MARTYRS

                              110 Martyrs

For Buddhists taking life – including your own – is a fundamental and forbidden negative action. So why are young Tibetan monks and nuns now turning to this unthinkable form of giving up one’s life? These Youth of Tibet in the prime of life are resorting to the ultimate act of frustration and despair. The sacrifices of these warriors clearly exemplify that no amount of brainwashing or propaganda of “development” has actually penetrated the Tibetan people. So long as the occupation of Tibet persists so will the resistance against it by the Tibetan people. CLICK TO READ MORE.

Kelsang Kyi

Date : March 24, 2013

Protest location: Jonang monastery in Zamthang in Eastern Tibet at 3:30 pm (local time).

Age: 30 Years old

Current where about: In an apparent protest against China’s continuing occupation of Tibet. Thirty-year-old Kalsang  Kyi, a mother of four has set herself ablaze protesting near Jonang monastery in Zamthang in Eastern Tibet at 3:30 pm (local time).“The local Tibetans carried her charred body inside the monastery premises to prevent it from falling into the hands of Chinese security personnel,’ said Tsangyang Gyatso, an exile Tibetan who has close contacts in the region.Kal Kyi had died from injuries. Kyi is survived by her husband, Gyepo, and their four children.

Lobsang Thogme

Date: March 16, 2013
Protest location: Ngaba (Chinese: Aba) Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan
Age: 28
Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Info: A 28-year old Kirti monk called Lobsang Thogme set fire to himself and died on Saturday, March 16, the fifth anniversary of a protest in Ngaba (Chinese: Aba), eastern Tibet, in which armed police fired into an unarmed crowd. He is the third Kirti monk to set fire to himself on the anniversary of the crackdown in 2008.

In a translation from the Tibetan, the Kirti monks in exile said: “Before reaching the gate, he fell to the ground. By that time, many monks and laypeople reached the spot, and he was taken to the county hospital, but passed away soon after. It is not known what he shouted during his protest. On arrival at the hospital, a large force of police and soldiers came there and forcibly took possession of his remains, which they then took to the prefecture headquarters at Barkham(Chinese: Markam).”

Kunchok Wangmo

Date: March 13, 2013
Protest location: Ngaba (Chinese: Aba) Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan
Age: 31
Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Info: News has just emerged of the self-immolation on March 13 of a Tibetan woman called Kunchok Wangmo, aged 31, in Dzoge (Chinese: Ruo’ergai) in Ngaba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture. Her husband called Kunchok Wangmo was detained in Dzoge, Ngaba and his whereabouts is unknown. Kunchok Wangmo’s body was taken away by troops immediately after her self-immolation.

Sangdag

Date: February 25, 2013
Protest location: On a road which is to the south of Ngaba (Chinese: Aba) Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan
Age: Unknown
Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Unknown

Info: On February 25, 2013, a monk called Sangdag set fire to himself around 10:00am on a road which is to the south of Ngaba town. Sangdag was from Dowa village in Drotsig Shang, Ngaba Dzong, Ngaba prefecture in Sichuan province and was a monk from the Diphu monastery (Sakya school) in Ngaba Dzong.

Tsesung Kyab

Date: February 25, 2013
Protest location: Shitsang Gonsar monastery in Luchu County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Gansu province
Age: Late twenties
Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Info: Tsesung Kyab set fire to himself on February 25 in front of the main temple of Shitsang Gonsar monastery in Luchu. Harrowing images received from inside Tibet today depict Tsesung Kyab ablaze outside the temple as pilgrims look on. Many Tibetans were at the monastery for a prayer ceremony and ritual in which monks carry the Buddha’s statue and circumambulate the monastery. The images do not depict police attempting to extinguish the flames although, according to Tibetan exile sources, there was a police presence at the monastery. According to the same sources, his body was taken to his home in Choekhor village for prayers

Martyr Phagmo Dundrup

Date: February 24, 2013

Protest location: Chachung monastery in Tsoshar Prefecture in Qinghai province

Age: Early twenties
Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Info: Phagmo Dundrup self-immolated on February 24 evening when hundreds of Tibetans were present at the Chachung monastery, an important and ancient Gelugpa monastery, for a traditional prayer ceremony and presentation of butter-lamps of the Buddha and other deities. According to information from Tibetan sources in exile, monks tried to extinguish the flames after Phagmo Dondrup set himself ablaze. The monks took him to the hospital but he passed away last night in a hospital in Xining.

Martyr Rinchen

Date: February 19, 2013
Protest location: Dzoge township, Ngaba county, eastern Tibet
Age: 17
Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Info: Rinchen, 17 years old Tibetan, died February 19 after setting himself on fire in Ngaba. He was accompanied by Sonam Dhargye, 18 years, who also set himself on fire in protest against the Chinese government in Dzoge township, Ngaba county, eastern Tibet around 9.30pm (local time).
According to the same sources, the families were able to recover their bodies. Rinchen and Sonam both went primary school in Kyangtsa township. Rinchen had been working away from home and returned for the Tibetan New Year (Losar) holiday.

Martyr Sonam Dhargye

Date: February 19, 2013
Protest location: Dzoge township, Ngaba county, eastern Tibet
Age: 18
Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Unknown

Info: Rinchen, 17 years old Tibetan, died February 19 after setting himself on fire in Ngaba. He was accompanied by Sonam Dhargye, 18 years, who also set himself on fire in protest against the Chinese government in Dzoge township, Ngaba county, eastern Tibet around 9.30pm (local time).

According to the same sources, the families were able to recover their bodies. Rinchen and Sonam both went primary school in Kyangtsa township. Rinchen had been working away from home and returned for the Tibetan New Year (Losar) holiday.

Martyr Namlha Tsering

Date: February 17, 2013
Protest location: Labrang, Gansu (the Tibetan area of Amdo)
Age: 49
Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Unknown

Info: A 49-year old Tibetan man called Namlha Tsering set himself on fire today in the main street of Labrang, Gansu (the Tibetan area of Amdo), which is not far from Labrang monastery. Images emerged showing a man huddled on the road amidst traffic with his body ablaze. Chinese police and paramilitary arrived quickly on the scene and removed Namlha Tsering. It is not yet known whether he is still alive.

Martyr Drugpa Khar

Date: February 13, 2013
Protest location: Amchok town in Sangchu (Xiahe) county in Kanlho (Gannan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu
Age: Twenties
Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Info: Drugpa Khar, who was in his twenties, doused himself in gasoline and set himself on fire in Amchok town in Sangchu (Xiahe) county in Kanlho (Gannan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu, on the third day of Tibetan New Year (February 13), according to Tibetan sources in exile and Radio Free Asia’s Tibetan language service.

Drugpa Khar was a father of three children aged between one year old and six. He was born in Lushu Kyi village in Tsoe, Kanlho, theTibetan area of Amdo.

Martyr Lobsang Namgyal

Date: February 3, 2013
Protest location: Outside the Public Security Bureau of Dzorge (Chinese: Ruergai/Zoige) County in Ngaba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province
Age: Mid-thirties
Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Info: Lobsang Namgyal had been a monk at Kirti monastery in Ngaba, his ashes have not been returned to his family, according to the monks.

Lobsang Namgyal was known as an exceptional student at Kirti monastery who had been tipped to study for the highest qualification in Tibetan Buddhism, a Geshe degree. “He was regarded as a model for a new generation of students at Kirti,” the Kirti monks in exile said in a statement in Tibetan.

Martyr Konchok Kyab

Date: January 22, 2013
Protest location: Bora Shang, Sangchu Dzong or Labrang, Gannan prefecture in Gansu province
Age: 23
Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Info: Konchok Kyab [also known as Konba], age 23 set fire to himself around noon on January 22 to protest China’s policy on Tibet and he passed away after the incident. Konchok Kyab set fire to himself between the local moanstery and Bora Shang, Konchok Kyab was from the Gyara village in Bogtsa unit in Bora Shang, Sangchu Dzong, Gannan prefecture in Gansu province.

Martyr Tsering

Date: January 18, 2013
Protest location: Drachen village, Marthong county, Ngaba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan province
Age: Twenties
Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Info: A man in his twenties who has been named as Tsering set himself on fire in Drachen village, Marthong county, Ngaba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan province. He passed away at the scene and his body was taken away by Chinese police, according to Tibetan exile sources. He is survived by his wife and two children.

Martyr Tsering Tashi

Date: January 12, 2013
Protest location: Main street of Amchok township, Sangchu (Chinese: Xiahe) county, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu province (the traditional Kham area of Tibet)
Age: 22
Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Info: Following Tsering Tashi’s self-immolation in the main street of Amchok township on January 12, Chinese police and Public Security Bureau officials arrived in several vehicles. They barred the monks of Amchok monastery and local lay Tibetans from offering prayers and ordered Tsering Tashi’s family members to cremate the body as soon as possible. When the family initially said that they needed to perform the customary religious rituals for a death, they were threatened and told that they would be responsible for the consequences if they refused.

Tsering Tashi was married to Yumtso Kyi and is survived by his wife, parents and two sisters. He was described by Tibetans who knew him as “good-natured and polite” with a keen passion for horses and horse racing.

Wangchen Kyi

Date: December 9, 2012
Protest location: Dokarmo nomadic area of Tsekhog (Chinese: Zeku) county in Malho (Chinese: Huangnan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai (the Tibetan area of Amdo)
Age: 17
Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Info: Seventeen year old student Wangchen Kyi died after setting fire to herself at around 8 pm in the evening on December 9 in the Dokarmo nomadic area of Tsekhog (Chinese: Zeku) county in Malho (Chinese: Huangnan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai (the Tibetan area of Amdo. Wangchen Kyi called for the long life of the Dalai Lama and of the Tibetan people as she set herself ablaze, according to reports from exile Tibetans in contact with people in the area.

Kunchok Pelgye

Date: December 8, 2012
Protest location: Taktsang Lhamo Kirti monastery in Dzoege, in Ngaba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan (the Tibetan area of Amdo)
Age: 24
Monastery: Taktsang Lhamo monastery
Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Info: 24-year old monk Kunchok Pelgye set himself on fire outside the main assembly hall of the Taktsang Lhamo Kirti monastery in Dzoege, in Ngaba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan (the Tibetan area of Amdo).

Kirti monks in exile told ICT: “As he self-immolated, monks present gathered around him in shock and began to recite a prayer that is usually said in Kirti Rinpoche’s honor. His remains were carried back to his room in the monastery, and the hundreds of monks present continued to chant prayers dedicated to him.”

Pema Dorjee  Age 23

Date: December 8, 2012

Protest location: Close to the main assembly hall of Shitsang Garser monastery in Luchu (Chinese: Luqu) in Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu province.
Age: 23
Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Info: Pema Dorjee lived around 30 kilometers from the monastery and had gone there to pray at the time of the anniversary of Tsongkhapa’s passing. At the time of his self-immolation there were many people at the monastery.

Pema Dorjee shouted that the Dalai Lama should be allowed to return to Tibet, and called for the unity of the Tibetan people. According to Tibetan exile sources, Pema Dorjee left his photos and identity card with his motorbike before his self-immolation.

Lobsang Gendun  Age 29

Lobsang Gendun, a 29-year-old Tibetan monk self-immolated in Golog Pema Dzong at around 7:45 pm (local time). He succumbed to his injuries at the site of his protest.

Tsangyang Gyatso, an exiled Tibetan told Phayul that Lobsang Gendun was a monk at the Penag Kadak Troedreling Monastery in Seley Thang region of Golog Pema Dzong.

“According to eyewitnesses, Lobsang Gendun had his hands clasped in prayers as he raised slogans while engulfed in flames,” Tsangyang said. “He walked a few steps towards a busy road intersection and then fell to the ground.”

