Name: Damchoe Sangpo

Age: 38 Sex: Male

Profession: Monk at Bongthak Monastery, Tsonub, Amdo Date of Self-immolation: 17 February 2012

Location: Themchen County, Tsojang, Amdo, Northeastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

His slogans: Not available

Damchoe Sangpo, who self-immolated at Themchen County town on 17 February 2012, was a member of his monastery’s Democratic Management Committee (DMC). These Beijing government-imposed administrations control all monasteries in today’s Tibet. He was the first monastic official to self-immolate. Damchoe reportedly died at the site of his protest. According to Radio Free Asia Tibetan Service, citing an India-based senior Tibetan monk, Lama Shingsa, “After the Tibetan New Year, which in Qinghai’s Amdo region coincides with the Chinese New Year, Chinese officials banned the [monastery’s] Monlam religious gathering and sent armed security forces there. Damchoe objected to this and told the Chinese officials that if they didn’t withdraw their troops from the monastery, the monks should not be held responsible for any incident that might follow.” Other informants corroborate that Damchoe had opposed the draconian “Patriotic Education” campaign inflicted on Bongthak Monastery. As a result of Damchoe Sangpo’s action, three monks from his monastery were subsequently arrested and sentenced for alleged involvement in his death. “The director of Bongthak Monastery, Venerable Jamsem, was sentenced to nine years, while his subordinates Khendup and Samgyal were sentenced to 11 and 10 years, respectively,” said a resident of the area, who spoke on condition of anonymity. In addition, the source said, a layman named Damchoe was re-arrested by police for organizing a campaign to collect signatures from Tibetans in the Bongthak area calling for the release of eight monks detained in the aftermath of Damchoe Sangpo’s self-immolation. Damchoe, from Kharma in Themchen County, was previously arrested for allegedly instigating Damchoe Sangpo’s self-immolation, but was released after a Chinese lawyer successfully led his defense. The source reports that the majority of Bongthak’s monks had left the monastery following increased Chinese pressure, and another 10 young monks are still detained in Themchen County; the police said they would only be released if they agree to disrobe. “Currently, two monks loyal to China have been put in charge of Bongthak Monastery, while another monk … was pressured to take a high-level position there, but disrobed to evade the appointment promotion.” (Democratic Management Committees and Patriotic Education campaigns were introduced throughout Tibet by Beijing in 1996 to force nuns and monks to denounce the Dalai Lama and pledge allegiance to the Communist Party).

Name: Lobsang Gyatso

Age: 19

Sex: Male

Profession: Monk at Kirti Monastery

Date of self-immolation: 13 February 2012 around 2:30pm (local time)

Location: Ngaba town, Ngaba, Amdo, Northeastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Not known His slogans: Not reported While already engulfed in flames, monk Lobsang Gyatso shouted slogans of protest against the Chinese government on the main street of Ngaba town. An armed security contingent rushed to the scene and removed him to an undisclosed location. They were witnessed beating him viciously while extinguishing the flames. The eldest of four siblings, he was described as being “one of the best and brightest students in his monastic class.” At the time of his detention, two unidentified Tibetan youths were also severely beaten by Chinese security personnel. Lobsang Gyatso was originally from Badzritsang house, Naktsangma in Cha Township.

Name: Lobsang Gyatso

Age: 19

Sex: Male

Profession: Monk at Kirti Monastery

Date of self-immolation: 13 February 2012 around 2:30pm (local time)

Location: Ngaba town, Ngaba, Amdo, Northeastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Not known His slogans: Not reported While already engulfed in flames, monk Lobsang Gyatso shouted slogans of protest against the Chinese government on the main street of Ngaba town. An armed security contingent rushed to the scene and removed him to an undisclosed location. They were witnessed beating him viciously while extinguishing the flames. The eldest of four siblings, he was described as being “one of the best and brightest students in his monastic class.” At the time of his detention, two unidentified Tibetan youths were also severely beaten by Chinese security personnel. Lobsang Gyatso was originally from Badzritsang house, Naktsangma in Cha Township.

