Dorjee Tsering’s photo and sitting next to it is his father, Mr Thupten Tashi
Photo:Tenzin Dalha
A sixteen year old Tibetan boy, Dorjee Tsering, died three days after he set himself on fire in Dehra Dun in India, the second such protest of the year. On the same day, February 29, Kalsang Wangdue, an eighteen year old monk self-immolated in Karze, the eastern region of Tibet. While Dorjee survived for 3 days, Kalsang died on the way to hospital immediately after his protest. Both made statements that they were protesting against the Chinese repressive rule in Tibet.
Dorjee Tsering was a student at the Tibetan Homes Foundation School, Mussoorie, He self-immolated in a Tibetan settlement in Herbertpur near Dehradun after a family visit there. According to the Indian Express, his mother tried to save him. He was taken to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi where it was confirmed that Dorjee was suffering from 95% burns; he died on March 3.
His parents said that Dorjee had repeatedly told them about “doing something” for Tibet. During his three day stay in hospital he told representatives from Tibetan communities “I did discuss my intentions with my parents earlier, who told me they would kill themselves if I do this.”
“I had the will to do something for Tibet when I was young and thought that I could sacrifice this body for the Tibetan cause,” he continued.
Tibetan communities around the world were shattered by the news of a sixteen year old student resorting to self-immolation as the only way to contribute to Tibetan cause. “I want to tell everybody that although Dorjee saw his self-immolation as a last resort, I want to urge youngsters that there are other ways to serve Tibet, by educating oneself and working for Tibet,” Phayul quoted Nyima Yangkyi, the boy’s mother, as saying.
An undated photo of monk Kalsang Wangdue
Photo: Radio Free Asia
Kalsang Wangdue was a monk from the Retsokha Aryaling monastery. Radio Free Asia reports their source in the region as saying “[While he burned], he called out for Tibet’s complete independence”. Wangdu’s parents are Sotra and Urgyen Dolma. RFA has reported that Wangdu’s family are being isolated by local authorities and pressured to say he died in a house fire.
The 17th Karmpa, Ogyen Trinley Dorjee, head of the Kagyu sect of Tibetan Buddhism, has appealed on Facebook to Tibetans not to self-immolate in protest against Chinese rule, saying “This week, two young Tibetan children, one in Tibet and one in India, have burned themselves to death…I want to make a request of my fellow Tibetans at home and abroad.” He continued “Within Tibetan society, people will applaud them for a few days, saying ‘He’s a hero,’ ‘She’s a heroine,’ or ‘That is incredible.’ But that does not help.”
He also said “In particular, most of those who have immolated themselves have been young. … They are our hope and lifeblood for the future. This non-stop expenditure of life is a severe drain on Tibet as a whole.”
A prayer service for the two boys was held in the main temple in Dharamshala, Tsugla-Khang. Speaking at the service, Tibetan Home Minister Gyari Dolma said, “While we affirm and uphold the courage and strength of these young Tibetans, the Central Tibetan Administration urges the young Tibetan generation, especially those in free countries, to contribute to the cause with far sighted vision and achieve significant goals in education, development and promotion of the Tibetan cause, without resorting to such drastic actions.”
Tibetans gathered to pay homage to the deceased
Photo:Tenzin Dalha
“The death of Kalsang Wangdue and Dorjee Tsering is an immeasurable sacrifice. It is very difficult to tell people what to do and what not to do especially to the Tibetans inside Tibet who are undergoing repression on a daily basis,” said Tenzing Jigme, Tibetan Youth Congress President. He did however urge Tibetan youngsters to consider other ways to contribute towards Tibet’s struggle.
The two self-immolations prompted reactions in Chinese state media. The Global Times said that self-immolations are encouraged by the Dalai Lama “to solicit international support through media and political figures.”
“Encouraging suicide is by no means part of Tibet Buddhism” said the Global Times news report, “Any attempt to separate or split Tibet from China is doomed to fail and it is not the desire of the majority of Tibetan people.”
Hillary Clinton with Tibetan National Congress President Jigme Ugen
Human rights groups supporting the Tibetan community in exile pointed to the self-immolation of the two teenagers as an example of the plight of Tibetan people. Images of United States democractic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton holding a picture of Dorjee Tsering appeared in the world’s press and were circulated over the internet bringing global attention to the boys’ protests.
The Tibetan community in Dharamshala and other parts of India held candlelit vigils and prayers for the self-immolators to show their solidarity and support.
Dorjee’s body was transported to Dharamshala from Delhi for his last rites. More than a thousand people showed up to welcome his body to McLeod Ganj and to attend his prayer service. The service was held at Lhagyalri, below Tsugla-Khang where there are statues of past self-immolators Jamphel Yeshi and Pawo Thupten Ngodup and photos of the other self-immolators from Tibet on display.
Dorjee is survived by his parents, two brothers and two sisters. He was the youngest person to self-immolate in the exile community.
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