Self-immolation, again, now in Lhasa

[icy]

DHARAMSHALA, February 8: In no let up to the sentencing of Tibetans in connection with the self-immolations protests, another Tibetan was today sentenced to 13 years in jail by a Chinese court.

The sentencing comes even as the United States and international rights groups such as Human Rights Watch have condemned earlier similar court rulings, calling the prosecutions “utterly without credibility.”

According to Chinese state agency Xinhua, the Intermediate People's Court of the Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture convicted Phagpa, 27, of “intentional homicide and inciting split of the state.”

He was found guilty of “indoctrinating” Dolma Kyab, 25, a monk at the Dowa Monastery in Rebkong and “convincing” him to self-immolate to achieve "freedom and independence for the Tibetan ethnic group," the report said.

Phagpa is supposed to have accepted his “mistake” and said that he will not lodge an appeal.

The court ruling further accused Phagpa of propagating ideas related to "Tibetan independence" giving the self-immolators' relatives money, as well as portraits of members of the "Tibetan government-in-exile."

Xinhua earlier said that Dolma Kyab was arrested on November 19 after he was found to have stored gasoline in a hotel room and accused Phagpa of maintaining “close contact with key members of the Tibetan Youth Congress, the exile based largest pro-independence group.

Last month, Chinese courts sentenced a Tibetan Lobsang Kunchok to death with a two-year reprieve and Lobsang Tsering to 10 years on charges of “intentional homicide.” The same day, another court sentenced six Tibetans to varying jail terms of 12 to three years in jail on similar charges.

Following the sentencing, New York based global rights group, Human Rights Watch, said Chinese authorities should “immediately release” Kunchok and Tsering, while noting that their conviction “relied solely on confessions they gave during five months in detention.”

“These prosecutions are utterly without credibility,” said Sophie Richardson, China director. “The Chinese government seems to think it can stop self-immolation by punishing anyone who talks about it. But in pursuing these ‘incitement’ cases, the government compounds the tragedy of these suicide protests.”??

HRW noted that it has documented “endemic use of torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and coercion of Tibetans in detention.”

Earlier this week, Dharamshala based rights group Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy said the court sentencing comes in the backdrop of “relentless crackdown on self-immolation protests including arbitrary arrests, detention, intimidation, monetary inducements, and long prison terms.”

The group pointed out that China’s criminalisation of the self-immolations as “murder” is a “highly condemnable” misuse of legal provisions for fulfilling political objectives.

TCHRD further noted that the “politicised nature of Chinese judiciary allows government and Party officials to interfere in politically-sensitive cases.”

“The Chinese government needs to seriously address the real causes of self-immolation protests; it needs to acknowledge that the burning protests are a direct result of its destructive policies,” the rights group said.

[icy]

Allow Tibetans to express grievances: US tell China

DHARAMSHALA, February 8: Even as China intensified its crackdown on the self-immolation protests in Tibet with the mass detention of 70 Tibetans, the United State called on China to allow Tibetans express their grievances freely.

Speaking to reporters Thursday, US State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland appealed the Chinese leadership to hold substantive dialogue with His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s representatives without preconditions to find a lasting solution to the problem in Tibet.

“We are deeply concerned about the overall deteriorating human rights situation in Tibetan areas, including not only the tragic self-immolations, but also that criminal laws have been used to deal with people who have associated with those people,” Nuland said.

“There are deep grievances within the Tibetan population which are not being addressed openly and through dialogue by the Chinese Government.”

Chinese courts in eastern Tibet have further sentenced several Tibetans to lengthy jail terms, including a death sentence with a two-year reprieve, for their “crimes” in connection with the fiery protests.

Since 2009, as many as 99 Tibetans have set themselves on fire protesting China’s rule and demanding freedom and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile.

Responding to a question, Nuland said that the new US Secretary of State John Kerry in his introductory teleconference call with his Chinese counterpart raised the issue of human rights violations in the country.

“In almost every encounter we have at a senior level with Chinese officials we raise our concerns about human rights in general, about Tibet specifically,” Nuland added.

“We urge the Chinese Government to engage in a substantive dialogue with the Dalai Lama or his representative without preconditions as a means of addressing the grievances that the people of Tibet have and to relieve tensions. And we continue to call on Chinese Government officials to permit Tibetans to express their grievances freely, publicly, and peacefully, without fear of retribution.”

