Escalation in Ngaba following self-immolation: two Tibetans shot/ENG

2012. január 16./WTN/ICT/TibetPress

ICT report, January 14, 2011

There has been an escalation of tensions in Ngaba (Chinese: Aba) today after
the violent actions of police towards a Tibetan who set himself on fire led
to armed police shooting into a crowd. According to emerging reports from
sources in exile, at least two Tibetans were shot. Several are believed to
be seriously injured, and reports that a Tibetan woman had died could not be
fully confirmed at the time of writing.

The shooting followed the self-immolation of a Tibetan layman today in Ngaba
town (Ngaba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan, the Tibetan
area of Amdo). According to the same sources, the Tibetan was observed being
beaten severely by police as the flames were extinguished. Tibetans gathered
around in distress and there were attempts to take the body of the Tibetan
who self-immolated away from police. According to various sources the
Tibetan was dead.

Police opened fire on the crowd of Tibetans, and at least two were shot.
Tear gas was also used. According to various reports, several Tibetans were
injured, possibly severely, and some Tibetan sources said a woman had died.

An Tibetan from Amdo who is now in exile and spoke to some sources in the
area said: ³Many people witnessed the violent treatment of police towards
the Tibetan who self-immolated and were very angry. We heard that police
were beating him with a stick studded with nails. The Tibetan died and was
taken away by the people, not by the police.²

Tibetans were still gathered in Ngaba into the evening today and there are
serious fears of further escalation and repercussions for Tibetans in the
area. The International Campaign for Tibet is calling upon the international
community to press the Chinese authorities to use restraint as a matter of
urgency.

The self-immolation that occurred today was the 17th since Kirti monk Tapey
set fire to himself on February 27, 2009. Twelve of the 17 were from Ngaba
(http://www.savetibet.org/resource-center/maps-data-fact-sheets/self-immolat
ion-fact-sheet). The last self-immolation occurred just under a week ago in
Golog, Qinghai, and was the first of a reincarnate lama. Sonam Wangyal (also
referred to as Lama Soepa), 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).