Tibetan exiles hold anti-China protest in India

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Associated Press

NEW DELHI (AP) -- Hundreds of Tibetans have marched in India's capital to protest Chinese rule over their homeland.

Exile Tibetans shout slogans against the Chinese government during a march in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2011. The march was to raise the issue of the recent acts of self immolations by Tibetans in Tibet and crackdown on monasteries. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

One demonstrator cut his finger and wrote "Free Tibet" on a banner with his blood. One poster read, "People of the world support us."

Konchok Yangphel, a protest leader, called on China to deal justly with the Tibetans.

The protest in New Delhi was the first in a series of weekly demonstrations to be held every Wednesday.

At least 11 people in Tibet have set themselves on fire since March to protest Chinese rule. The Dalai Lama has blamed China's "ruthless policy" for the self-immolations. 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.