Self-immolations continue over Tibet policies

U.S.-funded Radio Free Asia said a man, apparently a monk, set himself on fire in Sichuan province's Aba prefecture on Wednesday and was taken away by soldiers and police. His condition was not immediately clear. It said the man shouted slogans before setting himself ablaze, citing a statement from Losang Yeshe and Kanyag Tsering, exiled Tibetan monks in India.

If confirmed, the incident would bring to at least 17 the number of monks, nuns and lay Tibetans believed to have set themselves on fire over the last year, mostly in traditionally Tibetan areas of Sichuan province. There were reports of three other self-immolations on Friday but the government has denied them and there are doubts within the exile community.

Most of those who have set themselves on fire have chanted for Tibetan freedom and the return of the Dalai Lama, who fled to India amid an abortive uprising against Chinese rule in 1959.

Beijing accuses the Dalai Lama and his supporters of encouraging the immolations.

Radio Free Asia also said Tibetan protests erupted Wednesday in two counties in Qinghai province in northwest China, with about 1,000 people marching in each. Citing local sources and exiles with contacts in the region, it said security surrounded protesters but no violence occurred.

The broadcaster said protesters shouted slogans and carried banners calling for a “free Tibet,” the release of all Tibetan political prisoners, and the return of the Dalai Lama.

A police officer reached Thursday by telephone in Nangqian, where one of the protests allegedly occurred, said he had no reports of any protests. Like many Chinese officials, he refused to give his name.

Amateur video shot Wednesday and shared with The Associated Press by a person with contacts in China's Tibetan community showed hundreds of Tibetans gathered on the side of a main street in Nangqian, some sitting on the curb and others milling about. A few men threw what appeared to be dry tsampa, a popular Tibetan food, into the air. Throwing or eating dry tsampa during Tibetan rituals can symbolize despair.

The person who sent the video said the group later gathered at a stadium and chanted slogans before being surrounded by police and the demonstration broke up without incident after it became dark.

In recent protests in Sichuan, Tibetan activist groups said at least six Tibetans were killed when police fired on protesters. The Chinese government says two rioters died and 24 police and firefighters were injured when rock-wielding Tibetan separatists attacked police stations.

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