Tibetans refuse to take Chinese premier’s visit to India lying down

A TIBETAN man died yesterday after setting himself on fire earlier this week in New Delhi to protest against Chinese rule of the Himalayan region, activists said, hours before Chinese president Hu Jintao arrived for the Brics summit of emerging market nations.

Indian police continued to arrest Tibetan protesters in New Delhi yesterday in a bid to prevent them marring Mr Hu’s visit.

The dead man, Jamphel Yeshi, 27, set himself alight on Monday. He died in hospital from his injuries, the general secretary of the Tibetan Youth Congress said.

Thirty Tibetans, mostly Buddhist monks and nuns, have set themselves on fire, mostly in south-west China, in the past year, according to Tibetan rights groups. At least 20 have died.

India hosts a large community of Tibetans – including exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama – one of the main sources of friction with neighbouring China.