Sep 26, 2011

Tibet: Desperate Self Immolation Continues in Ngaba County


In a peaceful protest in the Ngaba County market this morning, two young monks of the Kirtu Monastery in Ngaba County set themselves on fire.

Below is an article published by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy

News just came from Tibet that this morning around 10:30 (Tibet local time) two more monks of Kirti Monastery, Ngaba County set themselves on fire. Monk Lobsang Kelsang and Lobsang Kunchok staged a peaceful protest raising slogans like 'Long Live the Dalai Lama' and 'We want Religious Freedom in Tibet' in the Ngaba County market. They then set themselves aflame. The two monks were immediately taken by the People's Armed Police (PAP) and Public Security Bureau police (PSB) after PAP and PSB tried to set off the flame on the two. One of the monks is feared to have died on the spot whereas the other remains in critical condition. It is not known where the two monks have been taken. Both are believed to be about 18 years old from Meyruma Township, Ngaba County.

Monk Lobsang Kelsang is a cousin of late monk Phuntsog who self-immolated on 16 March this year.

This unfortunate incident is the third in the year where Tibetan monks in Tibet, in a desperate act, set themselves ablaze. Ngaba Kirti monastery's monk Phuntsog self immolated on 16th March to mark the third anniversary of 2008 Uprising and to draw international attention to the Tibet issue. On 15th August 29 years old monk Tsewang Norbu of Nyitso Monastery in Tawu, Kandze demanded for freedom in Tibet and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet before burning self.

It is clear that the situation in Tibet continues to remain intense. TCHRD is deeply concerned of the current situation in Tibet with extraordinary tight control of Chinese.