Even as Delhi hosted the fourth (Brazil, Russia, India, China) BRIC Summit, Tibetans across the country vociferously protested the visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao with 27 year-old Jamphel Yeshi immolating himself to bring back attention to the over-50-year-old Tibetan struggle for autonomy.
Prime Minister of the Tibetan Administration in Exile Lobsang Sangay spoke to CNBC-TV18’s Anuradha Sengupta about Tibetans’ struggle and explained what the future holds for the present generation.
Below is an edited transcript of the interview on CNBC-TV18. Also watch the accompanying video.
Q: What has the death of Jamphel Yeshi achieved for the Tibetan struggle?
A: The sacrifice of Jamphel Yeshi has, in some ways, brought to the fore the agony and the tragedy of a line of self-immolators who tried to bring world attention to the Tibetan struggle. I have always explained that these self immolators are human beings like you and me who want to live their life.
Q: But many would say that as the political leader of the Tibetan diaspora, you could do more to prevent such drastic action. While the Dalai Lama and you have often expressed your disapproval of self-immolation, there seems to be a tacit acceptance. Do you agree that you could do more to counsel youngsters against self-immolation?
A: I don’t agree for the following reasons. We have issued statements and directives that any political protest has to be legal, peaceful, and conducted with dignity. We have never encouraged self immolation have asked people to specifically refrain from such extreme measures.
But when individuals like Yeshi die for Tibet and the Tibetan people, we have to show solidarity and make sure their voices are heard so that their lives are not lost are in vain. So we have a complex role.
Q: Since 2008, both you and the His Holiness the Dalai Lama have expressed quite categorically that the responsibility as well as the solution to prevent the immolations should come from China. How do you explain using immolations to protest in India when you say that you have given out a directive against it?
A: The directives are not making any impact as the suffering inside Tibet is so painful. In November when there were six-to-eight acts of self immolation, I went to the US, appealed to the senators and Congressmen. The state department including Hillary Clinton also issued statements. There was only one self immolation on November 3 or 4.
Then I went across Europe coverning seven countries in 11-12 days and each country issued statements of concern and throughout that trip there was no self immolation in Tibet. So, perhaps when you sending a message that the international community cares, the Tibetan people are consoled in a way.