His Slogans: not reported

Name: Rongtsa Tenzing Phuntsok

Age: 46

Sex: Male

Profession: Former monk at Karma Gon Monastery in Chamdo township

Date of Self-Immolation: 1 December 2011

Location: Chamdo, Kham, Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing:

Deceased Slogans: Not reported Tenzing self-immolated in Chamdo and was hospitalized in Chamdo Hospital with fatal injuries. Sources report that Chamdo Township in Tibet Autonomous Region was then under lockdown and intensive military surveillance following rumours of a bomb blast at a local government building on 26 October 2011. Tenzing Phuntsok reportedly died on 6 December 2011 and, according to exile sources, even three days after his death his family members had not been given his body to conduct the final Buddhist rituals. Phuntsok’s wife, Dolma, went missing after the police detained her following Phuntsok’s self-immolation. There is no information on Dolma’s wellbeing and whereabouts. She is left with two sons and a daughter.

On 8 December, exile Tibetans received a document including a will left by Tenzing Phuntsok in which he wrote: “If Khenpo Lodoe Rapsel, Namsey Sonam and all the monks and nuns of Karma Gon Monastery, the true and unmistakable practitioners of Buddhist dharma, have to endure torture and imprisonment like this, then it is better for all of us at Karma Gon Monastery to die. I, the despicable Tenzin Phuntsok, write this with loyalty. “Brothers and sisters, don’t be sad and don’t lose your courage. My Dharma friends, think about our two khenpos and the monks and nuns who are holders of the Dharma practice. How can we believe in these rules that restrict the freedom of religion? I, Tenzin Phuntsok, wrote this. Dharma friends in Karma Gon Monastery, it is useless just to live thinking about our beloved khenpos and the monks and nuns. Stand up! Clinging to the taste of the eight worldly concerns, beings run away from these as they would from their enemies, I bow before the Buddha, who cannot be placated by small pleasures. I, the sorrow-filled, loathsome man called Tenzin Phuntsok wrote this. “When I think about the suffering throughout Tibet, and especially the pain at Karma Gon Monastery, there is no way that I can go on living.”
(Translated from Tibetan by Bhuchung D.Sonam)

His Slogans: not reported

Name: Rongtsa Tenzing Phuntsok

Age: 46

Sex: Male

Profession: Former monk at Karma Gon Monastery in Chamdo township

Date of Self-Immolation: 1 December 2011

Location: Chamdo, Kham, Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing:

Deceased Slogans: Not reported Tenzing self-immolated in Chamdo and was hospitalized in Chamdo Hospital with fatal injuries. Sources report that Chamdo Township in Tibet Autonomous Region was then under lockdown and intensive military surveillance following rumours of a bomb blast at a local government building on 26 October 2011. Tenzing Phuntsok reportedly died on 6 December 2011 and, according to exile sources, even three days after his death his family members had not been given his body to conduct the final Buddhist rituals. Phuntsok’s wife, Dolma, went missing after the police detained her following Phuntsok’s self-immolation. There is no information on Dolma’s wellbeing and whereabouts. She is left with two sons and a daughter.

On 8 December, exile Tibetans received a document including a will left by Tenzing Phuntsok in which he wrote: “If Khenpo Lodoe Rapsel, Namsey Sonam and all the monks and nuns of Karma Gon Monastery, the true and unmistakable practitioners of Buddhist dharma, have to endure torture and imprisonment like this, then it is better for all of us at Karma Gon Monastery to die. I, the despicable Tenzin Phuntsok, write this with loyalty. “Brothers and sisters, don’t be sad and don’t lose your courage. My Dharma friends, think about our two khenpos and the monks and nuns who are holders of the Dharma practice. How can we believe in these rules that restrict the freedom of religion? I, Tenzin Phuntsok, wrote this. Dharma friends in Karma Gon Monastery, it is useless just to live thinking about our beloved khenpos and the monks and nuns. Stand up! Clinging to the taste of the eight worldly concerns, beings run away from these as they would from their enemies, I bow before the Buddha, who cannot be placated by small pleasures. I, the sorrow-filled, loathsome man called Tenzin Phuntsok wrote this. “When I think about the suffering throughout Tibet, and especially the pain at Karma Gon Monastery, there is no way that I can go on living.”
(Translated from Tibetan by Bhuchung D.Sonam)

Her slogans: “Freedom in Tibet”, “Long live H.H. The Dalai Lama” and “Let the Dalai Lama Return to Tibet”

Name: Palden Choetso

Age: 35

Sex: Female

Profession: Nun at Genden Jangchup Choeling Nunnery, Tawu County, Kandze, Kham

Date of Self-Immolation: 3 November 2011 at around 12:40 pm (local time)