Sungdue Kyab  Age 29

According to exile sources, a young Tibetan man, identified as Sungdue Kyab, set himself ablaze in Bora town of Sangchu, Labrang Tashikhyil region of eastern Tibet. Sungdue Kyab reportedly carried out his self-immolation protest in the afternoon today on the main street in Bora town near the Bora Monastery. Soon after he set himself on fire, Chinese security personnel arrived at the site of his protest, doused the flames and bundled him away. He is believed to have survived his protest. According to eyewitnesses, Sungdue Kyab was alive when Chinese security personnel took him away, reportedly to a hospital in Tsoe.

Kunchok Kyab  Age 29

DHARAMSHALA, November 30: In reports just in, a Tibetan man today set himself on fire in Shagdom region on Ngaba, eastern Tibet in an apparent protest against China’s occupation of Tibet. The Tibetan man has been identified as Kunchok Kyab, 29, from Akyi region of Zoegey in Ngaba.  According to the exile base of Kirti Monastery in Dharamshala, the situation in the region, at the time of filing this report, is being described as ‘very tense’ with fears over eruption of major protests in the region. “At around 9 am (local time) Kunchok Kyab set himself on fire near a gas station in the Shagdom region of Ngaba,” Kirti Monastery said in a release. “Shortly afterwards, Chinese security personnel arrived at the site and bundled him away after dousing the fire.” “He was taken straight to regional headquarters of Barkham and it is not yet known whether he is dead or alive.”

Tsering Namgyal  Age 21

Sources have identified the Tibetan as Tsering Namgyal, 31, a father of two, from Zamtsa Lotso Dewa region of Luchu. “Tsering Namgyal set himself on fire near the local Chinese government office in Luchu earlier today for the cause of Tibet,” Sonam, a Tibetan monk living in south India told Phayul, citing sources in the region. “Tsering Namgyal passed in his fiery protest.” Further details on the self-immolation protest are not available at the time of filing this report.

Wangde Khar Age 21

Sources have identified the Tibetan man as Wangdhen Khar, 21 years of age. “Martyr Wande Khar set himself on fire on Wednesday, November 28 at around 7 pm (local time) in Tsoe region of Kanlho, eastern Tibet,” Zoegey Kangtsa Jampa, an exiled Tibetan told Phayul citing sources in the region. “He later succumbed to his injuries,” According to eyewitnesses, Wande Khar raised slogans calling for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet, the release of Panchen Lama, freedom for Tibet, and the protection of Tibet’s

Sangay Tashi Age 18

Sources have identified the young Tibetan man as Sangay Tashi from Sangkhog Ngyulre region of Sangchu in Labrang, eastern Tibet.
“Sangay Tashi, 18, set himself on fire at around 12 midnight Tuesday, November 27 in Sangkhog town,” an exiled Tibetan monk Sonam told Phayul citing contacts in the region. “He passed away at the site of his protest.”
According to other sources, Sangay Tashi shouted slogans calling for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the release of all Tibetan political prisoners, including the 11th Panchen Lama, while engulfed in flames. Local Tibetans then carried his charred body to a nearby house.
Sangay Tashi arrived in Sangkhog town earlier that day with his friends. Before setting himself on fire, he reportedly called one of his relatives and told him that he had decided to set himself on fire for the cause of Tibet. Before his relative could carry on the conversation, Sangay Tashi hung up the phone and switched it off.
By the time Sangay Tashi’s family members arrived in Sangkhog, he had already carried out his self-immolation protest.

Kalsang Kyab Age 24

Kalsang Kyab, 24, set himself ablaze in front of a Chinese government office in Kangtsa town, raising slogans for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Kyabje Kirti Rinpoche, the exiled head of Kirti Monastery. He passed away at the site of his protest.
The Dharamshala based Kirit Monastery in a late night release said Kalsang Kyab carried out his protest at around 6:30 pm (local time).“Kalsang Kyab doused his body with kerosene as he walked towards the local government office building, raising slogans,” Kirit Monastery said citing sources in the region. “Upon reaching the office building, he then set himself ablaze and continued to raise slogans.”

Gonpo Tsering Age 24

A group of exile Tibetans from Luchu identified the Tibetan self-immolator as Gonpo Tsering, 24 years of age and father of three children, all below the age of six.
“Martyr Gonpo Tsering set himself on fire in front of the main prayer hall of the Ala Deu-go Monastery in Ala region of Luchu at around 6 pm (local time) today,” the group told Phayul citing sources in the region. “While engulfed in flames, he raised slogans calling for Tibet’s freedom, human rights in Tibet, and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile.”
Gonpo Tsering succumbed to his injuries at the site of his protest.

Kunchok Tsering Age 18

Date: November 26, 2012
Protest location: Labrang, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu province (Tibetan area of Amdo)
Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased
Info: [ Phayul ] Kunchok Tsering, 18, passed away in his self-immolation protest today in Amchok region of Labrang, eastern Tibet. He carried out his protest near a mining site in the region, the same place where Tsering Dhondup, 35, father of three, passed away in his fiery protest on November 20. Kunchok Tsering is survived by his wife, Sangay Tso, 19 and parents Phagkyab, 40 and Gonpo Tso, 37, and an elder brother.

Wangyal

Date: November 26, 2012
Protest location: Serthar, north-eastern Tibet
Age: Twenties
Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Unknown

Info: [ Tibet.net ] Wangyal, a Tibetan man in his 20s, have set himself on fire in protest against the Chinese government in Serthar, north-eastern Tibet. Wangyal set himself on fire in front of the golden-horse statue at the local ground in Serthar. Chinese authorities immediately arrived at the immolation site and took away Wangyal’s body, eyewitnesses said. His current whereabouts and status is unavailable.

Sangay Dolma Age 17

Date: November 25, 2012
Protest location: In front of the Chinese government office in Dokarmo town of Tsekhog, Malho, eastern Tibet
Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

DHARAMSHALA, : Tibetan nun, Sangay Dolma, who passed away in her self-immolation protest on November 25, has left a note professing her belief in the swift return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Tibet’s independence. Sangay Dolma also left a photograph of herself with the words, “Tibet independent nation” inscribed on it. The 17-year-old nun set herself on fire in front of a Chinese government office in Tsekhog, near Rebkong (Ch: Tongren) in Malho region of eastern Tibet at around 7 pm (local time).  On a folded piece of paper, containing her last will and picture, Sangay Dolma has written: “Beloved children of the snowlion, Sons and daughters of the Land of Snows, Warriors of the snow mountain, Don’t forget your are Tibetans.”  Her last will, written in the form of a poem of six stanzas, is titled “He has returned.”

Tamdin Kyab, Age 23

“Tamding Kyab, 23 years of age, set himself on fire on November 22 at around 10 pm (local time) in the Kluchu region of Kanlho, eastern Tibet,” exile Tibetans hailing from the region told Phayul. “After local Tibetans recovered Tamding Kyab’s charred body this morning, they carried it to his home.”

Tamdrin Dorjee Age 29

Date: November 23, 2012

Protest location: In front of a government building in Dokarmo in the Tsekhog area of Rebkong, Qinghai province
Age: 29
Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Info: Tamdrin Dorjee, self-immolated on November 23. He was from Makor village in Dokarmo township, in the Tsekhog area of Rebkong (Chinese: Tongren), Malho (Chinese: Huangnan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai province. According to a Tibetan exile source, “As the flames blazed higher, he could be seen putting his hands together in prayer, shouting long life to the Dalai Lama.”

Lubum Gyal, Age 18

Lubum Gyal, 18, set himself ablaze in Dowa town of Rebkong, eastern Tibet at around 4:20 pm (local time) in an apparent protest against China’s continued occupation of Tibet.
China’s state-run Xinhua news agency also reported on the incident, confirming that the self-immolator (Libong Tsering) succumbed to his injuries.
“Lubum Gyal set himself on fire in protest against the Chinese government in Dowa town,” Sonam, an exile Tibetan with close contacts in the region told Phayul. “Soon, a large number of Tibetans gathered and rescued his body from falling into the hands of Chinese authorities.”

Tsering Dhondup, age 35

Tsering Dhondup, 35, set himself ablaze on a ground near the entrance of a mining site in Amchok region of Labrang Sangchu at around 8:30 am (local time). He succumbed to his injuries at the site of his protest.

Wangchen Norbu, age 25

A Tibetan man burned himself to death on Monday in China’s Qinghai province about a week after being overcome with emotion seeing Tibetan elders mourn the growing number of self-immolation deaths in protest against Chinese rule, according to sources.
It was the third self-immolation death in the last three days and the 77th Tibetan burning since the wave of fiery protests began in February 2009.

Sangdhak Tsering  Age 24 years

Sangdhak Tsering, 24, a father of three-year-old child, died after setting fire to himself in Rebgong on Saturday evening, where a Tibetan woman died of self-immolation some three hours ago. 9 Tibetans have burned themselves to death in Rebgong in this month alone.

Local Tibetans say Sangdhak Tsering had repeatedly told his wife that it is not worth living with no freedom in Tibet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama being not allowed to return to Tibet, continued imprisonment of the Panchen Lama, and the unending self-immolations by fellow Tibetans. His wife consoled him not to think about these things, but he kept on and felt deeply anguished.

Chagmo Kyi

Date: November 17, 2012
Protest location: Dolma Square, Rebkong (Chinese: Tongren), Qinghai
Age: Unknown
Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Info: A Tibetan mother of two, Chagmo Kyi, self-immolated on November 17 at around 4 pm and died in Dolma Square, Rebkong (Chinese: Tongren), Qinghai.

Local lay Tibetans and monks gathered to mark Chagmo Kyi’s death despite an intense military buildup in the area following peaceful protests and other self-immolations over the past week. According to Tibetan sources hundreds of Tibetans attended her cremation, at a site normally used for the cremation of monks and lamas. They were surrounded by troops.

Kharbum Gyal

Date: November 15, 2012
Protest location: Rebkong (Chinese: Tongren), Qinghai
Age: Teenaged
Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Info: Phayul Kharbum Gyal, a teenaged Tibetan set himself on fire in the [Tsemo region of Rebkong, eastern Tibet] earlier today and passed away in his protest.

Tenzin Dolma

Date: November 15, 2012
Protest location: Rebkong (Chinese: Tongren), Qinghai
Age: 23
Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Info: Phayul Tangzin Dolma, 23, set herself ablaze at around 12 pm (local time) [November 15] in Tsemo region of Rebkong, eastern Tibet.

Exile sources are saying that Tibetans from around the region started gathering in Tsemo upon hearing news of the self-immolation protest.

Nyangchag Bum

Date: November 12, 2012
Protest location: Dowa township in Rebkong (Chinese: Tongren), Qinghai
Age: 20
Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Info: Twenty-year old Nyangchag Bum, the oldest of three brothers in his family, self-immolated and died early in the evening of November 12 in Dowa township, Rebkong. Local people took his corpse to the monastery and prayed there. According to Tibetans in exile, “A few thousand people gathered, saying long life prayers for the Dalai Lama and chanting the Mani mantra [associated with the Dalai Lama].”

Nyangkar Tashi

Date: November 12, 2012
Protest location: Dowa township in Rebkong (Chinese: Tongren), Qinghai
Age: 24
Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Info: Twenty-four year old Nyangkar Tashi set fire to himself while Tibetans were gathering to pray for a young Tibetan mother, Tamdrin Tso, who self-immolated and died on November 7 in Dowa township in Rebkong county, Malho (Chinese: Huangnan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai Province (the Tibetan area of Amdo).