[WisdomBeing]

i just read this:

From Inside the Lotus Sutra: The Sutra of Innumerable Meanings, by Stephen Klick, p. 58:

"The Bodhisattva Gladly Seen By All Living Beings" offered incense, but then realized that it was necessary to totally dedicate himself to this sutra. He "caught fire" which means that he worked tirelessly to benefit the beings around him.

It is unfortunate that occasional misguided students have taken this lesson literally and actually set themselves on fire, either as an "offering" or as way of protesting social injustice.

It was quoted in one of the other forums i participate in and it said that people self-immolate using this scripture from the Lotus Sutra but it is wrongly interpreted as literal and has caused much unnecessary sacrifice.

In these cases, where people misinterpret the teachings and act wrongly, but with right motivation, do they gain anything positive?

[icy]

?"Tibetan protester sets himself on fire in Nepal"

Nepalese policemen rush as a Tibetan monk burns after he set himself on fire in Katmandu, Nepal, Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2013. The Tibetan monk doused himself with gasoline and set himself on fire in Nepal's capital Wednesday in what is believed to be the latest self-immolation to protest Chinese rule in Tibet. Nearly 100 Tibetan monks, nuns and lay people have set themselves on fire in various countries, mostly in ethnic Tibetan areas inside China, since 2009.

[Ensapa]

And again, the sikyong makes the wrong comments on the situation and blames China.

Self-immolations - Ultimate acts of civil disobedience: Sikyong Sangay
Phayul[Thursday, February 14, 2013 17:06]
DHARAMSHALA, February 14: With the number of known cases of self-immolations by Tibetans living under China’s rule reaching 100 earlier this month, the exile Tibetan administration today called on China to stop the deteriorating situation in Tibet.

The Dharamshala based Central Tibetan Administration in a press statement declared that case of Tibet is for the world to answer.

Lobsang Namgyal, a 37-year-old monk of the Kirti Monastery became the latest Tibetan to self-immolate under China’s rule when he set himself on fire near a Chinese police building in the Ngaba region of eastern Tibet on February 3. Lobsang Namgyal raised slogans for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama before succumbing to his injuries at his protest site.

CTA noted that the self-immolations have continued “despite the recent harsh and unlawful sentencing of 8 Tibetans and arrest of family members, for allegedly instigating Tibetans to self-immolation.”

“Though the CTA continues to repeatedly appeal to the Tibetans in Tibet to refrain from such drastic acts, sadly the self-immolations continue,” the exile administration said.

In the statement, Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, the elected head of the Tibetan people said the “ongoing and unprecedented self-immolations by an increasing number of Tibetans in Tibet are the ultimate acts of civil disobedience against China’s failed rule in Tibet.”

“Instead of owning the onus of tragedy in Tibet – a self evident responsibility of its over 60 years of continuous iron-grip rule in Tibet – China relentlessly and irresponsibly accuses His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan leadership of inciting these self-immolations,” Sikyong Sangay said.

The CTA noted that it had earlier called on China to provide unfettered access to Tibet for the global media, diplomats and international NGOs in order to “unveil the truth of the matter in Tibet.”

Sikyong Sangay, who is currently on an official trip to the United States, further called on national governments and international agencies, including the United Nations, to “use their good offices and actively engage with China to stop the deteriorating situation in Tibet by addressing the genuine grievances of the Tibetans.”

“Concrete steps that the leaders of the world need to take immediately are to send Ms Navi Pillay of UNHCR on a visit to Tibet and investigate the real causes of self immolations, and convene a meeting to discuss and address the crisis in Tibet.”

[Ensapa]

And now, new news on this.

Breaking: Two Tibetan teenagers burn selves to death
Phayul[Wednesday, February 20, 2013 15:50]


Tibetan self-immolator Rinchen, 17, in an undated photo.

DHARAMSHALA, February 20: Two Tibetan teenagers set themselves on fire in Kyangtsa region of Zoege, eastern Tibet on February 19, protesting China’s continued occupation and repressive policies in Tibet.

Rinchen, 17 and Sonam Dhargey, 18 have succumbed to their burns.

According to the exile base of Kirti Monastery in Dharamshala, the two teenagers carried out their fiery protest at around 9:30 pm (local time) yesterday.

“It is not currently known what slogans they raised during the protest,” Kirti Monastery in a release said.

“The families of the two teenagers are in possession of their bodies and are hoping to carry out their final rites without any interference from the Chinese authorities.”

