Twin Self Immolation

Name: Tenzin

Age: 25

Sex: Male

Status: Layperson

Date of Self-immolation: 25 October 2012 4 pm (local time)

Location: Near a government building in Driru County, Nagchu TAR

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Unknown

Their slogans: Unity, Independence for Tibet, the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet

Name: Tsepo

Age: 20

Sex: Male

Status: Layperson

Date of Self-immolation: 25 October 2012 4 pm (local time)

Location: Near a government building in Driru County, Nagchu TAR

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased same day

Cousins Tenzin and Tsepo set fire to themselves in front of a government building in Narong Phampa village in Driru County calling for independence for Tibet and the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet. While Tsepo died on the way to hospital, Tenzin was removed from the site by government personnel and his current whereabouts or his wellbeing is still unknown. Tenzin had enrolled in TCV Suja School near Dharamshala, India, where he studied for around six months. According to an informant in exile, “brothers also pleaded for all Tibetans to be united like brothers.” It took two days for this report to reach exiles in India due to the intense security and communications clampdown in the area. The Chinese security forces have been deployed in large numbers and all communication channels – internet and telephones – have been blocked. Where lines are still working, Tibetans are too afraid to talk about what is happening because they fear that their conversations are being surveilled by the government.

Name: Dorjee Rinchen

Age: 58

Sex: Male

Profession: Bread vendor

Date of Self-immolation: 23 October 2012 at 3:30 pm (local time)

Location: Near a military camp Gyugya market main street, Labrang, Amdo

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

His slogans: Not reported

Dorje Rinchen set himself on fire on the main street of Labrang town right in front of the military headquarters and not far from Labrang Tashikyil Monastery. Nearby Tibetans reportedly shielded the burning body from the Chinese authorities, resulting in a standoff. Security personnel tried to prevent the locals from carrying Dorjee Rinchen’s body back to his family; but after a brief confrontation, his corpse was taken to his home in Upper Zayue village, Sangchu County. But later, tensions flared when Beijing’s security forces prevented monks from Labrang Tashikyil Monastery from visiting Dorje Rinchen’s residence in Upper Zayue to pay their last respects. The monks reportedly sat at the roadside in defiance and started their prayers there and then for the man who sold bread to their monastery.

Later on, many Tibetans headed towards Zayue village to pay their respects, despite the fact that a large Chinese security contingent had already been deployed there. Chinese state media reported that, “Dorje Rinchen got up very early this morning and went to pray at Labrang Monastery. He walked around the monastery several times, and walked three times between the monastery and his home,” a source said. “After that, he cleaned his house inside and out and then went to the Chinese police station, where he self-immolated and died.” Dorje Rinchen is survived by his wife, Luthar Tso, a son Tabo, and a daughter.

Name: Dhondup

Age: 60

Sex: Male

Profession: Farmer/petty business

Date of Self-immolation: 22 October 2012 at 9:47 am (local time)

Location: Labrang Tashikyil Monastery, Kanlho, Amdo

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

His slogans: Not reported

Dhondup set himself on fire beside a temple called Serkhang (the golden house) in the complex of Labrang Tashikyil Monastery — the major monastery in the Tibetan area of Gansu Province. The self-immolation took place on the circumambulation route near the entrance to Labrang Monastery. Eyewitness accounts state that the flames produced a huge blaze and that Dhondup died at the site of his protest. Subsequently armed soldiers put Dhondup’s body in a bag and removed it, according to the report. When monks from Labrang TashiKyil Monastery later attempted to hold a prayer ceremony for Dhondup at the place of his demise, Chinese police sent by the local government, and the monastery’s Management Committee, tried to prevent the prayer service being held. Local Tibetans reportedly offered khatags (traditional Tibetan ceremonial scarves) at the place of his self-immolation protest. Dhondup was born in DhongNhe Do village in Denme Township, Sangchu County. He is survived by his wife, Drolma Tso, and their adopted son, Rigzin Choepel.

Name: Dhondup

Age: 60

Sex: Male

Profession: Farmer/petty business

Date of Self-immolation: 22 October 2012 at 9:47 am (local time)

Location: Labrang Tashikyil Monastery, Kanlho, Amdo

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

His slogans: Not reported

Dhondup set himself on fire beside a temple called Serkhang (the golden house) in the complex of Labrang Tashikyil Monastery — the major monastery in the Tibetan area of Gansu Province. The self-immolation took place on the circumambulation route near the entrance to Labrang Monastery. Eyewitness accounts state that the flames produced a huge blaze and that Dhondup died at the site of his protest. Subsequently armed soldiers put Dhondup’s body in a bag and removed it, according to the report. When monks from Labrang TashiKyil Monastery later attempted to hold a prayer ceremony for Dhondup at the place of his demise, Chinese police sent by the local government, and the monastery’s Management Committee, tried to prevent the prayer service being held. Local Tibetans reportedly offered khatags (traditional Tibetan ceremonial scarves) at the place of his self-immolation protest. Dhondup was born in DhongNhe Do village in Denme Township, Sangchu County. He is survived by his wife, Drolma Tso, and their adopted son, Rigzin Choepel.

