Difference between revisions of "Dalai Lama says he must remain neutral on self-immolations"
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| − | Tibetan spiritual leader says he does not wish to upset families of the dead or offer political opportunity to China.The Dalai Lama at the inauguration of a hospital near Dharamsala, India, this month. | + | [[Tibetan]] [[spiritual]] leader says he does not wish to upset families of the [[dead]] or offer {{Wiki|political}} opportunity to China.The [[Dalai Lama]] at the inauguration of a hospital near {{Wiki|Dharamsala}}, [[India]], this month. |
| − | The Dalai Lama has said he cannot be negative about the spate of self-immolations by Tibetans in China because it would hurt their families. | + | [[The Dalai Lama]] has said he cannot be negative about the spate of self-immolations by [[Tibetans]] in [[China]] because it would {{Wiki|hurt}} their families. |
| − | The exiled spiritual leader said it was best for him to remain neutral on a "very, very delicate political issue". | + | The exiled [[spiritual]] leader said it was best for him to remain [[neutral]] on a "very, very delicate {{Wiki|political}} issue". |
| − | Around 40 Tibetans, many of them monks or former members of the clergy, have set themselves on fire over the last year and a half, triggering a security clampdown. | + | Around 40 [[Tibetans]], many of them [[monks]] or former members of the {{Wiki|clergy}}, have set themselves on [[fire]] over the last year and a half, triggering a {{Wiki|security}} clampdown. |
| − | "Now, the reality is that if I say something positive, then the Chinese immediately blame me," he told The Hindu newspaper. | + | "Now, the [[reality]] is that if I say something positive, then the {{Wiki|Chinese}} immediately blame me," he told The [[Hindu]] newspaper. |
| − | "If I say something negative, then the family members of those people feel very sad. They sacrificed their ... life. It is not easy. So I do not want to create some kind of impression that this is wrong." | + | "If I say something negative, then the [[family]] members of those [[people]] [[feel]] very [[sad]]. They sacrificed their ... [[life]]. It is not easy. So I do not want to create some kind of [[impression]] that this is wrong." |
| − | China has accused the Dalai Lama of inciting the self-immolations, while he has blamed Chinese policies. | + | [[China]] has accused the [[Dalai Lama]] of inciting the self-immolations, while he has blamed {{Wiki|Chinese}} policies. |
| − | Although he has expressed deep sorrow at the deaths and injuries of those involved, he has stopped short of asking Tibetans not to set fire to themselves – as another senior Buddhist figure, the Karmapa, did last year. | + | Although he has expressed deep [[sorrow]] at the [[deaths]] and injuries of those involved, he has stopped short of asking [[Tibetans]] not to set [[fire]] to themselves – as another senior [[Buddhist]] figure, the [[Karmapa]], did last year. |
| − | The Karmapa, who some see as a potential successor to the Dalai Lama as Tibetan spiritual leader, praised the "pure motivation" and bravery of those involved, but added: "I request the people of Tibet to preserve their lives and find other, constructive ways to work for the cause of Tibet." | + | The [[Karmapa]], who some see as a potential successor to the [[Dalai Lama]] as [[Tibetan]] [[spiritual]] leader, praised the "[[pure]] [[motivation]]" and [[bravery]] of those involved, but added: "I request the [[people]] of [[Tibet]] to preserve their [[lives]] and find other, constructive ways to work for the [[cause]] of [[Tibet]]." |
| − | Tsering Woeser, an outspoken Tibetan poet and writer who lives in Beijing, has also called for an end to self-immolations, saying it does not help the cause of Tibetan rights. | + | [[Tsering Woeser]], an outspoken [[Tibetan poet]] and writer who [[lives]] in {{Wiki|Beijing}}, has also called for an end to self-immolations, saying it does not help the [[cause]] of [[Tibetan]] rights. |
| − | by Tania Branigan in Beijing | + | by Tania Branigan in {{Wiki|Beijing}} |
Latest revision as of 02:15, 26 January 2016
Tibetan spiritual leader says he does not wish to upset families of the dead or offer political opportunity to China.The Dalai Lama at the inauguration of a hospital near Dharamsala, India, this month. The Dalai Lama has said he cannot be negative about the spate of self-immolations by Tibetans in China because it would hurt their families.
The exiled spiritual leader said it was best for him to remain neutral on a "very, very delicate political issue".
Around 40 Tibetans, many of them monks or former members of the clergy, have set themselves on fire over the last year and a half, triggering a security clampdown.
"Now, the reality is that if I say something positive, then the Chinese immediately blame me," he told The Hindu newspaper.
"If I say something negative, then the family members of those people feel very sad. They sacrificed their ... life. It is not easy. So I do not want to create some kind of impression that this is wrong."
China has accused the Dalai Lama of inciting the self-immolations, while he has blamed Chinese policies.
Although he has expressed deep sorrow at the deaths and injuries of those involved, he has stopped short of asking Tibetans not to set fire to themselves – as another senior Buddhist figure, the Karmapa, did last year.
The Karmapa, who some see as a potential successor to the Dalai Lama as Tibetan spiritual leader, praised the "pure motivation" and bravery of those involved, but added: "I request the people of Tibet to preserve their lives and find other, constructive ways to work for the cause of Tibet."
Tsering Woeser, an outspoken Tibetan poet and writer who lives in Beijing, has also called for an end to self-immolations, saying it does not help the cause of Tibetan rights.
by Tania Branigan in Beijing
