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| Chinese police arrest seven 'abetters' after Tibetan man's self-immolation | Chinese police arrest seven 'abetters' after Tibetan man's self-immolation |
| (3 months later) | |
| Chinese police have detained seven people for helping persuade a Tibetan villager to set fire to himself, state media report. The move is the latest attempt by authorities to curb the spate of self-immolations in western China. | Chinese police have detained seven people for helping persuade a Tibetan villager to set fire to himself, state media report. The move is the latest attempt by authorities to curb the spate of self-immolations in western China. |
| More than 90 monks, nuns and lay people have set fire to themselves since the spring of 2011, many in the last few months. Most of them, including a 19-year-old man, who burned himself on Saturday, have died. | More than 90 monks, nuns and lay people have set fire to themselves since the spring of 2011, many in the last few months. Most of them, including a 19-year-old man, who burned himself on Saturday, have died. |
| Officials, who warned in December that anyone accused of abetting the protests could be charged with homicide, have offered rewards of up to 50,000 yuan (£5,000) for information on the planning and instigation of such cases. Security measures have intensified across Tibetan areas. | Officials, who warned in December that anyone accused of abetting the protests could be charged with homicide, have offered rewards of up to 50,000 yuan (£5,000) for information on the planning and instigation of such cases. Security measures have intensified across Tibetan areas. |
| The state news agency Xinhua said officers in Gansu province, north-west China, believed the fatal self-immolation in October of 26-year-old Sangye Gyatso, in Hezuo city, was "masterminded by key members of the Tibetan Youth Congress of the overseas Dalai clique", according to a statement. | The state news agency Xinhua said officers in Gansu province, north-west China, believed the fatal self-immolation in October of 26-year-old Sangye Gyatso, in Hezuo city, was "masterminded by key members of the Tibetan Youth Congress of the overseas Dalai clique", according to a statement. |
| The officers allege a friend of Sangye Gyatso who had joined a monastery in India – where many Tibetans and their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, live in exile – had introduced him to ideas about Tibetan independence when he made a trip home to China. | The officers allege a friend of Sangye Gyatso who had joined a monastery in India – where many Tibetans and their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, live in exile – had introduced him to ideas about Tibetan independence when he made a trip home to China. |
| The friend later urged him to "contribute to the cause of Tibetans and improve his status and that of his family" by following the pattern of "heroic" self-immolations, according to Xinhua's account. | The friend later urged him to "contribute to the cause of Tibetans and improve his status and that of his family" by following the pattern of "heroic" self-immolations, according to Xinhua's account. |
| Xinhua also allege that the friend and another Tibetan exile held a meeting with about 30 monks from Gansu in India last year, to plan the self-immolations of Tibetans in China. | Xinhua also allege that the friend and another Tibetan exile held a meeting with about 30 monks from Gansu in India last year, to plan the self-immolations of Tibetans in China. |
| Two of those who were present – Kalzang Gyatso, 41, and Gonpo Je, 32 – are among those now detained. | Two of those who were present – Kalzang Gyatso, 41, and Gonpo Je, 32 – are among those now detained. |
| Xinhua said the Sangye Gyatso had phoned people, including Gongpo Je, about the time and location of his self-immolation on the day he died. | Xinhua said the Sangye Gyatso had phoned people, including Gongpo Je, about the time and location of his self-immolation on the day he died. |
| The agency added that Gongpo Je and another detainee, Tashi Gyatso, took photographs of the protest and sent them overseas. | The agency added that Gongpo Je and another detainee, Tashi Gyatso, took photographs of the protest and sent them overseas. |
| The agency said: "Shortly thereafter, the Dalai clique launched a high-profile 'propaganda' campaign on the well-orchestrated incident, claiming there was a 'humanitarian crisis' in China and calling for the international community to interfere." | The agency said: "Shortly thereafter, the Dalai clique launched a high-profile 'propaganda' campaign on the well-orchestrated incident, claiming there was a 'humanitarian crisis' in China and calling for the international community to interfere." |
| China has accused the Dalai Lama of encouraging the protests and seeking to split Tibet from the rest of China. He blames Chinese policies for the burnings, and says he seeks only meaningful autonomy for Tibet. | China has accused the Dalai Lama of encouraging the protests and seeking to split Tibet from the rest of China. He blames Chinese policies for the burnings, and says he seeks only meaningful autonomy for Tibet. |
| Police have also urged their counterparts in other countries to investigate another Tibetan man, whom they claim had illegally entered China and urged Sangye Gyatso to self-immolate, promising "to send the latter's picture overseas after his self-immolation and request that the Dalai Lama arrange a religious session for him in India". | Police have also urged their counterparts in other countries to investigate another Tibetan man, whom they claim had illegally entered China and urged Sangye Gyatso to self-immolate, promising "to send the latter's picture overseas after his self-immolation and request that the Dalai Lama arrange a religious session for him in India". |
| A monk and his nephew from Sichuan province were detained on similar charges in December, with authorities alleging that the pair had recruited eight self-immolators. | A monk and his nephew from Sichuan province were detained on similar charges in December, with authorities alleging that the pair had recruited eight self-immolators. |
| Kate Saunders, communications director at the International Campaign for Tibet, said there were fears for at least five Tibetans from other areas who appeared to have been detained since China's announcement that it would charge people with inciting or aiding self-immolations. | Kate Saunders, communications director at the International Campaign for Tibet, said there were fears for at least five Tibetans from other areas who appeared to have been detained since China's announcement that it would charge people with inciting or aiding self-immolations. |
| She added: "This vicious cycle of reprisals can only exacerbate the situation and provoke further responses from Tibetans. It doesn't address any of the ultimate causes of the self-immolations. | She added: "This vicious cycle of reprisals can only exacerbate the situation and provoke further responses from Tibetans. It doesn't address any of the ultimate causes of the self-immolations. |
| "All of the evidence indicates that in general these acts have been solitary acts decided on by the person themselves without consultation." | "All of the evidence indicates that in general these acts have been solitary acts decided on by the person themselves without consultation." |
| In a handful of cases more than one person has set fire to themselves at a time. | In a handful of cases more than one person has set fire to themselves at a time. |
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