Acts of self-immolation are in principle non-violent: Dalai Lama

Tibetan Spiritual Leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Tibetans committing self-immolations were in principle practising non-violence as they had the courage to sacrifice their own life for a cause they believe, Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama said on Sunday. "I consider these Tibetans burning - certainly these people have courage and determination to sacrifice their own life, so they can easily harm other people - but I think these people, although they practised a little bit of violence, but I think in principle they still practise non-violence," the Dalai Lama said.

He said that the younger generation of Tibetans in Tibet these days have stronger determination as compared to earlier generations. The Nobel Peace laureate cautioned that the situation in Tibet is serious. "Now, things are serious. Whether Chinese government agrees or not, there are problems and these problems are neither good for Tibetans or for the people of China. So, we have to find a solution based on mutual understanding and mutual respect," he said.

He was addressing the members of Tibet Support Groups from all over the world who have gathered here to discuss the ongoing situation in Tibet. The TSG pledged to mobilise the international community to press the Chinese government to find a lasting and mutually-agreeable solution to the Tibet issue. On the concluding day of the Special International Tibet Support Groups Meeting organised here from November 16 to 18, the TSG members expressed solidarity with Tibetans inside Tibet for their unwavering determination to non-violence. 

Over 200 members of the TSG from 43 countries carried out extensive discussions to find solutions to the Tibet issue.