“Making a fervent appeal, prime minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile, Dr Lobsang Sangay pointed towards the 99 incidents of self-immolation in Tibet since 2009 and said the situation is ‘grave and extremely serious and deserves attention and support of the international community.'” – DNA
Close on the heels of China promising reforms in Tibet but appointing a “hard line” governor, Losang Gyaltsen, the exiled community of the Himalayan plateau has launched a solidarity movement appealing India and the international community to intervene against continued repression in their homeland.
Making a fervent appeal, prime minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile, Dr Lobsang Sangay pointed towards the 99 incidents of self-immolation in Tibet since 2009 and said the situation is “grave and extremely serious and deserves attention and support of the international community.”
“Human rights are equally important as business is if not more,” he said. When asked by DNA what he wants from the Indian leadership, Dr Sangay said India has done the most for Tibetans and they would forever be indebted to New Delhi, but right now “we are nudging it to do a little bit of more.”
Sangay’s comments come against the backdrop of India trying to go an extra mile with China to settle border disputes and improve relations.
Describing Tibet’s importance for India and the region from various angles, including ecology, he said, “It (Tibet) ought to be the core issue of the Indian government for its national security.”
Indicating that China has termed Tibet a core issue in its discussions with India but the same has not been reciprocated, he said, “When it happens, please speak frankly and forcefully.”
He deplored the Chinese designs for creating fissures within Tibet by trying to dissect a culturally, geographically and linguistically single region.
On a query whether Tibetans need to be more pragmatic while dealing with China when countries are engaging positively with the second strongest economy of the world, Sangay reminded the media that despite against all hopes the Soviet Union got disintegrated, the Arab Spring came and Aung San Suu Kyi too won freedom. – DNA, 30 January 2013
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Filed under: india, tibet | Tagged: arunachal pradesh, chinese imperialism, freedom of expression, geopolitics, hegemony, human rights, india, india-china relations, indian politics, nationalism, politics, psychological warfare, self-immolation, tibetan independence movement | 1 Comment »
