His slogans: “Return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from Exile,” and “Release of all Tibetan political prisoners, including the 11th Panchen Lama”

Name: Sangay Tashi

Age: 18

Sex: Male

Profession: Nomad

Date of Self-immolation: 27 November 2012

Location: Sangkhog town, Sangchu County, Amdo

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

On 26 November 18-year-old Sangay Tashi arrived in Sangkhog town with his friends. Sangay reportedly called a relative, but before a proper conversation could be carried out Sangay cut the call by switching off his phone. Sangay Tashi then set himself on fire around midnight of 27 November in Sangchu region of Eastern Tibet. Sangay passed away at the site of his protest where he had reportedly shouted slogans calling for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the release of all Tibetan political prisoners, including the 11th Panchen Lama while engulfed in flames. Local Tibetans then carried his charred body to a nearby house. By the time Sangay Tashi’s family members arrived in Sangkhog, he had already succumbed to his injuries. Sangay Tashi is survived by his parents and four siblings. He had studied at a primary school in Sangkhog town for four years but was forced to return home to help with family chores.

Name: Wangyal

Age: 20

Sex: Male

Profession: Student

Date of Self-immolation: 26 November 2012 at around 11:20 am (local time)

Location: Sertha Township, Rebkong, Amdo

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Unknown

His slogans: “Return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from Exile,” and “Freedom for Tibet”

A young Tibetan student from Sertha People’s Middle School, identified as Wangyal, self-immolated on 26 November at around 11:20 am (local time). Wangyal reportedly set himself on fire on one of the main roads leading to the town centre and ran towards the golden horse statue in the middle of Sertha Town and fell to the ground. According to eyewitnesses, “His hands were clasped in prayers as he ran, raising slogans for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and freedom for the Tibetan people.” According to a source in exile, “Chinese armed forces immediately arrived at the scene of the protest and took Wangyal away after dousing the flames”. Wangyal’s current whereabouts and condition remain unknown. Sources speculate that Wangyal would have suffered major injuries as his body was entirely engulfed in flames at the time of his action. Wangyal is an orphan and is survived by three brothers and one sister.

Name: Wangyal

Age: 20

Sex: Male

Profession: Student

Date of Self-immolation: 26 November 2012 at around 11:20 am (local time)

Location: Sertha Township, Rebkong, Amdo

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Unknown

His slogans: “Return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from Exile,” and “Freedom for Tibet”

A young Tibetan student from Sertha People’s Middle School, identified as Wangyal, self-immolated on 26 November at around 11:20 am (local time). Wangyal reportedly set himself on fire on one of the main roads leading to the town centre and ran towards the golden horse statue in the middle of Sertha Town and fell to the ground. According to eyewitnesses, “His hands were clasped in prayers as he ran, raising slogans for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and freedom for the Tibetan people.” According to a source in exile, “Chinese armed forces immediately arrived at the scene of the protest and took Wangyal away after dousing the flames”. Wangyal’s current whereabouts and condition remain unknown. Sources speculate that Wangyal would have suffered major injuries as his body was entirely engulfed in flames at the time of his action. Wangyal is an orphan and is survived by three brothers and one sister.

His slogans: “Tibet’s Freedom, “Human Rights in Tibet”, and the “Return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from Exile.”

Name: Gonpo Tsering

Age: 24

Sex: Male

Profession: Farmer

Date of Self-immolation: 26 November 2012 at around 6 pm (local time)

Location: In front of Ala Dheu Monastery in Luchu, Kanlho, Amdo

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

One of three unrelated self-immolations in a single day, Gonpo Tsering set himself on fire in Luchu region of Kanlho Prefecture. Father of three, — all below the age of six — Gonpo carried out his action in front of the main prayer hall of Ala Deu-go Monastery around 6 pm on 26 November 2012. Gonpo shouted slogans calling for Tibet’s freedom, human rights in Tibet, and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile while totally consumed in flames. Gonpo Tsering died at the site of his protest. Local Tibetans carried his charred body inside the Monastery where monks and a large number of Tibetans from the surrounding areas assembled, defying official orders by offering prayers for the deceased and expressing their solidarity. Restrictions were heightened as the Chinese authorities were reported to be investigating Gonpo Tsering’s protest. Gonpo Tsering is survived by his wife, three children, and his parents.

His slogans: “Tibet’s Freedom, “Human Rights in Tibet”, and the “Return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from Exile.”