Rinchen's parents are Dhondup Tsering and late Aadon. Sonam Dhargye's parents are Tsering Dhondup and Takho.

Confirming the reports, the Dharamshala based Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy today said both Rinchen and Sonam Dhargye attended the local primary school in Kyangtsa.

“After finishing his primary school, Rinchen attended another school in Wenchuan for a few years and moved to Qinghai, where he worked,” TCHRD said. “At the time of self-immolation, Rinchen was on his Losar (New Year) holiday visiting his family in Kyangtsa.”

With the latest self-immolations, as many as 104 known Tibetans living under China’s rule have now set themselves on fire demanding freedom and the return of the Dalai Lama from exile. Eight fiery protests have already taken place inside Tibet since the beginning of the new year, in addition to Tibetan monk Drupchen Tsering's self-immolation protest in Kathmandu, Nepal on February 13.

The global rights group Human Rights Watch earlier this month said the self-immolations in Tibet are taking place in the context of the Chinese government’s "long-standing repressive policies in the Tibetan areas that have seen severe restrictions on Tibetans’ rights.”

“To date there has still been no concerted effort from the Chinese government to address the underlying grievances in Tibet, which have contributed to the rising number of self-immolations by Tibetans,” HRW said.

[icy]

DHARAMSHALA, February 20: A year after his self-immolation protest against China’s continued occupation of Tibet, Sonam Rabyang, a Tibetan monk, is reportedly alive but has lost both his legs and is placed under strict surveillance by Chinese authorities.

According to the Dharamshala based Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, Sonam Rabyang had both of his legs amputated and is currently recovering at his home in Yuthung Village of Lab region in Tridu, eastern Tibet.

Citing a relative living in exile, who wished to be unnamed, TCHRD said Sonam Rabyang was first taken to an army hospital in the provincial capital of Xining where three months later his legs were amputated.

“Sonam Rabyang is now being cared for by his family members under strict surveillance and restriction,” TCHRD said citing the same source. “He is not allowed to communicate through his phone without the knowledge of the local authorities.”

Sonam Rabyang, 42, a monk from the Lab Monastery set himself on fire on February 8, 2012 at Triwang town, capital of Tridu in Yulshul.

Eyewitnesses had reported of that Sonam Rabyang was in serious condition when he was taken away by Chinese security personnel. For over a year, no information on his whereabouts or condition was available.

Since 2009, as many as 102 known Tibetans living under China’s rule have set themselves on fire protesting Chinese rule and demanding freedom and return of the Dalai Lama from exile. While an overwhelming majority of the self-immolators have passed away, a surviving few have reportedly suffered amputations of all limbs, verbal abuse, interrogations, and maltreatment by doctors and Chinese officials at the hospitals.

Last month, the Tibet Policy Institute, a think tank affiliated with the exile Tibetan administration in a white paper on the crisis in Tibet noted that the self-immolations were a "stark judgment of Chinese rule in Tibet."

The report titled, Why Tibet is Burning? said China’s policies of political repression, cultural assimilation, social discrimination, environment destruction, economic marginalisation were the principle reasons for Tibet’s fiery protests.

[Ensapa]

DHARAMSHALA, February 20: A year after his self-immolation protest against China’s continued occupation of Tibet, Sonam Rabyang, a Tibetan monk, is reportedly alive but has lost both his legs and is placed under strict surveillance by Chinese authorities.

According to the Dharamshala based Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, Sonam Rabyang had both of his legs amputated and is currently recovering at his home in Yuthung Village of Lab region in Tridu, eastern Tibet.

Citing a relative living in exile, who wished to be unnamed, TCHRD said Sonam Rabyang was first taken to an army hospital in the provincial capital of Xining where three months later his legs were amputated.

“Sonam Rabyang is now being cared for by his family members under strict surveillance and restriction,” TCHRD said citing the same source. “He is not allowed to communicate through his phone without the knowledge of the local authorities.”

Sonam Rabyang, 42, a monk from the Lab Monastery set himself on fire on February 8, 2012 at Triwang town, capital of Tridu in Yulshul.

Eyewitnesses had reported of that Sonam Rabyang was in serious condition when he was taken away by Chinese security personnel. For over a year, no information on his whereabouts or condition was available.

