13 Tibetans arrested during anti-China protests in India

[News_Editor]

13 Tibetans arrested during anti-China protests in India

2011-10-10 06:27:40 GMT+7 (ICT)

NEW DELHI (BNO NEWS) -- At least 13 Tibetan students were arrested on Sunday during a protest outside the Chinese embassy in the Indian capital of New Delhi, Press Trust of India (PTI) reported on early Monday.

The protesters were students from the northern city of Dharamsala, the seat of the Tibetan government in exile, and organized the rally to demand independence for Tibet after two monks set themselves on fire in China this week. According to officials, thirteen Tibetan students, including seven girls, were detained when they tried to enter the Chinese embassy.

On Friday, two former Tibetan Buddhist monks set themselves on fire in China's southwestern province of Sichuan. Free Tibet, a group campaigning for an end to the 'Chinese occupation' of Tibet, identified them as 19-year-old Choepel and 18-year-old Khayang.

At least five Tibetans in Ngaba town have set themselves on fire within the past two weeks. The monks reportedly waved the banned Tibetan flag, called for religious freedom and shouted "long live the Dalai Lama" before they self-immolated.

On October 3, Kalsang Wangchuk, a young monk believed to be 17 or 18 years old from Kirti Monastery, also set himself alight near the vegetable market in Ngaba Town. And on September 26, two young monks, also from Kirti monastery, self-immolated as well. One of them was the brother of Phuntsog, a 21-year old monk who also died after setting himself on fire in March.

The Dalai Lama has resided in the Indian city of Dharamsala, which is now the seat of the Tibetan Government-in-exile, since 1960 following a failed uprising against Chinese rule of Tibet. Dharamsala is sometimes also referred to as 'Little Lhasa', referring to the capital of Tibet.

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