US complains to China about Tibetan suicides

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The United States is complaining to China about conditions that are reported to have led eight Tibetan Buddhist monks and one nun to burn themselves to death in China's Sichuan province.

Exile Tibetans attend a prayer session led by the Dalai Lama in Dharmsala, India, Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2011. The prayer session was to remember Tibetans who immolated themselves since March this year protesting Chinese rule in Tibet. (Tibetoday Photo/Tsering Choney)

In response to a question, the State Department issued a statement of concern Wednesday about the self-immolations near the Ngaba Kirti monastery in Sichuan.

The State Department says the acts clearly represent anger and frustration with regard to Tibetan human rights inside China, including religious freedom.

The department is urging Chinese leaders to address what it calls "counterproductive policies" in Tibetan areas that it says have created tensions.