It was after the official visit, at around 3:15 p.m. on November 12 at Kadmar Thang in Dowa, that Nyangkar Tashi set fire to himself, calling for the long life of the Dalai Lama and a free Tibet. The same sources said: “At that time, there were lot of people there who were praying and paying their respects to Tamdrin Tso and Jinpa Gyatso. People did not allow Chinese police to take Nyangkar Tashi’s remains but brought his corpse back to his village, Drotsang in Dowa.”

Gompo Tsering , age 19 years

Gonpo Tsering is reported to have today self-immolated in Amdo region of Eastern Tibet. According to latest news he died during the protest which like others that have happened across the region, and other parts of occupied Tibet, was in support of independence for Tibet and  the return of the Dalai Lama.

Jinpa Gyatso , age unknown

Date: November 8, 2012
Protest location: Rebkong (Chinese: Tongren) in Qinghai province, the Tibetan area of Amdo
Age: Unknown
Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased
Info: As Jinpa Gyatso set himself ablaze, he could be heard shouting for the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet, according to a Tibetan source in exile. His body was taken by local Tibetans to an area where high lamas are cremated. According to other exile sources, following the cremation, Tibetans began to gather at the square where Jinpa had died, and some shouted slogans calling for the Dalai Lama’s long life and his return to Tibet. The situation remains tense.

Dorjee , age 15 years

Date: November 7, 2012
Protest location: Ngaba (Chinese: Aba) Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan
Age: 15
Monastery: Ngoshul monastery
Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased
Info: [ As reported by VOA and RFA ] Three Tibetan monks from Ngoshul monastery burned themselves in Ngaba, Sichuan around 3pm (local time) today. Sources with contacts in the area report heavy presence of security and severe restrictions around Gomang and Ngoshul monastery. Ngoshul monastery, located about 12 kilometers from Ngaba county, has about 130 monks.
Dorji, 15, is known to have died at the scene of the protest and the other two have been admitted to a hospital in Ngaba.

Samdrup , age 16 years

Date: November 7, 2012
Protest location: Ngaba (Chinese: Aba) Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan
Age: 16
Monastery: Ngoshul monastery
Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Hospitalized
Info: [ As reported by VOA and RFA ] Three Tibetan monks from Ngoshul monastery burned themselves in Ngaba, Sichuan around 3pm (local time) today. Sources with contacts in the area report heavy presence of security and severe restrictions around Gomang and Ngoshul monastery. Ngoshul monastery, located about 12 kilometers from Ngaba county, has about 130 monks.
Dorji, 15, is known to have died at the scene of the protest and the other two have been admitted to a hospital in Ngaba.

Dorjee Kyab 16 years

Date: November 7, 2012
Protest location: Ngaba (Chinese: Aba) Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan
Age: 16
Monastery: Ngoshul monastery
Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Hospitalized
Info: [ As reported by VOA and RFA ] Three Tibetan monks from Ngoshul monastery burned themselves in Ngaba, Sichuan around 3pm (local time) today. Sources with contacts in the area report heavy presence of security and severe restrictions around Gomang and Ngoshul monastery. Ngoshul monastery, located about 12 kilometers from Ngaba county, has about 130 monks.
Dorji, 15, is known to have died at the scene of the protest and the other two have been admitted to a hospital in Ngaba.

Ms Tamdin Tso 23 years

Date: November 7, 2012
Protest location: Rebkong (Chinese: Tongren) in Qinghai province, the Tibetan area of Amdo
Age: 23
Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased
Info: [ As reported by VOA and RFA ] A 23-year-old Tibetan mother of a young son set fire to herself and died in the Gemar market area of Rebkong (in Chinese, Tongren) county, drawing several thousand Tibetans to the streets in a protest against Chinese rule.
Tamdrin Tso set herself ablaze at about 6:00 p.m. and died shouting slogans calling for the return of the Dalai Lama, local sources said.

Kalsang Jinpa  18 years old

November 7:

In more heartbreaking news coming out of Tibet, yet another Tibetan set himself on fire today in an apparent protest against China’s occupation of Tibet. 18-year-old nomad, Kalsang Jinpa, set himself on fire at the Dolma Square in front of the Rongwo Monastery in Rebkong, eastern Tibet. The former monk of the Rongwo Monastery raised a white banner with slogans calling for the Dalai Lama’s return and the rights of the Tibetan people before setting himself ablaze. He passed away in his fiery protest.

Dorjee Lhundup 25 years

Date: November 4, 2012
Protest location: Rebkong (Chinese: Tongren) in Qinghai province, the Tibetan area of Amdo
Age: Mid-twenties
Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased
Info: A young Tibetan man called Dorjee Lhundrup set fire to himself today in Rebkong (Chinese: Tongren) in Qinghai province, the Tibetan area of Amdo. Dorjee Lhundrup was a farmer in his mid-twenties from Chuma village in Rebkong. He had two children, a two-year old daughter and a four-year old son.  Dorjee Lhundrup self-immolated on the morning of November 4 on Taglung South Street, some kilometers west of Rongwo monastery. He died immediately afterwards.

Tsewang alias Thupwang Kyap 23 years

A Tibetan nomad in his early twenties called Tsewang Kyab has self-immolated in the Labrang area. Tsewang Kyab set fire to himself near the bus stand in Setri village in Sangkok township in Sangchu (Chinese: Xiahe) county, Kanlho (Chinese: Gannan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu province, in the Tibetan region of Amdo. Tsewang Kyab died, and despite an attempt by officials to intervene, local Tibetans covered up his corpse with khatags (white blessing scarves) and took him to his home.

The area is close to Amchok township, where Lhamo Tseten self-immolated this afternoon, south-west of Labrang town.

Lhamo Tseten 24 years

A Tibetan farmer and nomad in his mid-twenties called Lhamo Tseten self-immolated this afternoon (October 26) in Amchok township in Sangchu (Chinese: Xiahe), Gansu. According to Tibetan sources in exile, Lhamo Tseten died at the scene

Tsepo 20 years

Tsepo, 20 and Tenzin, 25 set themselves on fire near a school in Nagro Phampa region. Tsepo is believed to be dead while there is no information on Tenzin’s condition and his whereabouts. They raised slogans demanding return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and freedom in Tibet. Tenzin was a former student of TCV Suja where he had studied for around six months.

Tenzin 25 years(Ex-TCV)

Tsepo, 20 and Tenzin, 25 set themselves on fire near a school in Nagro Phampa region. Tsepo is believed to be dead while there is no information on Tenzin’s condition and his whereabouts. They raised slogans demanding return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and freedom in Tibet. Tenzin was a former student of TCV Suja where he had studied for around six months.

Dorje Rinchen

Date: October 23, 2012
Protest location: Near the military camp and in front of the Gyugya market on the main street of Labrang (Chinese: Xiahe) in Kanlho (Gannan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Gansu Province (the Tibetan area of Amdo)
Age: 58 years
Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Info: According to Tibetans in exile, Dorje Rinchen did not die immediately but has now passed away. The same sources said that local people did not allow his body to be taken away by troops. Instead his body was taken home to his village, Sayi, which is around two kilometers east of Labrang monastery. Monks from Labrang were initially not allowed to go to his home to pray.

 

Dhondup

Date: October 22, 2012
Protest location: Sangchu  county, Kanlho (Gannan) prefecture in Gansu province
Age: 61 years
Current whereabouts/wellbeing:  Deceased

Info: Dhondup, 61, of Hor Khagya  set himself ablaze at 9:47 am (local time) on the main road near Labrang Monastery in Sangchu County, Eastern Tibet. He became the oldest Tibetan from Tibet to end his life due to self-immolation.

Local people circumambulating the monastery formed human cover around Dhondup’s charred body to stop it from getting into the hands of Chinese authorities. Later, the management committee of the monastery took Dhondup to hospital where he was declared dead.
Dhondup is survived by his wife Dolma Tso and foster son Rinzin Choephel.

Lhamo Kyab

Date: October 20, 2012
Protest location: Near Bora monastery in Sangchu (Chinese: Xiahe) county, Kanlho (Gannan) prefecture in Gansu province
Age: 27  years
Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Info: A Tibetan in his late twenties called Lhamo Kyab set fire to himself and died today near Bora monastery in Sangchu (Chinese: Xiahe) county, Kanlho (Gannan) prefecture in Gansu province. Lhamo Kyab leaves a wife and two children, aged 10 and 7.

According to Tibetans in exile, Lhamo Kyab was seen running along the road in flames, and calling for the Dalai Lama to come home to Tibet. The same sources said that police tried to put out the flames, and a local man took off his shirt and tried to fling it over Lhamo Kyab but the blaze was too strong.

Tamdin Dorje

Date: October 13, 2012

Protest location: near a white stupa beside Tsoe Gaden Choeling monastery in Kanlho (Chinese: Gannan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu province (Tibetan area of Amdo)
Age: early fifties
Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Info: Tamdin Dorje, the grandfather of a prominent young Tibetan reincarnate lama at Labrang Tashikyil monastery, died after setting fire to himself in the same place as mother of two Dolkar Tso, who self-immolated on August 7, near a white stupa beside Tsoe Gaden Choeling monastery in Kanlho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu province (see ICT report, 7 August 2012).

The self-immolation is likely to be noted with concern by the authorities due to the connection to the young lama recognised as the 7th Gungthang Rinpoche, Lobsang Geleg Tenpe Khenchen, who was born in 2002 in the village of Dzoege, east of Tsoe city, the seat of Kanlho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in the southern part of Gansu Province. Tamdin Dorje was the father of the young lama’s mother

Sangay Gyatso

Date: October 6, 2012

Protest location: Tsoe, Kanlho (Chinese: Gannan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu province (Tibetan area of Amdo)
Age: 27
Occupation: Layperson
Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Info: According to a report by Voice of America, Sangay Gyatso, 27-years old, set fire to himself on October 6, 2012 near the local monastery in the town of Tsoe in the northeastern Tibetan area of Amdo. Sangay Gyatso called for the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet and the right of Tibetans to freely express their language and religion. He is believed to have died as a result of his protest. Initial reports from the area tell of heightened tensions in the area and possibly hundreds of security personnel being deployed around the local monastery.

Gudrup:

Date: October 4th, 2012 6:46 pm

DHARAMSHALA: Reports coming out of Tibet say a Tibetan writer today set himself on fire and dies in Driru county in Nagchu in eastern Tibet. The incident has raised the total number of self-immolations in Tibet to 53, out which 43 have died.

Gudrup, 43, set himself on fire around 10 AM in Nagchu town and succumbed to his injuries.  Chinese police bundled off Gudrup’s charred dead body from the spot instead of handing it to his family, the report said.

October 1, 2012 12:34 pm

DHARAMSHALA:

Yungdrung:

Date: September 29th 2012

Yungdrung, a 27-year-old Tibetan man, set himself on fire in Zatoe town of Yushul county last Saturday (29 September).Dressed in traditional Tibetan clothes, Yungdrung set himself on fire in front of a row of shops in the town, calling for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Gyalwang Karmapa to Tibet, and described Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay as the political leader of Tibet. He also raised slogans asking the Chinese government to stop the exploitation of Tibet’s mineral resources and called for Tibetan independence.

Chinese security personnel immediately took him away to an unknown location. He was reported to be severely injured with burns. His current whereabouts and well-being remain unknown.

Yungdrung is a native of Karma Yultso village in Chamdo, Kham. He has been staying at Zatoe town in Yushul county.

Lobsang Damchoe

Date: August 27, 2012

Protest location: Ngaba (Chinese: Aba) Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan
Age: 17
Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased
Two teenage Tibetans, a monk and a layperson who are believed to have been cousins, set themselves on fire on August 27 in Ngaba (Chinese: Aba). The self-immolations took place near the eastern gate of Kirti monastery.

Lobsang Damchoe, 17, a former monk, was seen walking with flames shooting from his body before he collapsed to the ground, according to Kirti monks in exile in Dharamsala, India. It is not known what he shouted or said as he set himself on fire.

