From Peaceful Revolt to Self-Immolation: Metamorphosis of Tibet’s Struggle

After almost a decades after the fall of Tibet, Tibetans in Lhasa for the first time rose up against the Chinese rule starting from the late 1987 onwards. Gradually, spirit of Tibetan resistant has spread to almost all the Tibetan inhabited areas including Kham and Amdo region of Tibet, creating a powerful pan-Tibetan movement. Beginning from 2009, the face of the Tibetan struggle has taken a dramatic turn, when many Tibetans have self-immolated against a regime bent on repression. We discuss how and why the Tibetan struggle has turned from the once localized peaceful protest to nationwide incidents of self-immolations and open revolt. Guest: Lugar Jam, Independent Analyst and Vice-President of Gu Chu Sum, Gang Lhamo, General Secretary of Gu Chu Sum.