Name: Rikyo

Age: 33

Sex: Female

Profession: Nomad

Date of Self-immolation: 30 May 2012

Location: Tibetan area of Dzamthang County, Ngaba, Amdo, Northeastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Her Last Testament: Below

Rikyo, a maimed mother of three, set herself on fire near the Dzamthang Jonang Gonchen Monastery, Barma township. According to sources, the flames emanating from her body were so intense that police at the scene were beaten back by the heat and failed to extinguish the flames. Rikyo died at the scene of her protest. After her body was taken into the Dzamthang Jonang Monastery, local informants report that Chinese government officials arrived at the monastery and attempted to enforce an immediate cremation. When Rikyo was cremated, the same day, over 5000 Tibetans congregated to attend and offer their respects and prayers amid a heavy security presence. “Although it was raining, with a heavy storm, people did not leave the cremation site near the monastery until around 3 am,” reported a source in exile from the region. Rikyo is survived by her husband, Nangtong (41), and three children — their sons Lobsang (17) and Kunga (10) and a daughter, Semlha (14).

The Last Testament of Rikyo: “Prayers for world peace and happiness! To ensure His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s return to Tibet, do not indulge in slaughtering and trading of animals, do not steal, Speak Tibetan, do not fight. Bearing all sufferings of sentient beings on myself, Do not resist by fighting if I get into Chinese hands alive, be united, Study Tibetan culture. On fire I burn. My family, do not worry.”
(Translated from Tibetan by Bhuchung D. Sonam)

Twin self-immolation

Name: Dorje Tseten

Age: 19

Sex: Male

Profession: Chef

Date of Self-immolation: 27 May 2012

Location: Outside the Jokhang Temple, Lhasa, Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased 27 May

His slogans: Not reported

Name: Dhargey

Age: 25

Sex: Male

Profession: Cashier at a restaurant

Date of Self-immolation: 27 May 2012

Location: Outside the Jokhang Temple, Lhasa, Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased 7 July

His slogans: Not reported

Dorje – a 19-year-old high school graduate – and his friend Dhargey stepped out of their rented room near the Jokhang at around 2:15 pm (local time) on 27 May 2012 and set themselves on fire. According to an eyewitness report, “Enveloped in towering flames, one of them ran to the flagpole in front of the Jokhang Temple and fell down while the other took around ten steps and fell on the ground.”

These were the first immolations to take place in the capital. Within minutes, armed security forces arrived at the scene, doused the flames and dragged the two youths away and cleaned up leaving no trace of the incident at the site. Dorje is understood to have died at the scene of the protest whilst the condition of Dhargey was unclear at the time. Sources confirmed on 8 July that Dhargey passed away on July 7 at 6.40 pm (local time). The same source added that Dhargey was brought to a police hospital near Sera Monastery with 60 per cent burns immediately after his fiery protest. Dorje Tseten’s family was not given his body back, preventing them from carrying out traditional prayer ceremonies and death rituals. They subsequently received ashes from the Chinese government authorities, although it cannot be established that they were those of Dorje Tseten. Originally from Eastern Tibet, Dorje was from Bora in Amdo and Dhargey from Soruma village in the Choejema Township of Ngaba County. Dorje and Dhargey both worked at a restaurant in Lhasa owned by the Chukeytsang’s — a trading family originally from Ngaba. A source reported that following the self-immolations the restaurant owner, his wife and six members of the area’s Ngaba Community Association were detained. Xinhua, China’s State news agency, confirmed the self-immolations and said the two men had been taken to hospital where Dorje (identified as Tobgye Tseten by Xinhua) later died. Xinhua reported that Dhargey had “survived with injuries”. Dhargey’s father, Lodey, reportedly went to Lhasa but was not allowed to meet his son. The youngest of six children, Dhargey joined Kirti Monastery at a young age, and later disrobed and worked as a cashier at the restaurant in Lhasa. These self-immolations took place during Saga Dawa, a major religious festival for Tibetan Buddhists commemorating the Buddha Sakyamuni’s birth, enlightenment and passing. The increased presence of PLA paramilitary forces and armed police has put Lhasa on high alert since March 2008 when protests against Chinese rule erupted across Tibet and rocked the capital