Since 2009, as many as 102 known Tibetans living under China’s rule have set themselves on fire protesting Chinese rule and demanding freedom and return of the Dalai Lama from exile. While an overwhelming majority of the self-immolators have passed away, a surviving few have reportedly suffered amputations of all limbs, verbal abuse, interrogations, and maltreatment by doctors and Chinese officials at the hospitals.

Last month, the Tibet Policy Institute, a think tank affiliated with the exile Tibetan administration in a white paper on the crisis in Tibet noted that the self-immolations were a "stark judgment of Chinese rule in Tibet."

The report titled, Why Tibet is Burning? said China’s policies of political repression, cultural assimilation, social discrimination, environment destruction, economic marginalisation were the principle reasons for Tibet’s fiery protests.

If I am not mistaken, this has to be from phayul and they are reporting crap about the self immolations again. They are always trying to make China look bad. The amputation of limbs done on the self immolators is to prevent the wounds from getting septic and causing blood poisoning to the victims. Here in this report, they make it sound like it is some torture. China could easily give the self immolators a lethal injection and put them to death instead of treating them for free but yet look at how phayul reports them. Are the Tibetans such an ungrateful and stupid bunch that they cannot see what is happening when blinded by hatred and desire? If CTA wants to be a real government, stop all the sob stories and report justly, then at least that will create the karma for them to be respected as a real government.

[icy]

DHARAMSHALA, February 24: Reports are coming in of yet another self-immolation in Tibet today in protest against China’s rule.

Phagmo Dhondup, a Tibetan man aged in his 20s, set himself on fire in the ancient Jhakhyung Monastery in Palung region of Tshoshar, eastern Tibet.

According to Sonam, a Tibetan living in Swiss, Phagmo Dhondup carried out his protest within the monastery premises at around 8 pm (local time).

“The monks at the Monastery have rushed Phagmo Dhondup to a nearby hospital where he is currently undergoing treatment,” Sonam told Phayul.

“At the Monastery, monks are holding a prayer service for Phagmo Dhondup.”

No additional information on his condition as well as his fiery protest is available at the time of filing this report.

Local Chinese authorities immediately stepped up security following the self-immolation and dispatched a large contingent of security personnel at Monastery, the same source said.

Phagmo Dhondup is a native of Tsaphuk town of Palung region.

He is survived by father Shawo and a sibling.

Since 2009, as many as 105 known Tibetans living under China’s rule have set themselves on fire demanding freedom and the return of the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Nine self-immolations have already taken place inside Tibet since the beginning of the new year, in addition to Tibetan monk Drupchen Tsering's self-immolation protest in Kathmandu, Nepal on February 13.

The Chinese government has responded to the protests with a slew of measures resulting in a further clampdown on the fundamental rights and freedom of the Tibetan people.

Local officials have been given stern orders “to punish self-immolators and their families; even those who had offered condolences and prayers to the bereaved family members and relatives.”

China has criminalised the self-immolations and recently sentenced a Tibetan to death with a two year reprieve and several others to lengthy jail terms of up to 13 years on charges of “instigating” and “abetting” the protests.

In a statement released earlier this month, Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, the elected head of the Tibetan people noted that the unprecedented self-immolations by an increasing number of Tibetans are the “ultimate acts of civil disobedience against China’s failed rule in Tibet.”

“Concrete steps that the leaders of the world need to take immediately are to send Ms Navi Pillay of UNHCR on a visit to Tibet and investigate the real causes of self immolations, and convene a meeting to discuss and address the crisis in Tibet,” Sikyong Sangay said.

[icy]

DHARAMSHALA, February 20: The exile Tibetan administration today held a two-hour prayer service at the Tsug-la Khang, the main temple in Dharamshala as part of a worldwide prayer service, the first since the toll of Tibet self-immolations crossed the tragic milestone of 100 earlier this month.

The Central Tibetan Administration earlier urged Tibetans all over the world to organise special prayer services on February 20 to “express solidarity with all those Tibetans who have self-immolated and those suffering torture and imprisonment.”

In the exile headquarters of Dharamshala, the special prayer service was presided over by Thomthog Rinpoche, the Abbot of Namgyal Monastery.

Thousands of Tibetans and supporters, including the Tibetan Chief Justice Commissioners, Speaker Penpa Tsering, Kalons, and Tibetan MPs attended the service.

Special prayers were also offered for the recent Tibetan self-immolators Lobsang Namgyal, 37; Drugpa Khar, 26; Druptse, 25; Namlha Tsering, 47; Rinchen, 17 and Sonam Dhargey, 18.

