Sunday, August 19, 2012

Self-immolations on the rise among Tibetans

Self-immolations on the rise among Tibetans

Nearly 50 cases since 2009; Beijing, activists split over reason for suicides


 BEIJING - Once unheard of among Tibetans, the number of self-immolation cases in Tibetan areas has reportedly climbed to nearly 50 since 2009, with Beijing and Tibet activists clashing over what has caused these suicides.

Last week, Tibetan monk Lungtok, 21, and his friend Tashi, 20, from the troubled Ngaba county in Sichuan province, became the latest to torch themselves to protest against Chinese repression, said activist groups Free Tibet and the International Campaign for Tibet.

Most of the fiery attempts involve monks or former monks from the Kirti Monastery in Ngaba county but have also spread across the Tibetan plateau, to places including Lhasa, capital of the Tibetan Autonomous Region.

Those who resort to self-immolations range from monks to lay men, nuns to mothers, young to old. These cases picked up pace from a year ago, with four on average each month.

Beijing has accused the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, and his supporters of instigating the suicides.

Beijing-based Tibetan studies scholar Lian Xiangming argued that the 76-year-old and his followers had encouraged the acts by publicising them and framing them as acts of sacrifice instead of condemning them outright.

"Shouldn't they take a certain responsibility for these self-immolations?" he told foreign reporters at a talk in March.

Other China-based scholars say the cases might be sparked by economic grievances like the loss of land, which is not uncommon in China. Chinese farmers elsewhere have also been known to burn themselves to protest against land grabs for instance, they note.

But foreign observers believe these suicides reflect intense resentment on the ground against the Chinese repression of Tibetan culture and religion.

Among other things, monks and nuns are not allowed to worship freely but have to hang up portraits of political leaders like Chinese President Hu Jintao, note Tibetan exile groups.

Professor Michael Davis, a human rights expert at the University of Hong Kong, said the resort to self-immolation shows the lack of channels for Tibetans to voice their unhappiness.

"Such extreme forms of protest come about because the Chinese government has been very thorough in cutting off other forms of protests, even moderate self-expression," he said, adding: "There doesn't seem to be a way out of this until the Chinese government changes its policy."

The leader of Tibet's government in exile Lobsang Sangay argued in a commentary in The Washington Post last month that were the Chinese government to offer to resolve the issue of Tibet peacefully through dialogue, the self-immolations would end immediately.

On the other hand, Beijing says that the onus is on the Dalai Lama and his supporters to come out to condemn the suicides.

In any case, with the two sides clashing over the cause of these self-burnings and talks between Beijing and the Dalai Lama at an impasse, scholars say it is very hard to say if an end to these suicides is likely any time soon.

"I can't judge. I just hope these will end as soon as possible," said analyst Tanzen Lhundup of the Beijing-based China Tibetology Research Centre.

hoaili@sph.com.sg




 BEIJING - Once unheard of among Tibetans, the number of self-immolation cases in Tibetan areas has reportedly climbed to nearly 50 since 2009, with Beijing and Tibet activists clashing over what has caused these suicides.

Last week, Tibetan monk Lungtok, 21, and his friend Tashi, 20, from the troubled Ngaba county in Sichuan province, became the latest to torch themselves to protest against Chinese repression, said activist groups Free Tibet and the International Campaign for Tibet.

Most of the fiery attempts involve monks or former monks from the Kirti Monastery in Ngaba county but have also spread across the Tibetan plateau, to places including Lhasa, capital of the Tibetan Autonomous Region.

Those who resort to self-immolations range from monks to lay men, nuns to mothers, young to old. These cases picked up pace from a year ago, with four on average each month.

Beijing has accused the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, and his supporters of instigating the suicides.

Beijing-based Tibetan studies scholar Lian Xiangming argued that the 76-year-old and his followers had encouraged the acts by publicising them and framing them as acts of sacrifice instead of condemning them outright.

"Shouldn't they take a certain responsibility for these self-immolations?" he told foreign reporters at a talk in March.

Other China-based scholars say the cases might be sparked by economic grievances like the loss of land, which is not uncommon in China. Chinese farmers elsewhere have also been known to burn themselves to protest against land grabs for instance, they note.

But foreign observers believe these suicides reflect intense resentment on the ground against the Chinese repression of Tibetan culture and religion.

Among other things, monks and nuns are not allowed to worship freely but have to hang up portraits of political leaders like Chinese President Hu Jintao, note Tibetan exile groups.

