Tibet

Inside China, Tibetan "customs" include the Nagqu horse festival, complete with state-sponsored repression. At least that's what's on display in an exhibit at the National Museum Of China.

Musician Kristina Olsen says Tibetan prayer flags flying over porches near her home in Venice, Calif., made her wonder how divine forces decide whom to help and when.

At the Tibetan Labrang Monastery in Gansu, another protester chose suicide as a way to draw attention to what Tibetans say is China's repressive rule.

In recent days, three Tibetans have set themselves on fire to protest Chinese rule. In the past year, it's been reported that more than 30 people have set themselves on fire and most have died. Renee Montagne talks to Robert Barnett, an expert on Tibet, for more on why Tibetans have been protesting Chinese repression by setting themselves on fire.

Chinese leaders fear what might happen if Tibetans were allowed to live freely and others under Chinese rule started to demand more respect for their rights, the Buddhist spiritual leader says.

The Dalai Lama stepped down as the politic leader of Tibet's government-in–exile a year ago to devote himself to spreading a spiritual message of compassion and peace. Still, he's been drawn into talking about violence since a wave of deadly protests swept through the Tibetan areas of China. He talks about those events with Renee Montagne.

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A small but growing number of Tibetans have set themselves on fire to protest China's rule over their homeland. The latest happened in New Delhi, where China's president is visiting.

Increasingly angry about Chinese rule, a small but steadily growing number of Tibetans are choosing to protest by setting themselves on fire. Many Tibetans say they admire such actions — support that experts say means more such protests are likely.

These days, visiting Tibetan areas is a risky venture for journalists trying to cover the protest movement against Chinese rule, including a rash of self-immolations. But the dangers are far greater for those who talk to them. NPR's Louisa Lim recently traveled there and describes the challenges.