Lobsang Namgyal, a monk at the Kirti Monastery in Ngaba, eastern Tibet became the 100th Tibetan living under China’s rule to self-immolate when he set himself ablaze near the local police building in Zoege on February 3. He passed away at the scene of his protest.

According to eyewitnesses, Lobsang Namgyal, engulfed in flames, shouted slogans for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

On February 13, exactly 100 years since His Holiness the 13th Dalai Lama declared the Tibetan Proclamation of Independence, two Tibetans, on either side of the Himalayas, torched themselves.

Drugpa Khar, a father of three set himself on fire in Amchok region of eastern Tibet and Druptse, a monk set himself ablaze near the holy stupa of Boudhanath in the heart of Nepalese capital city Kathmandu. Both of them succumbed to their injuries.

Namlha Tsering, a father of four, passed away in his fiery protest on a busy street outside a cinema hall on February 17 in Labrang region of eastern Tibet.

The two Tibetan teenagers, Rinchen and Sonam Dhargey, set themselves on fire in Kyangtsa region of Zoege, eastern Tibet on February 19. Both of them succumbed to their injuries.

Addressing the prayer service, Kalon Dolma Gyari of the Department of Home, described the self-immolations as "most tragic” and urged the international community to press China to allow independent fact-finding missions and international media to visit Tibet.

"Instead of owning up to the crisis inside Tibet, the Chinese government is baselessly pointing fingers at His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration for instigating the protests,” Kalon Gyari said.

“We maintain utmost transparency in our work and invite the Chinese government to prove its allegations.”

The Kashag (cabinet) earlier noted that despite its repeated appeals not to resort to drastic actions, since 2009, over 104 Tibetans have set themselves on fire protesting China’s continued occupation and repression and demanding freedom and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile.

[icy]

Tsezung Kyab's body burns outside the Shitsang Monastery in Lhuchu, eastern Tibet, after he set himself on fire protesting China's rule on February 25, 2013.
DHARAMSHALA, February 25: In more alarming reports coming out of Tibet, another Tibetan, who is a close relative of a Tibetan self-immolator, set himself on fire today protesting China’s continued occupation of Tibet.

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 cousin Pema Dorjee, 23, passed away in his self-immolation protest on December 8, 2012.

At the time of filing this report, additional details on today’s protest are awaited.

This is the second self-immolation protest in Tibet in as many days. Yesterday, Phagmo Dhondup, a Tibetan in his 20’s set himself ablaze near the Jhakhyung Monastery in Palung region of eastern Tibet. His condition and whereabouts are not known.

Today is Choenga Choepa (Butter Lamp Festival), the 15th day of the first month of Tibetan new year considered auspicious by Tibetans for performing religious rituals.

According to Lhamo Kyab, a Tibetan living in Dharamshala, Tsezung Kyab is the first cousin of Tibetan self-immolator Pema Dorjee.

“Tsezung Kyab made the ultimate sacrifice for Tibet little more than two months after his cousin Pema Dorjee passed away in his fiery protest at almost the same place,” Lhamo said. “Their mothers are real sisters.”


Tibetan self-immolator Tsezung Kyab, February 25, 2013..
In a photo sent to Phayul by the same source, the body of Tsezung Kyab can be seen engulfed in towering flames. Despite strict government orders against public display of solidarity with the self-immolators, several people can be seen surrounding the deceased’s body.

Pema Dorjee set himself on fire on December 8, 2012 outside the Shitsang Monastery raising slogans for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, independence of Tibet, unity among Tibetans and for the land of Tibet to be ruled by Tibetans.

Timing his protest on Gaden Ngamchoe, the day marked as the Parinirvana of Je Tsongkhapa, the great 14th century Tibetan Buddhist master, a large number of gathered Tibetans had witnessed his protest.

The unprecedented wave of Tibet self-immolations has witnessed 106 Tibetans living under China’s rule set themselves on fire since 2009. The self-immolators have demanded the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile and freedom in Tibet.

[icy]

Breaking: Monk torches self in Ngaba, Toll rises to 107
Phayul[Tuesday, February 26, 2013 16:16]
DHARAMSHALA, February 26: In confirmed reports coming out of Tibet, a monk set himself on fire yesterday in Ngaba region of eastern Tibet in protest against China’s continued occupation of Tibet.