Professor Michael Davis, a human rights expert at the University of Hong Kong, said the resort to self-immolation shows the lack of channels for Tibetans to voice their unhappiness.

"Such extreme forms of protest come about because the Chinese government has been very thorough in cutting off other forms of protests, even moderate self-expression," he said, adding: "There doesn't seem to be a way out of this until the Chinese government changes its policy."

The leader of Tibet's government in exile Lobsang Sangay argued in a commentary in The Washington Post last month that were the Chinese government to offer to resolve the issue of Tibet peacefully through dialogue, the self-immolations would end immediately.

On the other hand, Beijing says that the onus is on the Dalai Lama and his supporters to come out to condemn the suicides.

In any case, with the two sides clashing over the cause of these self-burnings and talks between Beijing and the Dalai Lama at an impasse, scholars say it is very hard to say if an end to these suicides is likely any time soon.

"I can't judge. I just hope these will end as soon as possible," said analyst Tanzen Lhundup of the Beijing-based China Tibetology Research Centre.

hoaili@sph.com.sg

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Friday, August 10, 2012

Ticket cheer for tearful boy

A soldier helped make the day for Noel Goh, six, and mum Nina Lim, 36. -- PHOTO: WANG HUI FEN

A SIX-YEAR-OLD without a ticket to the parade cried his heart out upon being refused entry, moving a soldier into giving up his ticket for the child.

This was how little Noel Goh got to see the Parade yesterday, and what a blast he had.

He said of his favourite part of the show, tears long forgotten: "The fireworks were crazy. I loved the gold ones!"

His thrill nearly didn't come to pass. His schoolteacher mother Nina Lim, 36, said she has balloted for Parade tickets for four years without success.

This year, she landed just one ticket from her father's friend, and decided to bring him, although everyone - even infants - needed tickets.

The pair were barred from entering, which was when Noel burst into tears. Ms Lim said: "I prepped him beforehand, that if they didn't let us in, we'd find somewhere else to catch the show. But to be so close, and yet not able to get in, was hard to manage for a six-year-old."

Then a kind man in fatigues, with the name "R. H. Soon", gave her his pair of tickets, and took her single one so mother and son could sit together.

Other people in the Parade had their own issues to deal with. Member of Parliament Patrick Tay, for example, led the People's Action Party (PAP) contingent with only three weeks to get ready for the role. He slipped into the role after the original contingent leader, fellow MP Alex Yam, hurt his arm earlier this year and was declared unfit to march.

Yesterday, Mr Tay led the PAP contingent on cue.

Second Warrant Officer Chong Wee Keong, who helped train the contingent, praised him for being a quick study.


Thursday, August 2, 2012

IVF mix-up: Who pays for baby's upkeep?

A COURT battle over compensation claims for an in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) sperm mix-up will also determine if the medical centre has to pay for the baby's upkeep till adulthood.

Thomson Medical and Thomson Fertility Centre (TFC) argue that to pay for such upkeep is against public policy and not recognised in law as a damage claim.

TFC and three others are being sued over a mix-up in sperm samples which led to a woman having a baby with a stranger's sperm instead of her husband's.

The woman, 36, alleges negligence and wants the court to assess the amount of damages payable to her, citing personal losses, trauma and long-term costs for the child. She is also seeking special damages amounting to about $700,000.

The woman, represented by lawyer S. Palaniappan, cannot be named as the case is centred on a minor.

TFC, defended by Senior Counsel Lok Vi Ming and two others, filed their defence statement last month.

A TFC spokesman said yesterday that the defence filed was consistent with its stand to accept responsibility for the clinical errors in the IVF process that led to the incident in 2010.

But it made clear that this admission of liability is not to be construed as admitting to the woman's claim for the upkeep of the baby till the child is financially self-reliant.

The issue stands to be decided here for the first time and it is understood that court opinion abroad is divided.

An Australian appeals court in 2009 awarded damages for the cost of raising an unwanted additional child conceived through IVF.

The court had then established the duty of care in IVF went beyond ensuring a successful pregnancy, said Canberra-based lawyer Thena Kyprianou in a law journal last year.

But in a British case, it is understood that public policy reasons, such as the recognition that life cannot be measured in monetary terms, were cited for not providing damages for the child's upkeep.

A TFC spokesman said: "TFC will leave it to the courts to decide on the validity of these claims and to assess a fair amount of damages due."

The first High Court hearing on the case, involving an application for anonymity of the mother, was held on Tuesday. TFC supported the move.

A pre-trial conference is due next week.

vijayan@sph.com.sg