Chinese officials visiting New Delhi to attend a summit of emerging nations on Thursday blamed the Dalai Lama for a Tibetan protester burning himself to death in the city. Jamphel Yeshi died on the eve of the summit after setting himself alight on Monday during demonstrations among India’s large community of Tibetan exiles against Chinese rule of their homeland. Hundreds of Tibetans were detained before the meeting of the BRICS group of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, while many others complained of being placed under virtual house arrest to prevent anti-China protests. “The Dalai Lama and so-called pro-independence elements are trying to push extreme and radical views and are glorifying extreme positions,” Luo Zhaohui, director general of China’s department of Asian Affairs told reporters. “The Chinese appreciate the concrete and effective measures implemented by the Indian government in overcoming the disruption,” he said, adding that China was “regretful” of the loss of innocent life.