Chinese security personnel extinguished the flames and took both men initially to the hospital in Ngaba town, but later moved them to a hospital in Barkham. According to the Kirti monks in exile, both young men died in hospital.

Lobsang Kelsang

Date: August 27, 2012

Protest location: Ngaba (Chinese: Aba) Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan
Age: 18
Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased
Two teenage Tibetans, a monk and a layperson who are believed to have been cousins, set themselves on fire on August 27 in Ngaba (Chinese: Aba). The self-immolations took place near the eastern gate of Kirti monastery.

Lobsang Kelsang, 18, was seen walking with flames shooting from his body before he collapsed to the ground, according to Kirti monks in exile in Dharamsala, India. It is not known what he shouted or said as he set himself on fire.

Chinese security personnel extinguished the flames and took both men initially to the hospital in Ngaba town, but later moved them to a hospital in Barkham. According to the Kirti monks in exile, both young men died in hospital.

Lungtok

Date: August 13, 2012
Protest location: Ngaba (Chinese: Aba) Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan
Age: About 20
Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

At around 6:50pm on August 13th, a 21 year old layman named Tashi from the Soruma pastoral area in Choejema township, and the monk Lungtok, aged about 20, also from Soruma and a student in Kirti monastery’s medical college, set fire to themselves in a prayer wheel enclosure on the monastery’s perimeter, and then emerged shouting protest slogans onto the ‘Heroes’ road’ leading into town from the monastery.

As Lungtok approached the junction with the central street, a group of policemen surrounded him, put out the flames and took him away. It is unclear whether he was still alive at that time. Both were taken initially to the county hospital, and then within half an hour they were taken to the Prefecture hospital in Barkham, but according to witnesses, their burns were so severe that there is little hope of survival.

Tashi

Date: August 13, 2012
Protest location: Ngaba (Chinese: Aba) Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan
Age: 21

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Sources from the Kirti monastery in exile: At around 6:50pm on August 13th, a 21 year old layman named Tashi from the Soruma pastoral area in Choejema township, and the monk Lungtok, aged about 20, also from Soruma and a student in Kirti monastery’s medical college, set fire to themselves in a prayer wheel enclosure on the monastery’s perimeter, and then emerged shouting protest slogans onto the ‘Heroes’ road’ leading into town from the monastery.

As Lungtok approached the junction with the central street, a group of policemen surrounded him, put out the flames and took him away. It is unclear whether he was still alive at that time. Both were taken initially to the county hospital, and then within half an hour they were taken to the Prefecture hospital in Barkham, but according to witnesses, their burns were so severe that there is little hope of survival.

It has been learned that Lungtok passed away on 13th, but as he had been taken to Barkham, it is not known whether his body would be returned to family members.

Chopa

Date: August 10, 2012
Protest location: Me’uruma township, Ngaba (Chinese: Aba) Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan
Age: 24

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Sources from the Kirti monastery in exile: On August 10 at about 10:15 am, 24 year old Chopa set himself on fire in Me’uruma township, Ngaba county, shouting slogans of protest against the Chinese government. Within a few minutes, local security forces arrived at the scene, doused the still fierce flames, and took him away. According to witnesses, it was not clear at that point whether he was still alive. It has since been confirmed that Chopa passed away just after 3pm on August 10, shortly before reaching Barkham prefecture hospital. The authorities cremated his body there, and returned just a part of the ashes to his family members.

Dolkar Tso

Date: August 7, 2012
Protest location: Near Tsoe Gaden Choeling monastery in Kanlho (Chinese: Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture) in Gansu Province (the Tibetan area of Amdo)
Age: Twenties

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Dolkar Tso, who is in her mid-twenties and from a farming family, set fire to herself early this afternoon near a white stupa (reliquary building) at Tsoe Gaden Choeling monastery in Tsoe City (Chinese: Hezuo). According to Tibetan sources in exile from her home area, she called out for the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet, and shouted that there was no freedom in Tibet

(7 August 2012)

Lobsang Tsultrim

Date: August 6, 2012
Protest location: Ngaba (Chinese: Aba) town in Ngaba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan (the Tibetan area of Amdo)
Age: 21

Current whereabouts/well-being : Deceased

According to the exile Kirti monks, Lobsang Tsultrim attempted to walk along the main street towards the office building of the Forestry Department before he fell to the ground, and armed police emerged and extinguished the flames. A local Tibetan told the Kirti monks in Dharamsala that Lobsang Tsultrim was still alive when police took him away. He is believed to have been taken to the local government hospital, and then removed elsewhere. His current whereabouts and welfare is not known.

Lobsang Tsultrim was born in Ryiwa village, Cha Township in Ngaba, and he joined Kirti monastery when he was very young. He was a classmate of Phuntsog, who self-immolated on March 16, 2011, and is said to have loved playing basketball. Lobsang Tsultrim is said to have suffered a great deal and may have been detained following the crackdown in Ngaba from March 16, 2008, when at least ten Tibetans were killed by Chinese troops after peaceful protest. He is the 27th Tibetan from Ngaba to self-immolate since February, 2009, and the eighth Kirti monk to do so.

 

• (7 August 2012)

Losang Lozin

Date: July 17, 2012
Protest location: North of Barkham county, Sichuan province
Age: 18

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

The self-immolation and death today of an 18-year old Tibetan monk from Ngaba is being marked by Tibetans at his monastery, Gedhen Tashi Choeling, an affiliate of Kirti monastery.

Losang Lozin set fire to himself in front of the monastery’s main assembly hall today and then attempted to start walking towards the township government office, according to monks from Kirti monastery in Dharamsala, India.

 

Tsewang Dorjee

Date: July 7, 2012
Protest location: Damshung,
Age: 22

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

The Tibetan man who set himself on fire on July 7 has now been identified as Tsewang Dorjee, a 22-year-old nomad from Damshung, central Tibet.

Tsewang Dorjee raised slogans and called for the long life of His Holiness, but barely three minutes into his protest, Chinese security forces arrived at the scene, doused the flames and took him to a hospital. In a press release, the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile noted that the entire Damshung region is currently under lockdown and people who witnessed the self-immolation have since been arrested.

 

Dickyi Choezom

Date: June 27, 2012
Protest location: Kyegudo
Age: Forties

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Unknown

A Tibetan woman in her 40s, identified as Dickyi Choezom, a mother of two, set herself on fire on June 27, at around 2pm (local time) in Keygu town near the Dhondupling Monastery. Chinese security personnel at the scene of the protest doused the flames and took her away, reportedly to a hospital in Siling, but no further information is available.

An exile monk with contacts in the region told Tibetan media that police arrested two of her relatives but many Tibetans gathered and started demanding their release and threatening to set themselves on fire if the two were not released, and they were reportedly released later in the day but carried injuries from severe beatings. Tibetans from Kyegudo have been protesting China’s redevelopment plans in the region following the devastating earthquake in April 2010. (ICT Report – April 9, 2011)

 

Ngawang Norphel

Date: June 20, 2012
Protest location: Trindu, Qinghai province
Age: 22

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Believed to have died on June 30

Radio Free Asia: Carrying Tibetan flags and shouting pro-independence slogans, former monk Tenzin Khedup, 24, and Ngawang Norphel, 22, torched themselves in Dzatoe (in Chinese, Zaduo) township, Tridu (Chenduo) county, in the Yulshul (Yushu) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, the exile sources said.

Tenzin Khedup died on the spot while his colleague, Ngawang Norphel was badly burned and is in serious condition at a hospital, according to Lobsang Sangay, a monk in India who is from the Zekar monastery in Yushul, quoting eyewitnesses.

Tenzin Khedup

Date: June 20, 2012
Protest location: Trindu, Qinghai province
Age: 24

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Radio Free Asia: Carrying Tibetan flags and shouting pro-independence slogans, former monk Tenzin Khedup, 24, and Ngawang Norphel, 22, torched themselves in Dzatoe (in Chinese, Zaduo) township, Tridu (Chenduo) county, in the Yulshul (Yushu) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, the exile sources said.

Tenzin Khedup died on the spot while his colleague, Ngawang Norphel was badly burned and is in serious condition at a hospital, according to Lobsang Sangay, a monk in India who is from the Zekar monastery in Yushul, quoting eyewitnesses.

Tamdin Thar

Date: June 15, 2012
Protest location: Chentsa (Chinese: Jianza) county town in Qinghai (the eastern Tibetan area of Amdo)
Age: Fifties

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Tibetans in eastern Tibet gathered today to mark the self-immolation of a Tibetan from a nomadic family who set fire to himself and died in Chentsa (Chinese: Jianza) county town in Qinghai (the eastern Tibetan area of Amdo). Images posted online by Tibetans in exile showed crowds gathering to pile khatags (Tibetan blessing scarves) on the body of Tamdin Thar, who was in his forties or fifties, while massed ranks of armed police gather at the roadside nearby.

Tamdin Thar set himself on fire early this morning in front of the People’s Armed Police base in Chentsa, Malho (Chinese: Huangnan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, according to Tibetan sources in exile.

Armed police were seen extinguishing the flames as Tamdin Thar lay on the ground, still moving slightly, and he was then taken away in a vehicle by security forces. According to Tibetan sources in exile in touch with Tibetans in the area, he died within hours, and local people gathered in the town calling for the return of his body, despite an increasing number of armed police being deployed.

The body was returned to local people at around mid-day today, according to various sources. The Chinese state media confirmed the self-immolation and death but did not name Tamdin Thar.

Rikyo

Date: May 30, 2012
Protest location: Tibetan area of Dzamthang (Chinese: Rangtang) county, Ngaba (Chinese: Aba) Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan
Age: 33

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Rikyo was in her mid-thirties and from a nomadic family. She set herself on fire near to Jonang Dzamthang Gonchen Monastery. The flames around her body were so intense that police on the scene were beaten back by the fire and attempts to extinguish it failed.

Following her self-immolation, her body was taken to the Jonang Dzamthang Monastery and kept there, according to Tibetans in exile who are from the area. Chinese government officials came to the monastery and sought to impose an immediate cremation. Rikyo was cremated the same day, and a large number of Tibetans converged at a special cremation prayer service near the monastery. According to a Tibetan in exile in contact with Tibetans from Dzamthang, “Although it was raining and a heavy storm, people did not move from the cremation area near the monastery until around 3 a.m.”

 

Dargye

Date: May 27, 2012
Protest location: Outside of the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region
Age: Believed to be 25

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Two young Tibetan men set fire to themselves on May 27 outside one of Tibet’s holiest shrines, the Jokhang Temple, in the first self-immolation in Lhasa, Tibet’s historic capital. According to monks from Kirti Monastery in exile, 25-year old Dargye had entered Kirti monastery as a boy and disrobed a few years ago. Voice of America Tibetan language service has reported that the two Tibetans, who self-immolated together, worked in a restaurant in Lhasa. Dargye was reportedly from Ngaba (Chinese: Aba) in Sichuan (where most of the self-immolations have taken place).

The self-immolations took place during Saga Dawa, an important religious period for Tibetan Buddhists that commemorates the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and death. The self-immolations are the first in Lhasa where Chinese security has been tight since March 2008 when protests occurred across Tibet and rocked the capital city. The official media reported today that Lhasa’s Public Security Bureau has set up a special task force to investigate the case.

 

Dorje Tseten

Date: May 27, 2012
Protest location: Outside of the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region
Age: 19

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Two young Tibetan men set fire to themselves on May 27 outside one of Tibet’s holiest shrines, the Jokhang Temple, in the first self-immolation in Lhasa, Tibet’s historic capital. Nineteen-year old Dorje Tseten had left home after high school and had been renting a room in a house in Lhasa. The entire household was detained soon after his self-immolation. Voice of America Tibetan language service has reported that the two Tibetans, who self-immolated together, worked in a restaurant in Lhasa. Dorje Tseten was reportedly from Labrang (Chinese: Xiahe) in Gansu, the Tibetan area of Amdo.

