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.

Name: Sonam Dhargey

Age: 44

Sex: Male

Profession: Farmer

Date of Self-immolation: 17 March 2012 around 9:40 am

Location: At a road near Malho County, Rebkong, Northeastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased 17 March

His slogans: called for the right to study Tibetan, an end to China’s rule and the Dalai Lama’s return to Tibet

Sonam Dhargey, a father of three, self-immolated near the centre of Rongwo town in Rebkong, Amdo. He was the second Tibetan from the Rebkong area to set fire to himself in protest against the Chinese occupation of Tibet. Immediately following his immolation, images and footage were relayed showing thousands of Tibetans gathering to honour his act of protest. A video released by VOA shows the body of Sonam Dhargey engulfed in flames in the middle of the street in Rongwo town with thousands of Tibetans already congregating around him. Sonam, died almost immediately as he had reportedly swallowed kerosene and doused it over his body which was wrapped in cotton padding and bound with wire. Whilst still in flames Sonam was heard calling for the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet, for Tibetan language rights and for an end to Chinese rule. His body was taken to Rongwo Monastery where several thousand people attended his funeral.

Name: Sonam Dhargey

Age: 44

Sex: Male

Profession: Farmer

Date of Self-immolation: 17 March 2012 around 9:40 am

Location: At a road near Malho County, Rebkong, Northeastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased 17 March

His slogans: called for the right to study Tibetan, an end to China’s rule and the Dalai Lama’s return to Tibet

Sonam Dhargey, a father of three, self-immolated near the centre of Rongwo town in Rebkong, Amdo. He was the second Tibetan from the Rebkong area to set fire to himself in protest against the Chinese occupation of Tibet. Immediately following his immolation, images and footage were relayed showing thousands of Tibetans gathering to honour his act of protest. A video released by VOA shows the body of Sonam Dhargey engulfed in flames in the middle of the street in Rongwo town with thousands of Tibetans already congregating around him. Sonam, died almost immediately as he had reportedly swallowed kerosene and doused it over his body which was wrapped in cotton padding and bound with wire. Whilst still in flames Sonam was heard calling for the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet, for Tibetan language rights and for an end to Chinese rule. His body was taken to Rongwo Monastery where several thousand people attended his funeral.

His slogans were: for the Dalai Lama’s return from exile and freedom for Tibet

Name: Lobsang Tsultrim

Age: 20

Sex: Male

Profession: Monk at Kirti Monastery

Date of Self-immolation: 16 March 2012, 5 pm (local time)

Location: Ngaba County town, Amdo, Northeastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased, 19 March 2012

Marking the first anniversary of self-immolation by Phuntsok, a fellow Kirti monk, Lobsang Tsultrim set himself on fire demanding the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile and freedom in Tibet. After igniting himself, Tsultrim proceeded to march along the main road in the upper part of Ngaba County town, shouting slogans protesting against the Chinese government. Eyewitnesses said that as he strode on from the site of his self-immolation, armed police personnel came running to intercept him, at which he turned and ran back in the other direction, continuing to shout. He was knocked to the ground by Chinese security personnel and thrown into the back of a vehicle after they had extinguished the flames. He was seen raising his fist in the air and shouting slogans even as Chinese security personnel pinned him to the floor of the moving vehicle.

Lobsang died three days later in a hospital in Barkham. According to the exilebased Kirti Monastery in Dharamshala, local Chinese authorities denied Lobsang Tsultrim’s family permission to perform his last rites and they cremated him the same day. “Only a portion of his ashes was handed over to the family,” said the Kirti statement. On 19 March Kirti monks held a prayer ceremony for him and local shops and restaurants owned by Tibetans remained closed for three days. Tsultrim was a bright student of Kirti Tantric College and was the eldest of four siblings. Norbu Damdul — a former Kirti monk who self-immolated on 15 October 2011 and passed away in a Chinese hospital on 5 January 2012 — was Lobsang Tsultrim’s cousin.

