Dalai Lama blames Chinese 'cultural genocide' for self-immolations

The 'cultural genocide' that Tibetans face under hardline Chinese rule is to be blamed for a recent wave of self-immolations, the Dalai Lama has said.

"Chinese communist propaganda create a very rosy picture," the BBC quoted the Dalai Lama, as saying.

"But actually, including many Chinese from mainland China who visit Tibet, they all have the impression things are terrible. Some kind of policy, some kind of cultural genocide is taking place," he added.

The Tibetan spiritual leader said hard-line officials had created a "desperate" situation that is responsible for self-immolations among monks and nuns in ethnic Tibetan parts of Sichuan.

"(In the) last 10, 15 years, there were some kind of hard-liner Chinese officials," the Dalai Lama said.

"So that's why you see these sad incidents have happened due to (this) desperate sort of situation," he added.

Eleven young Tibetans have set themselves on fire this year in apparent protest against Chinese rule.

The most recent was a nun in Dawu county, who died after setting herself on fire last week.

Tibetans have said that Chinese rule and the large-scale migration of Han Chinese are eroding their culture and traditions, and that they are not allowed to practise their religion freely.