Two Tibetan monks die in double self-immolation; possible third immolation unconfirmed

Lobsang Dawa and Kunchok Woeser

Two young monks are dead after self-immolating at the Taktsang Lhamo Kirti Monastery in Zoege, Eastern Tibet, on Wednesday evening, Phayul reports. Lobsang Dawa, 20, and Kunchok Woeser, 22, set themselves alight outside the monastery’s main prayer hall. Both of them died at the scene, and their bodies were taken back to their rooms for prayer services. Chinese police have reportedly ordered that both bodies be cremated by Thursday morning.

There are also reports that a young mother self-immolated on Wednesday in Zamthang, Eastern Tibet, but these have not been confirmed. Read More »

Young Tibetan woman dies in self-immolation protest

Reports are just coming in that a 20-year-old woman set herself alight and died in Zamthang county, in the Ngaba region of Northeastern Tibet, Tuesday afternoon. Chuktso (also identified as Jugtso) self-immolated near Zamthang Monastery around 3 p.m. and died at the scene. Chuktso leaves behind a husband and a 3-year-old child. Read More »

2012 deaths of Tibetan monk and nun officially ruled self-immolations

The number of Tibetans who have self-immolated in protest of Chinese occupation since 2009 has grown to at least 113, as the deaths of a Tibetan monk and nun last year have officially been ruled immolations.

Tulku Athup (also known as Thupten Nyendak Rinpoche), 45, and his niece, 23-year-old nun Atse, died on April 6, 2012, when a fire broke out inside Tulku Athup’s hut at Dzogchen Monastery, in Kham, Eastern Tibet. Read More »

Two more Tibetans die in separate self-immolation protests

Lobsang Thokmey

A man and woman are dead after self-immolating in separate protests in the Ngaba region of eastern Tibet.

Lobsang Thokmey, 28, set himself on fire Saturday afternoon inside his room at Kirti Monastery. Carrying prayer flags, he rushed outside toward the monastery before collapsing. He was taken to a local hospital, where he died. Phayul reports that his body was later taken away by Chinese police. Thokmey leaves behind his parents and four siblings.

Meanwhile, reports are emerging that a woman self-immolated in the Dzoege region of Ngaba last Wednesday. Read More »

Monk self-immolates in eastern Tibet; condition unknown

Another Tibetan has self-immolated in protest of Chinese occupation, the Tibet Post reports.

Sangdag, a monk from Dhiphu Monastery, set himself alight in a main street in Ngaba, in the Amdo region of eastern Tibet, late Monday morning. Chinese police doused the flames and took him to a hospital, later moving him to an unknown location. Read More »

Two Tibetan teens die from self-immolation

Rinchen

Two Tibetan teenagers are dead after self-immolating in Kyangtsa, in the Ngaba area of eastern Tibet, on Tuesday evening. Rinchen, 17, and Sonam Dhargye, 18, set themselves alight around 9:30 p.m. Both died from their burns, and their families claimed their bodies.

Both teens had grown up in the area where they carried out their protests. Phayul reports that Rinchen, who worked in Qinghai, was visiting his family for the Losar holiday. Read More »

Former monk self-immolates in eastern Tibet after months of harassment by Chinese police

Reports have emerged that a former monk self-immolated in Ngaba, eastern Tibet, on February 3. Free Tibet says it took 10 days to confirm the immolation because Tibetans are afraid of reprisals from Chinese police for speaking out.

Lobsang Namgyal, 37, a former monk at Kirti Monastery, set himself ablaze in front of a police station in Zoege, Ngaba, on the morning of Sunday, February 3. He died at the scene, and his body was cremated by Chinese police.

Phayul reports that Lobsang Namgyal went missing from Kirti Monastery for two weeks last September, prompting frantic searches. It was later discovered that he had been detained by police. Read More »