red flags over tibet



i.t.a.



one hundred and forty characters


since two thousand and nine there have been ninety six cases of tibetan self-immolation; in november twenty twelve there were twenty eight.



the chinese govt has responded with further repressive policies and sentencing for those who report the incidences to the outside world.



the self-immolators are protesting the chinese occupation of tibet and the cultural genocide that has been going on for over sixty years.



they inflict damage upon their own bodies and not those of others to highlight the seriousness of the plight of tibet.



contrary to reports the dalai lama is not behind the self-immolations. he says he must remain neutral and china should investigate them.



it's estimated that over one million tibetans have died due to torture, execution and imprisonment during the sixty years of occupation.



since the occupation began over six thousand tibetan monasteries have been destroyed by the chinese military; only twelve are left standing.



the rights to self-determination, freedom of speech, assembly, movement and expression are denied to tibetans in their own land.



transmigration from china has led tibetans to become a disposed minority; bringing discrimination in employment and economic opportunity.



environmental destruction has become rampant under the occupation; deforestation, desertification and the dumping of nuclear wastes.



people don't set themselves on fire for mere kicks. when a spate of self-immolations occurs within a population it's an obvious indication.



since a nationwide uprising in two thousand and eight a new form of grassroots activism has evolved within the tibetan population: lhakar.



it's based upon de-collectivization of activism, weaponization of culture and adoption of noncooperation; it begins with individual action.



an invisible protest of the mind that the authorities cannot target or repress. it's building in tibetan minds and so the struggle goes on.


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