Tibetans shot at demonstration following self-immolation/ENG

2012. január 19./Tibet Society/TibetPress

[19 January 2012] UPDATE: The Tibetan who self-immolated and died on 14 January has been named as 22-year old Lobsang Jamyang. He was from Shewa village in the Andu area of Ngaba, eastern Tibet (Sichuan province), and had previously been a monk at Andu monastery. Lobsang was also a leading member of a popular assocaition which promoted the Tibetan language, and as a result had faced pressure from local authorities.

On 14 January, at approximately 1.30pm, the former monk (pictured right) doused himself in petrol, set himself alight and walked into the street, near Kirti monastery in Ngaba town. During his protest Lobsang was heard to be calling for freedom in Tibet and ''May His Holiness the Dalai Lama live thousands of years''.

Witnesses said that police began to kick Lobsang and beat him with clubs spiked with nails before trying to extinguish the flames. Some witnesses believed Lobsang had died at the scene, but recent reports say he was still alive when he was taken away by the police and that he died two days later on 16 January.

In response to the police actions, up to 700 Tibetans gathered in protest. As well as beating demonstrators, the police are reported to have used tear gas and opened fire on the crowd. Several Tibetans were seriously injured and the Tibetan government in exile reported that a Tibetan woman died after being shot. An unknown number of Tibetans were arrested.