Press Release: FEBRUARY 18, 2012, DHARAMSALA, INDIA /ENG

2012. február 18. /TibetPress

The Central Tibetan
Administration is deeply concerned and shocked over the recent news
of yet another self-immolation that occurred around 6am local time
at the ground of Bongthak Monastery, Amdo in North Eastern Tibet on
Friday, 17 February 2012.

Dhamchoe Sangpo, a monk in his late 30s, set fire to himself and
died during a festival in the monastery, where several villagers
gathered for the prayer services.

Dhamchoe Sangpo was a teacher at the monastic school, and a member
of the Democratic Management Committee of the monastery, the
government-controlled bodies to control monasteries.

It is reported that earlier during the Chinese New Year, on 23
January, Chinese security personnel came to the monastery and
intensified the patriotic re-education campaign, which was later
disrupted with protests. Dhamchoe Sangpo had told the police to
leave the monastery as it is a place for monks and not for police
officers, but the latter stayed and warned that the monastery would
be shut down if the monks failed to attend the patriotic re-
education sessions.

Bongthak monastery, which has around 80 monks, is cut off from the rest of the area with checkpoints to monitor and prevent anyone
from entering and leaving. Security restrictions have been
tightened and phone lines have also been cut.

As previously expressed, the Central Tibetan Administration wishes
to remind all the Tibetan communities across the world and friends
of Tibet to carry out any solidarity activities peacefully, in
accordance with the laws of your country, and with dignity. In
keeping with these guiding principles, the Central Tibetan
Administration does not endorse activities such as the burning of
the Chinese Flag.