Sangdag, a monk of the Dhiphu Monastery, set himself ablaze on a main road in Ngaba district at around 10 am (local time).

According to the exile base of Kirti Monastery in Dharamshala, Sangdag’s present condition is unknown.

“Soon after Sangdag carried out his fiery protest, Chinese security personnel arrived at the scene and doused the flames on his body,” Kirti Monastery said in a release today. “He was taken a hospital in Ngaba but shortly after that the Chinese police bundled him away to another place.”

The release added that details of Sangdag’s self-immolation protest and his current condition and whereabouts are not available.

The Dhiphu Gon Gelek Terzoe Ling Monastery, founded by Dhiphu Choeje, currently has around 500 monks.

Also yesterday, another Tibetan, Tsezung Kyab, 27, passed away in his self-immolation protest in front of the Shitsang Monastery in Luchu region of eastern Tibet. The large number of Tibetans who were taking part in religious rituals at the Monastery surrounded Tsezung Kyab’s body and rescued it from falling into the hands of Chinese security personnel.

Since 2009, as many as 107 known Tibetans living under China’s rule have self-immolated demanding the return of Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile and freedom in Tibet.

11 Tibetans have self-immolated since the beginning of this year with eight of those fiery protests occurring in February.

Last month, the Tibet Policy Institute, a think tank affiliated with the exile Tibetan administration in a white paper on the crisis in Tibet noted that the self-immolations were a "stark judgment of Chinese rule in Tibet."

The report titled, Why Tibet is Burning? said China’s policies of political repression, cultural assimilation, social discrimination, environment destruction, economic marginalisation were the principle reasons for Tibet’s fiery protests.

[icy]

China arrests five more Tibetans on self-immolation charges
Phayul[Wednesday, February 27, 2013 23:36]
DHARAMSHALA, February 27: Chinese police in eastern Tibet have arrested five more Tibetans for the alleged roles in convincing three people to set themselves on fire.

Those arrested have been identified as Dhargey, Samten, Tashi Gyatso, Tenpei Gyalpo, and Tensang.

Chinese state news agency Xinhua today said that one of the main suspects “acted under the instructions” of members of the Tibetan Youth Congress, the largest pro-independence group in exile and journalists of the US based broadcaster, Voice of America.

“After each incident, Karong Takchen (Dhargey) and other suspects were on the spot to take photos and send them abroad,” the report cited the police as saying.

The five arrested have been blamed for “recruiting and encouraging” the self-immolation protests of Dorjee Rinchen, Thubwang Kyab, and Gonpo Tsering.

However, on January 31, a Chinese court in eastern Tibet had already sentenced six Tibetans to heavy jail terms of up to 12 years for their alleged roles in Dorjee Rinchen’s self-immolation protest.

Dorjee Rinchen, 57, set himself on fire in Labrang region of eastern Tibet on October 23, 2012. He carried out his protest near the local PLA recruiting center in Labrang and succumbed to his injuries at the scene.

Thubwang Kyab, 23, torched his body on the main street of Sangkog town in Sangchu on October 26, 2012 protesting China’s continued occupation of Tibet.

Gonpo Tsering, 19, self-immolated in Lushoe village in Tsoe region of eastern Tibet on November 10, 2012 raising slogans demanding freedom for Tibetans and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

VoA has already dismissed China’s charges of its involvement in the self-immolations, calling them “totally false” and “absurd.” VoA Director David Ensor further called on Chinese official news agencies to “retract” their stories linking the US based broadcaster to the fiery protests.

TYC has also rejected China’s allegations as “baseless and fallacious” and instead called on the Chinese leaders to pay heed to the demands of the self-immolators.

Earlier this month, Chinese authorities in the Malho region of Tibet arrested 70 “criminal suspects” in connection with a “string of self-immolations that have occurred since November 2012.” Several other Tibetans have also been arrested on similar charges.

Dharamshala based rights group Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy said China’s criminalisation of the self-immolations as “murder” is a “highly condemnable” misuse of legal provisions for fulfilling political objectives.

“The Chinese government needs to seriously address the real causes of self-immolation protests; it needs to acknowledge that the burning protests are a direct result of its destructive policies,” TCHRD said.

The United Nations, European Union, the United States, Canada, and United Kingdom have issued strong public statements blaming China’s policies for exacerbating the situation in Tibet and urged Beijing to address the grievances of the Tibetan people.

