Two Tibetans torch themselves in Ngaba, One protestor beaten to death

Phayul[Tuesday, August 14, 2012 02:10]

In alarming reports coming out of Tibet, two more Tibetans set themselves on fire in protest against China’s rule over Tibet, Monday. There are also unconfirmed reports of a third self-immolation that took place later in the evening. In more disturbing reports, following the self-immolations, local Tibetans carried out a protest in solidarity with the self-immolators, which reportedly resulted in the death of a Tibetan protestor.  According to sources, Chinese security personnel beat the Tibetan man to death. The self-immolations and protests are being reported from the beleaguered Ngaba region of eastern Tibet, the nerve centre of the ongoing wave of fiery protests. Tibetan media outlets based in the United States have quoted sources inside the region as saying that the two confirmed self-immolations took place at around 6:50 pm (local time) Monday.  Although Phayul, as of now, cannot independently confirm their identities, media reports have named the self-immolators as Lungtok, a monk from the Kirti Monastery in Ngaba, and Tashi, believed to be a layperson. Soon after the protests, Chinese security forces arrived in large numbers and forcibly took both of them away. There are no details currently available on their condition and whereabouts.  Soon after the fiery protests, Chinese security forces imposed severe curbs in the region. Local Tibetans responded with protests in solidarity with the self-immolators and against the Chinese government.  In ensuing “clashes,” a Tibetan man was reportedly beaten to death by Chinese armed forces. As tensions escalated late into the evening, reports of a third self-immolation by a Kirti Monastery monk at around 8:00 pm (local time), reached exile from the same region. The incident has not been confirmed as yet although the situation in Ngaba is being described as critical. Last week alone, three Tibetans; a mother of two, a monk, and a Tibetan nomad, torched themselves, in a further intensification of the self-immolation protests that began in 2009. The first eight months of 2012 have on an average witnessed nearly five self-immolations every month. The two confirmed self-immolations on Monday have now taken Tibet’s self-immolation toll to 50.