[Buddha-l] more tibetan self-immolations

[Dan Lusthaus]

There has been a rash of Tibetan self-immolators recently, five in one 
weekend, but did you know that N. Africa and the middle east are 
experiencing their own outbreak of self-immolations? Thought not.

nytimes

"Self-Immolation Is on the Rise in the Arab World"

"BEIRUT, Lebanon — More than a year after a young Tunisian set himself on 
fire and touched off revolutions throughout the Arab world, self-immolation, 
symbolic of systemic frustration and helplessness, has become increasingly 
common across the region.

On Wednesday, five young men self-immolated in Morocco, adding to the grim 
tally for a month in which others have set themselves on fire in Tunisia, 
Jordan and Bahrain...."

"Hardly anyone is paying attention. Arab newspapers and television have 
devoted little coverage to those who self-immolate. And the rise of the 
practice also illustrates how little the Arab revolts have changed the 
conditions that led to mass unrest in the first place. Economic conditions 
in much of North Africa and the Middle East are as difficult as before; 
indeed, in many places, like Egypt and Libya, they have grown worse."

Preferable to suicide bombings, but not very effective in this part of the 
world either apparently. For the full article,

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/21/world/africa/self-immolation-on-the-rise-in-the-arab-world.html?hp

Dan