His slogans demanded the Dalai Lama’s return to Tibet

Name: Lhamo Kyab

Age: 27

Sex: Male

Profession: Farmer From

Date of Self-immolation: 20 October 2012, around 2 pm (local time)

Location: Near Bora Monastery in Sangchu County, Kanlho, Amdo

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Father of two young daughters, Lhamo Kyab set himself on fire in Bora Village in Sangchu County on 20 October 2012. According to eyewitnesses, Lhamo fought off security police who were attempting to douse his flames, and ran towards Bora Monastery where he fell to the ground and died. He was reportedly shouting demands for the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet. Following the self-immolation, a minor scuffle broke out at the site of the protest between Chinese security personnel and the assembled Tibetans who succeeded in carrying Lhamo Kyab’s charred body inside the monastery’s main prayer hall. The monks were therefore able to start chanting prayers for the deceased. A large number of Tibetans reportedly started congregating at Bora Monastery when news of the protest spread. After the prayer rituals were completed, monks and local Tibetans carried Lhamo Kyab’s body to his home. He is survived by his wife, Dorji Kyi, and two daughters — Pema Tso and Drugmo Tso — both under 10 years. Bora Monastery was also the scene of major protests against Chinese rule on 20 March 2012. More than 100 monks marched to local government buildings, displaying Tibetan flags and pictures of the Dalai Lama and shouting slogans for freedom in Tibet and the return of the Dalai Lama.

His slogans demanded the Dalai Lama’s return to Tibet

Name: Lhamo Kyab

Age: 27

Sex: Male

Profession: Farmer From

Date of Self-immolation: 20 October 2012, around 2 pm (local time)

Location: Near Bora Monastery in Sangchu County, Kanlho, Amdo

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Father of two young daughters, Lhamo Kyab set himself on fire in Bora Village in Sangchu County on 20 October 2012. According to eyewitnesses, Lhamo fought off security police who were attempting to douse his flames, and ran towards Bora Monastery where he fell to the ground and died. He was reportedly shouting demands for the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet. Following the self-immolation, a minor scuffle broke out at the site of the protest between Chinese security personnel and the assembled Tibetans who succeeded in carrying Lhamo Kyab’s charred body inside the monastery’s main prayer hall. The monks were therefore able to start chanting prayers for the deceased. A large number of Tibetans reportedly started congregating at Bora Monastery when news of the protest spread. After the prayer rituals were completed, monks and local Tibetans carried Lhamo Kyab’s body to his home. He is survived by his wife, Dorji Kyi, and two daughters — Pema Tso and Drugmo Tso — both under 10 years. Bora Monastery was also the scene of major protests against Chinese rule on 20 March 2012. More than 100 monks marched to local government buildings, displaying Tibetan flags and pictures of the Dalai Lama and shouting slogans for freedom in Tibet and the return of the Dalai Lama.

Name: Tamdin Dorjee

Age: 52 Sex: Male

Profession: Farmer

Date of Self-immolation: 13 October 2012

Location: Mila Serkhar Choten near Tso, Amdo, eastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

His slogans: Not reported

Tamdin Dorje, the grandfather of a prominent young Tibetan reincarnate lama — the 7th Gungthang Rinpoche of Labrang Tashikyil Monastery — died after setting himself on fire near a white stupa beside Tsoe Gaden Choeling Monastery in Gansu’s Kanlho Prefecture. He reportedly shouted slogans demaning Tibetan freedom as he lit himself. According to sources, the local Tibetans took his body back to his home and refused to hand it over to Chinese authorities and monks of Tsoe Monastery offered prayer service. It was also reported that the Chinese officials have sealed off the monastery by deploying a large number of paramilitary forces in and around the monastery. Tamdin was originally from Drong Che village in Khasag Township, Kanlho. Tibetans gathered in huge numbers to pray for him despite an intense military build-up following his fiery protest. This self-immolation is likely to raise a higher level of concern among the Beijing authorities due to Tamdin’s relationship to the influential young rinpoche.

Name: Tamdin Dorjee

Age: 52 Sex: Male

Profession: Farmer

Date of Self-immolation: 13 October 2012

Location: Mila Serkhar Choten near Tso, Amdo, eastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

His slogans: Not reported

Tamdin Dorje, the grandfather of a prominent young Tibetan reincarnate lama — the 7th Gungthang Rinpoche of Labrang Tashikyil Monastery — died after setting himself on fire near a white stupa beside Tsoe Gaden Choeling Monastery in Gansu’s Kanlho Prefecture. He reportedly shouted slogans demaning Tibetan freedom as he lit himself. According to sources, the local Tibetans took his body back to his home and refused to hand it over to Chinese authorities and monks of Tsoe Monastery offered prayer service. It was also reported that the Chinese officials have sealed off the monastery by deploying a large number of paramilitary forces in and around the monastery. Tamdin was originally from Drong Che village in Khasag Township, Kanlho. Tibetans gathered in huge numbers to pray for him despite an intense military build-up following his fiery protest. This self-immolation is likely to raise a higher level of concern among the Beijing authorities due to Tamdin’s relationship to the influential young rinpoche.