Location: Tawu. Kham, Eastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Palden Choetso set herself on fire at a road near the Namgyal stupa in Tawu, Kandze County. She reportedly died the same day. In a short clip that was clandestinely smuggled out of Tibet, Palden can be seen standing upright near a busy street while her entire body is engulfed in flames, showing no signs of physical pain. Tibetans in the background can be heard chanting prayers. A young woman dressed in chupa (Tibetan traditional dress) walks up to her burning body and throws a khatag (Tibetan ceremonial scarf) towards her. Palden Choetso’s self-immolation coincided with the two-day G-20 Summit in France which opened the same day. At the time, Tibetans and Tibet supporters in more than 60 cities in 25 countries across the world were urging world leaders to raise the urgent issue of self-immolations in Tibet with the then-Chinese president, Hu Jintao, at the G-20 Summit. According to a source in exile in India, “After Palden Choetso’s self-immolation the nuns carried her to their nunnery, and she died soon afterwards. The nuns then made prayers for her. The local authorities have locked down the area, closing a major road in Tawu and deploying troops to surveille the nunnery.”

Her slogans: “Freedom in Tibet”, “Long live H.H. The Dalai Lama” and “Let the Dalai Lama Return to Tibet”

Name: Palden Choetso

Age: 35

Sex: Female

Profession: Nun at Genden Jangchup Choeling Nunnery, Tawu County, Kandze, Kham

Date of Self-Immolation: 3 November 2011 at around 12:40 pm (local time)

Location: Tawu. Kham, Eastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Palden Choetso set herself on fire at a road near the Namgyal stupa in Tawu, Kandze County. She reportedly died the same day. In a short clip that was clandestinely smuggled out of Tibet, Palden can be seen standing upright near a busy street while her entire body is engulfed in flames, showing no signs of physical pain. Tibetans in the background can be heard chanting prayers. A young woman dressed in chupa (Tibetan traditional dress) walks up to her burning body and throws a khatag (Tibetan ceremonial scarf) towards her. Palden Choetso’s self-immolation coincided with the two-day G-20 Summit in France which opened the same day. At the time, Tibetans and Tibet supporters in more than 60 cities in 25 countries across the world were urging world leaders to raise the urgent issue of self-immolations in Tibet with the then-Chinese president, Hu Jintao, at the G-20 Summit. According to a source in exile in India, “After Palden Choetso’s self-immolation the nuns carried her to their nunnery, and she died soon afterwards. The nuns then made prayers for her. The local authorities have locked down the area, closing a major road in Tawu and deploying troops to surveille the nunnery.”

His Slogans: demanded the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Freedom for Tibet

Name: Dawa Tsering

Age: 38

Sex: Male

Profession: Monk at Kandze Monastery, Kandze County, Kham

Date of Self-Immolation: 25 October 2011 around 9:30 am (local time)

Location: Kandze, Kham, Eastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Reportedly alive and residing at home

Dawa Tsering poured kerosene on his body and set himself alight during a masked lama dance festival (Tibetan: cham) in Kandze County. While still alive, Dawa is reported to have shouted slogans calling for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and freedom for Tibet. Chinese security personnel, who have been stationed at Kandze Monastery since the 2008 pan-Tibet uprisings, arrived at the scene and doused the flames. According to a source in exile, “When the Chinese police tried to remove Dawa Tsering, he cried and pleaded not to be taken away.” Monk bystanders who had assembled there for the religious festivities tried to extinguish the flames and rushed him to Kandze People’s Hospital. Reportedly his chances of survival were slim so he was returned to Kandze Monastery. According to eyewitnesses Dawa Tsering refused medical attention and was described as in a critical condition with severe burn injuries. Until he was transferred to his home the situation in and around the monastery was reportedly tense with monks protecting Dawa Tsering and armed Chinese security guards surrounding the monks and the monastery.

Her slogans: called for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet and religious freedom in Tibet

Name: Tenzin Wangmo

Age: 20

Sex: Female

Profession: Nun at Mamae Dechen Choekhorling Nunnery, near Ngaba County Town

Date of Self-Immolation: 17 October 2011, at around 1 pm (local time)

Location: Sumdo bridge, Ngaba, Amdo, Eastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased On 17 October 2011,

Tenzin Wangmo set herself on fire near her nunnery and reportedly died on the spot. According to an eyewitness account, “Tenzin Wangmo was engulfed in flames as she marched for nearly seven to eight minutes shouting slogans calling for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile and demanding religious freedom in Tibet.” The Chinese authorities threatened to confiscate Tenzin’s body if the nuns did not dispose of it that day. The nuns complied and cremated her the same evening.

Her slogans: called for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet and religious freedom in Tibet

Name: Tenzin Wangmo

Age: 20

Sex: Female

Profession: Nun at Mamae Dechen Choekhorling Nunnery, near Ngaba County Town

Date of Self-Immolation: 17 October 2011, at around 1 pm (local time)

Location: Sumdo bridge, Ngaba, Amdo, Eastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased On 17 October 2011,

Tenzin Wangmo set herself on fire near her nunnery and reportedly died on the spot. According to an eyewitness account, “Tenzin Wangmo was engulfed in flames as she marched for nearly seven to eight minutes shouting slogans calling for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile and demanding religious freedom in Tibet.” The Chinese authorities threatened to confiscate Tenzin’s body if the nuns did not dispose of it that day. The nuns complied and cremated her the same evening.

