Date: March 26, 2013
Protest location: Near Mokri monastery in Luchu (Chinese: Luqu) County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Gansu province
Age: 28

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Info: Konchok Tenzin was a monk at Mokri monastery, which he joined at a young age. Konchok died in the course of the protest, and his body was taken back to the monastery. In fear that the remains would be confiscated by the authorities, they were cremated the same night, according to Kirti monks in exile, in Dharamsala, India.

Following the incident, security forces were deployed around the monastery and nearby villages in large numbers, and a strict crackdown imposed. This is the sixth self -immolation protest in Luchu county so far, and all the protesters involved have died as a result.

Date of Self-immolation: Late March/early April, 2013

Location: Kyegudo (Chinese: Yushu)

Age: Early Forties

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Unknown

Slogans: Not reported

Info: Kunchok Tsomo self-immolated in late March in protest over the planned destruction of her home in Kyegudo, (Chinese: Yushu), in Qinghai, according to Radio Free Asia’s Tibetan service. On April 14, 2010, a 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck the area, killing 2,698 and leaving 100,000 homeless according to the official count. Kunchok Tsomo’s home was among those destroyed by the local authorities as part of the process of rebuilding Yushu as a ‘new city’ following the earthquake. She survived, and is under close official supervision, according to Tibetan sources. She is the third Tibetan from Kyegudo to self-immolate over land-rights issues involved in the reconstruction following the earthquake.

According to a Tibetan source, armed police arrived on the scene of Kunchok Tsomo’s self-immolation quickly and extinguished the flames, and removed her to hospital. She was given urgent medical treatment and recovered, according to the same source. She is now back in her home town and under close official scrutiny. It is not known if her land was returned to her or not.

Source: RFA Tibetan (4 April, 2013)

Name: Lhamo Kyab

Age: 43

Sex: Male

Profession: Forest Guard

Date of Self-immolation: 25 March 2013

Location: Lushoe Village in Tsoe Region, Eastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Slogans: Not reported

A Tibetan forest guard self-immolated and died on 25 March in Lushoe Village in Tsoe Region, Sangchu, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. Lhamo Kyab reportedly doused himself in kerosene and then jumped onto a pile of timber which he had already set ablaze. An image received from Tibet depicts what can barely be discerned as human remains on scorched earth beside a heap of charcoal.

Name: Lhamo Kyab

Age: 43

Sex: Male

Profession: Forest Guard

Date of Self-immolation: 25 March 2013

Location: Lushoe Village in Tsoe Region, Eastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Slogans: Not reported

A Tibetan forest guard self-immolated and died on 25 March in Lushoe Village in Tsoe Region, Sangchu, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. Lhamo Kyab reportedly doused himself in kerosene and then jumped onto a pile of timber which he had already set ablaze. An image received from Tibet depicts what can barely be discerned as human remains on scorched earth beside a heap of charcoal.

Name: Kalkyi

Age: 30

Sex: Female

Profession: Housewife

Date of Self-immolation: 24 March 2013

Location: Dzamthang, Ngaba, Amdo, Northeastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Slogans: Not reported

This 30-year old Tibetan mother of four set fire to herself close to Jonang Gonchen Monastery in Dzamthang, Ngaba, Amdo. According to exile sources, Kalkyi died immediately and local people swiftly took her body into the monastery for prayers to be started at around 3:30 pm before the Chinese security personnel arrived. Kalkyi, who is survived by three sons and one daughter, all under 15 years of age, was from Barma township in Dzamthang.

Name: Lobsang Thokmey

Age: 28

Sex: Male

Profession: Monk with Kirti Monastery

Date of Self-immolation: 16 March 2013, 2:40 pm (local time)

Location: Kirti Monastery, Ngaba, Amdo, Northeastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Slogans: Not reported

On 16 March 2013, fifth anniversary of the protest in Ngaba in 2008 during which PLA (People’s Liberation Army) armed police fired into an unarmed crowd, monk Lobsang Thokmey set himself on fire. Lobsang was the third Kirti Monastery monk to self-immolate on the anniversary of this 2008 slaughter of unarmed Tibetans. According to the Dharamshala-based Kirti Monastery, Lobsang Thokmey doused his body with kerosene in front of his monastic quarters to the west of Kirti Monastery and started running towards the east; he fell to the ground before reaching the monastery gate. By that time, a mass of monks and laypeople reached the spot and rushed Lobsang to the county hospital where he shortly passed away. An eyewitness states that Lobsang was carrying the Buddhist religious flag but could not confirm if he shouted slogans during his protest. A large contingent of armed police and the military arrived at the hospital and forcibly took possession of Lobsang Thokmey’s remains, which they transported to the Prefecture Headquarters at Barkham. Lobsang Thokmey is survived by his parents, Rogtrug and Depo, and a sister and three brothers.

