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The 8th Tibetan parliament session in progress, at the parliament hall, Dharamshala
Photo: Lha/Contact

The Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile has urged the Chinese government to investigate the situation inside Tibet, particularly the 132 instances of self-immolation in which at least 113 Tibetans have died. The appeal came during the 8th Tibetan parliament session which was held in Dharamshala, India from September 12 to 24. The Tibetan parliament passed resolutions of solidarity for the Tibetan self-immolators and to express condolences to the family members of those who have died of torture in Chinese prisons. It appealed to the leaders of the world to honour their responsibilities and urge Chinese leaders to respect human rights in Tibet.

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to India earlier this month took place while the Parliament session was in progress. Coinciding with Xi Jinping’g visit on September 17, Lhamo Tashi, a 22-year-old Tibetan student, set himself on fire near a police station in Tsoe, Kanlho in the traditional Amdo region of Tibet, and died protesting against China’s rule of Tibet. Phayul quotes Penpa Tsering, Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile as saying, “I hope the Chinese President Xi Jinping will take a personal interest in Tibet and probe the real situation inside Tibet. I sincerely hope that the Chinese president will engage the Tibetan representatives into substantive dialogue regarding Tibet’s future”.

The Tibetan parliament had submitted an appeal letter to Xi Jinping through the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi urging him to send a delegation of Tibetan parliamentarians from exile to Tibet, but there was no response from the Chinese office. Discussing Xi Jinping’s India visit, Sikyong Lobsang Sangay, the elected leader of the Tibetan administration in exile, said he hopes that President Xi will take in the ideals of democracy from India.
The Tibetan parliament reviewed and discussed the annual reports submitted by the seven departments of the Central Tibetan Administration.

The Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile holds two sessions a year: a summer budget session in March and a winter session in September.