Dharamshala, India: - On the 8th and 10th of November, South African MPs, Dr. Mario GK Oriani-Ambrosini and Mr. Steve Mokgalapa made statements to the Parliament, pledging their support towards Tibet.
An alarming spate of self-immolations in Chinese-controlled Eastern Tibet have raised serious concerns among the global community as to what exactly is transpiring in the isolated Sichuan province in order to compel young Tibetans to take such drastic steps.
Dr Mario GK Oriani-Ambrosini paid solemn tribute to 35 year old Tibetan nun, Palden Choetso, the last martyr to set herself on fire in Ngaba County this month.
"Before burning herself, she cried " Freedom in Tibet", "Long Live the Dalai Lama', " Let the Dalai Lama return to Tibet", reported Dr. Oriani-Ambrosini in his statement.
"We must join hands and voices to urge the Chinese government to stop its repressive polices and human rights violations, allow basic freedom of religion and speech, allow independent media and international delegation of parliamentarians to travel to Tibetans areas to examine the actual situation".
His counterpart, MP Steven Mokgalapa said, "The latest spate of self-immolations by Tibetans monks in protest against the Chinese government's continued human rights abuses are a sure sign of worsening conditions under which Tibetans have to live under Chinese rule".
Mokgalapa, on behalf of the Democratic Alliance, called on the South African government to "take note of the human rights abuses in China and speak out boldly against them. As a nation that has benefited from international pressure to end apartheid, we too need to support the right to self-determination of to other states".
Late September, Mokgalapa said the government should show its political strength and maturity by not submitting to pressure from China to deny His Holiness the Dalai Lama a visa to South Africa, according to media reports.
