2014's first Tibetan self immolator dead, cremated without family's consent

Phayul[Saturday, February 15, 2014 23:50]

DHARAMSHALA, February 15: The Tibetan youth who set himself ablaze in Tibet's Tsekhok County on Feb. 5 has succumbed to his burns at a hospital in Xiling a day later, exile sources said.  Phagmo Samdup, 27, who became the first Tibetan to resort to self immolation protest in 2014, was cremated by Chinese authorities at an undisclosed cremation site without informing his family, according to sources.  Doused in gasoline, Samdup set himself on fire near Bhenchen School in Dokarmo town around 9.30 PM (local time) on February 5. Chinese police took him away immediately.  Chinese authorities also forced his family to throw his remains in Machu River, a Tibetan source said, adding that they even confiscated a golden ring belonging to the deceased.  Since 2009, 127 Tibetans have set themselves on fire in Tibet to protest against China’s occupation of Tibet and its hard-line policies.