MUMBAI: A man in eastern Tibet set himself on fire on Saturday in the latest in a series of similar protests at Chinese rule and government policies. Sonam Dhargyal, 44, had self-immolated in the Rebkong region, the broadcaster said quoting witnesses. A monk in Sichuan province in south-western China set himself alight in a similar protest earlier this week. Many Tibetans live in the province. Over the past year some 30 Tibetans have set themselves on fire, with at least 19 dying as a result. An official close to the office of the Dalai Lama – the spiritual leader of Tibet – told Bikyamasr.com that they do not condone the acts of suicide, but added under anonymity that they “understand” what people are going through. The Dalai Lama has long denounced any violence. Beijing has blamed a foreign conspiracy behind the protests. Prime Minister Wen Jiabao this week accused the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government-in-exile in India of promoting Tibetan separatism. China invaded Tibet in 1959, forcing the Dalai Lama and the government to flee the country. They have been in occupation ever since, and claim the territory to be historically part of China, despite Tibetans speaking a different language, practice a different faith and have had their own government, in a number of forms, since at least the 13th century. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/2z6YW Tags: China, Immolation, Protest, Tibet Section: East Asia, Latest News
