Dharamshala: This day in 2009 marks the beginning of the wave of self-immolation protests inside Tibet when Tapey, a 27-year-old monk from Kirti Monastery in Amdo Ngaba, set himself on fire after local authorities cancelled a prayer ceremony at his monastery. This marked the first instance of one of the most extreme forms of non-violent resistance within Tibet, reflecting the deep-seated frustrations within the Tibetan community regarding China’s oppressive policies affecting their religious and cultural freedoms.
Tapey’s story stands as a testament to the extraordinary measures some Tibetans have felt compelled to take in expressing their opposition to the escalating tensions and brutal Chinese repression, particularly after the 2008 protests in Ngaba Prefecture, where the response of authorities resulted in the death of numerous civilians, including pregnant women, children, and teenage students.
Carrying the Tibetan flag and a photograph of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tapey set himself aflame after Chinese authorities cancelled a traditional mourning ceremony during Tibetan New Year. The response to his protest – being shot by military police while engulfed in flames – underscores the severe measures employed against such demonstrations. His subsequent disappearance into various hospitals while barred from contact with most of his family and religious figures exemplifies China’s secrecy and inconspicuous handling of such incidents.
The systematic suppression of information about these events, evidenced by the limited coverage in state media and the restricted access to Tapey during his hospitalization, reflects broader patterns of information control regarding Tibet. Despite initial reports by foreign media, the full context and consequences of his protest remained largely obscured from public view.
As of today, there have been at least 157 known cases of Tibetan self-immolation protests with the most recent in 2022 of Taphun, an 81-year-old Tibetan senior citizen, who succumbed to injuries sustained during the protest. These protests have been carried out by both monastic and lay Tibetans from various walks of life, including students, farmers, teachers, parents, and grandparents.
In response to these protests, the government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has increased security measures, criminalized self-immolation, and punished families, monasteries, and communities associated with self-immolators, rather than addressing Tibetans’ legitimate grievances and calls. Despite these measures, self-immolation protests have continued, reflecting the deep-seated grievances of the Tibetan people regarding religious freedom, cultural preservation, and human rights under the Chinese repression.
In the past, international bodies, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, have called for China to respect Tibetan rights and allow unimpeded access to Tibetan areas for UN officials and foreign media. Multiple national governments have also expressed concern about the situation, calling for multilateral diplomatic intervention to address the crisis in Tibet.
The recognition of Tibetan self-immolators stands as a solemn testament to the ultimate sacrifice made by those who could no longer bear witness to the suffering of their fellow Tibetans. Despite these profound acts of protest—where individuals surrendered their bodies to flames as a final desperate plea for global attention—Tibet’s condition under Chinese authority has only worsened. The systematic erasure of Tibetan culture, language, and religious freedom continues unabated, with heightened surveillance, forced assimilation policies, and environmental exploitation intensifying rather than diminishing in response to these desperate acts. This tragic reality underscores how even the most extreme forms of nonviolent resistance have failed to move international powers to meaningful action, leaving Tibet’s future increasingly perilous under China’s oppressive rule.
-Filed by the UN, EU, and the Human Rights Desk, Tibet Advocacy Section, DIIR
