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Tibetan poet blocked from receiving award

 

Friday 08 March 2013 14:10 EST
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Tibetan writer and activist Tsering Woeser waves from the balcony of her home in Beijing
Tibetan writer and activist Tsering Woeser waves from the balcony of her home in Beijing (Reuters)

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Beijing has prevented a Tibetan poet, Tsering Woeser, from travelling to the US to pick up an international women’s award by refusing to issue her a passport.

Woeser was one of 10 women named for the International Women of Courage award – to be presented by the US First Lady, Michelle Obama – for her efforts in documenting a wave of self-immolations by more than 100 Tibetans protesting against Chinese rule. Woeser said yesterday she had been told she would “endanger state security” by travelling.

Meanwhile the Chinese-appointed head of Tibet’s legislature, Padma Choling, accused the Dalai Lama of paying Tibetans to set themselves alight.

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