Two Tibetans Self-Immolate, Security Heightened in Ngaba/ENG

2012. március 5./Dharamszala/ITN/TibetPress

Two Tibetans Self-Immolate, Security Heightened in Ngaba

DHARAMSHALA, 5 March: Reports coming out of Tibet say two Tibetans
– a mother and a student – set themselves on fire and died in
separate incidents.

Rinchen, a mother of four children, set herself on fire in front of
a police station at the entrance of Kirti Monastery in Ngaba in
northeastern Tibet on 4 March. She raised slogans demanding freedom
and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet. She died on
the spot.

The current situation in Ngaba is tense following the self-
immolation incident, as large number of security forces and police
have been deployed in the region.

On 3 March, Tsering Kyi, a student of a middle school, died after
setting herself on fire to protest against the Chinese government
in Machu in eastern Tibet.

Meanwhile, Rigzin Dorjee, the monk of Kirti Monastery who self-
immolated in February has succumbed to his injuries at a hospital.
The Chinese authorities cremated his body in Barkham despite pleas
from the relatives to take it into their possession.

Moreover, another monk from Kirti Monastery, Lobsang Kunchok, who
self-immolated in September 2011, is in serious condition after
both his legs and arms were amputated. He is being fed through a
pipe in his throat. The staff at the hospital are meting out harsh
treatments to him which include beating.

Since 2009, 25 Tibetans have set themselves on fire calling for
freedom and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet. 17
Tibetans who self-immolated died.