Her slogans were: for the return of Tibet’s leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, from exile and freedom in Tibet

Name: Tenzin Choedon

Age: 18

Sex: Female

Profession: Nun at Mamae Dechen Choekhorling Nunnery in Ngaba

Date of Self-immolation: 11 February 2012 at 6 pm (local time)

Location: Sumdo Bridge, Ngaba, Amdo Northeastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased, 13 February

When Tenzin Choedon self-immolated in the early evening of 11 February 2012 she chose the same location for her action as nun Tenzin Wangmo: the Sumdo Bridge area below their nunnery. Eyewitnesses reported that Chinese security personnel immediately drove her away towards Barkham. Reports on China’s official State media said that she died on the journey to hospital. However, in a release the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile based in Dharamshala said Tenzin Choedon passed away at a Chinese military hospital in Barkham in the morning of 13 February. It further said that Tenzin Choedon’s father had been told that her body would not be handed back to the family for the last rites. In the wake of this second self-immolation by a nun in the vicinity of Ngaba town, the PRC’s armed forces surrounded their nunnery, Mamae Dechen Choekhorling and sealed it off. Tenzin Choedon was originally from Raruwa Village in Ngaba County.

Name: Sonam Rabyang

Age: 42

Sex: Male Profession: Monk

Date of Self-immolation: 9 February 2012 around 1 pm (local time)

Location: Triwang Town, Yushul, Kham, Eastern Tibet

Current whereabout/wellbeing: Unknown

His Slogans: Not Reported On 9 February 2012, monk Sonam Rabyang from Lab Monastery in Tridu County, Jyekundo set himself on fire on the main road of Lab Township. It was reported that at the time he was removed from the scene by security personnel, he was alive, but in a serious condition and his legs may have been amputated. No additional information has been received on his condition or subsequent whereabouts. Following the incident, the Chinese authorities reportedly detained senior monks from Lab Monastery.

Name: Rinzin Dorjee (aka Rikpe)

Age: 19

Sex: Male

Profession: Former monk at Kirti Monastery

Date of Self-immolation: Wednesday 8 February 2012

Location: No. 2 Primary School in Ngaba County, Amdo, Northeastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased 21 February His slogans: Not Known In the evening of 8 February 2012, Rinzin Dorjee self-immolated at a primary school in Ngaba County town. At the time he was swiftly taken away by the police he was believed to have been alive but “on the verge of death.” He was first taken to the Ngaba County Hospital and then to a hospital in Barkham (capital of Ngaba). On 21 February 2012 Rinzin Dorjee passed away. Two monks from the vicinity were also detained. Rinzin Dorjee came from a nomadic area of Meruma Township in Ngaba County. He left his monastery in 2010 and had been living with his family since then. The youngest of six children, Rinzin used to enjoy looking after the birds that lived around the monastery. One of his relatives, now living in India, said, “He was a humble and kind person, and a hard and persistent worker.”

His slogan: “Long Live His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Freedom in Tibet”

Name: Lobsang Jamyang

Age: 22

Sex: Male

Profession: Former Monk at Andu Monastery, leader in promoting Tibetan language in his village

Date of Self-immolation: 14 January 2012

Location: Ngaba town, Amdo, Northeastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased 16

January 2012 On 14 January 2012, Lobsang Jamyang asked for a ride into town from a Tibetan neighbour and asked him to stop at Andu Monastery where he made a circumambulation. Lobsang Jamyang said no one knew what he was going to do. He had not told anyone. He also talked about the Tibetan language programme he had set up and said that people should be more united and put more effort into this. When they reached Ngaba town, he told his neighbour that he was going to have some vegetarian food and then went to the toilet. This was at around 1:30 pm (local time). Lobsang had apparently already doused himself in kerosene at an intersection in Ngaba town and when he emerged from the toilet he was already in flames. He then marched a few yards at the centre of the town, faced Kirti Monastery, and shouted slogans calling for Tibetan independence from China and for the return of the Dalai Lama.

