Brussels, 09/03/2012 (Agence Europe) - The self-immolation of an 18-yer old man in Tibet on Monday 5 March, the third in as many days, takes to 26 the number of Tibetans who, since February 2011, have taken their own lives by setting themselves on fire in protest at the abuses of human rights and continued repression of the Tibetan people by the Chinese authorities.
“The persecution of Tibetans for their legitimate demands of freedom of religion and their fundamental rights is not only in contradiction with the principles of humanity, but is a clear infringement of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights”, stated MEP Laima Andrikiene (EPP, Lithuania) at the 19th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.
She was highly critical that Beijing continues to prevent the six UN special rapporteurs from entering the affected areas of Tibet which are under Chinese rule. She also called on UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem Pillay to “have the deteriorating situation in Tibet high on her agenda”. (SD/transl.rt)