European foreign policy chief Baroness Catherine Ashton has made a strong statement about the self-immolations of Tibetans in a response to concerns raised by two European Parliamentarians, Barbara Lochbihler, Chairwoman of the Sub-Committee of Human Rights, and Laszlo Tokes, the Vice-President of the European Parliament. In the letter, a copy of which was obtained from the MEPs by ICT, Baroness Ashton states that she fully shares their concerns “over these shocking events.” In the letter, dated October 25, Baroness Ashton writes: “The fact that so many Tibetan monks have chosen to take such tragic steps demonstrates the profound and continuing depth of feeling among many Tibetans that their rights are not being respected. […] [The EU] urges [the Chinese authorities] to address the root causes of the self-immolations \u2013 in particular the lack of genuine participation by the Tibetan population in the development policy of the region \u2013 and to enter into a meaningful dialogue with representatives of the Tibetan minority.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n