Dharamshala: - Thousands of Tibetans around the world, besides the leadership of Tibetan administration-in exile will join in a worldwide solidarity prayer service to be organised tomorrow (February 20) in Dharamshala and everywhere.
The worldwide prayer server is to pay their respect and to express solidarity with all those Tibetans, who have self-immolated in protest the 'repressive' Chinese policies in Tibet,' said Mr Ngawang Choedak, Secretary for Religion and Culture during a press conference being held in Dharamshala on Tuesday, February 19.
The prayer service will be followed by a candle light vigil in the evening, which will also be held worldwide to show solidarity with the Tibetans inside Tibet.
"The Tibetan administration and Tibetans-in-exile will hold the worldwide prayer service on Wednesday, 20 February from 03:00 pm – 05:00 pm to express solidarity with all those Tibetans who have self-immolated and those suffering torture and imprisonment," Mr Ngawang told the reporters, while taking its "an urgent announcement" by his department on the one-day worldwide prayer service.
"Despite the Kashag's's repeated appeals not to resort to drastic actions, since 2009, over 102 Tibetans have set themselves on fire to protest against the Chinese government's continued occupation of Tibet and repression," Mr Ngawang added.
"Latest reports coming out Tibet say Namlha Tsering, 49, self-immolated at Sangchu (Ch: Xiahe) in Kanlho in eastern Tibet, on 17 February 2013. His current condition is not known although sources say chances of his survival are minimal," he further said.
Most of Tibetans who have set themselves ablaze have called for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to his homeland and freedom for Tibetans in Tibet.
The latest incident has pushed the total number of self-immolation in Tibet to 102, including three within this month alone, 86 of them have been confirmed dead from their severe burn injuries.
