By Tendar Tsering

DHARAMSHALA, July 31: Tibet’s elected political head, Kalon Tripa Dr Lobsang Sangay said the responsibility for the ongoing wave of self-immolations in Tibet lies entirely with the Chinese government.

Dr Sangay who is currently on a six-day tour of the major Tibetan settlements in south India, was talking to reporters in Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka state.

“The responsibility for the tragic self-immolations of Tibetans lies entirely with the Chinese government and so does the solution,” Dr Sangay said.

“The evidence clearly point towards the Chinese government and their repressive policies because Chinese government doesn’t allow freedom of speech in Tibet. If you protest, if you have hunger strike, if you have rallies, demonstrations, all these are not allowed. The chances of one getting arrested, tortured, even disappearing are really high, if one participates simply in a demonstration.”

Since 2009, an alarming number of 45 Tibetans have set themselves on fire demanding freedom in Tibet and the return of the Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile.

“Tibetans are giving up their precious lives to send a message to international community that situation in Tibet is grave and getting worse because now the Chinese government has banned tourists from visiting Lhasa and Tibetan areas. Tibetans who come from outside Lhasa are expelled, so given the situation, there is a clampdown on Tibetan people,” Kalon Tripa added.

He also thanked the people and government of Karnataka for their hospitality.

Dr Sangay is currently visiting the largest Tibetan settlement of Bylakuppe following his one-day tour of Hunsur. He will be visiting Mundgod (August 2 -3) before returning back to the exile headquarters of Dharamshala on August 5.

Earlier this month, Dr Sangay had traveled to the northern most reaches of India to meet Tibetans living in the Ladakh region. He also visited the remote Tibetan nomadic area on Hanley.

In a release, the Kashag (cabinet) on Sunday urged Tibetans and supporters worldwide to organise a global solidarity vigil for Tibet on August 8, coinciding with the one-year anniversary of Dr Lobsang Sangay’s swearing-in as Kalon Tripa.

“To demonstrate solidarity with Tibetans in Tibet and mark the first anniversary of Kalon Tripa Dr Lobsang Sangay swearing into Office, the Kashag calls upon all Tibetans and Tibet supporters living in the free world to organise a worldwide vigil on August 8, 2012,” the cabinet said.

As a sign of respect and condolence, Kashag urged Tibetans to wear traditional dress and offer Dentsik Monlam (Prayer of Truth).