Self-immolation, again, now in Lhasa

[Ensapa]

Mr Namkho Zamdo who came from Switzerland presenting in a Art and Tattoo Event a special tattoo of all names of Tibetan Self-Immolators and the dates of their self-immolation on his whole back.  What do you think of this creativity?

The glorification of self immolations would eventually stir up more self immolations and the more self immolations that are stirred up, the more unhappy China will be and the less China will want to enter into talks with CTA as they are aware that CTA is behind the self immolations. It dosent take much guess that CTA has been encouraging them. Tibetans should stop showing their support for the self immolations if they want to be taken seriously by the rest of the world as it is pretty clear who is behind them.

[icy]

Breaking: Twin self-immolation protests in Tibet, Toll rises to 117
Phayul[Wednesday, April 24, 2013 23:14]

Tibetan self-immolators Lobsang Dawa, 20 (left) and Kunchok Woeser, 23 (right) who set themselves on fire protesting China's occupation in Zoege region of eastern Tibet on April 24, 2013.
DHARAMSHALA, April 24: In reports coming just in, two young Tibetan monks of the Taktsang Lhamo Kirti Monastery in Zoege, eastern Tibet set themselves on fire today protesting China’s continued occupation of Tibet.

The exile seat of the Kirti Monastery in Dharamshala identified the two monks as Lobsang Dawa, 20 and Kunchok Woeser, 22.

“The two monks set themselves on fire at 6:40 pm (local time) near the right side of the main prayer hall of the Taktsang Lhamo Monastery protesting China’s repressive policies,” the Kirti Monastery release said. “Both of them passed away at the site of the protest.”

According to reports, the body of the two monks were later taken to their respective monastic quarters where fellow monks carried out prayers.

“Local Chinese authorities have issued orders for the cremation of the two monks by early tomorrow morning,” the release said.

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,” the release said.

In 2008, following a series of anti-China protests across Ngaba region, local Chinese authorities had indefinitely closed down a school run by Taktsang Lhamo Kirti Monastery.

The primary reason for its closure was cited as participation by a number of students of Taktsang Lhamo Kirti Monastery in the March 15th protest along with other senior monks of the monastery at the Zoege county headquarters.

Since 2009, as many as 117 Tibetans living under China’s rule have set themselves on fire demanding freedom and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile.

[Ensapa]

it's quite sad on why does such young and promising monks decide to destroy themselves for the political sake of the nation and they are directly violating the vinaya rules. The Buddha has made it very clear that suicide is not an option as during the Buddha's time there were some monks who misunderstood the Buddha's teachings on emptiness and commited suicide or attempted to do so. What is equally horrifying is that not only that nobody is speaking out against the self immolations, but there are monasteries that are glorifying such acts. How can it be that suicide be the solution to independence? how does logic apply?

[icy]

German Parliamentary Committee expresses ‘deep alarm’ over Tibet self-immolations

DHARAMSHALA, April 26: The Human Rights Committee of the German parliament, the Bundestag, passed a joint declaration expressing deep alarm over the continuing wave of self-immolations in Tibet and urging the German government to work for the improvement of the situation in the region.

In the joint declaration passed on April 24, the Committee for Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid said it was “deeply alarmed and shocked” by the high number of self-immolations in Tibet and urged the Chinese leadership to “safeguard the human rights of Tibetans.”

“The significant rise of self-immolations is an expression of deepest desperation about the lack of freedom, as well as about non-existent freedom of religion and the refusal of the Chinese leadership to respect a unique cultural identity,” the declaration said.

“We urge the new Chinese leadership to open up a new chapter in their relations to the Tibetans, to look into the causes of these desperate acts and to bring about necessary reforms.”

The German parliamentary committee further called on the Chinese leadership to “respect the human rights of the Tibetans and their right to live their own culture and religion.”

“At the same time we demand from the Chinese leadership to re-start the dialogue with Tibet and the Tibetans which is inactive since 2010, in order to find a solution that is appropriate to the unique cultures of the Chinese and the Tibetans, and in order to prevent such acts of desperation like the self-immolations in the future,” the declaration said.

