Tibetan PM blames China for self-immolations

Blaming China for the self-immolations in Tibet, Tibetan prime minister-in-exile Lobsang Sangay said here Saturday that "the situation there is tragic and unfortunate".

"Self-immolations reflect desperation and determination. If Beijing ends repression, the self-immolations will automatically abate," Sangay told reporters.

He was in Shimla to participate in the Himalaya Festival-2013 organised by the state tourism department in collaboration with the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA).

Sangay said 122 Tibetans had set themselves on fire in Tibet since 2009. The common cry of all those immolating themselves was the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet and freedom for Tibetans.

He said China would be respected by the international community if the tragedy in Tibet was addressed.

On the resumption of the dialogue between the Dalai Lama's envoys and the Chinese for genuine autonomy for the people in Tibet, the democratically-elected leader of the Tibetan people said "the dialogue is in stalemate."

He reiterated the commitment of his government-in-exile: "Dialogue and a peaceful resolution to the Tibet issue are in the best interests of China, the Chinese people and Tibetans".

He said based on the "middle-way policy," the pursuance of genuine autonomy for all Tibetans would continue unabated.

Sangay clarified that there was no move of the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader, to shift his base from Dharamsala, the northern Indian hill town.

"His Holiness loves Himachal Pradesh and he will continue to stay here," he said.

About the new Chinese leadership, Sangay, who just returned from official tour of the US and Italy, said the new seven-member standing committee of the politburo took power in China in March this year.

"It is early to reach a final conclusion on their leadership. In the National People's Congress meeting in March 2014, we should be able to get some indication as to which way the Chinese leadership will formulate policies for the world at large, for Asia, India and Tibet."

Sangay took over the reins of the Tibetan government Aug 8, 2011, from the 73-year-old monk scholar Samdhong Rinpoche, who held the post for the past 10 years in two five-year terms.

The Dalai Lama fled Tibet along with many of his supporters and took refuge in India when Chinese troops moved in and took control of Lhasa in 1959.

India is home to around 100,000 Tibetans.