[Ensapa]

Another one in Nepal. The self immolation bug seems to have reached Nepal too. Note that the report is meant to provoke sympathy for the self immolator and the Tibetans.

Nepali police arrest four Tibetans, Continue to hold Druptse’s body
Phayul[Thursday, February 28, 2013 23:38]


Tibetan self-immolator Drupchen Tsering in an undated photo.

DHARAMSHALA, February 28: Four Tibetans, including two elderly women, were arrested yesterday in Kathmandu by Nepali police on unknown charges.

The arrests came exactly two weeks after a Tibetan monk, Drupchen Tsering (Druptse) set himself on fire protesting China’s occupation of Tibet in the Nepali capital on February 13. He passed away at a local hospital hours after his protest.

Nepali authorities, despite repeated appeals by local Tibetans, are still holding the body.

The four Tibetans, identified as Sonam Dhondup, 35, Jigme, 35, Tenzin Yangchen, 60, and Tsering, 65, were arrested near the hospital.

Sources tell Phayul that the four were shifted to the Hanumandhoka prison, the biggest in the city, earlier today.

“They could well be kept in custody for no plausible crime until March 10, the Tibetan National Uprising Day,” a Tibetan activist in Kathmandu who didn’t wish to be named said.

The same source added that the situation in the city is “extremely tense” and the area near the hospital where Druptse’s body is being kept has been turned into a fortress.

“Fears over the arrest of local Tibetan leaders and activists over the next few days is very real,” the source said.

Nepalese authorities have maintained that Druptse’s body can legally be handed over only to his parents, family members related in blood or official diplomatic representatives. If these options are not met within 35 days, authorities say they will have legal right over the body.

Druptse had only in January escaped from Tibet and was staying in Kathmandu.

Moments before setting himself on fire near the holy Boudhanath stupa, Druptse had expressed his love for the “beautiful land” of Tibet to a foreigner.

The foreigner, speaking to Dharamshala based rights group, Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy later recalled that Druptse was “very calm.”

“We arrived at Galleria cafe in Boudanath around 8:15 am. We were to have our breakfast, when a young Tibetan guy, probably between 20-25 years old, came forward to speak to us. He then spoke about Tibet and said that it is a beautiful land and he loved it so much,” said the eyewitness.

Before Durptse left the cafe, he discreetly took out a lighter and asked the eyewitness to take his pictures.

The eyewitness, who had no idea that Druptse was going to self-immolate, said that although “everything happened so fast, but he was very calm."

"I heard a large noise, of people screaming and running away. He was running to the right, engulfed in flames. He didn't scream. The moment lasted around three minutes. Soon, people took out their jackets and sweaters to put out the fire.”

Druptse, 25, had doused his body with gasoline before setting himself ablaze. He passed away on the same day after suffering 96 percent burns.

Druptse is survived by his mother Tselha and father Sangnag Tenzin, who is a reincarnated lama. He is a native of Gyalchung village in Nupsur town of Serta, eastern Tibet.

Druptse earlier told his friends and relatives that he had not been able to do anything for the Tibetan caus

[beggar]

Wow, I've just realised that this thread has reached 10 pages.

I've had a read through all the news reports that you've all kindly shared here and what strikes me most is that there is hardly any sound from the Tibetan exiled community or government. Why do they have nothing to say on the subject? The self-immolators are doing all this for the sake of getting their country back - this is therefore for the "benefit" of the exiled Tibetan community too  (more so with these immolations happening within Nepal now). So why have the Dalai Lama and CTA remained so silent on the issue?

Or are they actually glad that these immolations are happening? That there is so much "sacrifice" on their behalf in defiance towards China? Are they perhaps encouraging it by remaining silent?

Surely acts like these are not in accordance with the Dharma - so why does that Dalai Lama not say anything to his people? All it would take is one line from him, to say that engaging in acts like these would be to break samaya with their spiritual leader (himself). The Tibetans would surely listen to this out of such reverence for the Dalai Lama. To engage in the practice of Dorje Shugden is to break samaya, but to kill oneself does not? Why is there so much upheaval over issues like the karmapa and Dorje Shugden, but only silence after over 100 people have set themselves on fire? Does the Dalai Lama and the CTA not worry that their own people are killing themselves? And if so, why are they not doing anything to try to stop it, even as there is astounding evidence that this 'trend' is spreading outwards out of China and into their own exiled communities?