Melbourne: The Australian government has been
asked to step up its condemnation for China after the latter`s
security forces fired into a crowd of Tibetans during the
weekend in a restive area of Sichuan Province.
According to `The Australian` report, the Australia`s
Tibet Council asked Julia Gillard to condemn the Chinese
authorities for the incident.
The firing occurred on last Saturday as people gathered in
Dari in the Golog prefecture of Sichuan province to collect
the body of the 16th monk to have set himself on fire since
March last year.
The immolations have become a new trend of protests by
monks in Tibet against China`s suppression of their culture
and religion.
After drinking and soaking themselves in kerosene, the
monks set themselves alight, chanting demands for freedom and
calling for the return of the Dalai Lama.
A spokeswoman for Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd, a longtime
critic of China`s actions in Tibet, said that he was "deeply
concerned."
"The government reminds the Chinese authorities that
economic development should be complemented by protection of
the unique linguistic, cultural and religious identities of
China`s minorities," the minister said.
PTI
