Tibetan poet blocked from receiving award

Tibetan writer and activist Tsering Woeser waves from the balcony of her home in Beijing (Reuters)

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.