Press Release |5 March 2012
DHARAMSHALA: The Central Tibetan Administration is deeply concerned and saddened by the latest development in Tibet involving a 32-year-old mother and a student setting themselves on fire to protest against the continuing occupation of Tibet by the People’s Republic of China. Both of them have died.
Rinchen, a mother of four children, set herself on fire in front of the police station at the entrance of Kirti Monastery in Ngaba in northeastern Tibet on 4 March. She shouted slogans demanding freedom and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama toTibet. She died on the spot.
On 3 March, Tsering Kyi, a 20-year-old Tibetan student died after setting herself on fire at a vegetable market in Machu in eastern Tibet. Media reports state that the Tsering Kyi was a middle school student.
The current situation in Ngaba is tense following this latest self-immolation incident, as large number of security forces and police have been deployed in the region.
Moreover, Rigzin Dorjee, the monk of Kirti monastery who self-immolated in February 2012 is reported to have succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital. The Chinese authorities cremated him in Barkham despite pleas from his relatives to have his body returned to them.
Another monk from Kirti monastery, Lobsang Kunchok, who self-immolated in September 2011, is in serious condition following amputation of his legs and arms. He is being fed through a tube in his throat. The staff at the hospital are reported to physically abuse him with beatings and label him “enemy of the state”.
The Central Tibetan Administration would like to offer its deep condolences to the family members of the three Tibetans who died from self-immolation.
We call on the Chinese government to allow those injured from self-immolations to get proper medical treatment.
“We are deeply troubled by reports of such cruel treatment of fellow human beings. We appeal to the Chinese government to demonstrate greater wisdom in its handling of the current tense situation,” stated Dicki Chhoyang, Kalon for the Department of Information & International Relations.
Media contacts:
Tashi, Secretary for Information
+91-9816843798
Lobsang Choedak, Press Officer
+91-98822 32476