Twin self-immolation

Name: Dorje Tseten

Age: 19

Sex: Male

Profession: Chef

Date of Self-immolation: 27 May 2012

Location: Outside the Jokhang Temple, Lhasa, Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased 27 May

His slogans: Not reported

Name: Dhargey

Age: 25

Sex: Male

Profession: Cashier at a restaurant

Date of Self-immolation: 27 May 2012

Location: Outside the Jokhang Temple, Lhasa, Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased 7 July

His slogans: Not reported

Dorje – a 19-year-old high school graduate – and his friend Dhargey stepped out of their rented room near the Jokhang at around 2:15 pm (local time) on 27 May 2012 and set themselves on fire. According to an eyewitness report, “Enveloped in towering flames, one of them ran to the flagpole in front of the Jokhang Temple and fell down while the other took around ten steps and fell on the ground.”

These were the first immolations to take place in the capital. Within minutes, armed security forces arrived at the scene, doused the flames and dragged the two youths away and cleaned up leaving no trace of the incident at the site. Dorje is understood to have died at the scene of the protest whilst the condition of Dhargey was unclear at the time. Sources confirmed on 8 July that Dhargey passed away on July 7 at 6.40 pm (local time). The same source added that Dhargey was brought to a police hospital near Sera Monastery with 60 per cent burns immediately after his fiery protest. Dorje Tseten’s family was not given his body back, preventing them from carrying out traditional prayer ceremonies and death rituals. They subsequently received ashes from the Chinese government authorities, although it cannot be established that they were those of Dorje Tseten. Originally from Eastern Tibet, Dorje was from Bora in Amdo and Dhargey from Soruma village in the Choejema Township of Ngaba County. Dorje and Dhargey both worked at a restaurant in Lhasa owned by the Chukeytsang’s — a trading family originally from Ngaba. A source reported that following the self-immolations the restaurant owner, his wife and six members of the area’s Ngaba Community Association were detained. Xinhua, China’s State news agency, confirmed the self-immolations and said the two men had been taken to hospital where Dorje (identified as Tobgye Tseten by Xinhua) later died. Xinhua reported that Dhargey had “survived with injuries”. Dhargey’s father, Lodey, reportedly went to Lhasa but was not allowed to meet his son. The youngest of six children, Dhargey joined Kirti Monastery at a young age, and later disrobed and worked as a cashier at the restaurant in Lhasa. These self-immolations took place during Saga Dawa, a major religious festival for Tibetan Buddhists commemorating the Buddha Sakyamuni’s birth, enlightenment and passing. The increased presence of PLA paramilitary forces and armed police has put Lhasa on high alert since March 2008 when protests against Chinese rule erupted across Tibet and rocked the capital

Name: Sonam

Age: 24

Sex: Male

Profession: Nomad

Date of Self-immolation: 19 April 2012

Location: Barma Township in the Tibetan area of Dzamthang County, Ngaba, Amdo, Northeastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased same day Last Testament: Below

Name: Choepak Kyap

Age: 25

Sex: Male

Profession: Nomad

Date of Self-immolation: 19 April 2012

Locations: Barma Township in the Tibetan area of Dzamthang County, Ngaba, Amdo, Northeastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased same day Last Testament: Below

At around 1 pm on 19 April 2012 Sonam and Choepak Kyap set themselves on fire in the vicinity of a local government office in Barma Township, near Jonang Dzamthang Gonchen Monastery. The two young Tibetans were related (Choepak was Sonam’s uncle) and from a nomadic background. Immediately following their actions local Tibetans surrounded the two men to prevent them from being beaten and dragged away by security personnel. Sonam and Choepak succumbed to their injuries a few hours after their protest. The Tibetans then carried their bodies to the nearby Dzamthang Jonang Monastery so prayers and funeral services could be held.

