CTA Mourns Self-Immolation in Rebgong - Press Release/ENG

2012. március 14./Phayul.com/TibetPress

DHARAMSHALA: The Central Tibetan Administration is seriously concerned by the latest developments in Tibet involving a Tibetan monk of Rongwo monastery in Rebgong in northeastern Tibet who set himself on fire today. A huge number of Chinese security forces now lay siege to the monastery.

Reports coming out of Tibet say Jamyang Palden, aged 34, set himself on fire for the right of Tibet in the Dolma square of Rongwo monastery on 14 March.

Local Tibetans circumambulating the monastery tried to put out the flame. The authorities and army personnel from Thunring district then took him to a hospital. Later, a large number of Tibetans gathered in front of the hospital to demand him into their custody. As a result, he was handed over to the local Tibetans, who then took him to the monastery. Tibetans who saw him at that time say they could not bear to see the level of burn on his body. He is now in a serious condition and it is extremely difficult to say whether he would survive.

Subsequently, a huge number of Tibetans including the monks of Rongwo monastery, gathered in front of the monastery to pray for the recovery of the monk. The local Tibetans shouted slogans calling for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet. The monastery is now under the occupation of armed security forces.

As a mark of solidarity with the monk, students of Gedun Choephel middle school, Rebgong nationality school and Yiphu middle school took to the streets after they heard about the self-immolation incident. The students later held demonstrations inside their school after they were outnumbered by police and security forces. Similar peaceful protests by students were also reported in the nearby areas of Rebgong district.

The Central Tibetan Administration urgently calls on the Chinese authorities to facilitate immediate medical treatment to the injured monk.

We also urge the Chinese government to immediately remove the security forces from Rongwo monastery and other areas in Rebgong to avert further unfortunate incidents.