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Tibetan Student Self-immolates in Protest Against China


A Tibetan student has died after setting himself on fire in Tsoe City.

Lhamo Tashi set himself on fire last Wednesday while shouting slogans against the Chinese rule in Tibet in front of a police station.

Tashi's self-immolation is the first in more than five months.

Information on the death only emerged Sunday, as Chinese authorities usually clamp down on communication following such incidents.

More than 130 Tibetans have burned themselves since the a wave of protests began in 2009 challenging Chinese rule in Tibetan areas and calling for the return from exile of Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.

Tibetans are protesting what they say as Chinese repression of their culture and religion. Beijing denies the charges and says the suicide protests are acts of terrorism.

The Tibetan government in exile has urged Tibetans not to take such drastic action, and the U.S. government has called on China to resolve the Tibetan issue with the resumption of dialogue with representatives of the Dalai Lama.

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