This was their last testament: Tibetans are a people who have a unique culture and spiritual tradition. They are compassionate and treat others with respect. However, after the Chinese occupation, Tibetans suffer without basic human rights. It is for this reason, and in order for peace to prevail on earth, we offer our lives by setting ourselves on fire. The suffering of Tibetans without basic human rights is far worse than the suffering that we endure when we set ourselves on fire. “Our cherished parents, family members and relatives, it is not that we do not have love and affection towards you. With equanimity we have taken this decision to set ourselves on fire for Tibet’s freedom, for the Buddha Dharma, for the happiness of all living beings and for world peace. “You must do as we have written – even if we are taken away by the Chinese. Do not do anything; we will be happy if nobody gets harmed because of us. Do not be sad for us; listen to scholars, lamas and khenpos. If you want to be scholars then make sure to take the right path, have affection for your race and by learning about our culture you must remain united. If you do all this then our wishes will be fulfilled. We earnestly hope that our wishes will be carried out.”
(Translated from Tibetan by Bhuchung D. Sonam)

Name: Atse

Age: 25

Sex: Female

Profession: Nun

Date of Self-immolation: 6 April 2012

Location: Dzogchen Monastery in Eastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Slogans: Not reported

Name: Tulku Athup aka Thubten Nyendak Rinpoche

Tulku Thupten Nyendak

Age: 45

Sex: Male

Profession: Monk

Date of Self-immolation: 6 April 2012

Location: Dzogchen Monastery in Eastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Slogans: Not reported

Reincarnate lama Tulku Athup — alias Thubten Nyandak Rinpoche — 45, and his niece, Atse, 25, self-immolated at the former’s residence in Dzogchen Monastery in Kham Province on 6 April 2012. A few days before the immolation, Tulku Athup had said that he would offer butter lamps for all those who have self-immolated for the cause of Tibet. He also told his students to engage in meritorious acts such as saving the lives of animals. On the day of his immolation, he called up his family and reportedly said, “Today I feel at ease and am ending my life by offering butter lamps for all those Tibetans who have set themselves on fire for the cause of Tibet”. Immediately after making the call, he and his niece set themselves ablaze. Chinese police from Dartsedo immediately arrived at Dzogchen Monastery. Fearing closure of the monastery, monk officials told the police that Tulku Athup and his niece had died due to an accidental fire in the house rather than by self-immolation. Chinese police then withdrew from the monastery. Since then the authorities have imposed severe restrictions across the region and cracked down on local Tibetans, leaving many of them severely injured. Due to this complication in the story, this case of self-immolation went unreported for almost a year. Tulku Athup joined Lhakang Dragkhar Monastery in Minyak, Kham, at a young age and later studied at Drepung Monastery in Lhasa and Kirti Monastery in Ngaba.

His slogans: Not reported

Name: Tenpa Dhargey

Age: 22

Sex: Male

Profession: Monk at Tsodun Kirti Monastery

Date of Self-immolation: 30 March 2012

Location: Barkham, Ngaba, Amdo, Northeastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased 7 April

Tenpa Dhargey and Chime Palden travelled around 80 km from Gyalrong Tsodun Kirti Monastery in Tsodun Township to immolate themselves in Barkham. Barkham is the government headquarters of both Barkham County and the Ngaba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture. The two monks carried out their protest outside the prefectural government offices. Both monks were transported by Chinese security personnel to a nearby prefecture hospital and held under strict security. The following day, 31 March, Chime Palden was declared dead by the hospital. His body was cremated immediately and the Chinese authorities handed over his ashes to Tsodun Monastery. Chime Palden had moved to Kirti Monastery in Ngaba as a philosophy student in 2009, but stayed only a few months. In 2010, when he was visiting Lhasa, policemen found images of the Dalai Lama, a picture of the Tibetan national flag and the lyrics of a Tibetan song on his phone, for which he was detained for more than a month. On 7 April 2012, around 9:23 am (local time), Tenpa Dhargey died in hospital from burn injuries sustained during their self-immolation protest. According to a statement released by Kirti Monastery in Dharamshala, “Although fervent requests were made to hand over the deceased’s body to the family and the monastery, the Chinese authorities cremated Tenpa Dhargey’s body at around one in the afternoon.” His ashes and last remains were handed over at around 4 pm. The release added, “When his remains were being carried to Tsodun Kirti Monastery, three large military vehicles tailed them.” Tenpa Dhargey studied philosophy at Kirti Monastery from 2003-2009 and returned to Tsodun where he was regarded as one of the best students in logic and debate class. He was the youngest in a family of four brothers and sisters.

