Dissonant notes disrupting harmony

A string of self-immolations by young Buddhist monks and nuns recently in the Tibetan areas of Southwest China's Sichuan province has aroused public concern. But with a better awareness of the facts, people can understand what is behind these suicides.

As the separatist attempts of the so-called Tibetan government-in-exile have failed, some figures in the Dalai Lama clique have become restless with anxiety and seek to use the deaths of young monks and nuns as a means to put pressure on the authorities and undermine the social stability in the Tibet autonomous region and other Tibetan areas.

Some rinpoches, or living Buddhas, living in exile have been quick to extol the monks who burn themselves to death as "heroes" and overseas media have seen fit to present real time video of the deaths.