Protester ran
50m before collapsing in flames outside Indian Parliament
Over 30 have
performed self-immolation this year in protest at China's rule over Tibet
March 26, 2012
A Tibetan protester has been treated
for severe burns after setting himself on fire in a demonstration before the
Chinese president's visit to India.
The male protester sprinted for 50m
through New Delhi today engulfed in flames as hundreds demonstrated against
China's rule over Tibet.
Jamphel Yeshi carried out the
self-immolation as he ran near the speakers at a rally near the Indian
Parliament in the country's capital.
The Tibetan sustained burns on 98 per
cent of his body and his condition in hospital was described as critical today.
Demo: Jamphel Yeshi ran
50m outside the Indian parliament before collapsing today
He
was on fire perhaps less than two minutes, but some of his clothing had
disintegrated and his skin was mottled with black, burned patches by the time
he was driven to a hospital.
Yeshi,
27, escaped from Tibet in 2006 and had been living in New Delhi for the past
two years, activists said.
He
collapsed after around 50m as fellow protesters beat out the flames with
Tibetan flags they were carrying.
Yeshi
was later treated for severe burns at a New Delhi hopital, one Tibetan
organiser said.
He
made the dramatic protest as Chinese President Hu Jintao prepared to arrive in
India later this week for a summit meeting.
The Tibetan exile, who had been protesting at China's continued
ownership of Tibet, is being treated for severe burns at a New Delhi hospital
The Tibetan man ends his protest as he nears collapse while
engulfed in flames burning his entire body
Saved: The protester was eventually
put out by other demonstrators who doused him in water and beat the flames with
Tibetan flags
More
than 600 protesters, carrying banners and posters, marched across New Delhi to
a central plaza near the Indian Parliament to hold a protest meeting.
The Tibetan protest came as Chinese
president Hu Jintao prepared to visit New Delhi for a summit meeting
Some
carried posters saying 'Tibet is burning' and 'Tibet is not part of China'.
At
the protest venue a big poster featuring Mr Hu's face with a bloody palm print
on it said: 'Hu Jin Tao is unwelcome' at the summit.
As
speakers addressed the crowd, the protester set himself ablaze and ran across
the venue.
After
witnessing the man set himself on fire, one onlooker, Tenzin Dorjee, said:
'This is what China faces unless they give freedom to Tibet.'
At
least 30 people in Tibet have set themselves on fire over the past year in
protest at Chinese rule over their homeland.
The
Dalai Lama has blamed China's 'ruthless policy' for the self-immolations. 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.
Burning for Freedom? Or just another dupe conned into dying in order to continue the US plot to undermine China? Of course the US and NATO love, love, love medieval theocracies from Lhasa to Tripoli to Damascus!
ReplyDeleteSuch an act is born of despair, something that is part and parcel of the dark philosophies that have held sway for far too long in certain parts of the world.
ReplyDelete