Self-Immolations
Apr 25: Lobsang Dawa, 20 and Kunchok Woeser, 22, two young Tibetan monks of the Taktsang Lhamo Kirti Monastery in Zoege, eastern Tibet set themselves on fire protesting China’s continued occupation of Tibet. Kirti Monastry has issued a release: Both of them passed away at the site of the protest. Local Chinese authorities issued orders for their cremation. Lobsang Dawa is a native of Zaru region of Zoege and the youngest of seven siblings, Kunchok Woeser is a native of Zoege and is survived by his parents Tsering Norbu and Samdup Dolma and his two brothers. “The two monks were enrolled at the Taktsang Lhamo Kirti Monastery at a young age and were known for their exemplary conduct and studies”.
Apr 16: Jugtso, 20, set herself alight outside a monastery in Ngaba, eastern Tibet around 3pm local time. She died at the scene and her body was taken into the monastery where religious ceremonies were conducted. Local authorities have ordered her family to cremate the body tonight, in contravention of Tibetan tradition. Hundreds of members of the local community gathered near the family home in preparation for the cremation. Jugtso was married with a three-year-old child.
Apr 13: Kunchok Wangmo, in her 30s, set herself on fire protesting China’s rule at around midnight in the Dzoege region of Ngaba on the eve of Xi Jinping’s formal selection as the new President of China. Chinese authorities took possession of her body and carried out the cremation without informing her family members, later handing over the remains. Her husband Dolma Kyab, has been arrested after refusing to comply with orders to declare internal family feuds as the reason for her self-immolation. His present condition and whereabouts are unknown.
Apr 6: An unidentified Tibetan woman set herself on fire in Kyegudo (Chinese: Qinghai) Province last week to protest against the demolition of her home. Sources said the protest occurred when a Chinese wrecking crew arrived to destroy her house. Her condition is said to be "not life-threatening".
Mar 26: Kunchok Tenzin, 28, set himself on fire in an apparent protest against China’s continuing occupation of Tibet. He was monk from Mogri Monastery in Luchu in Eastern Tibet and set himself ablaze at a road intersection near his monastery at 7pm. He died in his fiery protest. Local Tibetans took his body inside the monastery premises and cremated it on the same night to prevent the body from falling into Chinese hands.
Mar 24: Kal Kyi, 30, set herself ablaze near Jonang monastery in Zamthang in Eastern Tibet at 3:30 pm in an apparent protest against China’s continuing occupation of Tibet. She died from injuries. Kyi is survived by her husband, Gyepo, and their four children. Local Tibetans carried her charred body inside the monastery premises to prevent it from falling into the hands of Chinese security personnel.
Mar 24: Lhamo Kyab, 43, set himself ablaze at Lushoe village in Tsoe region, Eastern Tibet, in an apparent protest against China’s continuing occupation of Tibet. The self-immolation took place around 10 pm at the forest where he worked. A local source reported: "Early morning, he doused himself in kerosene and jumped into a fire which he started with timber wood”. Following his self-immolation protest, a large number of armed security personnel arrived at the location and the situation in the region is described as tense “under strict surveillance”.
Mar 16: Lobsang Thokmey, 28, a monk at the Kirti Monastry in the Ngaba region of eastern Tibet set himself on fire to mark five years since 28 Tibetans were shot dead by Chinese security forces during a peaceful protest in 2008, triggering the continuing wave of self-immolations. According to the Dharamshala based Kirti Monastery, Lobsang Thokmey doused his body with kerosene in front of his monastic quarters in the west of the Kirti Monastery and started running towards the east. “Lobsang Thokmey was in flames as he began running with the Buddhist flag in his hands,” the Kirti Monastery said in a release. “Before he could reach the main gate, he fell on the ground.” Monks and people gathered at the scene of the protest carried Lobsang Thokmey to the local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Chinese security personnel took away his body. He is survived by his parents Rogtrug and Depo, a sister and three brothers.
Feb 25: Tsezung Kyab, 27, torched himself in front of the main prayer hall of the Shitsang Monastery in Luchu region of eastern Tibet at around 1:30 pm (local time). He passed away at his protest site, the same place where his first cousin Pema Dorjee, 23, passed away in his self-immolation protest on December 8, 2012. In a photo sent to Phayul several people can be seen surrounding the deceased’s body despite strict government orders against public displays of solidarity with the self-immolators.
Feb 25: Sangdag, a monk of the Dhiphu Monastery set himself on fire in the Ngaba region of eastern Tibet at around 10am local time, in protest against China’s continued occupation of Tibet. Chinese security personnel arrived at the scene, doused the flames and took him to hospital, and later bundled him away. His current condition and whereabouts are not available.
Feb 24: Phagmo Dhondup,in his 20s, set himself on fire in the ancient Jhakhyung Monastery in Palung region of Tshoshar, eastern Tibet at around 8pm local time. The monks at the Monastery rushed him to a nearby hospital and later held a prayer service for him. Local Chinese authorities immediately stepped up security and dispatched a large contingent of security personnel to the Monastery. Phagmo Dhondup is a native of Tsaphuk town of Palung region. He is survived by father Shawo and a sibling. He died on April 18 after undergoing treatment in hospital.
Feb 19: Sonam Dhargey, 18, and Rinchen, 17,set themselves on fire in the Kyangtsa region of Zoege, eastern Tibet protesting China’s continued occupation and repressive policies in Tibet. Both boys succumbed to their burns. According to a release from Kirti Monastry, the families were in possession of their bodies and hoping to carry out their final rites without any interference from the Chinese authorities. Sonam Dhargey’s parents are Tsering Dhondup and Takho, and Rinchen's parents are Dhondup Tsering and late Aadon. Both Rinchen and Sonam Dhargye attended the local primary school in Kyangtsa. Rinchen worked at Qinghai, but at the time of self-immolation was on his Losar holiday, visiting his family in Kyangtsa.
Feb 17: Namlha Tsering, 49, set himself on fire in the in Sangchu region of Labrang in eastern Tibet protesting China’s continued occupation of Tibet. His current condition is not known although sources say chances of his survival are minimal. Chinese security personnel arrived at the scene of the protest, doused the flames and bundled him away. In a photo, a number of armed forces could also be seen parading on the street soon after the protest.
Feb 13: Drupchen Tsering (Druptse), 25, and a Tibetan monk, originally a native of Gyalchung village in Nupsur town of Serta, eastern Tibet set himself on fire near the holy stupa of Boudhanath in the heart of Kathmandu, Nepal. Druptse recently escaped from Tibet where he had been in prison. He is survived by his mother Tselha and father Sangnag Tenzin, who is a reincarnated lama. The Nepalese authorities did not release his body and have increased restrictions in Tibetan areas. They eventually cremated the body on March 25.
Feb 13: Lobsang Namgyal, 37, a Tibetan monk from Kirti Monastery has become the 100th known Tibetan to self-immolate in Tibet since 2009. He set himself on fire on Feb 3 near the local police station in Zoege in the Ngaba region of eastern Tibet, protesting China’s continued occupation of Tibet. Following the security clampdown, news only reached the exile community on Feb 13. He passed away at the scene of his protest. Lobsang Namgyal’s identity was confirmed after Chinese police found his identity card and a letter from inside a bag near the protest site. The contents of the letter are not yet known. Chinese security personnel bundled away his body from the site and carried out his cremation without informing his family members, only his ashes were handed over.