His slogans were: for the Dalai Lama’s return from exile and freedom for Tibet

Name: Lobsang Tsultrim

Age: 20

Sex: Male

Profession: Monk at Kirti Monastery

Date of Self-immolation: 16 March 2012, 5 pm (local time)

Location: Ngaba County town, Amdo, Northeastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased, 19 March 2012

Marking the first anniversary of self-immolation by Phuntsok, a fellow Kirti monk, Lobsang Tsultrim set himself on fire demanding the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile and freedom in Tibet. After igniting himself, Tsultrim proceeded to march along the main road in the upper part of Ngaba County town, shouting slogans protesting against the Chinese government. Eyewitnesses said that as he strode on from the site of his self-immolation, armed police personnel came running to intercept him, at which he turned and ran back in the other direction, continuing to shout. He was knocked to the ground by Chinese security personnel and thrown into the back of a vehicle after they had extinguished the flames. He was seen raising his fist in the air and shouting slogans even as Chinese security personnel pinned him to the floor of the moving vehicle.

Lobsang died three days later in a hospital in Barkham. According to the exilebased Kirti Monastery in Dharamshala, local Chinese authorities denied Lobsang Tsultrim’s family permission to perform his last rites and they cremated him the same day. “Only a portion of his ashes was handed over to the family,” said the Kirti statement. On 19 March Kirti monks held a prayer ceremony for him and local shops and restaurants owned by Tibetans remained closed for three days. Tsultrim was a bright student of Kirti Tantric College and was the eldest of four siblings. Norbu Damdul — a former Kirti monk who self-immolated on 15 October 2011 and passed away in a Chinese hospital on 5 January 2012 — was Lobsang Tsultrim’s cousin.

Name: Jamyang Palden

Age: 34

Sex: Male Profession: Monk at Rongwo Monastery

Date of Self-immolation: 14 March 2012

Location: Rebkong, Amdo, Northeastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

His slogans: Not reported

Jamyang Palden finally succumbed to his injuries after immolating himself more than six months earlier on 14 March 2012. He passed away in the evening time at his monastic quarters at Rongwo Monastery. Monks and local Tibetans had been nursing Jamyang Palden and taking care of him since his discharge from a hospital in nearby Malho town. “Due to his severe burn injuries, he showed very little signs of improvement and finally passed away,” an exile Tibetan with contacts in the region reported. By setting himself on fire at Dolma Square, near Rongwo Monastery — the major monastery in Rebkong — Jamyang Palden became the first self-immolator in Amdo’s Rebkong town. Monks and local people rushed him to hospital, but he was later moved back to his monastery for fear that security personnel would detain him. Despite the heavy presence of troops after his self-immolation, images from Rebkong showed local people gathered at the scene, quietly praying for him. This gathering led to a peaceful protest, with Tibetans calling for the Dalai Lama to return to Tibet. Following his death in September, a large number of monks and local Tibetans gathered at the ground in front of the monastery to offer prayers and register their protests.

Name: Jamyang Palden

Age: 34

Sex: Male Profession: Monk at Rongwo Monastery

Date of Self-immolation: 14 March 2012

Location: Rebkong, Amdo, Northeastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

His slogans: Not reported

Jamyang Palden finally succumbed to his injuries after immolating himself more than six months earlier on 14 March 2012. He passed away in the evening time at his monastic quarters at Rongwo Monastery. Monks and local Tibetans had been nursing Jamyang Palden and taking care of him since his discharge from a hospital in nearby Malho town. “Due to his severe burn injuries, he showed very little signs of improvement and finally passed away,” an exile Tibetan with contacts in the region reported. By setting himself on fire at Dolma Square, near Rongwo Monastery — the major monastery in Rebkong — Jamyang Palden became the first self-immolator in Amdo’s Rebkong town. Monks and local people rushed him to hospital, but he was later moved back to his monastery for fear that security personnel would detain him. Despite the heavy presence of troops after his self-immolation, images from Rebkong showed local people gathered at the scene, quietly praying for him. This gathering led to a peaceful protest, with Tibetans calling for the Dalai Lama to return to Tibet. Following his death in September, a large number of monks and local Tibetans gathered at the ground in front of the monastery to offer prayers and register their protests.

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.

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.

His slogans: Reportedly protesting against the PRC’s policies in Tibet

Name: Dorjee

Age: 18

Sex: Male

Profession: Nomad

Date of Self-immolation: 5 March 2012 around 6:30 pm (local time)

Location: Cha Township, Ngaba County, Amdo, Northeastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

After setting himself on fire, Dorjee walked towards the local government office in Cha Township and collapsed. According to Kirti Monastery monks in contact with Tibetans in the region, Dorjee shouted slogans protesting the Chinese government’s policies on Tibet. It is believed that he died at the scene and that the authorities removed his charred body despite attempts by Tibetans to take it away for religious rituals to be performed.