Two more Tibetans self-immolate in China, rights group says

[News_Editor]

Two more Tibetans self-immolate in China, rights group says

2011-10-08 13:32:59 GMT+7 (ICT)

BEIJING (BNO NEWS) -- Two former Tibetan Buddhist monks set themselves on fire in protest against Chinese rule in the southwestern province of Sichuan on Friday, just days after another monk also set himself alight, a rights group said.

Free Tibet, a group campaigning for an end to the 'Chinese occupation' of Tibet, said 19-year-old Choepel and 18-year-old Khayang were dressed in lay clothes when they set themselves on fire near the main street in Ngaba Town.

"This shows not only the level of suffering and desperation of Tibetans, but also the extreme actions they are willing to take to draw the world's attention to the situation in Tibet," Free Tibet said in a statement. At least five Tibetans in Ngaba have set themselves on fire within the past two weeks.

Locals said that Choepel died at the scene of the incident after suffering severe burns over his body. He was reportedly expelled from the Kirti Monastery following fellow monk Phuntsog's self-immolation earlier this year.



In the past six months, seven monks have self-immolated in Tibet. On October 3, Kalsang Wangchuk, a young monk believed to be 17 or 18 years old from Kirti Monastery, set himself alight near the vegetable market in Ngaba Town. He was reportedly holding a photograph of the Dalai Lama and shouted: "There are no religious rights and freedom in Tibet."

On September 26, two young monks, also from Kirti monastery, self-immolated. One of them was the brother of Phuntsog, a 21-year old monk who also died after setting himself on fire in March.

Following Phuntsog's death, the Chinese government deployed troops onto the streets of Ngaba town to forcibly remove hundreds of monks protesting in the wake of the incident. Ngaba town is said to be under police and military control, Free Tibet reported.

The monks reportedly waved the banned Tibetan flag, called for religious freedom and shouted "long live the Dalai Lama" before they self-immolated. The whereabouts of the five monks are unknown.

The Dalai Lama has resided in the Indian city of Dharamsala, which is now the seat of the Tibetan Government-in-exile, since 1960 following a failed uprising against Chinese rule of Tibet. Dharamsala is sometimes also referred to as 'Little Lhasa', referring to the capital of Tibet.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-10-08

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