![Dorjee Rinchen, a Tibetan man after he set himself on fire in Labrang in northeastern Tibet's Amdo Province on 23 October 2012/Local Tibetans clash with security forces to take Dorjee Rinchen's body into their custody](https://tibet.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/114-1024x324.jpg)
Dorjee Rinchen, a Tibetan man after he set himself on fire in Labrang in north-eastern Tibet’s Amdo Province on 23 October 2012/Local Tibetans clash with security forces to take Dorjee Rinchen’s body into their custody
DHARAMSHALA: The Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile today said Tibetans are being driven to burn themselves to death to protest China’s repression of freedom and destruction of their identity in Tibet, and strongly urged governments and human rights organisations to apply meaningful pressure on China to find a lasting solution to the aggravating situation in Tibet.
“The self-immolations by Tibetans is a highest form of non-violent protest against the Chinese government’s systematic repression of their freedom of religion and human rights, destruction of Tibetan language, culture and environment, and assimilation of Tibetan nationality through induced massive influx of Chinese population into Tibet,” it said in a statement.
“The Chinese government is solely responsible for the continuing self-immolations by Tibetans in Tibet as it refuses to address the underlying the causes of the problem, and instead intensifies measures to suppress the Tibetan people,” it said.
“The Chinese government’s repression has inflicted deep pain and resentments in the hearts of Tibetans both in and outside Tibet,” it added.
“If the Chinese government do not face the reality in Tibet, the situation there is bound to deteriorate for which it has to take the full responsibility,” it said.
The Tibetan Parliament said if the Chinese government’s allegations against the so-called “Dalai clique” for fomenting self-immolations in Tibet are right, then it should allow independent fact-finding delegations and the media to find out the ground reality in the Tibetan areas.
It strongly urged the international community, including governments, human rights organisations, and freedom loving people, to take serious note of the grim situation in Tibet and apply meaningful pressure on the Chinese government to address the problem of Tibet through dialogue.
The Tibetan Parliament expressed deep sadness over the continuing self-immolations by Tibetans in Tibet. Over 58 Tibetans have set themselves have set themselves on fire in the last years, demanding freedom for Tibetans and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet.
The Central Tibetan Administration today organised a special prayer service to express solidarity with all those who have self-immolated for the cause of Tibet.