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China denies shooting Tibetan trying to burn self

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-03-02 20:23

CHENGDU -- Chinese authorities refuted Monday that police had shot a young Tibetan who attempted to set himself on fire Friday in the southwestern Sichuan Province, as was claimed by some "Tibet independence" groups.

The 24-year-old man, identified as Tashi, also known as Tapey, was a Buddhist student at the Kirti Monastery in the Aba County of the Tibetan-Qiang Autonomous Prefecture of Aba.

He attempted to set himself alight using inflammables while holding a portrait of the Dalai Lama and a "snow lion flag" in token of "Tibet independence" on a street in the Aba county seat at about 1:38 p.m. Friday.

When local police saw that, they immediately put out the fire and sent the young man to hospital.

Some "Tibet independence" groups said Tashi was shot by police, but that was totally fabricated, the authorities said.

Tashi is in stable condition now and local authorities are investigating the incident.

Local monks and residents are averse to Tashi's action. They believe he was deluded by the Dalai clique and such an action went against doctrines of Tibetan Buddhism.