Ngaba tense after 127th self immolation in Tibet

Phayul[Friday, February 14, 2014 22:23]

Lobsang Dorjee engulfed in flames/Feb. 13, 2014/photo provided by source DHARAMSHALA, February 14: A 25 year old Tibetan youth set himself on fire on Thursday in Tibet's Ngaba region to protest China's hard-line policies in Tibet, said Kanyag Tsering, an exiled Tibetan monk with close contacts in the region. Lobsang Dorjee, former monk of Kirti monastery doused himself in gasoline near Kirti monastery around 6.30 PM (local time). Chinese police arrived at the site and took him away, Kanyag added citing his source.  “Chinese policemen arrived at the site, extinguished the fire on his body and took him away in a van. He held his head high with both hands folded,” said Tsering. It is not known if Lobsang, 127th Tibetan to immolate self, has succumbed to his burns.  Lobsang is second eldest among his four siblings. His parents had been separated a few years ago. He lived in Golok with his mother and younger brother. He ran a car wash facility in Golog before moving back to Ngaba to live with his father in Chuklay Ghongma village in Ngaba. He was seen at the Kirti monastery's great prayer festival (Monlam Chenmo) recently.  Following the incident, most entry and exit points to the town have been manned with check-posts with Tibetans being frisked and stopped for questioning.