Since 2009, as many as 117 Tibetans living under China’s rule have set themselves on fire demanding freedom and the return of exiled Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

On April 24 - the same day the declaration was adopted - two young monks from the Taktsang Lhamo Kirti Monastery in Zoege, eastern Tibet became the latest Tibetans to set themselves on fire.

Both Lobsang Dawa, 20 and Kunchok Woeser, 22 passed away in their fiery protests against China’s continued occupation of Tibet.

In the declaration, the parliamentary committee further called for access for UN-diplomats, parliamentarians and journalists to Tibet and urged the German government to work for the improvement of the situation in Tibet.

“We ask the Federal Government to continue to work bilaterally and on the international level towards an improvement of the situation in Tibet and while doing so, to also make use of the German Dialogue on Law and the EU-Human Rights Dialogue with China,” the joint declaration said.

[icy]

Majority wants the French President to raise Human Rights and Tibet on China trip

By Tenam

PARIS, April 25: As the French President Francois Hollande heads to China on a state visit, first of such since Xi Jinping takes over the reign as the Chinese president, a survey by a leading French poll house shows that almost 70% of the French people wants their president to raise the situation of Human Rights and civil liberties with his counterpart. Of that another 66% of the people polled wants Hollande to raise his concerns about the situation of Tibetans in China.

The French president will the the first head of the state to visit China between 25-26 April. Early last week, Senator Andre Gattolin asked whether President Hollande "intend to discuss with the issue of human rights in China and in Tibet" with Xi Jinping, the French government responded that "Human Rights form an integral part of the dialogue between China and Tibet."

"No topic will be excluded and all questions will be discussed with candour and mutual respect for each other", responded Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, French Minister for Woman's Rights and the spokeswoman of the government.

At the French lower house, day before Hollande leaves for China, MP Noël Mamere asked the government to raise the issue of rights for the Tibetan people and the release of Lui Xiaobo, the Nobel Laureate who is under detention in China.

In response the French foreign minister Laurant Fabuis said that to find a longlasting solution to the situation inside Tibet there is no other option than for the Chinese authorities to enter into dialogue with the Dalai Lama.

Earlier last week Member of Parliament Jean-Patrick Gille and MP Noël Mamère also wrote an open letter asking the French President "not to exclude the issue of Tibet in the discussions with Chinese authorities during his forthcoming visit to Beijing".

"France, in partnership with the European Union must carry the banner of Tibetan freedom", the letter reads.

It also said that China must allow access to Tibet to everyone, including the media, and "resume the dialogue that China decided to stop",

Another question in the poll, that was carried out between 16-18 April, 92% said that the present condition of human rights and civil liberties in China is "unsatisfactory". When asked about Tibet, the figure jumps up to 94% of the people polled who says the situation is "unsatisfactory".

On the question about the vague of self-immolation in Tibet since 2009, more than 80 percent of the people polled said that they feel "in solidarity with the Tibetans." About 80% were in favour of the French President meeting with the Dalai Lama if he visits France. In April 2010, US President Barack Obama and the Dalai Lama were voted the world's two most popular leaders, according to a poll conducted in six countries by Harris Interactive for France24 and Radio France-Internationale.

The Tibetan spiritual leader was at second place at 75 per cent, followed by the then US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at 62 per cent.

Former Pope Benedict XVI was the seventh most popular leader with 36 per cent support.

During his 37-hour trip to China, the French president is expected to sing a "letter of intention" on nuclear programmes and deals on Airbus and also French public gas and electricity companies.
This story has been read 708 times.

[icy]

French President raises Tibet with Xi

DHARAMSHALA, April 26: French President Francois Hollande, who on Thursday became the first western leader to meet China’s new President Xi Jinping in Beijing, said his talks touched upon the issue of Tibet where as many as 117 known cases of self-immolations have occurred.

President Hollande told a press conference that during his talks with Chinese leaders he raised the issue of Tibet and human rights, with all topics discussed in a "frank and respectful manner."

Euronews quoted President Hollande as saying that the recent self-immolations “created some legitimate emotion.”

