Another Tibetan dies in flames, thousands gather in solidarity:Tawu

Phayul[Tuesday, December 23, 2014 22:28]

Kalsang Yeshi/file Another Tibetan has reportedly died by setting himself ablaze in less than 24 hours of the self-immolation by a Tibetan woman in Ngaba yesterday. Kalsang Yeshi, a 37 year old Tibetan monk of Nyitso Monastery in Tawu in eastern Tibet, set himself on fire right in front of the police post in the premises of the monastery today around 11 AM (local time), said Lobsang Jinpa, a Tibetan from Tawu now residing in India. Kalsang had studied at the Ganden Jhangste monastery in south India in the past after he left home in Thewa village in Kunor township, Tawu County, according to Jinpa, who accompanied him during his flight to exile. “I knew him very well. We came into exile together in 1997. I met him a few years ago when I went to Tibet,” said Jinpa. Graphic image/charred body of Kalsang Yeshi, 37, who died after immolating himself, Dec. 23, 2014 Around a thousand local Tibetans have gathered outside the Tawu County police station demanding that the authorities return the body to the family. Kalsang called for the return of the exiled Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama, said Jinpa, citing an eyewitness. Kalsang collapsed to the ground within minutes of sustaining severe burns. Police have immediately taken away the charred body despite protests from the local Tibetans who appealed to the police to hand over the body to the family. Kalsang was held in high esteem by the local Tibetans for his contribution towards the preservation of Tibetan culture and religion. He taught Tibetan and Buddhism to local Tibetans, especially elders and children, said Jinpa. Authorities fear of more protests by the Tibetans who have gathered in huge numbers outside the police station. Communication lines have been cut off to monitor the tense situation in the area as the authorities fear more Tibetans will join in tomorrow. Kalsang became 135th Tibetan to self immolate in protest against the Chinese government since 2009 and 116th to succumb to the burns. His self immolation is the third by a Tibetan in just less than a month.

20 yr old Tibetan woman immolates self to death

Phayul[Monday, December 22, 2014 18:00] (graphic content) Charred body of Kyi  A 20 year old Tibetan woman has died after she set her body on fire around 2PM (local time) today in Tibet's Ngaba County. A Tibetan exile source with contacts in the region said the deceased has been identified as Tsepey Kyi from fourth village of Meruma township in Ngaba County. The same source said Kyi succumbed to her burn injuries within minutes of her self immolation protest and her body was immediately taken away by the police. Police have cordoned off the site of her self immolation and stepped up restrictions around the area making it difficult to acquire more information. Tsepey Kyi is daughter of Chime Dorjee and Chenpa of Chudotsang family. Kyi's parents have also been taken away from their home by the police but it is not known if they have been detained. Kyi is the 134th Tibetan to resort to self immolation as a form of protest against the Chinese government and 115th to die after self immolation protest. Less than a week ago, another Tibetan named Sangay Khar died after he set himself ablaze in Amchok town in Sangchu County.

Breaking: Tibetan dies after setting self on fire

Phayul[Tuesday, December 16, 2014 19:43]

Palden Khar A Tibetan man has died after he set himself on fire earlier today in Amchok town, Sangchu County, Kanlho Tibet Autonomous Prefecture in Gansu province. Sangyal Khar set himself on fire right in front of the Police Station Tuesday around 9 AM (local time). A Tibetan source said that Khar's charred body was taken to Sangchu County by the Chinese police who refused to hand over the body to his family despite protests from the local Tibetans. The situation in Amchok town remains tense as authorities cordoned off the area and put restrictions on local people's movement and communication lines. Khar became the 134th Tibetan to immolate self, and 114th to succumb to the burns.