His slogans: Not reported

Name: Tenpa Dhargey

Age: 22

Sex: Male

Profession: Monk at Tsodun Kirti Monastery

Date of Self-immolation: 30 March 2012

Location: Barkham, Ngaba, Amdo, Northeastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased 7 April

Tenpa Dhargey and Chime Palden travelled around 80 km from Gyalrong Tsodun Kirti Monastery in Tsodun Township to immolate themselves in Barkham. Barkham is the government headquarters of both Barkham County and the Ngaba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture. The two monks carried out their protest outside the prefectural government offices. Both monks were transported by Chinese security personnel to a nearby prefecture hospital and held under strict security. The following day, 31 March, Chime Palden was declared dead by the hospital. His body was cremated immediately and the Chinese authorities handed over his ashes to Tsodun Monastery. Chime Palden had moved to Kirti Monastery in Ngaba as a philosophy student in 2009, but stayed only a few months. In 2010, when he was visiting Lhasa, policemen found images of the Dalai Lama, a picture of the Tibetan national flag and the lyrics of a Tibetan song on his phone, for which he was detained for more than a month. On 7 April 2012, around 9:23 am (local time), Tenpa Dhargey died in hospital from burn injuries sustained during their self-immolation protest. According to a statement released by Kirti Monastery in Dharamshala, “Although fervent requests were made to hand over the deceased’s body to the family and the monastery, the Chinese authorities cremated Tenpa Dhargey’s body at around one in the afternoon.” His ashes and last remains were handed over at around 4 pm. The release added, “When his remains were being carried to Tsodun Kirti Monastery, three large military vehicles tailed them.” Tenpa Dhargey studied philosophy at Kirti Monastery from 2003-2009 and returned to Tsodun where he was regarded as one of the best students in logic and debate class. He was the youngest in a family of four brothers and sisters.

Name: Chime Palden

Age: 21

Sex: Male

Profession: Monk at Tsodun Kirti Monastery

Date of Self-immolation: 30 March 2012

Location: Barkham, Ngaba, Amdo, Northeastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased 31 March

Name: Chime Palden

Age: 21

Sex: Male

Profession: Monk at Tsodun Kirti Monastery

Date of Self-immolation: 30 March 2012

Location: Barkham, Ngaba, Amdo, Northeastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased 31 March

Name: Lobsang Sherab

Age: 20

Sex: Male

Profession: Monk at Ganden Tenpeling Monastery

Date of Self-immolation: 28 March 2012, 7:10 pm (local time)

Location: Cha Township, Ngaba, Amdo, Northeastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

His slogans: Not reported

Lobsang Sherab set himself on fire on the main road of Cha Township and died at the scene of his protest. According to monks from the exile-based Kirti Monastery in Dharamshala, India, paramilitary police in Ngaba removed Sherab’s body immediately following his self-immolation, ignoring pleas for his body to be handed over to his family. His corpse was never returned to his relatives. Sherab had been a monk at the small Ganden Tenpeling Monastery in Raruwa since the age of nine. In October 2011 he joined Kirti Monastery in Ngaba, but had returned home on 26 March 2012. According to a statement made by a Kirti monk in exile, “These days some 300 Chinese government officials in various positions and ranks are stationed at Kirti Monastery, and throughout Ngaba armed police and special duty police personnel maintain a security clampdown.” Sherab is survived by his parents, Sodon and Nyima, and three siblings.