“Regarding human rights and democratic principles, they are both part of the dialogue that we are having. It should not be seen as an obligation, we should simply put this issue as it should be: as part of frank and respectful political dialogue.”

On April 24, two young monks from the Taktsang Lhamo Kirti Monastery in Zoege, eastern Tibet, became the latest Tibetans to set themselves on fire demanding freedom and the return of exiled Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Both Lobsang Dawa, 20 and Kunchok Woeser, 22 passed away in their fiery protests.

Prior to President Hollande’s China visit, a survey by a leading French poll house showed that almost 70% of the French people wanted their president to raise the situation of Human Rights and civil liberties with his counterpart. Of that another 66% of the people polled wanted President Hollande to raise his concerns about the situation of Tibetans in China.

The same poll, carried out between April 16-18, showed that 94 per cent of the people deemed the present condition of human rights and civil liberties in Tibet as "unsatisfactory." More than 80 percent of the people polled further said that they feel "in solidarity with the Tibetans" and were in favour of the French President meeting with the Dalai Lama if he visits France.

From Beijing, the French president will travel to China's commercial hub of Shanghai before heading home late Friday.

[icy]

Tibetan Parliament thank French President for raising Tibet with Chinese leaders

DHARAMSHALA, April 30: The Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile yesterday wrote to French President Francois Hollande, thanking him for raising the issue of Tibet and human rights during his recent meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping.

In the letter, Deputy Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel expressed “deep appreciation” to President Hollande on behalf of the Tibetan people for raising the issue of Tibet and human rights with the new leadership of China.

“We remain grateful to you for your support and sympathy for the struggle of the Tibetan people and we look forward to your continued cooperation in the future as well,” Deputy Speaker of the Dharamshala based Tibetan Parliament said.

President Hollande during his visit to China last week became the first western leader to meet President Xi in Beijing.

It was reported he raised the issue of Tibet and the self-immolations in Tibet with Xi. Since 2009, as many as 117 known Tibetans living under China’s rule have set themselves on fire demanding freedom and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile.

President Hollande told reporters in Beijing that he had raised the issue of Tibet and human rights in a "frank and respectful manner” in his meetings with Chinese leaders.

Euronews quoted President Hollande as saying that the recent self-immolations in Tibet “created some legitimate emotion.”

“Regarding human rights and democratic principles, they are both part of the dialogue that we are having. It should not be seen as an obligation, we should simply put this issue as it should be: as part of frank and respectful political dialogue.”

Prior to President Hollande’s China visit, a survey by a leading French poll house showed that almost 70% of the French people wanted their president to raise the situation of human rights and civil liberties with his counterpart. Of that another 66% of the people polled wanted President Hollande to raise his concerns about the situation of Tibetans in China.

[icy]

Exile Tibetan administration calls for Tibet Solidarity Day on May 17

DHARAMSHALA, May 1: The exile Tibetan administration has called for May 17 to be observed as ‘Tibet Solidarity Day’ and appealed for “expressions of solidarity involving people’s elected representatives, local government or holding an activity as deemed appropriate.”

The Dharamshala based Central Tibetan Administration proclaimed the day to symbolise “international community’s solidarity with the aspirations of the Tibetan people who yearn for freedom and continue to stand strong in the face of great adversity.”

Since 2009, as many as 117 Tibetans living under China’s rule have set themselves on fire demanding freedom and the return His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile. Thousands of Tibetans have taken part in peaceful anti-China protests in recent years, many of which have been violently suppressed by Chinese armed forces, leading to the death and arrest of several protesters.

CTA said Tibetans inside Tibet are sending “a clear signal to the world rejecting People’s Republic of China’s policies in Tibet which have led to political repression, cultural assimilation, environmental destruction and economic marginalisation.”

“Now, more than ever before, Tibetan people need to be reassured and given hope that their plight has not been forgotten by the rest of the world,” the exile Tibetan administration said.

May 17 also marks the day when the 11th Panchen Lama Gendhun Choekyi Nyima was disappeared in 1995 at the age of six along with his parents. Despite repeated requests to meet him and know his whereabouts by world leaders, China has refused to divulge any details and instead placed another boy of its choice as the 11th Panchen Lama.