Norbu Damdul

His slogans: “Freedom and Independence for Tibet, the Land of Snow” and “His Holiness the Dalai Lama Should Be Allowed to Return to Tibet”

Name: Norbu Damdul

Age: 19

Sex: Male

Profession: Former monk at Kirti Monastery

Date of Self-Immolation: 15 October 2011, around 11:50 am (local time)

Location: Ngaba County Town, Amdo, Eastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Decease, 5 January 2012 in a Chinese military hospital in Barkham.

Norbu Damdul set himself on fire in Ngaba town market place while shouting patriotic slogans. Ngaba County PSB police personnel reportedly beat him at the same time as dousing water to put out the fire. He was then thrown into a jeep and taken away to an unknown location. A large crowd of Tibetans who had gathered at the scene was dispersed at gunpoint by security personnel, according to sources. At the time of his detention by Chinese security, a witness-informant reported that, “Although badly burnt, Damdul appeared to still be alive.” For three months, his exact whereabouts remained unknown. However information later received confirmed that he passed away on 5 January 2012 in a Chinese military hospital in Barkham. It was also reported that Norbu Damdul’s family was denied the right to perform his last rites. The Chinese authorities cremated the body and delivered the ashes to Damdul’s family.

Khaying

Name: Khaying

Age: 18

Sex: Male

Profession: Former monk of Kirti Monastery

Date of Self-Immolation: 7 October 2011, around 11:30 am (local time)

Location: Ngaba County Town,

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased, 8 October around 1 pm (local time)

Choephel

Name: Choephel

Age: 19

Sex: Male

Profession: Former monk of Kirti Monastery

Date of Self-Immolation: 7 October 2011, around 11:30 am (local time)

Location: Ngaba County Town Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased, 11 October 2011 around 2 pm (local time)

Their slogans were: calling for Tibet’s freedom and the return of the Dalai Lama

On 7 October 2011 laymen Khaying and Choephel set themselves ablaze in Ngaba County. While engulfed in flames, their hands were pressed together in gestures of prayer while they raised slogans calling for Tibet’s freedom and demanding His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s return to Tibet. The People’s Security Bureau militia who arrived on the spot started to beat Khaying and Choephel violently while putting out the flames. Khaying was seen raising a fist in the air even while being dragged away. The following day Khaying passed away at a government hospital in Barkham. His last words were, “I have no regret giving up my life for the sake of my country Tibet. Please do not be sad and worry about this”. The Chinese authorities had refused to hand over Khaying’s body to his family and instead cremated the corpse at an undisclosed location in Barkham County. Citizens were ordered not to express any grief or offer condolences to his family. In defiance of these decrees, residents of Ngaba County observed three days of mourning by shutting all shops and restaurants. On 11 October 2011, Choephel also passed away at a government hospital in Barkham. Prior to his self-immolation he had reportedly told his friends, “The current atmosphere of repression is unbearable.” It is also reported that Choephel’s body was not handed over to his family; they were therefore limited to performing his last rites at home and only five monks were permitted to attend by the local authorities.

His slogans: opposed the Chinese government and he was carrying a picture of the Dalai Lama

Name: Kalsang Wangchuk

Age: 17

Sex: Male

Profession: Monk at Kirti Monastery

Date of Self-Immolation: 3 October 2011, around 2 pm (local time)

Location: Ngaba County Town, Ngaba, Amdo, Eastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Uncertain. Sustained a head injury from beatings by police at the time of his detention, rendering him permanently disabled.

In the early afternoon of 3 October 2011, Kalsang was seen carrying a photo of the Dalai Lama and shouting slogans against the Chinese government as he ignited himself near the vegetable market along Ngaba County Town’s main street. Eyewitnesses reported that the security personnel first extinguished the fire and then beat Kalsang with weapons — including an iron rod — before dragging him away to an unknown location. Kalsang’s whereabouts are still unknown, although early reports said he was held in the county hospital under close surveillance. Sources added that he had sustained a head injury as a result of the beatings by police. Reports at the time indicated that Kalsang had suffered severe burns on his torso. A Tibetan female picked up the picture of HH the Dalai Lama, which fell from Kalsang’s hand as he burned, but some men on a motorcycle grabbed it from her. Shortly after this repeat of immolations by Kirti Monastery monks, the security forces already deployed across Ngaba County town and surrounding Kirti Monastery were substantially stepped up. According to monks from Kirti Monastery’s branch in exile in Dharamshala, North India, a few days after Kalsang’s fiery protest, flyers and posters were distributed and displayed around Kirti Monastery, and at the town’s market place, stating that if the current security crackdown in the area continues “…many more people are prepared to give up their lives” in protest. Lobsang Gendun, a senior monk at Kirti Monastery in his forties, was detained for two months in relation to Kalsang Wangchuk’s action in attempts by the authorities to implicate him.