GUWAHATI: Representatives of the Tibetan community in Northeast India on Wednesday, July 29, addressed a press conference in Guwahati, condemning China's Ethnic Unity and Progress Law.
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The representatives called it an attempt to erase Tibetan identity, language, religion, and culture. They paid tribute to Lobga Rangzen, who died after self-immolating in protest against the law and demanding Tibet's independence.
The community alleged that Tibetans have faced decades of repression since China's takeover of Tibet in 1950, including restrictions on religion, language, and cultural practices. They said more than 170 Tibetans have self-immolated since 2009, describing these acts as a response to worsening human rights conditions.
They also highlighted the significance of Tibet for India, stating that the Tibetan Plateau is crucial for India's security and the Northeast's environment. The speakers expressed concern that Chinese activities on the plateau, including dam construction on the Brahmaputra River (Yarlung Tsangpo), could affect millions of people living downstream in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.