New Delhi: A 27-year-old Tibetan attempted self-immolation on Monday while hundreds of Tibetans congregated in Delhi to protest against Chinese Premier Hu Jintao’s scheduled visit to the capital for the BRICS summit. The incident took place at Jantar Mantar around 12:30pm when Jamphel Yeshi, a member of Tehor Welfare Society, was protesting along with hundreds of others.
Yeshi came out of the compound of the JD(U) office onto the Jantar Mantar Road with his body ablaze. He was rushed to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital by cops after the protestors doused the flames with Tibetan flags. “He is admitted with 95% burns and his condition is critical,” said a senior doctor at the hospital. Around 1500 Tibetans have assembled in the city to protest against Jintao’s visit and have demanded a free Tibet.
“We condemn Hu Jintao’s visit to Delhi and will protest from Monday to Thursday. We have taken the permission needed,” said Tenzin Wangchuk, regional president of Tibetan Youth Congress.
Yeshi escaped from Tibet in 2006 and has been living in New Delhi for the last six years. “He was working as a social worker in Delhi and was patriotic. His decision to attempt self-immolation is a personal statement and we do not advocate or discourage such a form of expression. He felt strongly for the cause but we had no inkling that he would take this step,” said Tenzin Chukey, general secretary of Tibetan Youth Congress.
Meanwhile, Tibetans have come from as far as Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh planning to prostrate themselves in front of the venues of the BRICS summit, activists said. On Monday, Tibetan youth, women and children were seen thronging Jantar Mantar. “We want a concrete resolution on the Tibet issue. There is no freedom of religion there. Something as basic as freedom of movement has been curtailed there. There needs to be a decision on humanitarian grounds,” said Rinzin Wangma, president of Tibetan Women Association (Delhi Base). Tibetan protestors have planned a series of events for the next two days.
Yeshi came out of the compound of the JD(U) office onto the Jantar Mantar Road with his body ablaze. He was rushed to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital by cops after the protestors doused the flames with Tibetan flags. “He is admitted with 95% burns and his condition is critical,” said a senior doctor at the hospital. Around 1500 Tibetans have assembled in the city to protest against Jintao’s visit and have demanded a free Tibet.
“We condemn Hu Jintao’s visit to Delhi and will protest from Monday to Thursday. We have taken the permission needed,” said Tenzin Wangchuk, regional president of Tibetan Youth Congress.
Yeshi escaped from Tibet in 2006 and has been living in New Delhi for the last six years. “He was working as a social worker in Delhi and was patriotic. His decision to attempt self-immolation is a personal statement and we do not advocate or discourage such a form of expression. He felt strongly for the cause but we had no inkling that he would take this step,” said Tenzin Chukey, general secretary of Tibetan Youth Congress.
Meanwhile, Tibetans have come from as far as Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh planning to prostrate themselves in front of the venues of the BRICS summit, activists said. On Monday, Tibetan youth, women and children were seen thronging Jantar Mantar. “We want a concrete resolution on the Tibet issue. There is no freedom of religion there. Something as basic as freedom of movement has been curtailed there. There needs to be a decision on humanitarian grounds,” said Rinzin Wangma, president of Tibetan Women Association (Delhi Base). Tibetan protestors have planned a series of events for the next two days.
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