Rights group: 4 Tibetans self-immolate in one day

[cory777]

Source: Associated Press

BEIJING (AP) — Three teenage monks and a Tibetan woman set fire to themselves in the largest number of confirmed self-immolations protesting Chinese rule over the Himalayan region in a single day, a London-based rights group said.

Free Tibet director Stephanie Brigden said the group expects Tibetan protests to continue to escalate as the Communist Party's congress — a weeklong conference that will unveil China's new leaders — began Thursday.

The three monks set fire to themselves Wednesday afternoon outside a police office in southwest Sichuan province calling for freedom for Tibet and the return of their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, Free Tibet said in a statement. It said it was the first documented case of a triple self-immolation.

The youngest monk, identified as 15-year-old Dorjee, died at the scene and his companions, Samdup and Dorjee Kyab, both 16, were taken to a hospital by security forces and their conditions were unknown, said Free Tibet.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/rights-group-4-tibetans-self-immolate-one-day-013610200.html

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Activist News - http://activistnews.org/

[NYC_SKP]

1. Terrifyingly sad, we should have a blockade between China and ourselves.

Should have stopped trade with them long ago over Tibet alone.

The 1%, however, saw too many ways to earn in the short term.

Fuck.

[AldoLeopold]

11. Sad to hide this vid

I respect the jury decision. However, that video is absolutely fascinating and I'm sad its been hidden. I've studied the history of communism since I was 16 and I've never seen that video. Funny how it might remind you of 1950's American propaganda?

This does give me some insight as to modern mainstream Chinese attitudes as well as our own modern mainstream attitudes which perhaps has found a perch within our own conservative party(s). I could easily see how Johnny Doright circa 1953 watching videos such as these could now misunderstand our modern progressive movement.

That being said - I recommend a full ban (not familiar yet with your DU protocols) for Mr. Pol Pot who not only shows a penchant for sociopathy by choosing that name, but reveals himself as something other than an innocuous troll who "just doesn't know better" and apparently thinks he is "awesome." I'll wager someone within the party decided it would be a good idea to start "sharing" with DU the merits of the "glorious revolutionary spirit" in the somewhat vain hopes that we have several potential Mao era communists here?

One does not simply walk into DU. It's golden gates are guarded by more than just members. There is good there that does not sleep. The great jury is ever watchful. It is a fruitful garden, riddled with justice, peace and intellectual understanding. The very air you breathe is a righteous fume. Not with 1.4 billion men could you do this. It is folly.

[iamthebandfanman]

3. Of course, everything is sun shine

happy good times beach party fun!! all day every day!!!!

im sure monks set themselves on fire just for the fun and heck of it!


the fascist chinese parading around under the red flag make me sick!

[bayareamike]

4. WTF? My trolly senses are tingling...nt

[defacto7]

5. I have always been on the side of Tibet's freedom from China

but I have never understood the usefulness of self-immolation in this or any cause. Maybe it's a cultural/religious misunderstanding on my part. In all respect for their sacrifice and their determination, I just don't get it.

If someone has a serious answer, I'd appreciate understanding this phenomenon.

[glinda]

6. I don't understand it either and seems self defeating but as I understand

it there is an amazing amount of abuse going on and perhaps they are doing this to draw attention to what is going on or they are so tired they wish to leave this world. It is horrible what is going on in Tibet for way too long. It is horrible that nothing is done about it.

[awoke_in_2003]

7. IMO...

it is the same thinking that goes behind suicide bombers, although you die quicker doing the C4 jacket thing.

[azurnoir]

8. It is the ultimate act of sacrifice and protest

Last edited Thu Nov 8, 2012, 05:22 AM - Edit history (1)

and it is done without inflicting harm on others, self immolation has a long history and it is not always Buddhists it happened during the Arab spring for instance

I remember from childhood the self immolation by Buddhist monk Thich Quang Duc in Viet Nam protesting the government there, in that case his heart did not burn even after his body was re-cremated, ARVN forces seized it from a monastery as Thich had come to be considered an enlightened one and his heart a symbol of compassion

[awoke_in_2003]

10. Well, you have a good point...

immolation only affects one person, where suicide bombing affects many.

