DHARAMSHALA: The Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile today expressed solidarity with Kunchok, who set himself on fire on 16 September to protest against the Chinese government in Gade county, Golog Tibetan Autonmous Prefecture.

The Parliament also condemned the Chinese government for detaining Passang Wangchuk for protesting in Tehor, Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.

“The Chinese government has consistently discriminating  the Tibetan people from all walks of life including farmers, monks and students, forcing them to protest. Tibetan self-immolators were particularly oppressed by the Chinese authorities,” the Tibetan Parliament said in a statement today.

“ The Chinese authorities falsely claim that Tibetan self-immolations are a result of peer pressures, mental illnesses and family feuds. Such allegations are baseless and cannot be farther from the truth,” it said.

The Tibetan Parliament called on the Chinese government to bear responsibility for the tragic situation prevailing inside Tibet and to address the grievances of Tibetans.

It also appealed to the international community to press the Chinese government to end its repressive policies in Tibet.

Kunchok , a 42 year old father of two children set himself on fire in Gade county, Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture on 16 September. He is currently believed to be in a hospital in Siling.

Passang Wangchuk, also known as Ngodu, a peaceful protest against the Chinese government in a busy market place in Kardze. He raised slogans calling ‘long live His Holiness the Dalai Lama’ and ‘freedom for Tibetans’, ‘the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet’ and ‘religious freedom in Tibet.’

Wangchuk was arrested by Chinese police just a few minutes after his protest and he is currently being held at a detention centre in Kardze county.

Wangchuk’s sister Poewang was also arrested for her participation in the 2008 Tibetan uprising.  She was sentenced to two and a half year in prison.