Vietnamese monks during the Vietnam War, people in Tunisia, and Europe have self-immolated for freedom and democracy,” Kalon Tripa said.

“So the self-immolation clearly shows itself as way to protest for political change. Therefore, Tibetans in Tibet have made it clear that they cannot live under the unjust and repressive policies of the Chinese government,” he said.

He said Tibetans living in the free world must not let the cries and aspirations of their brethren go in vain.

In his brief address, Speaker Penpa Tsering said members of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile would continue to use their energy to carry out campaigns until a lasting solution is found to the present crisis in Tibet in general and the issue of Tibet in particular.

He said the Kashag has been making all possible efforts to garner support from the international community towards resolving the tragedy in Tibet.

He said efforts are being made to gather support from old and new friends – through signature campaigns, press conferences and public talks – as the flame of truth relay passes through different corners of India.

Similarly, plans are afoot to launch the torch relay in Europe and North America on 2 September, the Tibetan democracy day, he added.

Speaker Penpa Tsering warned that the Chinese government is scheming to lure overseas Tibetans through money and for position under their rule. “Tibetans living in Diaspora and exile must not let the Chinese government succeed in their schemes to cover up their hardline policies in Tibet,” he said.

The flame of truth relay will remain in Dharamsala for a week, during which it will gather support from  the Indian community.