Name: Gonpo Tsering

Age: 24

Sex: Male

Profession: Farmer

Date of Self-immolation: 26 November 2012 at around 6 pm (local time)

Location: In front of Ala Dheu Monastery in Luchu, Kanlho, Amdo

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

One of three unrelated self-immolations in a single day, Gonpo Tsering set himself on fire in Luchu region of Kanlho Prefecture. Father of three, — all below the age of six — Gonpo carried out his action in front of the main prayer hall of Ala Deu-go Monastery around 6 pm on 26 November 2012. Gonpo shouted slogans calling for Tibet’s freedom, human rights in Tibet, and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile while totally consumed in flames. Gonpo Tsering died at the site of his protest. Local Tibetans carried his charred body inside the Monastery where monks and a large number of Tibetans from the surrounding areas assembled, defying official orders by offering prayers for the deceased and expressing their solidarity. Restrictions were heightened as the Chinese authorities were reported to be investigating Gonpo Tsering’s protest. Gonpo Tsering is survived by his wife, three children, and his parents.

Name: Kunchok Tsering

Age: 18

Sex: Male

Profession: Nomad

Date of Self-immolation: 26 November 2012

Location: Amchok, Labrang, Amdo, Northeastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Kunchok Tsering set himself on fire at a mining site in the eastern region of Labrang — the same location where Tsering Dhondup had carried out his action on 20 November. Kunchok passed away at the scene of the protest. Sources reported that monks of Amchok Monastery and a large number of local Tibetans gathered at his house to offer prayers. Kunchok is survived by his wife, Sangay Tso (19), his parents, Phagkyab (40) and mother Gonpo Tso (37) and an older brother.

Name: Kunchok Tsering

Age: 18

Sex: Male

Profession: Nomad

Date of Self-immolation: 26 November 2012

Location: Amchok, Labrang, Amdo, Northeastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Kunchok Tsering set himself on fire at a mining site in the eastern region of Labrang — the same location where Tsering Dhondup had carried out his action on 20 November. Kunchok passed away at the scene of the protest. Sources reported that monks of Amchok Monastery and a large number of local Tibetans gathered at his house to offer prayers. Kunchok is survived by his wife, Sangay Tso (19), his parents, Phagkyab (40) and mother Gonpo Tso (37) and an older brother.

Name: Sangay Dolma

Age: 17

Sex: Female

Profession: Nun

Date of Self-immolation: 25 November 2012 at around 11:20 am (local time)

Location: In front of the Chinese government office in Dokarmo, Malho, Rebkong, Amdo

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased Last words: Below Sangay Dolma, a nun, passed away in her self-immolation protest in front of the Chinese government office in Dokarmo town of Tsekhog, Malho, Eastern Tibet. The exact time of her self-immolation protest could not be ascertained immediately. Sangay Dolma’s nunnery is located near Sangag Mindrol Dhargeyling Monastery. According to various sources, a large number of local Tibetans gathered to carry out the last rites for Sangay Dolma.

Prayers were also carried out at the deceased’s nunnery. She left behind the following message in poem-prose: Look into the deep blue sky above my lama has returned into the tent with white rock steps look, my Tibetan brothers and sisters look at the peak of that snow mountain the white snow lion has returned look, my Tibetan brothers and sisters look at the fortress in the forest look at the beauty of the turquoise plain my tigress has come back look, my Tibetan brothers and sisters look at the land of snow our destiny is on the rise Tibet is an independent country. While His Holiness the Dalai Lama Has been away for too long Travelling all over the world Tibetans suffer under oppression let’s pray for this darkness to be over. the Panchen Lama is in prison let’s pray for his release and happiness for the land of snow. * “Children of the snow lion Do not forget that you are Tibetan.” * “Tibet is an independent country.” signed Sangay Dolma
(Translated from Tibetan by Bhuchung D. Sonam)

His slogans: “Long Live His Holiness the Dalai Lama”

Name: Tamdrin Dorje

Age: 29

Sex: Male

Profession: Farmer

Date of Self-immolation: 23 November 2012 at around 6:30 pm (local time)

Location: In front of government office building, Dokarmo, Rebkong, Amdo

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Twenty-nine-year-old Tamdrin Dorjee set himself on fire on 23 November near the entrance of the local Chinese administrative offices of Dokarmo town in Tsekhog region of Malho. He died at the scene of his actions. According to sources, Tamdrin was seen with his hands clasped together in prayer shouting as the flames raged around him.

Name: Tamdrin Kyab

Age: 23

Sex: Male

Profession: Nomad

Date of Self-immolation: 22 November 2012 around 10 pm (local time)

Location: Luchu Township, Kanlho, Amdo, Northeastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Local Tibetans discovered 23-year-old Tamdrin Kyab’s charred body on the morning of 23 November. As Tamdrin had self-immolated late in previous night near the Luchu River, no one had witnessed his action. Tibetans brought his dead body back to his home where many gathered to offer prayers and pay their respects. A former monk of Shitsang Monastery, Tamdrin had disrobed in 2007 to help his nomadic family. A source reported that Tamdrin often stated that without the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet, there is “no difference between living and dying in this world.”