CTA said the fate of Gendhun Choekyi Nyima “symbolises that of many other brave Tibetans who continue to be imprisoned and deprived of their basic human rights.”

“The Central Tibetan Administration therefore calls upon Tibetans and their friends to observe this day with expressions of solidarity involving people’s elected representatives, local government or holding an activity as deemed appropriate,” the release states. “In view of self-immolations, particularly the recent self-immolation by two monks of Ngaba Kirti monastery, all are requested to hold prayers on that same day.”

December 10, 2012 was the last time a Tibet solidarity day was called for by the exile Tibetan administration.

[Ensapa]

It has almost been an entire month that there has been no more further news of any self immolations. Perhaps this is due to the fact that China has did a crackdown on the instigators of self immolations, severing the link between CTA and the monasteries that are 'loyal' to the Dalai Lama. Or perhaps, the CTA realizes that if they do not stop creating the self immolations now, they will be discovered as the instigators of self immolation and they have decided to not create anymore. The last self immolation was in Nepal and not in China, so perhaps the CTA agents that China arrested are real.

[Ensapa]

Oh and, here's one:

Breaking: Tibet burns with another self-immolation, Toll reaches 118
Phayul[Wednesday, May 29, 2013 08:46]


Tenzin Sherab in an undated photo.

DHARAMSHALA, May 29: In reports coming just in, a Tibetan man set himself on fire in Adril region of eastern Tibet protesting China’s occupation and hard-line policies in Tibet.

Tenzin Sherab, 31, carried out his self-immolation protest on May 27. He succumbed to his injuries at the site of his fiery protest.

According to Jampa Younten, a monk living in south India, Tenzin Sherab’s family members and friends came to know about his self-immolation protest only after he had passed away.

“Soon after the protest, Chinese security personnel from Chumar arrived at the site and confiscated Tenzin Sherab’s body,” Younten said. “However, the next day, on May 28, his body was handed over to his family members.”

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.

“We can no longer bear to live under China’s constant torture and repression,” Tenzin Sherab had told his friends.

Preparations are afoot for his cremation, the same source added.

Tenzin Sherab is the son of Dhondup and Choemey and is the eldest among five siblings.

Since 2009, as many as 118 Tibetans living under China’s rule have set themselves on fire demanding freedom and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile.

The Chinese government has responded with even harsher policies, criminalising the self-immolation protests and sentencing scores of people to heavy prison terms on charges of “intentional homicide” for their alleged roles in self-immolation protests. Chinese officials have barred Tibetans from offering prayers and showing solidarity with families of self-immolators and announced the cancellation of development funds to those villages where self-immolations have taken place.

[Gabby Potter]

Although I really respect the faith of these people towards Lord Dorje Shugden, but in my opinion, I really do not support and believe the fact that when we sort of " sacrifice " our lives, it will make things better, I really doubt that way of thinking. Life is very precious, sometimes it's not up to us whether to give it up or not.

[icy]

Another unfortunate news, there is another sacrificing of precious human life recently in Tibet.  This nun if she had used her precious human life to zealously pursue enlightenment, she would have been a tremendous and sustainable benefit to many beings instead of becoming a pawn in the game of politics which has wasted her life in vain. It has saddened me extremely to see even monks and nuns do not hold Dharma in their hearts but sacrifice themselves in this manner for politics. 

The 14th Dalai Lama certainly will not be able to return Tibet/China this life time.  However, since China is adamant that the 14th Dalai Lama has to reincarnate, I am not surprised the 15th Dalai Lama will reincarnate in Tibet/China.  Therefore there is no need to sacrifice any human life to protest for the return of the current Dalai Lama.  The Dalai Lama will eventually have to return to Tibet whether he likes it or not. Self-immolation is a sacrilege!


Tibetan nun sets herself on fire, cries out for Dalai Lama
2015-04-11 10:01

Beijing - A nun set herself on fire while crying out for the Dalai Lama to return to Tibet in the latest in dozens of self-immolations in recent years by Tibetans protesting Beijing's controls over the region, overseas rights groups said.

