Berlin: - On Saturday August 20th, a candlelight vigil was observed by Tibetans and Tibet supporters in the German capital, Berlin to pay their homage to the late Tsewang Norbu, a 29-year old monk from Nyitso monastery in Kham Tawu in eastern Tibet set himself on fire in this month, after protesting for "freedom in Tibet" and "the return of the spiritual leader of Tibet, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama."
The event was organized by Tibet Support Group Germany (Tibet Initiative Deutschland e.V.) in memory of the deceased monk Tsewang Norbu. The event was held in front of the Chinese Embassy in Berlin and was attended by 50 people.
"In Buddhist philosophy human life enjoys the utmost respect", said TID Executive Director Nadine Baumann. "Tibetans protesting in Chinese-occupied Tibet know that they are sure to face arrest and torture. Tsewang's self-immolation highlights the desperation of Tibetans living under Chinese rule."
The 29-year old monk self-immolated last Monday in the Tibetan prefecture of Garze (Sichuan Province) to protest China's policies in Tibet. He died as a result of his burns that same day. This is the second incident of a self-immolation in the region this year alone. In March a monk from nearby Aba prefecture burned himself to death. Large-scale protests by monks and laypeople followed.
The Tibet Initiative Deutschland (TID), founded in 1989, advocates for the Tibetan people's right to self-determination and the protection of human rights in occupied Tibet. With 60 regional groups and nearly 2,000 members throughout Germany, the TID is a strong voice for Tibet.
