China says immolations will not change Tibet policy
By Ben Blanchard and Sui-Lee Wee
BEIJING, Dec 30 (Reuters) - A spate of
self-immolations by ethnic Tibetans in China over the past few
months in protest at government controls will never succeed in
forcing any policy changes, a senior Chinese official was quoted
as saying in remarks published on Friday.
Twelve Tibetans have set themselves on fire so far this
year, all but one in a heavily Tibetan part of the southwestern
province of Sichuan, which is historically part of Tibet. At
least six of the protesters have died.
Zhu Weiqun, a vice minister of the Chinese Communist Party's
United Front Work Department -- which has led unsuccessful
on-off talks with the Dalai Lama's envoys -- said there were
"divisions" in the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader's camp.
"I can honestly say to our friends that even if such a thing
happens again, the direction of the Chinese government's
policies in Tibet and our attitude toward the Dalai clique's
struggle will not change in any way," Zhu said in comments
carried on government website tibet.cn.
China says immolations will not change Tibet policy - chicagotribune.com
By Ben Blanchard and Sui-Lee Wee
BEIJING, Dec 30 (Reuters) - A spate of
self-immolations by ethnic Tibetans in China over the past few
months in protest at government controls will never succeed in
forcing any policy changes, a senior Chinese official was quoted
as saying in remarks published on Friday.
Twelve Tibetans have set themselves on fire so far this
year, all but one in a heavily Tibetan part of the southwestern
province of Sichuan, which is historically part of Tibet. At
least six of the protesters have died.
Zhu Weiqun, a vice minister of the Chinese Communist Party's
United Front Work Department -- which has led unsuccessful
on-off talks with the Dalai Lama's envoys -- said there were
"divisions" in the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader's camp.
"I can honestly say to our friends that even if such a thing
happens again, the direction of the Chinese government's
policies in Tibet and our attitude toward the Dalai clique's
struggle will not change in any way," Zhu said in comments
carried on government website tibet.cn.
China says immolations will not change Tibet policy - chicagotribune.com