DARJEELING: The Tibetan Settlement Office in Darjeeling on Monday organised a talk by visiting Kasur Kirti Rinpoche on the current situation in Tibet.

“We organised the talk to educate the Tibetan community on the political situation inside Tibet,” Ms Sonam Sangmo, the settlement officer told TibetNet.

Kasur Kirti Rinpoche said the Chinese government’s policies of political repression, cultural assimilation, economic marginalization, and environmental destruction in Tibet have pushed over 117 Tibetans to set themselves on fire. He said blame and solution for the crisis in Tibet lies squarely with the Chinese government. The self-immolators have called for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet and freedom for Tibetans.

Kirti Rinpoche said every Tibetan living in the free world has the responsibility to work for the cause of Tibet and fulfill the wishes of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

He stressed the need to preserve the Tibetan language and culture, which he said are facing annihilation under the Chinese rule in Tibet.

He advised the parents in Tibetan settlements in Darjeeling and surrounding areas to ensure that their children learn and speak Tibetan language in their homes.