A protest has been held in Amsterdam to call attention to a spate of self-immolations in Tibet and Nepal. The demonstration drew about hundred Tibetan supporters. Despite freezing temperatures, they gathered at Dam Square in the centre of the city to light ritual fires and chant prayers before marching to Central Station. The demonstration was one of a series of coordinated protests held in cities around the world.

The latest self-immolation case was reported on the morning of the 8 February in the Eastern Tibetan town of Ngaba, only hours before the worldwide protests were set to start. It is unclear whether the monk who set himself on fire survived.  

This brings the total number of self-immolations to 21 in the past year. The majority of those who set themselves on fire were monks, protesting against the restrictions on their community. Most of the self-immolations took place in the so-called Tibet Autonomous Region, which is held under strict control by the Chinese authorities. 

The self-immolations  were sparked off by riots in ethnic Tibetan areas in March 2008. Earlier this year, Chinese police opened fire on thousands of Tibetan protestors in Sichuan, killing at least seven and wounding dozens.
 
Increasing tensions
China has stepped up security, especially in the heavily Tibetan areas of Sichuan and Gansu provinces, in response to the recent self-immolations and sporadic protests, news agency Reuters reports.

The Dalai Lama and the Karmapa Lama – the senior most spiritual leaders of Tibetan Buddhism, both of whom live in exile in Dharamsala in India – have said they are “saddened” by the self-immolations, but neither of them have called for a stop to this extreme form of protest.

James Renaldi is a Kathmandu based activist who has been involved in Tibetan rights campaigns for more than 20 years. “The western community has failed the Tibetan people when it comes to taking care of them,”  he says, “and what you see is this tremendous level of frustration building up among the Tibetan people and there’s an increasing sense of hopelessness.”

Although the Chinese authorities point to the enormous investments they have made in the Tibetan populated areas, Tibetans themselves claim that the few educational and employment opportunities for young people are a severe handicap, and there is a heavy-handed Chinese control over the Tibetan monasteries.

Non-violent
Despite the biting cold on Dam Square in Amsterdam, Dutch people and Tibetans warmly gathered to commemorate the monks that have lost their lives.

Among the people defying the weather was Alejandra. “I am a political refugee myself,” she says. “My family and I came from Chili to settle in the Netherlands. It is not difficult for me to empathise with the Tibetan cause, because of my background. But I especially wanted to come here tonight, because I am deeply touched by the non-violent way Tibetans fight for justice."

Carrying life-sized pictures of the deceased monks, the group marched the short distance from Dam Square to Central Station. The Tibetan participants led the way while chanting a prayer about death and rebirth.

While holding a torch in his hand, Tibetan refugee Lobsand pointed at the flame. "This protest tonight is like this fire,” he said. “It is our job as Tibetans living in a safe country to spread awareness amongst other people about what is going on in Tibet.”
 
Foreign pressure
Tibet campaigners from the west want the US and Europe to keep up pressure on China over the alleged abuses committed in the ethnic Tibetan areas. 

James Renaldi says that “the world community [needs to be] courageous enough to prioritize human rights issues when it comes to China, and unify as a group or there is not going to be any real change.”

Dutch opposition MP Harry van Bommel joined the protest on behalf of the Socialist Party. He says he is disappointed at in the Dutch government's involvement so far.

“I think the Dutch government did not do enough to make a statement concerning human rights in China. They had opportunities in the past, during the Olympic Games for example, but they kept quiet. European countries give priority to economic interests when it comes to the trade relationship with China.”

On 11 April the Dutch Lower House will debate human rights issues worldwide. Mr Van Bommel intends to raise the situation in China, as he says it demonstrates the dilemma of choosing between trade interests and basic human values.

“The Dutch government has failed to address the Tibetan issue in the European Parliament,” he says. “They condemn the actions of the Chinese, but refuse to speak out against them. I think this weakens the credibility of the Dutch government.”