Tension rises as another Tibetan kills himself

A 44-year old Tibetan man has died after setting himself on fire in China's inland ethnic region, in the latest protest against a government crackdown. Tibetan government-in-exile in India says a farmer killed himself on Saturday in Tongren, in the Huangnan Tibet Autonomous Region of Qinghai Province.He was a close friend of the monk who set himself on fire on Wednesday at a monastery in Tongren.

The farmer is said to have called for the return of the Dalai Lama, who is in exile in India, before he set himself alight.Several thousand local people and monks gathered at the monastery square for the funeral. It is reported that tension is rising and many armed police are deployed around the monastery.

The Tibetan government-in-exile says oppression by the Chinese government has increased on ethnic Tibetans over their religious activities and indigenous culture in Sichuan and Qinghai provinces. 29 Tibetans have set themselves on fire during the past 12 months.