BEIJING, May 20 -- The ambiguous answer by the 14th Dalai Lama to media questions on his role in stopping self-immolation by Tibetans revealed his attempt to sacrifice lives for "Tibet independence," according to a signed Chinese-language article released Tuesday.

"Behind the 14th Dalai Lama's vague words," penned by Qi Xuan, referred to foreign media reports that, during a recent visit to Norway, the 14th Dalai Lama made vague comments such as "this is a very sensitive issue," eschewing a reporter's question on whether he had urged a halt to Tibetans' self-immolations.

Tuesday's article stressed that Tibetan Buddhism clearly opposes killing and suicide, but recent years, especially between September 2012 and the first half of 2013, had seen a string of self-immolations committed by Tibetans in some Tibetan-inhabited areas in the Chinese provinces of Sichuan, Gansu and Qinghai.

Meanwhile, the Dalai Lama clique took advantage of these tragedies, it said, citing a conference held in September 2012 during which the clique honored the self-immolation acts and vowed to set up memorials and funds for victims in a bid to boost the influence of such acts across the world.

According to the article, the clique claimed that self-immolation wouldn't stop unless Tibet became "independent" and the Dalai Lama returned.

"While international society and all kind and righteous people mourned these lost lives, the 14th Dalai Lama publicly touted these victims' passion and courage, stressing the importance of actions rather than prayers," it said.

The Dalai Lama clique was forced into a corner as the Chinese government brought those instigating self-immolations to punishment by the law, and both domestic and overseas people began to realize the truth behind these incidents, the article said.

"Maybe the reporter asked the question initially to pin a medal on the 14th Dalai Lama for stopping self-immolation, but he didn't dare to answer directly," it said. "Because deep in his heart, he wanted to sacrifice grassroots Tibetans, especially those innocent youngsters, for his own political ends."

According to the article, the 14th Dalai Lama also reportedly said that acts of self-immolation, in some cases, were "not entirely wrong," which might be fairly interpreted as saying self-immolation for the sake of "Tibet independence" is right.

"He didn't dare to say more, fearing that the truth would come out," it said.