The self-immolations took place during Saga Dawa, an important religious period for Tibetan Buddhists that commemorates the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and death. The self-immolations are the first in Lhasa where Chinese security has been tight since March 2008 when protests occurred across Tibet and rocked the capital city. The official media reported today that Lhasa’s Public Security Bureau has set up a special task force to investigate the case.

Dorje Tseten is referred to in Xinhua sources as Tobgye Tseten.

 

Choepak Kyap

Date: April 19, 2012
Protest location: Close to a local government office in Barma township near Jonang Dzamthang Gonchen monastery in the Tibetan area of Dzamthang (Chinese: Rangtang) county, Ngaba (Chinese: Aba) Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan
Age: Twenties

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Two Tibetan men in their twenties set fire to themselves today close to a local government office in Barma township near Jonang Dzamthang Gonchen monastery in the Tibetan area of Dzamthang (Chinese: Rangtang) county, Ngaba (Chinese: Aba) Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan.

The two Tibetans who self-immolated today were named by two exile Tibetan sources as Choepak Kyap and Sonam. Although paramilitary troops were deployed immediately, local people managed to prevent them from taking away the bodies of the two Tibetans, who had died following the self-immolation, according to the same two sources. According to the exile Tibetans, who are in contact with Tibetans in the area, the bodies were taken to the monastery in order to carry out prayers, and many other Tibetans are gathering there. It is expected that a cremation and funeral services will be held soon.

 

Sonam

Date: April 19, 2012
Protest location: Close to a local government office in Barma township near Jonang Dzamthang Gonchen monastery in the Tibetan area of Dzamthang (Chinese: Rangtang) county, Ngaba (Chinese: Aba) Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan
Age: Twenties

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Two Tibetan men in their twenties set fire to themselves today close to a local government office in Barma township near Jonang Dzamthang Gonchen monastery in the Tibetan area of Dzamthang (Chinese: Rangtang) county, Ngaba (Chinese: Aba) Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan.

The two Tibetans who self-immolated today were named by two exile Tibetan sources as Choepak Kyap and Sonam. Although paramilitary troops were deployed immediately, local people managed to prevent them from taking away the bodies of the two Tibetans, who had died following the self-immolation, according to the same two sources. According to the exile Tibetans, who are in contact with Tibetans in the area, the bodies were taken to the monastery in order to carry out prayers, and many other Tibetans are gathering there. It is expected that a cremation and funeral services will be held soon.

 

Chimey Palden

Date: March 30, 2012
Protest location: Barkham (Chinese: Ma’erkang), Ngaba (Chinese: Aba) Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan (Tibetan area of Amdo)
Age: 21
Monastery: Tsodun monastery

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Chimey Palden, a 21-year old monk from Tsodun monastery in Ngaba, set fire to himself, along with fellow monk Tenpa Darjey, aged 22, on March 30, 2012 outside the prefectureal government offices in Barkham, Ngaba.

The area is now under lockdown by armed troops and no further information is known about the two monks’ survival or current whereabouts, according to the Kirti monks in exile.

Chimey Palden went to Kirti monastery in Ngaba as a philosophy student in 2009, but stayed only a few months. In 2010, on a visit to Lhasa, he was searched by Public Security personnel, who found a photo of the Dalai Lama, a picture of the Tibetan national flag and a Tibetan song on his mobile phone. He was detained for more than a month.

 

Tenpa Darjey

Date: March 30, 2012
Protest location: Barkham (Chinese: Ma’erkang), Ngaba (Chinese: Aba) Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan (Tibetan area of Amdo)
Age: 22
Monastery: Tsodun monastery

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Tenpa Darjey, a 22-year old monk from Tsodun monastery in Ngaba, set fire to himself, along with fellow monk Chimey Palden, aged 21, on March 30, 2012 outside the prefectureal government offices in Barkham, Ngaba.

The area is now under lockdown by armed troops and no further information is known about the two monks’ survival or current whereabouts, according to the Kirti monks in exile.

Tenpa Darjey studied philosophy at Kirti monastery in Ngaba county, Ngaba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan, from 2003-2009. He then returned to Tsodun where he was regarded as one of the best students in the logic and debating class. He was the youngest of four brothers and sisters.

 

Lobsang Sherab

Date: March 28, 2012
Protest location: Cha township, Ngaba (Chinese: Aba) Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan
Age: 20
Monastery: Ganden Tenpeling monastery

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Lobsang Sherab was a 20-year old monk at Ganden Tenpeling monastery in Rasuwa, Ngaba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan province (Tibetan area of Amdo). According to monks from Kirti monastery now living in exile in Dharamsala, India, paramilitary police in Ngaba removed Sherab’s body immediately following his self-immolation, ignoring pleas for his body to be handed over to his family. Sherab had been a monk at the small Ganden Tenpeling monastery in Raruwa since the age of nine. Last October he went to study at Kirti monastery in Ngaba, but had returned home on March 26, 2012. According to a Kirti monk in exile, “These days some 300 Chinese government officials of various positions and rank are stationed at Kirti monastery, and throughout Ngaba armed police and special police forces maintain a security clampdown.”

 

Sonam Dargye

Date: March 17, 2012
Protest location: Northeastern Qinghai province
Age: 44
Occupation: Farmer

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Info: Sonam Dargye, a 44-year old father of three from the town of Rongpo, is the second Tibetan in the Rebkong area to set fire to himself.

Images and footage that emerged almost immediately from Tibet shows thousands of Tibetans in Rebkong (Chinese: Tongren), Malho (Chinese: Huangnan) Tibetan Auonomous Prefecture, Qinghai (Tibetan area of Amdo) gathering to mark the passing of Sonam Dargye, a Tibetan farmer who died after self-immolating near the center of Rongpo town on Saturday (March 17) (VOA, 19 March 2012). A video released by VOA and shared by Tibetans on Facebook shows the body of Sonam Dargye still aflame in the middle of the street in Rongpo town, as hundreds of Tibetans gather around. Footage can be viewed at Voice of America’s Tibetan service here.

 

Lobsang Tsultrim

Date: March 16, 2012
Protest location: Ngaba county town in Ngaba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan province (the Tibetan area of Amdo)
Age: 20
Monastery: Kirti

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Info: Lobsang Tsultrim set himself on fire and proceeded to march along the main road in the upper part of Ngaba county town, shouting slogans of protest against the Chinese government. As he walked on from the site of his self-immolation, armed police personnel came running to intercept him, at which he turned and ran back in the other direction, continuing to shout. He was then knocked to the ground by a police officer, and the police extinguished the flames, and threw him into the back of a pickup vehicle. He was held down by police officers, but was seen to raise his arms while continuing to shout, showing that he was still alive.

Lobsang Tsultrim was from the Yeshe Tsang household in Soruma village, Choejema township, Ngaba county. His father’s name is Yeshe and his mother is Tsedron. He was the eldest of four brothers and sisters. He joined Kirti monastery at the age of eight, and studied at the ‘Buddhist youth academy’ or monastery school. Once that institution was closed down in 2003, he entered the monastery’s Tantric college.

Jamyang Palden

Date: March 14, 2012
Protest location: Rebkong, Qinghai
Age: 34 years old
Monastery: Rongpo (Rongwo)

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Passed away

Info: Jamyang Palden, a monk in his thirties from Rongpo monastery in Rebkong (Chinese: Tongren), Qinghai (the Tibetan area of Amdo), set fire to himself this morning. It is the first self-immolation in Rebkong, and the 28th in Tibet since February, 2009. Jamyang Palden survived the self-immolation, but his condition is serious, according to Tibetans in exile in contact with those in the area.

Jamyang Palden set fire to himself in Dolma square, near Rongpo monastery, which is the main monastery in Rebkong. Monks and local people took him to hospital, but it seems that he has since been moved back to the monastery. Despite the buildup of troops, images from Rebkong today show local people gathered at the scene of his self-immolation, quietly praying for him. The gathering led to a peaceful protest, with Tibetans calling for the Dalai Lama to return to Tibet. There are fears for the safety of Tibetans in Rebkong due to the military buildup following the self-immolation.

Gepey

Date: March 10, 2012
Protest location: Near a Chinese military camp location 1.5 kilometers from Kirti monastery in Ngaba (Chinese: Aba) Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan
Age: 18
Monastery: Kirti

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Info: VOA: “Chinese authorities took Gepey’s body and forced cremation of his body the same night, according to UK-based advocacy group Free Tibet.

Lobsang Yeshi, spokesperson of Kirti monastery in India told VOA Tibetan that Gepey is survived by his mother and two brothers, who are also monks at the Kirti monastery in Ngaba.”

 

Dorjee

Date: March 5, 2012
Protest location: Cha (Chinese: Jia) township, Ngaba (Chinese: Aba) county, Ngaba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan province
Age: 18
Occupation: Unknown

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Info: An 18-year old male named Dorjee set fire to himself today at around 6:30 p.m. local time and walked towards the local government office in Cha (Chinese: Jia) township, Ngaba (Chinese: Aba) county, Ngaba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan province. According to the same sources, Kirti monks in contact with Tibetans in the region, Dorjee shouted slogans against the Chinese government’s policies on Tibet. It is believed that he died at the scene, and that authorities took away his body.

 

Rinchen

Date: March 4, 2012
Protest location: Near a military camp in the vicinity of Kirti monastery in Ngaba (Chinese: Aba) town in Ngaba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan (the Tibetan area of Amdo)
Age: Early thirties
Occupation: Unknown

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Info: A Tibetan mother named Rinchen self-immolated near a military camp in the vicinity of Kirti monastery in Ngaba (Chinese: Aba) town in Ngaba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan (the Tibetan area of Amdo). Rinchen was in her early thirties, and was married to a Tibetan man who had died (details of when he died and the circumstances are not clear). It could not be immediately confirmed whether she had three or four children; the youngest was several months old, and the oldest in their early teens.

According to Tibetan monks from Kirti who are now in exile, as she set herself ablaze, Rinchen shouted “Return His Holiness to Tibet” and “We need freedom”. She died soon afterwards, according to the same sources. Rinchen was the eldest of eight siblings in her family, from Jiashang township in Ngaba.

 

Tsering Kyi

Date: March 3, 2012
Protest location: Machu town (Chinese: Maqu) in Kanlho (Chinese: Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture), Gansu
Age: 19
Occupation: Student

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Info: Teenager Tsering Kyi, a pupil at the Tibetan Middle School in Machu who was aged 19, set fire to herself on Saturday afternoon (March 3) in the vegetable market of Machu town (Chinese: Maqu) in Kanlho (Chinese: Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture), Gansu.

Authorities have blockaded the school Tsering Kyi attended in Machu (Chinese: Maqu) county, Kanlho (Chinese: Gannan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu province (Tibetan area of Amdo), and have imposed a tight military lockdown in the area following the incident, with people’s cellphones being investigated in an attempt to prevent dissemination of any images or footage that may have been taken of the self-immolation.

 

Nangdrol

Date: February 19, 2012
Protest location: Dzamthang (Chinese: Rangtang) county, Ngaba (Chinese: Aba) Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan
Age: 18
Occupation: unknown

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Info: Nangdrol was the fourth of eight children, and is from Choeje village, Barma township, Dzamthang, the Tibetan area of Amdo. The same sources reported that he died, and his body was taken back to the monastery where traditional Buddhist rituals were carried out for him. According to the same sources, monks did not comply with police orders to hand over the body, and this evening (February 19), more than 1000 people had gathered to hold vigil.

