Last week, two Tibetan monks set themselves ablaze in Kathmandu.  They were the third and fourth Tibetans this month to have self immolated in protest at the Chinese occupation.  The number adds to a tally of 11 monks and nuns this year who have chosen this brutal and final form of protest.

“They must be really desparate,” says Dutch based Tibetan Nachungma Lama. She, along with 120 Tibetans, is preparing for a 12 hour fast and prayer demonstration in front of the Dutch Parliament tomorrow.
 
Today, Tibetan organisations handed a petition to the Permanent Committee on Foreign Affairs in the Dutch Parliament. They have asked the Dutch government to investigate the situation of two monasteries around which the Chinese army is stationed.  “Monks and nuns have been forced to follow re-education classes and swear loyalty to the Communist Party instead of the Dalai Lama”, says Tsering Jampa, director of International Campaign for Tibet Europe.

“Even the little bit of religious freedom they used to have has been taken away,” says Nachungma Lama.  “Since March 2011, nine monks and two nuns have set fire to themselves, despite the fact that Tibetan Buddhism forbids suicide because [we believe that] it will affect our next life.”

Tomorrow 120 Tibetans will take part in a 12 hour hunger strike in front of the Parliament building to try to focus attention to the Chinese repression in Tibet. “Being a Tibetan it's my duty to participate. I will take my prayer book to the Dutch parliament and fast and pray for one day,” says Nachungma Lama.

Lama, like many Tibetans abroad, has never visted her motherland, but her loyalty is clear, as is her message:  “Please help Tibet. We do not have oil, but we do have other things to give to this world, like compassion and ways to live in peace. His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, has given so many dharma teachings to this world. We do not give money, but it's a value which is worth more and will last longer.'

Nachungma Lama's parents met in a Tibetan refugee settlement Shorong, in the north of Nepal.  Nachungma has lived in The Netherlands for 14 years, is married to a Dutch man, and has two children here.  But like many young Tibetans, she has a fervent desire to see her motherland free of what she feels is an unjust occupation.

“Since I cannot keep quiet when I see injustice, I would end up in jail [if I was there]. Even here I cannot stay at home and do nothing, like the rest of the world does. Tibet has been occupied by China for 60 years now. The situation has worsened since Tibetans protested against the Olympics in 2008. The Chinese government has isolated Tibet from the outside world.'

The two immolations in Nepal may be an alarming sign that China’s neighbours are being pressured to view Tibetan protestors.  'Nepali police have started to act like the Chinese police. They threaten and beat up Tibetans. China’s long arm reaches far: if you take Chinese money you have to follow Chinese laws,” says Lama.

"Now that we buy so many Chinese goods and Europe might even have to accept Chinese money to support the Euro, we still want to ask the Dutch government to live up to their democratic principles."