Name: Gepey
Age: 18
Sex: Male
Profession: Monk at Kirti Monastery
Date of Self-immolation: 10 March 2012, the 53rd anniversary of Tibetan National Uprising Day
Location: Near a Chinese military camp located 1.5 kilometers from Kirti Monastery in Ngaba, Amdo, Northeastern Tibet
Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased
His slogans: Not reported
Since Gepey self-immolated in close proximity to a military camp near his monastery, Chinese soldiers were quick to arrive at the scene and carry his charred body inside the camp. They then refused to hand it over to the family of the deceased. After a subsequent day of persistent pleading, on 11 March at around 10 pm the regional government gave permission for five members of Gepey’s family to attend his cremation ceremony, but the family was forced to cut short the rituals. Security personnel kept a close watch over the proceedings. Gepey became the third Tibetan in a row to self-immolate near Chinese government buildings, symbolically opposing China’s continuing occupation of Tibet. To honour what was seen as Gepey’s courageous action, local Tibetan shops and restaurants closed in a strong gesture of solidarity. PSB personnel reportedly interrogated his mother for an entire day. He is survived by his mother and two brothers who are also monks at Kirti Monastery.