DHARAMSHALA, November 7: In confirmed reports coming out of Tibet, a  Tibetan woman set herself on fire today in an apparent protest against  China’s occupation, on the eve of the Chinese Communist Party’s 18th  National Congress. 
Tamding Tso, a 23-year-old mother of one, passed away in her self-immolation protest in Rebkong region of Amdo, eastern Tibet.
In  unconfirmed reports, Phayul is hearing of two to three more  self-immolation protests today in Rebkong and Ngaba regions of Tibet. As  of now, Phayul cannot independently confirm these reports.
Sources  have told Phayul that Tamding Tso of Dro Rongwo set herself on fire  near the Ghe Mar thang (a ground) at around 5.30 pm today. She is  survived by her six year-old son.
According to eyewitnesses,  Tamding Tso shouted, “His Holiness the Dalai Lama must come to Tibet,”  before setting herself on fire.
Following the self-immolation  protest, monks of the Dowa Monastery carried her charred body to her  home. At the filing of this report, over two thousands Tibetans are  reportedly gathered in the region, raising slogans for the return of the  Dalai Lama from exile and offering prayers.
64 known Tibetans  have set themselves on fire since 2009 in Tibet, protesting China’s  continued occupation and demanding freedom and the return of His  Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile.
Last week, Dorjee Lhundup,  25, father of a four-year-old son and two-year-old daughter, passed away  in his self-immolation protest in Rebkong calling for freedom in Tibet  and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile.
Thousands of Tibetans gathered to pay their last respects to Dorjee Lhundup later that day. 
Speaking  to reporters in Japan earlier this week, the Dalai Lama said that Xi  Jinping, who is expected to take over the reins from Hu Jintao at the  Party Congress beginning tomorrow, will have no choice but to embark on  political reforms.
"Now Hu Jintao's era (is the) past, now Xi  Jinping is coming as president. I think there's no alternative except  some political change, so political reform. Economy reform (is) already  there," reporters quoted the Dalai Lama as saying.
Source: Phayul.com



 









