Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
A TIBETAN EXILE lit himself on fire at a demonstration today in the Indian capital ahead of a visit by China’s president.
It is the latest in a dramatic string of often deadly protests against Beijing’s rule of the Himalayan region.
The protester was engulfed in flames as he ran near the speakers at the rally near the Indian Parliament. Graphic photographs from the scene show activists beating out the flames with Tibetan flags they were carrying, while others poured water on him.
The protester, identified as Jampa Yeshi, was being treated for severe burns at a New Delhi hospital, a Tibetan organiser said.
At least 30 people in Tibetan areas of China have set themselves on fire over the past year to protest Beijing’s rule over their homeland. The Dalai Lama has blamed China’s “ruthless policy” for the self-immolations, while China accuses the Dalai Lama of stirring up trouble.
China says Tibet has always been part of its territory. Tibetans say the Himalayan region was virtually independent for centuries.
Today’s incident was the second self-immolation in India in recent months. Late last year, a young Tibetan exile set himself on fire outside the Chinese Embassy and suffered minor burns.
Chinese visit
Chinese President Hu Jintao is expected to arrive in India later this week for a meeting of the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, who form a grouping known as BRICS.
More than 600 protesters, carrying banners and posters marched across New Delhi to a central plaza near the Indian Parliament to protest the visit. Some carried posters saying “Tibet is burning” and “Tibet is not part of China.”
As speakers addressed the crowd, Yeshi set himself ablaze and ran across the venue. He ran nearly 50 metres before he collapsed.
Protesters initially prevented police from taking the man to the hospital, but policemen eventually forcibly took him away.
“This is what China faces unless they give freedom to Tibet,” said Tenzin Dorjee, a young onlooker.
Yeshi sustained burns on 85 per cent of his body and his condition was critical, a senior police officer said. He was speaking on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to the media.
Yeshi, 26, escaped from Tibet five years ago and had been living in a Tibetan neighborhood in Delhi, the officer said.
Police in New Delhi are bracing themselves for renewed protests during the meeting by Tibetan exiles who live in India. Security around the hotel where the meeting is to take place has been tightened, and roads leading to the hotel will be closed to the public a day ahead of the meeting.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Give me sunshine any day no matter how cold it is. It’s possible to miss lots of things about Ireland except the weather.
@offside again: So true… the difference it makes to your mood. Personally, I prefer to be too cold than too hot but I understand why others hate it. As my used to say ‘it’s fresh Donna’. Not sure but I think the low temperature gets rid of some germs too.
Was just thinking I hadn’t seen any sun in over a week. Glad it’s not only me that noticed
I go to work in the dark and go home when its dark,so its nothing new for me in winter,,,
@Luke Littler: I’m on to you luke LITTER. You spend your days on here fishing for likes.
Poor Dublin. God love them
@Ed H: From all of us, thank you
@Ed H: We know we live rent free in all the rest of the countries heads…..people in rural Ireland can’t finish a sentence without mentioning Dublin.
@John Paul: which countries are those Ed?
@Fionn Bohane: John Paul probably won’t understand that.
@Fionn Bohane: counties…..spell check.
@Ed H: Better than living in the “Shticks”, where it’s a 30 minute journey to the nearest town to do the shopping from the one store that has a monopoly and charges Dublin prices, seen it in many a rural area
@Ed H: hope it doesn’t affect all the cash we send your way
@Ed H: Your power been reconnected yet? Lol.
Hate to live in Dublin …. Jaysus the hours of wasted life in traffic alone heartbreak
@D: I have no problem putting up with traffic to have everything on my doorstep….pro’s and con’s to both but I’d take urban vs rural any day.
@J B: You can always stay out of it!….typical culchie up here working but wouldn’t have a good word to say about it or its people.
@J B: Good,pity you wouldn’t take the rest of them with you.typical culchie.
@D: I make it to the office in 20 minutes, can also work from home, lunchtime has a whole host of options if I fancied going out for it, the rhetoric of gridlock is in your head
@John Paul: your type are the worst thing about Dublin. West Brits with a chip on their shoulder.
@D: traffic doesn’t affect the woke dublin elites like myself who cycle to work it’s great
That’s most weeks in Leitrim but it’s news when it happens in Dublin.
@Tony: plus the west.
@brendan C5: The weather in Mayo is class.
Nothing a good carbon tax won’t fix, I’m sure.
Caller ” It’s a diiiiis..’grace Joe! They should do something about it.
Joe : “They?!?”
Caller “The government Joe!”
Why am I still living on this fkn island
@Le Merchelant: As someone who has worked mostly outside of Ireland for the past 15 years I ask myself the same EVERY SINGLE DAY – Why…….????
Got that right! Month of Mordor…. gloomy kip.
Been living under cloud in Dublin for last two weeks but we have a weekend break in Galway this weekend just as the sun moves to Dublin, it’s me, isn’t it, it’s me, I know it’s me.
Typical.
Kip will always be kip
High flying aircraft busy spreading chemicals blocking out the sun US government now banned this activity Chemtrails over whole country ..people need to know about this
have your say