(Image Source: Uprising Archive)


BY NOE GANDILLOT
ANCHOR ZACH TOOMBS

Tuesday, a 20 year-old Tibetan nun set herself on fire. A day before, a young monk killed himself in the same way. An unprecedented wave of self-immolation is striking Tibet. NTDTV reports:
“Nineteen-year-old Norbu Dathul is a former monk, disrobed back in 2010. He was said to have called out 'Tibet needs freedom!' and for the Dalai Lama to return.”

In total, at least 9 Buddhist monks have set themselves on fire this year, including seven since late last month to protest against China’s government. Protesters say these immolations are a sign that conditions for Tibetans are becoming increasingly harsh. (Video source: Al Jazeera)

CNN spoke with a Tibetan activist who says these immolations are a desperate attempt to reach out to the world.

Most Tibetans live in fear because of suppressive and unfair government policies but they dare not speak up. (...) This is not suicide, this is sacrifice in order to draw the world's attention.

China’s government is critical of these methods. It has repeatedly blamed the Tibetan government for inciting immolations, something Tibetans have always denied. But The Wall Street Journal notes the Tibetan administration’s position is not very clear :

“Lobsang Sanga, the recently elected prime minister of the exiled Tibetan government, said in an interview that while his administration didn't support self-immolation as a form of protest, it would stand by those who sacrificed their lives for the Tibetan freedom movement.”

Some find it surprising that a religion like Buddhism, which is known for preaching anti-violence, tolerates such practices.
 
The Washington Post explains self-immolation amongst Tibetan goes back as early as 1963 when -- for the first time Buddhist monks set themselves on fire in protest of the South Vietnamese regime. (Video source: YouTube)

“While Buddhism teaches against violence, self-immolation is approved of in some forms of Mahayana Buddhism. Buddhist monks often look to the story of a Medicine King who (...) set his body aflame and demonstrated that the body was unnecessary as example.”

World News

Unprecedented Wave of Self-Immolation in Tibet

October 18, 2011
(1:49)
At least 9 Tibetan monks have set themselves on fire this year to protest China's government.
   
TRANSCRIPT

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