It has been confirmed that 18-year old Nangdrol, who set himself on fire on February 19 in Dzamthang, Sichuan, was a layperson and not a monk as previously reported, according to Tibetan sources. According to Tibetans in the area who are in contact with Tibetans in exile, Nangdrol cared passionately about Tibetan culture and language and had urged fellow Tibetans to be united, and to preserve their cultural and religious identity.

Damchoe Sangpo

Date: February 17, 2012
Protest location: Themchen county town, Themchen county, Tsonub Mongolian and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai province
Age: 40
Monastery: Bongthak

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Info: For the first time, a monastic official self-immolated on Friday (February 17) in Themchen (Chinese: Tianjun) county in Tsonub (Chinese: Haixi ) Mongolian and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai province. Thirty-eight year old Tibetan monk Damchoe Sangpo was a member of Bongthak monastery’s Democratic Management Committee, the government-established body that runs the monastery, according to Tibetan exile sources. Voice of America Tibetan Service, which published a picture of Damchoe Sangpo here, reported that he died after setting himself ablaze after monks were banned from marking a religious ceremony, while other sources reported that he had objected to a rigorous “patriotic education” campaign at his monastery.

 

Lobsang Gyatso

Date: February 13, 2012
Protest location: Ngaba
Age: 19
Monastery: Kirti

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Unknown

Info: At about 2:30pm on February 13th, Kirti monk Lobsang Gyatso, age 19, of the Badzritsang house in Naktsangma of Cha township, set himself on fire at the top of the main street of Ngaba town shouting slogans ofprotest against the Chinese government.

In the same moment, armed police and special police officers came and extinguished the fire and took him away while beating him. His present condition and whereabouts are not known.

 

Tenzin Choedron

Date: February 11, 2012
Protest location: Ngaba
Age: 18
Nunnery: Mame Dechen Chokorling (also known as Mame nunnery)

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Info: Tenzin Choedron set herself on fire early in the evening on February 11, shouting slogans against the Chinese government, according to monks from Kirti monastery in exile (sister monastery to Kirti in Ngaba). She chose the same place as nun Tenzin Wangmo, the Sumdo bridge area below the nunnery, which is around three kilometers from Ngaba county town (Tibetan nun dies following self-immolation protest). Tenzin Choedron did not die immediately, but was taken away by soldiers and police. According to new information today, she died soon afterwards and her funeral ceremony is being arranged.

 

Sonam Rabyang

Date: February 9, 2012
Protest location: Triwang (Chinese: Chen wen) Town, the Capital of Tridu County
Age: Mid thirties
Monastery: Lab monastery

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Taken to a hospital; condition is unclear

Info: Sonam Rabyang was a monk from Yuthung village, Lab township, Tridu (Chi: Chenduo) County, Yulshul (Chi: Yu shu) in Yulshul Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai Province (the Tibetan area of Kham). He was at Lab monastery, and set fire to himsef in Tridu town. It is thought that he survived, but it is not clear.

Rinzin Dorje

Date: February 8, 2012
Protest location: Ngaba county town in Ngaba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan province (the Tibetan area of Amdo)
Age: 19
Monastery: Former monk at Kirti

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Info: According to two Tibetan monks from Kirti monastery in Dharamsala, India (associated with Kirti monastery in Ngaba), the Tibetan set himself on fire at a primary school early in the evening in Ngaba county town in Ngaba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan province (the Tibetan area of Amdo). Sources said that the Tibetan seemed to be a monk, but his name and place of origin are not known. He was taken away by police, and it is not known whether he is still alive. Two monks were also detained from the vicinity.

Radio Free Asia has since reported that Rinzin Dorje was formerly a monk at Kirti monastery (RFA, 9 February 2012).

 

Losang Jamyang

Date: January 14, 2012
Protest location: Ngaba county town, Ngaba county, Ngaba Tibetan and Qiang Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan province
Age: Twenties
Monastery: Formerly of Andu monastery

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Info: *On April 17, ICT released a 45-second film clip that was shot and sent into exile at great risk to those involved. The clip can be viewed here. According to exiled Tibetan sources, at around 1:30 pm he doused himself in petrol and set himself on fire. He walked into the street calling for the long life of the Dalai Lama and for freedom in Tibet, according to the same sources.

Police began to kick and beat him with clubs spiked with nails rather than immediately focusing on putting out the flames. According to two Kirti monks in Dharamsala, India, who have spoken to several individuals in the area: “Unable to bear this sight, local Tibetans on the scene stood up to the armed security personnel without regard for their own lives, and shouting that the body should be handed over to them, tried their best to block their path as they tried to take him away.”

Losang Jamyang died after his self-immolation but reports about the time of his death differ. He was taken away by police, and one of the most reliable reports suggest that he may have survived until Monday (January 16) when he died.

Losang Jamyang became a monk at the local Andu monastery (of the Gelugpa school of Tibetan Buddhism) as a child, but later joined a primary school (Bontse school) in Ngaba county and completed his education there. In 2011 he was a leading member of a popular association for the promotion of Tibetan language in his village, and as a result had faced pressure from the local authorities.

 

Sonam Wangyal

Date: January 8, 2012
Protest location: Darlag county, Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai province
Age: Forties
Monastery: Dungkyob monastery

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Info: Sonam Wangyal (also referred to as Lama Sobha), a respected religious figure in his local area, drank kerosene and set himself on fire on January 8 early in the morning in Darlag county, Golog (Chinese: Guoluo) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai (the Tibetan area of Amdo), according to the Tibetan government in exile. His self-immolation was said to be linked to lack of religious freedoms in the area. Radio Free Asia reported that before he set himself ablaze, he climbed a local hill to burn incense and pray before distributing leaflets saying he would act “not for his personal glory but for Tibet and the happiness of Tibetans.”

 

Tsultrim

Date: January 6, 2012
Protest location: Ngaba county town, Ngaba county, Ngaba Tibetan and Qiang Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan province
Age: Around twenty
Monastery: Formerly of Kirti

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Info: According to information from exiled Tibetan sources, two Tibetans, both aged around 20, called Tsultrim and Tennyi, set themselves on fire in the courtyard of a hotel in the center of Ngaba town, and ran into the street shouting “His Holiness the Dalai Lama must return to Tibet” and “May His Holiness the Dalai Lama live for 10,000 years!” Tennyi died on the same day, and Tsultrim died on January 7, according to the same sources.

 

Tennyi

Date: January 6, 2012
Protest location: Ngaba county town, Ngaba county, Ngaba Tibetan and Qiang Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan province
Age: Around twenty
Monastery: Kirti

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Info: According to information from exiled Tibetan sources, two Tibetans, both aged around 20, called Tsultrim and Tennyi, set themselves on fire in the courtyard of a hotel in the center of Ngaba town, and ran into the street shouting “His Holiness the Dalai Lama must return to Tibet” and “May His Holiness the Dalai Lama live for 10,000 years!” Tennyi died on the same day, and Tsultrim died on January 7, according to the same sources.

 

Tenzin Phuntsog

Date: December 1, 2011
Protest location: Chamdo (Chinese: Changdu or Qamdo) prefecture in the Tibet Autonomous Region
Age: Forties
Monastery: former monk at Karma monastery in Chamdo township

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased.

Info: This the first self-immolation to occur in the Tibet Autonomous Region, and the 13th since Kirti monk Tapey set himself on fire on February 27, 2009. The self-immolations have mainly occurred in Ngaba (Chinese: Aba) Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan (the Tibetan area of Amdo), with three in neighbouring Kardze (Chinese: Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (the Tibetan area of Kham).

Radio Free Asia reported that the former monk set himself ablaze in Khamar township in Chamdo, that his wife’s name is Dolma, and that he has two sons and a daughter. (Radio Free Asia Tibetan service in English, December 1). According to the Tibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy, Tenzin Phuntsog died at Chamdo Hospital on December 6, 2011 (TCHRD, 9 December 2011).

 

Palden Choetso

Date: November 3, 2011
Protest location: Tawu (also known as Dawu) county in Kardze, TAP, Sichuan
Age: 35
Nunnery: Ganden Jangchup Choeling

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased (believed)

Info: A Tibetan, Palden Choetso set fire to herself November 3, 2011 and is believed to have died in Kardze (Chinese: Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan, the Tibetan area of Kham. The state news agency Xinhua confirmed the self-immolation and reported that the nun died after setting herself on fire near her nunnery in Tawu (also known as Dawu, Chinese: Daofu) county in Kardze.

According to one source in exile, “After Palden Choetso’s self-immolation the nuns took her to the nunnery, and she died soon afterwards. Nuns began to pray for her. The local authorities have locked down the area, closing a major road in Tawu, and deploying troops to the nunnery.”

 

Dawa Tsering

Date: October 25, 2011
Protest location: Kardze county, Kardze TAP, Sichuan
Age: 38
Monastery: Kardze

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Unknown

Info: Dawa Tsering, 38, became the 11th Tibetan to self-immolate as a form of political protest against Chinese rule when he set fire to himself on the morning of October 25 in Kardze Monastery in eastern Tibet. Dawa Tsering was reportedly participating in a religious ritual inside the monastery attended by hundreds of local people when he set himself on fire. His current condition and whereabouts are not known, and Chinese police have reportedly surrounded the monastery.

 

Tenzin Wangmo

Date: October 17, 2011
Protest location: Sumdo bridge, located below Mame nunnery, approximately three kilometers outside of Ngaba county town, Ngaba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan province
Age: 20
Nunnery: Mame Dechen Chokorling (also known as Mame nunnery)

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Info: Tenzin Wangmo, a 20 year-old Tibetan nun from Mame Dechen Chokorling nunnery (also known as Mame nunnery) in Ngaba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan province (Tibetan region of Amdo), died after self-immolating at the Sumdo bridge, located below Mame nunnery, approximately three kilometers outside of Ngaba county town. According to the same sources, Tenzin Wangmo called for the Dalai Lama’s return to Tibet and for religious freedom, during a protest that lasted approximately 10 minutes. Tenzin Wangmo’s body was taken back to the nunnery before police arrived, whereupon the authorities demanded that her body be turned over or buried the same day, according to the same exile sources. The nuns of Mame nunnery refused, after which soldiers and police cordoned off the nunnery and surrounding villages. Details are still emerging, however, according to the same exile sources, Tenzin Wangmo’s body was cremated on the evening of October 17, by order of the authorities.

 

Norbu Damdrul

Date: October 15, 2011
Protest location: Ngaba county town, Ngaba county, Ngaba Tibetan and Qiang Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan province
Age: 19
Monastery: Formerly of Kirti (It is not known whether Norbu Damdrul chose to disrobe, or was expelled from the monastery by government authorities.)

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased.

Info: Norbu Damdrul, 19, a former Kirti monk, set fire to himself in a protest on the main street in Ngaba (Chinese: Aba) county town just before noon on October 15. According to exiled Tibetan sources he shouted “We need freedom and independence for Tibet,” and called for the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet as his body was burning, according to the same sources.

Norbu’s body was badly burned, but according to the same sources he was still alive when police stationed on the street extinguished the flames and kicked Norbu before taking him away. A large crowd of Tibetans who had gathered at the scene was dispersed at gunpoint by security personnel, according to the same sources.

 

Choepel

Date: October 7, 2011
Protest location: Ngaba county town, Ngaba county, Ngaba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan province
Age: 19
Monastery: Formerly of Kirti (It is not known whether Choepel chose to disrobe, or was expelled from the monastery by government authorities.)

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Info: Choepel and Kayang, both former monks at Kirti monastery who may have been expelled, set fire to themselves along the main road of Ngaba county town. The two young men clasped their hands together and set fire to themselves before security personnel extinguished the flames and took the two to the county’s government-run hospital. Both young men died following the protest.

