Kirti Monk Who Self-Immolated Last Week Dies/ENG

2012. március 20./CTA/TibetPress

DHARAMSHALA: Losang Tsultrim, the 20-year-old monk of Kirti Monastery, who set himself on fire last week has succumbed to his injuries.

Losang Tsultrim of Kirti Monastery self-immolated on 16 March 2012
Losang Tsultrim protested against the Chinese government’s repression before setting himself on fire in Ngaba town on 16 March. Eyewitnesses that police extinguished the flame and took him to an unknown location.

Latest reports coming out of Tibet said he died in Barkham yesterday (19 March). The Chinese authorities has cremated him on that day and handed over the ashes to his family. Later in the late night, his ashes were brought to a crematorium near the Kirti monastery in Ngaba. A prayer service was held throughout that night at Kirti monastery.    

Losang Tsultrim was a cousin of Norbu Dramdul, former monk of Kirti monastery, who also died after setting himself on fire on 15 October 2011.

All shops and restaurants remained close for three days following the self-immolation of Losang Tsultrim as a mark of mourning.

Since 2009, 30 Tibetans have so far set themselves on fire calling for freedom and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to his homeland. 17 of these incidents occurred in this year alone. (Self-Immolations Fact Sheet)