His slogans: “Return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet” and “Give Tibetans the Right to Articulate their Language and Religion”

Name: Sangay Gyatso

Age: 27

Sex: Male

Profession: Farmer/Nomad

Date of Self-immolation: 6 October 2012 at around 12 noon (local time)

Location: Tsoe, Kanlho, Amdo, Northeastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Sangay Gyatso, a father of two, set fire to himself near Dokar Monastery in the town of Tsoe, a northeastern Tibetan area of Amdo. Sangay Gyatso called for the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet and the right of Tibetans to freely express their language and religion. He is reported to have succumbed to his injuries. Initial reports from the region told of heightened tension in the area and estimated that hundreds of security personnel had been deployed around the monastery. Following his death, prayers were said at Dokar Monastery before his body was taken to his home. The Chinese authorities further tightened security in the region following this selfimmolation, deploying additional armed troops to the monastery. Communications with the monastery were cut and reports indicate that the monks were interrogated. The region has been described as currently “extremely tense”.

Four monks of Tsoe’s Dokar Monastery have been arrested for allegedly taking care of Sangay Gyatso’s body and taking pictures of his charred corpse. They are identified as Jigme Gyatso, Kalsang Gyatso, Kunchok Gyatso and Tashi Gyatso. According to media reports, monk Tashi Gyatso was the first to be arrested, a few days earlier, while Jigme, treasurer of the monastery, Kalsang, accountant, and Kunchok were arrested during a later raid on the monastery. Reports also indicated that the entire region of Tsoe was put under heavy surveillance and Chinese security forces were attempting to make further arrests in connection with Sangay Gyatso’s self-immolation protest. Severe restrictions were placed on the movement of Tibetans in the region. There were also reports of Chinese officials offering bribes to Sangay Gyatso’s family while forcing them to sign a document stating that Sangay’s self-immolation was not protesting against China’s rule over Tibet. Nomad-cum-farmer Sangay Gyatso is survived by his wife Dorjee Kyi and two children – a son, Dorjee Dhundup, 7, and a daughter, Tenzin Tso, 5.

His slogans: “Wherever We Go, We Have No Freedom,” “Freedom for Tibet” and “Let His Holiness the Dalai Lama Return to Tibet”

Name: Gudrub

Age: 43

Sex: Male

Profession: Writer/blogger

Date of Self-immolation: 4 October 2012 at around 10 am (local time)

Location: Driru County in Nagchu, Central Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Activist-blogger and writer Gudrub set fire to himself on 4 October 2012 while raising slogans on the streets of Nagchu town in Central Tibet. A group of Tibetans carried Gudrub’s badly burned body to the county hospital where doctors later informed them that he had died; his body was not returned to his family. On 14 March 2012 Gudrub had written the following in an essay titled “The Sound of a Victorious Drum Beaten by our Lives” “The people of the Land of Snow [a traditional term for Tibet] share a common goal of bringing His Holiness the Dalai Lama back to an independent Tibet. But when His Holiness opted for autonomy for Tibet through a non-violent struggle, the six million Tibetans accepted his wishes. However, the Chinese government has not supported his proposal. Moreover, Tibetans who are concerned about the welfare of the people are subjected to arbitrary arrests and beatings. Tibetans who refuse to denounce His Holiness the Dalai Lama, or will not accept China’s rule over Tibet, are secretly killed or disappeared. “Since China is uninterested in the wellbeing of the Tibetan people, we are sharpening our non-violent movement. We are declaring the reality of Tibet by burning our own bodies to call for the freedom of Tibet. Higher Beings, Please see Tibet. Mother Earth, Extend compassion to Tibet. Just World, Uphold the Truth. The pure Land of Snow is now tainted with red blood, where military crack downs are unceasing. We as sons and daughters of the Land of Snow will win the battle. “We will win the battle through truth, by shooting the arrows of our lives, by using the bows of our minds. “Dear brothers and sisters of the Land of Snow, please unite together and think first of the wellbeing of all Tibetans by putting aside personal issues. Only then will we enjoy equality and freedom.” By Gudrub from Driru. Gudrub — a native of Driru in Kham, Eastern Tibet — reportedly studied at the Sherab Gatsel Lobling School in Dharamshala, India, before returning to his homeland in 2005 upon completion of his studies. He was described as a “prolific writer” who went by the pen name “Youth of the Snow Realm.” He had always taken a keen interest in political developments concerning the issue of Tibet and read extensively on Tibet’s history.