Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation

Pro-independence group concludes 36-day march

Taipei Times

Members of the Alliance of Referendum for Taiwan return to Taipei yesterday after walking around the island in protest at what they call the “autocratic control of the judiciary.” They also called for the release of jailed former president Chen Shui-bian.
Photo: CNA

Members of a pro-independence group yesterday completed a 36-day walk around the country as they called on the authorities to end what they termed “autocratic control of the judiciary” and for the release of jailed former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁).

The walk, initiated by the Alliance of Referendum for Taiwan, arrived at Banciao Railway Station in New Taipei City (新北市) yesterday morning. They braved the cold and rain, and at noon reached Ketagalan Boulevard in front of the Presidential Office in Taipei, where an overnight protest was scheduled.

Breaking: Tibetan schoolgirl burns self to death, Says, ‘Don’t want Chinese authorities to take away my dead body’

Phayul.com

DHARAMSHALA, December 9: A teenaged Tibetan schoolgirl set herself on fire today in eastern Tibet protesting China’s continued occupation of Tibet and calling for the long life of Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Bhenchen Kyi, 17, set herself on fire in Dokarmo region of Tsekhog, Rebkong, eastern Tibet at around 8 pm (local time). She passed away at the site of her protest.

Sonam, a Tibetan living in Switzerland, told Phayul that Bhenchen Kyi raised slogans for the ‘long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’ and for the ‘Tibetan people to prevail for tens of thousands of years’ while engulfed in flames.

Public feels human rights deteriorating

Taipei Times

Taiwanese feel that human rights in the country have deteriorated, according to a survey of public opinion by the government-affiliated Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, with media independence receiving its worst score since the annual survey was first conducted in 2009.

The survey, conducted by Shih Hsin University, polled 1,076 people from Nov. 20 to Nov. 23 to gauge public opinion on the development of democracy, freedom and human rights this year.

The survey monitors six aspects: personal freedom and legal protection; personal liberty and equality; freedom of expression and religion; the right to protest; the right to participate in elections and vote; and the right to access public services.

China to charge those ‘inciting’ Tibet self-immolations with murder

Phayul.com

A screen grab of a video of Palden Choetso's self-immolation on November 3, 2011 in Tawu, eastern Tibet

DHARAMSHALA, December 6: In a further hardening of stance on the ongoing wave of self-immolations in Tibet, China will now charge anyone caught aiding or inciting Tibetan self-immolations with murder.

The state run Gannan Daily on Wednesday cited a joint legal opinion issued by China’s supreme court, top prosecution body and police as saying that the charge of “intentional murder” should apply to anyone urging Tibetans to set themselves alight.

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