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A TIBETAN EXILE lit himself on fire at a demonstration today in the Indian capital ahead of a visit by China’s president.
It is the latest in a dramatic string of often deadly protests against Beijing’s rule of the Himalayan region.
The protester was engulfed in flames as he ran near the speakers at the rally near the Indian Parliament. Graphic photographs from the scene show activists beating out the flames with Tibetan flags they were carrying, while others poured water on him.
The protester, identified as Jampa Yeshi, was being treated for severe burns at a New Delhi hospital, a Tibetan organiser said.
At least 30 people in Tibetan areas of China have set themselves on fire over the past year to protest Beijing’s rule over their homeland. The Dalai Lama has blamed China’s “ruthless policy” for the self-immolations, while 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.
Today’s incident was the second self-immolation in India in recent months. Late last year, a young Tibetan exile set himself on fire outside the Chinese Embassy and suffered minor burns.
Chinese visit
Chinese President Hu Jintao is expected to arrive in India later this week for a meeting of the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, who form a grouping known as BRICS.
More than 600 protesters, carrying banners and posters marched across New Delhi to a central plaza near the Indian Parliament to protest the visit. Some carried posters saying “Tibet is burning” and “Tibet is not part of China.”
As speakers addressed the crowd, Yeshi set himself ablaze and ran across the venue. He ran nearly 50 metres before he collapsed.
Protesters initially prevented police from taking the man to the hospital, but policemen eventually forcibly took him away.
“This is what China faces unless they give freedom to Tibet,” said Tenzin Dorjee, a young onlooker.
Yeshi sustained burns on 85 per cent of his body and his condition was critical, a senior police officer said. He was speaking on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to the media.
Yeshi, 26, escaped from Tibet five years ago and had been living in a Tibetan neighborhood in Delhi, the officer said.
Police in New Delhi are bracing themselves for renewed protests during the meeting by Tibetan exiles who live in India. Security around the hotel where the meeting is to take place has been tightened, and roads leading to the hotel will be closed to the public a day ahead of the meeting.
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Does this mean we can change the name of the Aviva Stadium back too Lansdowne Road !!..
allways was landsdown rd.
Maybe if they didn’t blow 10 million euro renaming a stadium, they wouldn’t have to let people go!
These companies moved here primarily for the low tax base. They’re subsequently the exact companies that will up sticks and leave when the going gets tough – all to suit shareholders. The low tax rate in Ireland is folly and this is the outcome. Same can be said about Talk Talk.
Damn multinationals! The sooner we chase them out of Ireland the sooner we’ll all have high paying jobs for life.
Aviva in fact took over Hibernian Insurance a few years ago, Hibernian being an Irish company at the time.
We don’t need to chase multinationals out of this country, we should be stopping their quest for global domination in the first place and not allow them to come buy out indigenous companies, if it was still hibernian and an irish company, this may not have happened.
Joe O Higgins solution is that we should nationalise Aviva. But that’s his solution to everything of course.
In fairness now, this has been known by Aviva workers for a long long time, first I heard of it was off a chap that works there about 4 years ago. Many have been offered to go to India with Irish level of pay. I’d take it, you’d live like a feckin king on that money over in India. Plus better weather and food.
I highly doubt that has happened. Here move to India you can keep your x5 times the indian wages….. (rolls eyes)
Jobs come and jobs go, that is life. If people aren’t willing to get off their butts and start again then where are we going as a country. Bit of start up and go people!
Ah the empathic thoughts of a true Christian.
€44 million over ten years on Landsdowne Road well spent then
http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/rugby/2009/0212/1224241050544.html
If Aviva move 500 jobs overseas, then if you have a policy with Aviva immediately change provider, As far as I remenber it was this implicit threat via the media last time that changed their mind. They have the arrogance to make 500 people unemployed but continue to make vast profits from the Irish insurance market… well f..k them
@ Damien, there is a lot more than 500 working there and while I understand you sentiment all that will do is result in more job losses.
The real worry is that we (Ireland) have now lost jobs in 2 major companies to the UK. That shows how much further we have to go to be competitive, not with India or eastern Europe but right at our own back door
Good point Mark but if no action is taken over this Possibility then will Aviva and others just move all positions overseas and think ahh sure that was painless and look at the higher margins.
If an Irish company like Kerry group or FBD moved a couple of thousand jobs overseas to save (relatively) pocket change, would the nation accept it?
I do think other overheads like energy, rates and comms are not competitive and desperately need to opened up to real competition in order to reduce costs.
Competitive is not in our vocabulary.
Last october in the us the chrysler motor co hired 1000 new employees at $10 per hour while the existing staff were paid in excess of $20 per hour. Their unions agreed to this. 50% less – that was last year and we are still not even close to looking at the Croke park agreement or cutting our wages to become competitive.
1 year from now I expect double the amount of people on the dole – wake up.
More bad news. I’m very sorry to hear this and my sympathy and best wishes for the future are with the employees that are to be affected.
have your say