Yeshi Khando, 47, of Ngangang Nunnery circled Kardze Monastery in Sichuan province and then self-immolated on Wednesday near the police station while shouting slogans including "Tibet needs freedom," London-based Free Tibet said in a statement on Friday.

She also called out "Let His Holiness Return to Tibet" as she was on fire, the group said, a reference to the Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader who has lived for decades in exile in India.

The Washington, DC-based International Campaign for Tibet also reported the immolation, but used a slightly different spelling for the nun's name.

The groups said security personnel and police used extinguishers to put out the flames and took Yeshi Khando away, and that local sources believed she died.

A woman reached at the Ganzi county government denied that any self-immolation happened on Wednesday and hung up. Calls to the county police office rang unanswered. Yeshi Khando's nunnery could not be contacted.

Dozens of Tibetan Buddhist monks and laypeople have set themselves on fire in protest of Beijing's strict controls over the region and their religion and to call for the return of the Dalai Lama, according to the overseas rights groups.

The International Campaign for Tibet says 113 men and 24 women have self-immolated since March 2011, the vast majority of whom have died.

Beijing blames the Dalai Lama and others for inciting the immolations and says it has made vast investments to boost the region's economy and improve the quality of life for Tibetans. The Dalai Lama says he is against all violence.

[Tenzin Malgyur]

So sad to read of news of another person taking her own life by setting herself on fire. This latest victim, a nun. Again, the CTA is keeping quiet instead of advising their citizens against such act. It is so obvious the CTA is very spirited in fanning the flames of hatred towards the Shugden devotees among the Tibetans. They must put an end to this futile waste of human life's already.
 Or they hope to gain the sympathies of the world? Looks to me like they are using their own people for their own agenda.

[Dondrup Shugden]

It is really saddening for nuns and monks to be motivated politically.  Previously monks conduct self immolation and now it is the turn for nuns.

Please HH Dalai Lama put a BAN on self immolation in Tibet, I am sure that the monastic order in Tibet will listen to you.  This is the BAN that needs to be imposed and other BANS that restrict religious freedom be lifted.

[icy]

Another sad news this week in China and this is the 139th self-immolator.  He was 45 years old and left behind 7 children.  Is he a sensible father?  Where is his responsibility? 


Tibetan Dies After Setting Himself on Fire in Protest
By CHRIS BUCKLEY
APRIL 17, 2015

HONG KONG — A man set himself on fire in a heavily Tibetan region of southwest China this week, leaving behind a makeshift shrine that included a photo of the Dalai Lama, international groups reported on Friday. He was the second Tibetan to set himself on fire in a protest in the last two weeks and the 139th within China since the practice began among Tibetans in February 2009.

The man, Nyi Kyab, 45, was a former Buddhist monk and died on Thursday in Ngaba County in Sichuan Province, said Free Tibet, an organization that advocates the self-determination of Tibet. He left behind seven children, said Free Tibet and other groups, citing information from exiled Buddhist monks.

“He had set up an altar on the outside wall of his home, carrying family photographs and pictures of the exiled Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama, the most senior figures of Tibetan Buddhism,” said Free Tibet.

As fire engulfed Nyi Kyab, he called for the Dalai Lama to be allowed back from exile and for the Chinese government to free the Panchen Lama, the second-ranking lama. In 1995, the Chinese government took a boy into custody who had been recognized by the Dalai Lama as the Panchen Lama, and appointed its own choice, whom many Tibetans reject.

Ngaba County, called Aba County in Chinese, is one of the Tibetan areas of China troubled by tension and protest over the Chinese government’s policies, especially controls on Tibetan Buddhism and the campaign against the Dalai Lama and his demands for Tibetan self-determination. The Chinese government laid out those positions in a summary of claims published this week.

“Investigations by China’s public security organs into incidents of self-immolation revealed clearly that they are being manipulated and instigated at the highest level by the Dalai group,” the Chinese summary said.

The Dalai Lama and his supporters adamantly denied any role in the protests.

Last week, a Tibetan Buddhist nun set herself on fire in a Tibetan area of Sichuan Province to protest Chinese rule and to call for the return of the Dalai Lama, who fled into exile in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule in Tibet.