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Self-immolation

November 4, 2011

A young Tibetan activist has set himself on fire in New Delhi, following the example of several monks who self immolated in China to protest against Beijing's influence in Tibet.

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The Indian police tries to put out fire from the trousers of protestor Tsedor in New Delhi
25-year-old Tibetan activist Tsedor was born in IndiaImage: dapd

Sherab Tsedor, a young Tibetan activist, is suffering from superficial burns on his legs after he poured liquid fuel on his body and set fire to himself in front of the Chinese embassy in New Delhi.

Police surrounded the 25-year-old Tibetan and tried to put out the flames. Youdon Aukatsand, a member of parliament of the Tibet government in exile, said Tsedor was taken to the hospital by the police.

Tsedor, who was born in India, had been alone when he went to the embassy and shouted slogans before self-immolating. Before his protest, Tsedor put out a statement saying that he wanted to highlight the "ongoing repressive measures" against Tibetans in China. "We are dying and it's the moral responsibility of every freedom loving people to support us," he added in his statement.

Tibetans shout slogans for a free Tibet in New Delhi
Tibetan exiles in India have been raising their voices against Chinese policiesImage: AP

11 monks and nuns have self-immolated in China until now to protest the repression by the Chinese government. In the latest incident on Thursday, a nun set herself on fire in the Sichuan province in China.

Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama fled from Tibet in 1959 and sought refuge in India. The Indian town of Dharamsala now serves as the headquarters of Tibet's government in exile. Several thousand Tibetans are now settled in India, which is wary when it comes to openly supporting the Tibetan cause.

Agencies: AFP, Reuters / mg
Editor: Sarah Berning

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