The exiled Tibetan administration blamed China for the spate of self-immolations from Tibetan areas.
In a press release on Monday, the administration listed seven reasons for Tibetans setting themselves ablaze: occupation of Tibet, political repression, patriotic re-education, crackdown of peaceful protesters, economic marginalization, forced cultural assimilation and environmental destruction.
Since 2009, at least 30 Tibetans, mostly young monks and nuns, have set themselves on fire calling for return of the Dalai Lama and freedom for Tibet. The Chinese government has described the self-immolations as terrorists acts and accused overseas groups and the Dalai Lama of inciting separatism.
The exiled administration in its press release today rejected allegations by Beijing that blamed Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama of orchestrating the self-immolations.
The Dalai Lama has largely refrained from publicly commenting on the immolations. Beijing insists that Tibetans enjoy religious freedom and have benefited from improved living standards brought on by China's economic expansion.