[Pachamama]

14. It is the greatest sacrifice made by those souls that I wish stayed amongst us in human form

I understand it and you explained it beautifully, especially about the compassionate heart.

This does not mean I support suicide - but I think that many need to understand why the actions of these buddhist monks who wouldnt even squash an ant, could do this to themselves.

[defacto7]

19. Thank you for the education...

I think sacrifice without purpose or usefulness is another sort of samsara, more pain. If there is purpose and usefulness in such an act for other people, I respect that. I just don't share any understanding of it's purpose.

Maybe if a person feels completely helpless and without any recourse to share their purpose, it could bring about a feeling of exasperation that leads to an act that is outside of reason... just pain, and an end to it. If there is a belief that there is no death, then it can also add to the desperation to act, and "purposeful" suicide would be another way to stop the pain.

Human desperation at times can cause well cloaked emotional issues.

[tabasco]

20. It's stupid as fuck.

Those four people could have worked together and made some change. Instead, they look like fucking kooks, setting themselves on fire, and hurt their cause by doing it.

[AldoLeopold]

9. What better way?

It may take time, but soldiers die in wars over time to make a point. This way they kill only themselves (not others) and in a painful manner in order to spark that within our minds which finds this horrific. They're not irrational. Nor is the Dalai Lama.

So now I think I'll take his advice: "Sleep is the best meditation."

[Ashened]

21. I agree

especially because China has an active campaign of genocide against their people. They need people to take notice now, because in 20 years, it could be too late.

[Marrah_G]

15. Because it is shocking enough, horrifying enough, for people to take notice

[Posteritatis]

17. You're talking about it now, aren't you? (nt)

[defacto7]

18. Yes, but I've talked about it quite a bit even

when self-immolation was not in the news. Maybe it gets other peoples attention.

[fasttense]

12. Communist China is in the process of choosing a new leader.

And the monks self-immolate in protest. Better to die for a free Tibet than to live under Communist Chinese rule. It mus be horrible to live as an average worker under Communist Chinese rule in Tibet.

[WRH2]

13. The ultimate protest, almost beyond comprehension.

there have been 66 these immolations this year there. There were two cousins last week.China is where we are sending our manufacturing base. Our biggest and best means for supporting our nation.

[Ashened]

16. Genocide

This is a response to the genocide of the Tibetan people.

Human rights groups have noted that along with government sanctioned murder of Tibetans and the silencing of political dissidents, there is an unrestricted influx of Chinese migrants to Tibet, often with government subsidies. Along with forced assimilation with the Chinese, this further marginalizes the Tibetan people and threatens to make them a minority in their own homeland.

I study international relations, and we looked at the UN convention on genocide my freshman year. The Chinese ARE committing genocide. And what's worse, the US government in general, but republican Congresses in particular seem to endorse this genocide with a lot of money.

[Ashened]

22. Now China arrests Tibetan for not helping cover up a protest to their genocide...

The Chinese government apparently offered a bribe to one of the self-immolators' husbands in exchange for him saying that his wife set herself on fire due to family disputes and not over China's genocidal rule of Tibet.

He refused, so they arrested him. Nope, no human rights issues there...

http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?article=China+arrests+Tibetan+self-immolator%E2%80%99s+husband+for+rejecting+bribe&id=32420

[Ashened]

23. Dalai Lama on Tuesday urged Japanese parliamentarians to visit Tibet

It would be nice to get some sort of international notice of what China does there... maybe we could even get some official international organs to look into acts of genocide against the Tibetans.

However, "Tokyo formally recognises Beijing’s position that Tibet is a part of China and the government bars its officials from meeting the Dalai Lama during his frequent visits."

So, I won't hold my breath. The rich and powerful can get away with genocide, apparently.


http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012\11\14\story_14-11-2012_pg14_2