The Chinese state media reported the self-immolation in a Xinhua report on October 8, saying that two Tibetans were “slightly injured” after a “self-immolation attempt.”

 

Kayang

Date: October 7, 2011
Protest location: Ngaba county town, Ngaba county, Ngaba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan province
Age: 18
Monastery: Formerly of Kirti (It is not known whether Kayang chose to disrobe, or was expelled from the monastery by government authorities.)

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Info: Choepel and Kayang, both former monks at Kirti monastery who may have been expelled, set fire to themselves along the main road of Ngaba county town. The two young men clasped their hands together and set fire to themselves before security personnel extinguished the flames and took the two to the county’s government-run hospital. Both young men died following the protest. Kayang’s cousin, a Tibetan named Tashi, was one of the Tibetans killed in the Chinese government crackdown in Ngaba in 2008.

The Chinese state media reported the self-immolation in a Xinhua report on October 8, saying that two Tibetans were “slightly injured” after a “self-immolation attempt.”

 

• Kirti Rinpoche speaks of self-immolations; death of two former Tibetan monks after immolation (11 October 2011)

Kelsang Wangchuk

Date: October 3, 2011
Protest location: Ngaba county town, Ngaba county, Ngaba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan province
Age: 17
Monastery: Kirti

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Tibetan exile sources indicate that he is in a ward of the county hospital under strict surveillance. The same sources said that he had sustained a head injury as a result of the beatings from police at the time of his detention.

Info: A 17-year old monk from Kirti monastery immolated himself in Ngaba county town at approximately 2:00 pm local time on October 3, according to Tibetans in exile in contact with Tibetans in the area. The monk, Kelsang Wangchuk, carried a photo of the Dalai Lama and was shouting slogans against the Chinese government when he set fire to himself along the main street in Ngaba county, Ngaba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan province. Full details of the incident have yet to emerge, but some exiled sources say that he was immediately surrounded by security personnel, who extinguished the fire and beat Kelsang Wangchuk before taking him away. Kelsang’s current wellbeing and whereabouts are unknown.

Shortly after the immolation, additional security forces were deployed in Ngaba county town and at Kirti monastery.

According to monks from the re-established Kirti monastery in exile in Dharamsala, India, pamphlets were distributed and posted around Kirti monastery and the market place in Ngaba county town a few days ago, stating that if the current security crackdown in the area were to continue, “many more people were prepared to give up their lives” in protest.

 

Lobsang Kelsang

Date: September 26, 2011
Protest location: Ngaba county town, Ngaba county, Ngaba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan province
Age: Believed to be 18
Monastery: Kirti

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: In a hospital, according to exile Tibetan sources. Lobsang Kelsang was featured on Chinese state television from hospital.

Info: On September 26 Lobsang Kelsang and Lobsang Kunchok, both believed to be approximately 18-years old, set fire to themselves while shouting “Long live His Holiness the Dalai Lama,” in a protest also held in Ngaba county town. After extinguishing the flames, police took the two young monks into custody.

 

Lobsang Kunchok

Date: September 26, 2011
Protest location: Ngaba county town, Ngaba county, Ngaba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan province
Age: Believed to be 18
Monastery: Kirti

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: In a hospital, according to exile Tibetan sources.

Info: On September 26 Lobsang Kelsang and Lobsang Kunchok, both believed to be approximately 18-years old, set fire to themselves while shouting “Long live His Holiness the Dalai Lama,” in a protest also held in Ngaba county town. After extinguishing the flames, police took the two young monks into custody.

A video was posted on YouTube showing Lobsang Kunchok in the street after he self-immolated.
(Warning: graphic content)

 

Tsewang Norbu

Date: August 15, 2011
Protest location: Tawu county, Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan province
Age: 29
Monastery: Nyitso

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Info: Tsewang Norbu died after setting fire to himself and calling for freedom and the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet. Tsewang Norbu drank petrol before immolating himself and died soon afterwards, according to Tibetan exiles in contact with the area.

In a rare instance of prompt reporting on such an incident, the Chinese state media confirmed the death of a Buddhist monk shortly afterwards, with Xinhua stating: “it was unclear why he had burnt himself”, and that the local government had launched an investigation. (Xinhua, August 15).

A hotel receptionist near the scene of Tsewang Norbu’s death told AFP that the monk had been distributing leaflets, saying: “I saw a monk lying on the ground and burning, he died right in front of the county government building.” (AFP, August 15).

The state media confirmed that Tsewang Norbu had been swiftly cremated on Wednesday, August 17, evidence that the Kardze Party Secretary’s instructions for a prompt cremation were followed. Xinhua reported that Nyitso monk Tsewang Norbu (Chinese transliteration: Tsongwon Norbu) had been “cremated Wednesday in accordance with Tibetan rituals”, according to the local government. (Xinhua in English, August 17).

 

Phuntsog

Date: March 16, 2011
Protest location: Ngaba county town, Ngaba county, Ngaba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan province
Age: 20
Monastery: Kirti

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Info: Phuntsog, a 20-year old monk, immolated himself on March 16, the 3rd anniversary of a protest at Kirti in 2008 during which at least 10 Tibetans were shot dead. Police extinguished the flames and were seen beating Phuntsog before he died, according to Tibetan exiles in contact with Tibetans in the area. According to Tibetan exiles who spoke to a witness of the protest, before he was stopped by police Phuntsog shouted slogans including “May His Holiness the Dalai Lama live for 10,000 years!”

23 June 2012

On June 20, 2012, two Tibetan men self-immolated in Tridu, Yushul: Ngawang Norphel (age 22) and Tenzin Kedhup (age 24). The latter succumbed to his injuries on the same day.  The former, Ngawang Norphel, survived and was taken to a nearby monastery.  The following graphic video footage of seriously burned Ngawang Norphel was recently obtained by the Central Tibetan Administration, based in India. Despite his heavy injuries, he articulates the reasons for their self-immolation:  the survival of Tibetan culture, language, and identity.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCsaunXM1zM&feature=player_detailpage

The English translation of what is being said is as follows:

The following text is the transcript of an exchange between Ngawang Norphel (attempted to self-immolate on 20 June 2012) and the monk by his side. The person he refers to as ‘Khedup’ and ‘Tenzin Khedup’ is the other man who self-immolated with him and died on 20 June 2012.

2.

(0:00-0:09) Ngawang Norphel (N.N): My people have no freedom of language. Everybody is mixing Tibetan and Chinese.

(0:11) Be that as it may

(0:16) take my wealth

(0:21) I don’t need them

(0:24) What has happened to my Land of Snow?

(0:30) What has happened to my Land of Snow?

(0:55) N.N: How is Tenzin Khedup?

(0:59) Monk by his side: He is fine

(01:00) N.N: Where is he?

(01:02) Monk: He is home

(01:07-01:12) We two “sworn brothers”, we won’t fail next time

(01:12-01:20) [This is] for the sake of Tibet. We are in the land of snow

(01:26-01:35) if we don’t have our freedom, cultural traditions and language, it would be extremely embarrassing for us

(01:37) We must therefore learn them

(01:42-01:54) Every nationality needs freedom, language and tradition

(01:55-01:59) Without language, what would be our nationality?

(02:01) [Should we then] call ourselves Chinese or Tibetan?

(02:16) N.N: Aro Khedup! Aro Khedup! Khedup!

(02:26) Where are you?

(02:32) Voice from back: Just behind you

(02:33) N.N: What?

(02:3) Voice: Just behind you

(02:38) N.N: Are you behind me?

(02:40-02:43) What are you doing? Aro! How is my face?

(02:45-02:47) Voice: Not bad. It will get better

(02:48) N.N: I don’t look like a human? Aro!

(02:51) N.N: I look dreadful, don’t I?

(02:56) N.N: I smell kerosene. We poured quite a lot of kerosene.

(03:02-03:08) N.N: Really, the way you fell down and rose up again, you really showed some courage. Aro!

Voice: Right

(03:29) N.N: Aro! Now you hold it.

(03:39) Monk: It is better now. It really is!

(03:41-03:44) N.N: Did you hand me over to the Chinese?

(03:45-03:47) Monk: All the monks of monastery are taking care of you.

(03:47-03:51) N.N: Thank you. Thank you. I am grateful to Silkar monastery.

(03:52-03:59) Monk: All the monks of Silkar monastery are here. We don’t have good medical facilities but we are doing our best.

(03:59) N.N: Thank you

(04:02-04:15) N.N: There is no hope of my recovery. I have only one wish in my heart. I just wish to raise the prestige of my people. Aro!

(04:17) I have no other wish.

(04:29-04:32) N.N: What is Tenzin Khedup doing?

(04:32-04:36) Monk: Tenzin Khedup is fine. He is home.

(04:37) N.N: Swear

(04:38) Monk: Yes. Then.

(04:40) N.N: You are fooling me

(04:43) Monk: I am not fooling you.

(04:51) N.N: Is he dead?

(04:53) Monk: He is not dead

(04:54) N.N: What?

(04:55) Monk: He is not dead

(04:57) N.N: He is dead, right?

(04:58) Monk: He is not dead

(05:11-05:13) N.N: Where is he?

(05:54) N.N: What has become of my “sworn friend”?

(05:56)Monk: He is fine.

(05:58) N.N: Where is he?

(06:00) Monk: At home.

(06:01)N.N: Where is he?

(06:03) Monk: He was taken to his home.

(06:04)N.N: What?

(06:05) Monk: He was taken to his home.

(06:06) N.N: Where is he?

(06:08) Monk: He is at his home

(06:13) N.N: Is he dead?

(06:15)Monk: He is not dead

(06:16)N.N: Swear

(06:18) Monk: Okay

The video footage can be viewed by clicking here

According to the latest update, Ngawang Norphel has since been admitted into a military hospital in Xining, the provincial capital of Qinghai Province. The two monks who were sent from Silkar Monastery to help him have been forbidden entry into the hospital. They are now said to be at the hospital gate where soldiers stand guard. Tridu, the place where the self-immolations took place is reported to be under heavy military surveillance and presence. Friends and relatives of the two self-immolators are said to be taken into police custody for interrogation. Monks from Silkar monastery, where Ngawang Norphel was tended to immediately after the self-immolations are also reported to be under heavy police surveillance and their movements restricted.

(0:00-0:09) Ngawang Norphel (N.N): My people have no freedom of language. Everybody is mixing Tibetan and Chinese.

(0:11) Be that as it may

(0:16) take my wealth

(0:21) I don’t need them

(0:24) What has happened to my Land of Snow?

(0:30) What has happened to my Land of Snow?

(0:55) N.N: How is Tenzin Khedup?

(0:59) Monk by his side: He is fine

(01:00) N.N: Where is he?

(01:02) Monk: He is home

(01:07-01:12) We two “sworn brothers”, we won’t fail next time

(01:12-01:20) [This is] for the sake of Tibet. We are in the land of snow

(01:26-01:35) if we don’t have our freedom, cultural traditions and language, it would be extremely embarrassing for us

(01:37) We must therefore learn them

(01:42-01:54) Every nationality needs freedom, language and tradition

(01:55-01:59) Without language, what would be our nationality?

(02:01) [Should we then] call ourselves Chinese or Tibetan?

(02:16) N.N: Aro Khedup! Aro Khedup! Khedup!

(02:26) Where are you?

(02:32) Voice from back: Just behind you

(02:33) N.N: What?

(02:3) Voice: Just behind you

(02:38) N.N: Are you behind me?

(02:40-02:43) What are you doing? Aro! How is my face?

(02:45-02:47) Voice: Not bad. It will get better

(02:48) N.N: I don’t look like a human? Aro!

