Shimla: The Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile claimed on Wednesday that 157 Tibetans inside Tibet have self-immolated since 2009 in protest against Chinese rule. It accused Beijing of continuing to suppress fundamental freedoms and attempting to erase Tibet’s distinct religious, cultural and linguistic identity.In a statement marking the 66th Tibetan Democracy Day, Parliament described the data regarding 157 self-immolations as a “fully verified” figure representative of the situation inside Tibet.The Tibetan Parliament said the protests continued despite “relentless repression”. It said Tibetans faced threats of arrest, arbitrary detention, imprisonment and execution while being denied basic freedoms of religion, movement, speech and expression.The first Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile formally came into existence on Sept 2, 1960, when its members took the oath of office in front of the Dalai Lama.Parliament also criticised China’s law on promoting ethnic unity and progress, which came into force on July 1, saying the legislation was designed to erase the ethnic identity of Tibetans and other non-Chinese people under the stated objective of promoting “unity and progress”.Calling the law a “matter of grave concern”, the Tibetan Parliament urged the international community to examine whether policies implemented under the legislation violate fundamental human rights principles.It also warned that the law could further increase the threat of transnational repression by Beijing and appealed to democratic govts to protect non-violent activists campaigning for Tibet’s freedom.The statement recalled the July 2 self-immolation of Tibetan activist Rangzen Lobga outside the United Nations headquarters in New York. According to the Tibetan Parliament, Lobga was protesting Chinese Communist rule and calling for the restoration of Tibetan independence.The Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile also accused Beijing of not only restricting political and civil freedoms but also causing extensive environmental damage across Tibet. It alleged widespread exploitation of mineral resources, the clearing of virgin forests, river diversions, and the construction of large hydroelectric dams, warning that such activities were damaging Tibet’s fragile ecosystem.The statement also alleged that China’s policies had resulted in the deaths of more than 1.2 million Tibetans and amounted to a sustained campaign to undermine Tibet’s religious, cultural and linguistic identity.
