Chinese express solidarity with Tibetans on internet

Netizens are accusing Beijing of avoiding problem

Despite intensified government crackdowns and internet censorship, many Chinese netizens — active on the internet in the absence of a free media —  are increasingly voicing solidarity with the Tibetans who are setting themselves afire for more autonomy and the return of the Dalai Lama, says a US-based NGO.

The Tibetan government-in-exile based in this Himachal Pradesh town says the toll in self-immolation cases in Tibet has risen to 90 since 2009, over 20 in November itself.

According to reports, Kunchok Kyab, a 29-year-old Tibetan man, set himself afire on Friday in Zoegey in Ngaba in northeastern Tibet.

The protests are against Beijing’s “repressive policies” and to demand the return of the Dalai Lama to his homeland.

The netizens are questioning the Chinese government’s policies, going to the extent of accusing Beijing of intentionally avoiding the problem in Tibet, says Human Rights in China, a voluntary organisation formed by Chinese students and scholars.

End to oppression

Besides demanding an end to the oppression of the ethnic minorities, the Chinese netizens have spread reports of self-immolations by Tibetans online.

 They expressed their concern on websites like Twitter, the NGO says.
One self-immolated Tibetan, Chagmo Kyi, left a suicide note calling for ethnic equality.
People found a note on her body that said: “All ethnicities are equal; the new leader Xi Jinping must meet with His Holiness the Dalai Lama,” says a tweet by Chen Yunfei on Twitter.

Indifference

Chinese human rights lawyer Jiang Tianyong tweeted: “Why the world is numb toward (sic) self-immolations?”

“Some say the world is numb and indifferent toward Tibetans’ self-immolation. I deeply agree. Especially Han Chinese, it seems as if it is not relevant to them, or they are intentionally avoiding the problem I only hope that Han Chinese and other friends, alone or in groups of two or three, will visit Tibetan areas to see the natural environment there, and then put themselves there (sic),” said Jiang.