(02:51) N.N: I look dreadful, don’t I?

(02:56) N.N: I smell kerosene. We poured quite a lot of kerosene.

(03:02-03:08) N.N: Really, the way you fell down and rose up again, you really showed some courage. Aro!

Voice: Right

(03:29) N.N: Aro! Now you hold it.

(03:39) Monk: It is better now. It really is!

(03:41-03:44) N.N: Did you hand me over to the Chinese?

(03:45-03:47) Monk: All the monks of monastery are taking care of you.

(03:47-03:51) N.N: Thank you. Thank you. I am grateful to Silkar monastery.

(03:52-03:59) Monk: All the monks of Silkar monastery are here. We don’t have good medical facilities but we are doing our best.

(03:59) N.N: Thank you

(04:02-04:15) N.N: There is no hope of my recovery. I have only one wish in my heart. I just wish to raise the prestige of my people. Aro!

(04:17) I have no other wish.

(04:29-04:32) N.N: What is Tenzin Khedup doing?

(04:32-04:36) Monk: Tenzin Khedup is fine. He is home.

(04:37) N.N: Swear

(04:38) Monk: Yes. Then.

(04:40) N.N: You are fooling me

(04:43) Monk: I am not fooling you.

(04:51) N.N: Is he dead?

(04:53) Monk: He is not dead

(04:54) N.N: What?

(04:55) Monk: He is not dead

(04:57) N.N: He is dead, right?

(04:58) Monk: He is not dead

(05:11-05:13) N.N: Where is he?

(05:54) N.N: What has become of my “sworn friend”?

(05:56)Monk: He is fine.

(05:58) N.N: Where is he?

(06:00) Monk: At home.

(06:01)N.N: Where is he?

(06:03) Monk: He was taken to his home.

(06:04)N.N: What?

(06:05) Monk: He was taken to his home.

(06:06) N.N: Where is he?

(06:08) Monk: He is at his home

(06:13) N.N: Is he dead?

(06:15)Monk: He is not dead

(06:16)N.N: Swear

(06:18) Monk: Okay

The video footage can be viewed by clicking here

According to the latest update, Ngawang Norphel has since been admitted into a military hospital in Xining, the provincial capital of Qinghai Province. The two monks who were sent from Silkar Monastery to help him have been forbidden entry into the hospital. They are now said to be at the hospital gate where soldiers stand guard. Tridu, the place where the self-immolations took place is reported to be under heavy military surveillance and presence. Friends and relatives of the two self-immolators are said to be taken into police custody for interrogation. Monks from Silkar monastery, where Ngawang Norphel was tended to immediately after the self-immolations are also reported to be under heavy police surveillance and their movements restricted.

The English translation of what is being said is as follows:

The following text is the transcript of an exchange between Ngawang Norphel (attempted to self-immolate on 20 June 2012) and the monk by his side. The person he refers to as ‘Khedup’ and ‘Tenzin Khedup’ is the other man who self-immolated with him and died on 20 June 2012.

(0:00-0:09) Ngawang Norphel (N.N): My people have no freedom of language. Everybody is mixing Tibetan and Chinese.

(0:11) Be that as it may

(0:16) take my wealth

(0:21) I don’t need them

(0:24) What has happened to my Land of Snow?

(0:30) What has happened to my Land of Snow?

(0:55) N.N: How is Tenzin Khedup?

(0:59) Monk by his side: He is fine

(01:00) N.N: Where is he?

(01:02) Monk: He is home

(01:07-01:12) We two “sworn brothers”, we won’t fail next time

(01:12-01:20) [This is] for the sake of Tibet. We are in the land of snow

(01:26-01:35) if we don’t have our freedom, cultural traditions and language, it would be extremely embarrassing for us

(01:37) We must therefore learn them

(01:42-01:54) Every nationality needs freedom, language and tradition

(01:55-01:59) Without language, what would be our nationality?

(02:01) [Should we then] call ourselves Chinese or Tibetan?

(02:16) N.N: Aro Khedup! Aro Khedup! Khedup!

(02:26) Where are you?

(02:32) Voice from back: Just behind you

(02:33) N.N: What?

(02:3) Voice: Just behind you

(02:38) N.N: Are you behind me?

(02:40-02:43) What are you doing? Aro! How is my face?

(02:45-02:47) Voice: Not bad. It will get better

(02:48) N.N: I don’t look like a human? Aro!

(02:51) N.N: I look dreadful, don’t I?

(02:56) N.N: I smell kerosene. We poured quite a lot of kerosene.

(03:02-03:08) N.N: Really, the way you fell down and rose up again, you really showed some courage. Aro!

Voice: Right

(03:29) N.N: Aro! Now you hold it.

(03:39) Monk: It is better now. It really is!

(03:41-03:44) N.N: Did you hand me over to the Chinese?

(03:45-03:47) Monk: All the monks of monastery are taking care of you.

(03:47-03:51) N.N: Thank you. Thank you. I am grateful to Silkar monastery.

(03:52-03:59) Monk: All the monks of Silkar monastery are here. We don’t have good medical facilities but we are doing our best.

(03:59) N.N: Thank you

(04:02-04:15) N.N: There is no hope of my recovery. I have only one wish in my heart. I just wish to raise the prestige of my people. Aro!

(04:17) I have no other wish.

(04:29-04:32) N.N: What is Tenzin Khedup doing?

(04:32-04:36) Monk: Tenzin Khedup is fine. He is home.

(04:37) N.N: Swear

(04:38) Monk: Yes. Then.

(04:40) N.N: You are fooling me

(04:43) Monk: I am not fooling you.

(04:51) N.N: Is he dead?

(04:53) Monk: He is not dead

(04:54) N.N: What?

(04:55) Monk: He is not dead

(04:57) N.N: He is dead, right?

(04:58) Monk: He is not dead

(05:11-05:13) N.N: Where is he?

(05:54) N.N: What has become of my “sworn friend”?

(05:56)Monk: He is fine.

(05:58) N.N: Where is he?

(06:00) Monk: At home.

(06:01)N.N: Where is he?

(06:03) Monk: He was taken to his home.

(06:04)N.N: What?

(06:05) Monk: He was taken to his home.

(06:06) N.N: Where is he?

(06:08) Monk: He is at his home

(06:13) N.N: Is he dead?

(06:15)Monk: He is not dead

(06:16)N.N: Swear

(06:18) Monk: Okay

Press Release

23 June 2012

On June 20, 2012, two Tibetan men self-immolated in Tridu, Yushul: Ngawang Norphel (age 22) and Tenzin Kedhup (age 24). The latter succumbed to his injuries on the same day.  The former, Ngawang Norphel, survived and was taken to a nearby monastery.  The following graphic video footage of seriously burned Ngawang Norphel was recently obtained by the Central Tibetan Administration, based in India. Despite his heavy injuries, he articulates the reasons for their self-immolation:  the survival of Tibetan culture, language, and identity.

The English translation of what is being said is as follows:

The following text is the transcript of an exchange between Ngawang Norphel (attempted to self-immolate on 20 June 2012) and the monk by his side. The person he refers to as ‘Khedup’ and ‘Tenzin Khedup’ is the other man who self-immolated with him and died on 20 June 2012.

(0:00-0:09) Ngawang Norphel (N.N): My people have no freedom of language. Everybody is mixing Tibetan and Chinese.

(0:11) Be that as it may

(0:16) take my wealth

(0:21) I don’t need them

(0:24) What has happened to my Land of Snow?

(0:30) What has happened to my Land of Snow?

(0:55) N.N: How is Tenzin Khedup?

(0:59) Monk by his side: He is fine

(01:00) N.N: Where is he?

(01:02) Monk: He is home

(01:07-01:12) We two “sworn brothers”, we won’t fail next time

(01:12-01:20) [This is] for the sake of Tibet. We are in the land of snow

(01:26-01:35) if we don’t have our freedom, cultural traditions and language, it would be extremely embarrassing for us

(01:37) We must therefore learn them

(01:42-01:54) Every nationality needs freedom, language and tradition

(01:55-01:59) Without language, what would be our nationality?

(02:01) [Should we then] call ourselves Chinese or Tibetan?

(02:16) N.N: Aro Khedup! Aro Khedup! Khedup!

(02:26) Where are you?

(02:32) Voice from back: Just behind you

(02:33) N.N: What?

(02:3) Voice: Just behind you

(02:38) N.N: Are you behind me?

(02:40-02:43) What are you doing? Aro! How is my face?

(02:45-02:47) Voice: Not bad. It will get better

(02:48) N.N: I don’t look like a human? Aro!

(02:51) N.N: I look dreadful, don’t I?

(02:56) N.N: I smell kerosene. We poured quite a lot of kerosene.

(03:02-03:08) N.N: Really, the way you fell down and rose up again, you really showed some courage. Aro!

Voice: Right

(03:29) N.N: Aro! Now you hold it.

(03:39) Monk: It is better now. It really is!

(03:41-03:44) N.N: Did you hand me over to the Chinese?

(03:45-03:47) Monk: All the monks of monastery are taking care of you.

(03:47-03:51) N.N: Thank you. Thank you. I am grateful to Silkar monastery.

(03:52-03:59) Monk: All the monks of Silkar monastery are here. We don’t have good medical facilities but we are doing our best.

(03:59) N.N: Thank you

(04:02-04:15) N.N: There is no hope of my recovery. I have only one wish in my heart. I just wish to raise the prestige of my people. Aro!

(04:17) I have no other wish.

(04:29-04:32) N.N: What is Tenzin Khedup doing?

(04:32-04:36) Monk: Tenzin Khedup is fine. He is home.

(04:37) N.N: Swear

(04:38) Monk: Yes. Then.

(04:40) N.N: You are fooling me

(04:43) Monk: I am not fooling you.

(04:51) N.N: Is he dead?

(04:53) Monk: He is not dead

(04:54) N.N: What?

(04:55) Monk: He is not dead

(04:57) N.N: He is dead, right?

(04:58) Monk: He is not dead

(05:11-05:13) N.N: Where is he?

(05:54) N.N: What has become of my “sworn friend”?

(05:56)Monk: He is fine.

(05:58) N.N: Where is he?

(06:00) Monk: At home.

(06:01)N.N: Where is he?

(06:03) Monk: He was taken to his home.

(06:04)N.N: What?

(06:05) Monk: He was taken to his home.

(06:06) N.N: Where is he?

(06:08) Monk: He is at his home

(06:13) N.N: Is he dead?

(06:15)Monk: He is not dead

(06:16)N.N: Swear

(06:18) Monk: Okay

According to the latest update, Ngawang Norphel has since been admitted into a military hospital in Xining, the provincial capital of Qinghai Province. The two monks who were sent from Silkar Monastery to help him have been forbidden entry into the hospital. They are now said to be at the hospital gate where soldiers stand guard. Tridu, the place where the self-immolations took place is reported to be under heavy military surveillance and presence. Friends and relatives of the two self-immolators are said to be taken into police custody for interrogation. Monks from Silkar monastery, where Ngawang Norphel was tended to immediately after the self-immolations are also reported to be under heavy police surveillance and their movements restricted.

According to the latest update, Ngawang Norphel has since been admitted into a military hospital in Xining, the provincial capital of Qinghai Province. The two monks who were sent from Silkar Monastery to help him have been forbidden entry into the hospital. They are now said to be at the hospital gate where soldiers stand guard. Tridu, the place where the self-immolations took place is reported to be under heavy military surveillance and presence. Friends and relatives of the two self-immolators are said to be taken into police custody for interrogation. Monks from Silkar monastery, where Ngawang Norphel was tended to immediately after the self-immolations are also reported to be under heavy police surveillance and their movements restricted.