In the already heavily-militarized town, the nearby police immediately pounced on him. As can be seen at the start of the YouTube footage of his immolation, the flames have died down and armed police and special forces have closed in on him as Tibetans gather around. Armed police can be seen using a pushcart to knock Lobsang to the ground. As he falls police on either side can be seen kicking him brutality. This was corroborated by witnesses. The authorities then covered him with a white cloth — as if dousing the flames — but continued to beat and stomp on him according to bystanders. Sources reported that bystanders stood up to the armed security personnel unable to bear the sight. They completely disregarded the consequences of resisting the officials and demanded that his body be handed over to them. The Chinese police started firing teargas and shot at the massed crowd and a scuffle ensued. At least two people were shot although no information on their condition could be relayed. A Tibetan man was apparently severely wounded in the neck by a spiked weapon. According to sources, a Tibetan woman in her 40s died after she was hit in the eye with iron chains during the standoff between the police and the crowd. Almost 700 Tibetans had gathered to protest the police actions and at least 10 were arrested. The crowd tried their best to block the path of the police as they began to take Lobsang’s body away. Lobsang Jamyang subsequently died; reliable sources state that he may have survived until 16 January but this could not be confirmed as he was in police custody. Security personnel visited Lobsang Jamyang’s family and demanded compensation for fire damage to police uniforms, which were described as ‘State property’. A monk in childhood at Andu Monastery, Lobsang later joined Bontse Primary School in Ngaba County to complete his education. A Tibetan now in exile who knew him said that “when he was very small, he used to be quite self-sufficient and he would play for hours with a small thing, like just one blade of grass. After being a monk as a child, he went to school and learnt Tibetan and Chinese. His family is not well-off and they depended on him, so he continued life as a layman. “I hadn’t seen him for some time but I heard that after 2008 he became more nationalistic, and was inspired by the actions of other Tibetans. He said that Tibetans couldn’t remain as they were under such conditions. In 2011, Lobsang became a leading member of a popular association in his village for the promotion of Tibetan language called Pure Land Program for which he was being constantly targeted and harassed.” Lobsang Jamyang’s mother, Lacham said she did not regret his death and was proud of her son who had “sacrificed his life for the Tibetan cause”.

Name: Sonam Wangyal (popularly called Sopa Rinpoche)

Age: 40s

Sex: Male

Profession: Monk at Dungkyob Monastery, Darlag County, Golog

Date of Self-immolation: 8 January 2012

Location: Darlag County, Golog, Amdo, Northeastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased, 8 January

On 8 January 2012 Sopa Rinpoche — a well-respected religious figure in Darlag County — drank kerosene and set himself on fire in front of Darlag County police station. Eyewitnesses reported that he shouted slogans calling for Tibet’s freedom and the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.Sopa Rinpoche passed away the same day. His cremation service attracted thousands of followers from around the Golog region of Eastern Tibet. And elsewhere in Golog, hundreds of Tibetans took out a day-long peaceful protest carrying photos of the Dalai Lama and the Karmapa in Amdo Golog Pema district from 9 am until 5 in the evening. The demonstrators were raising slogans for the return of the Dalai Lama and freedom in Tibet. Chinese security personnel had reportedly allowed the demonstration to continue while taking photos and videos of the demonstrators. In a message he recorded before his self-immolation protest, Sopa Rinpoche stated: “to all the six million tibetans — inCluDinG those livinG in exile — i am Grateful to pawo thupten nGoDup, anDall other tibetan heroes, who have saCrifiCeD their lives for tibet anD for the reunifiCation of the tibetan people. thouGh i am in my forties, until now i have not haD the CouraGe liKe them. but i have trieD my best to teaCh all traDitional fielDs of KnowleDGe to others, inCluDinG buDDhism.this is the 21so many tibetan heroes have DieD. i am saCrifiCinG my boDy both to stanD in soliDarity with them in flesh anD blooD, anD to seeK repentanCe throuGh this hiGhest tantriC honour of offerinG one’s boDy. this is not to seeK personal fame or Glory.i am GivinG away my boDy as an offerinG of liGht to Chase away the DarKness, to free all beinGs from sufferinG, anD to leaD them – eaCh of whom has been our mother in the past anD yet has been leD by iGnoranCe to Commit immoral aCts – to the amitabha, the buDDha of infinite liGht. my offerinG of liGht is for all livinG beinGs, even as insiGnifiCant as liCe anD nits, to Dispel their pain anD to GuiDe them to the state of 21stCentury, anD this is the year in whiCh enliGhtenment. i offer this saCrifiCe as a toKen of lonGlife offerinG to our root Guru, his holiness the Dalai lama, anD all other spiritual teaChers anD lamas.i am taKinG this aCtion neither for myself nor to fulfill a personal Desire nor to earn reCoGnition. i am saCrifiCinG my boDy with firm ConviCtion anD a pure heart just as the buDDha bravely Gave his boDy to a hunGry tiGress to stop her from eatinG her Cubs. all the tibetan heroes too have saCrifiCeD their lives with similar prinCiples. but in praCtiCal terms, their lives may have enDeD with some sort of anGer. therefore, to GuiDe their souls on the path to enliGhtenment, i offer prayers that may leaD all of them to buDDhahooD.may all spiritual teaChers anD lamas insiDe tibet anDin exile live lonG. espeCially, i pray that his holiness the Dalai lama will return to tibet anD remain as tibet’s temporal anD spiritual leaDer.”

