DHARAMSHALA: Local Tibetans and Tibet supporters in Dharamshala attended a prayer service today to express solidarity with the Tibetan self-immolators and political prisoners suffering continued repression in Tibet.

The prayer service, organised by the Central Tibetan Administration was presided over by Ven. Ngawang Tashi, a former spiritual teacher of Namgyal monastery. Senior officials present at the prayer service include members of the Kashag, Tibetan justice commissioners and Tibetan parliamentarians.

Prayers were offered for Sangye Khar, a 34-year-old Tibetan who died after setting himself on fire in Amchok town, Sangchu county in Kanlho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (incorporated into China’s Gansu Province) on 16 December.

Officiating Sikyong, Kalon Tsering Dhondup expressed his deep condolences to those who have died in the self immolation protests that have taken place inside Tibet. He said: “Despite repeated appeals by the Central Tibetan Administration not to resort to drastic actions like self-immolation, at least 133 Tibetans including Sangye Khar have set themselves on fire in protest against the repressive policies of the Chinese government since 2009. Of these 133, 114  have died while the status or the physical condition of the rest remains unknown or critical.”

” There are also hundreds of Tibetan political prisoners who are suffering untold brutalities in Chinese prisons. Therefore, we are gathered here today to pray for all those who have self-immolated or continues to suffer in Chinese prisons,” he said.