Name: Kunchok Wangmo

Age: 31

Sex: Female

Status: Layperson

Date of Self-immolation: 13 March 2013

Location: Ngaba, Amdo, Northeastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Slogans: Not reported

Kunchok Wangmo, a 31-year-old housewife from Dzoge in Ngaba County, set herself on fire around midnight on 13 March 2013 on the eve of the swearingin ceremony for China’s new President, Xi Jinping. Her body was taken away by security troops immediately after her self-immolation and her cremation was carried out without her family members being informed. Her remains were later handed over to her family. Her husband, Dolma Kyab was subsequently detained in Dzoge after he refused to comply with orders from local Chinese authorities to state that an internal family feud was the reason for Kunchok’s self-immolation. The condition and whereabouts of Dolma Kyab remain unknown. According to Beijing’s state-run Global Times (19 March 2013) Ngaba officials reported that Kunchok Wangmo was “strangled to death by her husband [Dolma Kyab], who later burned her body.” Citing a media official for Ngaba Prefecture, Jiang Zuquan, the report claimed that Kunchok Wangmo was strangled “after a fight escalated between the couple over Drolma Gya’s [Dolma Kyab’s] alcohol addiction.” According to the article, Jiang Zuquan was “certain the case was not a protest against Chinese policy in Tibetan-inhabited areas as reported by Radio Free Asia.” An article published online by China’s official news agency, Xinhua claimed on March 20 that the alleged conflict between Kunchok Wangmo and Dolma Kyab occurred over his supposed “gambling, marital relations and other issues,” in addition to the claim of alcoholism previously reported. Xinhua published details on Dolma Kyab’s detention, reporting that he was being held by “the Zoige County PSB on suspicion of intentional homicide, while the case undergoes further investigation.”(Xinhua, 20 March 2013).

Name: Kunchok Wangmo

Age: 31

Sex: Female

Status: Layperson

Date of Self-immolation: 13 March 2013

Location: Ngaba, Amdo, Northeastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Slogans: Not reported

Kunchok Wangmo, a 31-year-old housewife from Dzoge in Ngaba County, set herself on fire around midnight on 13 March 2013 on the eve of the swearingin ceremony for China’s new President, Xi Jinping. Her body was taken away by security troops immediately after her self-immolation and her cremation was carried out without her family members being informed. Her remains were later handed over to her family. Her husband, Dolma Kyab was subsequently detained in Dzoge after he refused to comply with orders from local Chinese authorities to state that an internal family feud was the reason for Kunchok’s self-immolation. The condition and whereabouts of Dolma Kyab remain unknown. According to Beijing’s state-run Global Times (19 March 2013) Ngaba officials reported that Kunchok Wangmo was “strangled to death by her husband [Dolma Kyab], who later burned her body.” Citing a media official for Ngaba Prefecture, Jiang Zuquan, the report claimed that Kunchok Wangmo was strangled “after a fight escalated between the couple over Drolma Gya’s [Dolma Kyab’s] alcohol addiction.” According to the article, Jiang Zuquan was “certain the case was not a protest against Chinese policy in Tibetan-inhabited areas as reported by Radio Free Asia.” An article published online by China’s official news agency, Xinhua claimed on March 20 that the alleged conflict between Kunchok Wangmo and Dolma Kyab occurred over his supposed “gambling, marital relations and other issues,” in addition to the claim of alcoholism previously reported. Xinhua published details on Dolma Kyab’s detention, reporting that he was being held by “the Zoige County PSB on suspicion of intentional homicide, while the case undergoes further investigation.”(Xinhua, 20 March 2013).

Name: Tsesung Kyab

Age: 27

Sex: Male

Profession: Monk

Date of Self-immolation: 25 February 2013, 1:30 pm (local time)

Location: Shitsang Gonsar Monastery, Luchu County, Amdo

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Slogans: Not Known

On the same day, another monk, Tsesung Kyab, set fire to himself in front of the main temple of Shitsang Gonsar Monastery in Luchu County. Images received from Tibet show Tsesung engulfed in flames outside the monastery as pilgrims look on. At the time, many Tibetans had congregated at the monastery for a special prayer ceremony and ritual during which monks carry the Buddha’s statue while circumambulating the monastery. According to sources, Tibetans struggled with Chinese security personnel who attempted to extinguish the flames and remove Tsesung’s body. The bystanders were able to take his body to his home in Choekhor village for prayers and the cremation ceremony. Several hundred Chinese armed police arrived at the monastery, according to a source, and imposed restrictions in the area. It is believed that Tsesung Kyab is a cousin of Pema Dorjee (23), who set himself on fire and died at the same location on 8 December 2012.

Name: Tsesung Kyab

Age: 27

Sex: Male

Profession: Monk

Date of Self-immolation: 25 February 2013, 1:30 pm (local time)

Location: Shitsang Gonsar Monastery, Luchu County, Amdo

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Slogans: Not Known

On the same day, another monk, Tsesung Kyab, set fire to himself in front of the main temple of Shitsang Gonsar Monastery in Luchu County. Images received from Tibet show Tsesung engulfed in flames outside the monastery as pilgrims look on. At the time, many Tibetans had congregated at the monastery for a special prayer ceremony and ritual during which monks carry the Buddha’s statue while circumambulating the monastery. According to sources, Tibetans struggled with Chinese security personnel who attempted to extinguish the flames and remove Tsesung’s body. The bystanders were able to take his body to his home in Choekhor village for prayers and the cremation ceremony. Several hundred Chinese armed police arrived at the monastery, according to a source, and imposed restrictions in the area. It is believed that Tsesung Kyab is a cousin of Pema Dorjee (23), who set himself on fire and died at the same location on 8 December 2012.