[lama soepa then reCites the lonG-life prayer for the Dalai lama.]

(Translated from Tibetan by Bhuchung D. Sonam)

Tennyi

Name: Tennyi

Age: 20s

Sex: Male

Profession: Former monk of Kirti Monastery

Date of Self-Immolation: 6 January 2012

Location: Ngaba County Town, Amdo, Eastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased 6 January

Their slogans:“His Holiness tHe dalai lama must return to tibet” and “may His Holiness the Dalai Lama live for 10,000 years”

Tsultrim

Name: Tsultrim

Age: 20s

Sex: Male

Profession: Former monk of Kirti Monastery

Date of Self-Immolation: 6 January 2012

Location: Ngaba County Town, Amdo, Eastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased 7 January

Tennyi and Tsultrim set their bodies ablaze on 6 January at around 2:40 pm (local time) in the tense Ngaba region of Eastern Tibet, an area which has seen the most number of self-immolations since 2009. Eyewitness accounts said that the two, a monk and a layman, were together when they ignited themselves. With folded hands they faced towards Kirti Monastery and raised a number of slogans amongst which the audible ones called for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and his return to Tibet eyewitnesses report.

According to a release by the exile base of Kirti Monastery in Dharamshala, Tennyi succumbed to his burns shortly after Chinese security personnel arrested him on 6 January. Tsultrim passed away a day later during the night of 7 January. This action led to the region suffering increased security restrictions by the Chinese authorities.

“Following their self-immolations, all the Tibetan shops and businesses were closed as a mark of respect and to show solidarity with the family of the two deceased,” the release said. “However, as in earlier instances, local Tibetans were barred by the Chinese authorities from visiting the families of the deceased to offer their condolences and prayers.” his last testament which was tape-recorded called for Tibet’s Freedom and the Long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Tennyi

Name: Tennyi

Age: 20s

Sex: Male

Profession: Former monk of Kirti Monastery

Date of Self-Immolation: 6 January 2012

Location: Ngaba County Town, Amdo, Eastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased 6 January

Their slogans:“His Holiness tHe dalai lama must return to tibet” and “may His Holiness the Dalai Lama live for 10,000 years”

Tsultrim

Name: Tsultrim

Age: 20s

Sex: Male

Profession: Former monk of Kirti Monastery

Date of Self-Immolation: 6 January 2012

Location: Ngaba County Town, Amdo, Eastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased 7 January

Tennyi and Tsultrim set their bodies ablaze on 6 January at around 2:40 pm (local time) in the tense Ngaba region of Eastern Tibet, an area which has seen the most number of self-immolations since 2009. Eyewitness accounts said that the two, a monk and a layman, were together when they ignited themselves. With folded hands they faced towards Kirti Monastery and raised a number of slogans amongst which the audible ones called for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and his return to Tibet eyewitnesses report.

According to a release by the exile base of Kirti Monastery in Dharamshala, Tennyi succumbed to his burns shortly after Chinese security personnel arrested him on 6 January. Tsultrim passed away a day later during the night of 7 January. This action led to the region suffering increased security restrictions by the Chinese authorities.

“Following their self-immolations, all the Tibetan shops and businesses were closed as a mark of respect and to show solidarity with the family of the two deceased,” the release said. “However, as in earlier instances, local Tibetans were barred by the Chinese authorities from visiting the families of the deceased to offer their condolences and prayers.” his last testament which was tape-recorded called for Tibet’s Freedom and the Long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama