Self-Immolations
Sep 16: Kunchok, 42, burned himself in front of a police station in protest against Chinese rule. The incident took place in Gade county, Tsang Khor town in the Golog region of Tibet. Tibetans nearby managed to douse the flames and rushed Kunchok to a hospital in Xining, reports Radio Free Asia (RFA). Information about Kunchok’s self-immolation is surfacing only now due to communication clampdowns after his protest. “He is now in great pain. While he’s being treated [secretly], he often breaks down in tears over his failure to die in the self-immolation. He regrets not accomplishing what he planned to do" a source has told RFA. Kunchok’s chances of survival are said to be “slim”. Family members fear that Kunchok could be taken away by the authorities if he survives,and if he does not, they fear his body would not be returned to them.. Kunchok has a son and a daughter who are monk and nun in a local monastery.
Apr 15: Thinley Namgyal, 32, set himself on fire at around 12 noon (local time) in Tawu County in the Kardze region, in the traditional TIbetan province of Kham. Thinley died on the spot and his body was taken to Gangthel monastery for prayers and later handed over to his family. Thinley lived with his father Dulho and mother Pelha in Khangsar township, Tawu County. He self-immolated in protest against China’s occupation of Tibet. No further details are available at present. A candle light vigil took place in Dharamshala to to express solidarity with his protest and mourn his death.
Mar 29: (Updated) Dolma, 31, self-immolated near the Ba Choede Monastery in Bathang County, Kardze, in the traditional Tibetan province of Kham at around 3pm (local time). Speaking to the Tibet Times, Member of the Tibetan Parliament Bawa Kelsang Gyaltsen said, “Local Tibetans saw the self-immolation while on their routine circumambulation, they doused the flames and took her to a nearby hospital.” Chinese government officials and police sealed the hospital and then stepped up security in and around the county, blocking all communication lines including micromessaging apps, and monitoring people's movements. According to sources, Dolma’s condition is not known at present due to the heightened security and disrupted communication lines. Radio Free Asia reported that police have barred family and friends from visiting her at the local hospital. Following Dolma’s protest, Chinese police have arrested around half a dozen nuns from Ritoe Kagor Monastery near Ba Choede, who had been resident with Dolma. Their present location is unknown.
Mar 17: Jigme Tenzin, 29, a monk from Sonag monastery in Jhador township set himself on fire outside his monastery around 7.30 AM (local time). Fellow monks managed to carry his charred body inside the monastery and he died later the same day. Several monks from the Sonag monastery, which is in Tsekhog County, Malho Prefecture, were interrogated at the local police station. Most of them returned to the monastery later, except four monks who continue to be held. Jigme was not identified until several days later as the authorities in Tsekhog cut down all communication lines following the self-immolation, including all micro-messaging apps to ensure that the news and any pictures were not sent out. The initial report came via the Associated Press who quoted China’s official Xinhua news agency as reporting that the immolation had taken place and that police were rushing to the site but gave no further details. Jigme studied at the Rebkong Rongwo monastery for ten years before returning to his native of Tsekhog.
Mar 16: (Updated) Lobsang Palden, a Tibetan monk, from Kirti Monastery set himself on fire in Ngaba County, Tibet at around 11:30 am (local time). Chinese police immediately arrived at the site and bundled him away in a vehicle. Lobsang Palden, also known as Khechok Palden, had reportedly left a text message in his phone in which he prayed for his parents, family members, teachers and relatives, according to Phayul. He also called for unity among Tibetans. “We should maintain cordial relations with others, particularly with Chinese because if we are united and have love for each other, no matter what our thoughts are, it will enable us to communicate with each other better,” Phayul reported. Local Tibetans shut down their shops and restaurants to express solidarity with the monk’s family members. With massive influx of armed security forces after the self-immolation protest, the situation in the region remains tense. Lobsang Palden is son of Namkho and Sherab of the “Ashertsang” in Ngaba Meruma village. Lobsang died on Friday 21 March.
Feb 13: Lobsang Dorje, 25, a layman from Upper Ngaba Gyabam Tukra village, set himself on fire at around 6:30pm (local time) near Kirti Monastery in Ngaba County, Tibet, and has since succumbed to his injuries. Chinese police, who were stationed nearby to keep a twenty-four hour watch on local Tibetans, extinguished the fire, and took him away him in a small vehicle. Lobsang Dorje raised his head and clasped his hands together in a pleading manner but police pushed him down and covered him with a black cloth, an eyewitness said. Lobsang Dorje was taken to a hospital in Barkham County where he died. His family, despite appeals to the authorities, were denied the right to perform last rites and his body was secretly cremated and his remains handed over to his family. Lobsang Dorje is a former monk from the Ngaba Kirti Monastery. He is the son of Tsepak (father) and Nahmey Kyi (mother). Sources also said that extra police forces have been deployed in the area which has constantly remained a target for crackdown by the Chinese authorities.
Feb 5: Phagmo Samdrup, 27, set himself on fire in Dokarmo township, Tsekhog County, Malho in the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture at around 9:30pm (local time). Chinese police arrived at the site and took him to hospital where he died a day later. The authorities later cremated his body without informing Phagmo's family and then forced the family to throw his remains in Machu River, a Tibetan source said, adding that they even confiscated a golden ring belonging to the deceased. Chinese authorities deployed massive security forces immediately after the self-immolation protest. The situation in Tsekhog, and that of nearby areas including Rebkong County, remains tense. All communication lines were disconnected after the self-immolation. Phagmo Samdrup, a tantric practitioner, was father of two children. Prior to his self-immolation there were reports of heightened security and clampdowns in various Tibetan areas ahead of Losar, the upcoming Tibetan new year.
Dec 19: Tsultrim Gyaltso, a Tibetan monk from Amdo Achok village in Sangchu County, Kanlho Prefecture, Gansu Province set himself on fire at around 2:30pm (local time) in protest against Chinese rule. He died on the spot, said reports from Tibet. Local Tibetans took the body to his monastery where around 400 monks held a prayer session for the deceased. Tsultrim left behind a hand-written note in which he says that the reasons for his self-immolation protest are to call for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, release of the Panchen Lama and for the welfare of all Tibetans. Tsultrim Gyaltso, in his early 40’s, is described as a Tibetan who was passionate and concerned about the Tibetan culture and religion. He was the son of Lhamo Kyi. Tsultrim becomes the 125th Tibetan to self-immolate since 2009. The Tibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy has translated the last note left behind by Tsultrim Gyatso, this is available on bit.ly/1fqSQLN .
Dec 3: Kunchok Tseten, 30, has set himself ablaze in Tibet's Meruma town in Ngaba County. Before collapsing, Tseten shouted slogans demanding the return of exiled Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama, and for the union of Tibetans inside Tibet and exiles, "Long live Gyalwa Tenzin Gyatso, let's unite our brothers here and those in exile". Chinese police on routine patrol immediately surrounded him and, after a few clashes with local Tibetan bystanders, took him away. Some bystanders, Tseten's wife, and a few of his relatives were arrested. All businesses in the town were shut. His brother has reported that Tseten said this summer "I can't tolerate the atrocities committed by the Chinese government on us Tibetans, and with all the self-immolation by Tibetan brothers and sisters thus far I would one day sacrifice myself by burning myself". Tseten lived with his wife Namnang, 28, and two children, Chakdor Kyab, 4, and Paltsel Kyab, 3. UPDATE, 5 DECEMBER: The authorities claim that Tseten died shortly after his protest and that they cremated his body; they have handed over an urn reportedly containing his ashes.
Nov 11: Tsering Gyal, a 20 year old Tibetan monk from the Akyong Monastery, set himself ablaze at around 6 pm (local time) in Tibet's Pema County in Qinghai Province, Golog prefecture. Local sources said that Tsering set himself on fire in protest against the Chinese government and its hardline policies. Chinese police on street patrol doused the fire and rushed Tsering to the local hospital where he was kept under strict police surveillance. Tsering Gyal succumbed to his burn injuries later at around 10 pm (local time) as he was being moved to a bigger hospital in Xiling city. According to sources, Tsering Gyal was accompanied by a relative and a monk from his monastery. In a note left by Tsering, he said, “Today, I burned myself for the re-union of Tibetans. My only hope is the unity among Tibetans and the preservation of the Tibetan language and tradition. If we do that, all the Tibetans will be re-united.” At midnight, Tsering’s body was taken to Akyong Monastery where over 200 monks from Akyong, Peyag and Gomang monatery performed the last rituals for the deceased. Local Tibetans visited Tsering Gyal’s home to show solidarity and pay their respects. A large number of armed forces have been deployed in Pema County and are monitoring people’s movement. Tsering Gyal, son of Sherphun and Rindon, was the youngest of eight children.
Sep 28: Shichung, 41, a farmer and tailor, has died after setting himself on fire at around 4.30 pm (local time) in Gomang Thawa township in Ngaba County. A Tibetan monk from South India told the Tibet Times that the authorities confiscated the body and drove with it towards Ngaba county. Shichung had returned home after attending the Man-sTon religious festival, he lit a butter lamp in front of a portrait of the Dalai Lama before setting himself on fire. He had reportedly told a friend “These Chinese will not let us live, I think I should burn myself in front of them.”
Aug 6: Karma Nyedon Gyatso, a Tibetan monk, died minutes after setting himself ablaze near Boudhanath stupa in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu at around 7:30 am local time. Karma Nyedon Gyatso, 38 years old, was from Damshung County, near Lhasa in Tibet. Karma had arrived at the Kathmandu Tibetan Reception Centre on January 30, 2012. An eye witness said the monk was sitting crosslegged when she saw his lap on fire and then he poured fluid over his head and went up in flames. He did not cry out or scream at all. Passersby doused the fire. Police removed the body which was wrapped in a red cloth. He was declared dead on arrival at Tribhuvan University Teaching hospital in Kathmandu. A source said that Karma had lit over hundred butter lamps before he burnt himself. This is the second self immolation by a Tibetan this year in Nepal which has clamped down on the cultural and political expression of its Tibetan community because of China's influence.
Jul 20: Kunchok Sonam, 18, a monk from the Zoege Monastery in the Aba prefecture, in Sichuan province in eastern Tibet, set himself on fire at around 8:40 am (local time). He shouted slogans "crying for Tibetan freedom", a local resident said. According to the Tibet Times, he carried out his protest soon after morning prayers at the monastery, and passed away at the site of his protest. Local Tibetans succeeded in rescuing his body from Chinese security personnel who arrived at the scene and tried to bundle the body away. Free Tibet has reported that restrictions on communication in the area "have been intensified". Konchok Sonam is the son of Sonam Palden and Lentrug.
Jun 11: Wangchen Dolma, 31, a Tibetan nun, set herself ablaze at around 5 pm near the Nyatso Monastery in the Tawu region of Kham, eastern Tibet, in an apparent protest against China’s continued occupation of Tibet. Wangchen Dolma was taken to a hospital in Dartsedo after Chinese security personnel arrested her at the protest site. Wangchen Dolma succumbed to injuries on June 14 at around 8 pm at the hospital in Dartsedo. The authorities secretly cremated the body at the hospital, denying the family to perform last rites and rituals for the deceased. It has also been reported that an unidentified Tibetan man, who tried to rescue Wangchen Dolma, was severely beaten and arrested by Chinese security personnel. His whereabouts is still unknown. Sources have indicated that all internet lines in the Tawu region have been shut down by regional Chinese authorities, limiting communications, and strict restrictions have been placed on the movement of local Tibetans and monks immediately after the incidents. Sources also said that family members of the deceased are under house arrest. Wangchen Dolma was the daughter of Tenzin and Youdon of Gyalbum Tsang (family) in Dragthok village in Minyag Drapa region of Tawu County, Tibet.
May 29: Tenzin Sherab, 31 has set himself on fire in the Adril region of eastern Tibet protesting China’s occupation and hard-line policies in Tibet. He succumbed to his injuries at the site. A monk living in south India reported “Soon after the protest, Chinese security personnel from Chumar arrived at the site and confiscated Tenzin Sherab’s body, however, the next day his body was handed over to his family members”. Tenzin Sherab had told his friends “We can no longer bear to live under China’s constant torture and repression”. In the days preceding his self-immolation protest, Tenzin Sherab had spoken to his friends about the evil policies of the Chinese government and expressed his concern about Tibetan religion and culture reaching a point of annihilation. Tenzin Sherab is the son of Dhondup and Choemey and was the eldest among five siblings.