His Slogans: “Tibet is Independent,’ ‘Freedom in Tibet,’ and ‘May His Holiness the Dalai Lama live for thousands of years”

Name: Phagmo Dhondup

Age: Early 20’s

Sex: Male

Profession: Monk

Date of Self-immolation: 24 February 2013, 7 pm (local time)

Location: Jhakhyung Monastery in Tsoshar, Amdo, Northeastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased,

On 24 February, when hundreds of Tibetans were gathered at the Jhakhyung Monastery for a traditional prayer ceremony and offerings of butter lamps, Phagmo Dhondup set himself on fire. More than two months after his self-sacrifice, reports detailing the event surrounding his protest emerged. According to the source, Phagmo Dhondup went to a restaurant with a friend before his self-immolation protest and left a message calling for Tibet’s independence and freedom. According to eyewitness account, at around 7pm that day Phagmo Dhondup bought two bottles of kerosene and some coloured papers. He then drank a bottle and a half of the kerosene and burnt the paper while raising slogans, ‘Tibet is Independent,’ ‘Freedom in Tibet,’ and ‘May His Holiness the Dalai Lama live for thousands of years.’ Later, when Phagmo Dhondup reached the ancient Jhakhyung Monastery in Palung region of Tshoshar, Eastern Tibet, he doused himself with the remaining kerosene and set himself on fire. Monks at the monastery rushed him to a nearby hospital. After undergoing treatment at a hospital in Siling for over a month, Phagmo Dhondup succumbed to his injuries and passed away. The date of his demise is not confirmed. Phagmo Dhondup was a native of Tsaphuk town in Palung region. He is survived by his father, Shawo, and a sibling. In a conversation with a friend just minutes prior to his protest, Phagmo Dhondup reportedly said, “Till now, over a hundred Tibetans in Tibet have set themselves on fire for freedom. They are the true martyrs of Tibet. If Tibet does not get its freedom and independence, China will annihilate Tibetan culture and tradition.” “This year, Chinese authorities have restricted studying Tibetan language in our Tibetan areas in Bayen and all teachers have been expelled from the region. I am really sad now. Today on the night of the 15th day of the Tibetan New Year, I will set myself on fire in front of the debating grounds at the Jhakhyung Monastery. Today is Tibetan Independence Day.”

Twin Self Immolation

Name: Rinchen

Age: 17

Sex: Male

Status: Layperson

Date of Self-immolation: 19 February 2013 at around 9:30pm (local time)

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

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Slogans: Not reported

Name: Sonam Dhargye

Age: 18

Sex: Male

Status: Layperson

Date of Self-immolation: 19 February 2013 at around 9:30pm (local time)

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

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Slogans: Not reported

Teenagers Rinchen (17) and Sonam Dhargye (18) set themselves on fire in a dual protest on 19 February in Ngaba County at around 9:30 pm (local time). Both succumbed to the flames. According to sources, the families were able to recover their bodies. Rinchen and Sonam reportedly went to the same primary school in Kyangtsa Township. Rinchen had however attended another school in Wenchuan for a few years and moved to Qinghai, where he worked. At the time of his protest, Rinchen was on his Losar (Tibetan New Year) Holiday visiting his family in Kyangtsa. According to the same sources, the families were able to recover both their bodies; it is not clear if they were allowed to carry out the traditional prayers and rituals without interference by the Chinese officials. Rinchen’s parents were Dhondup Tsering and the late Aadon. Sonam Dhargye’s parents are Tsering Dhondup and Takho.

Twin Self Immolation

Name: Rinchen

Age: 17

Sex: Male

Status: Layperson

Date of Self-immolation: 19 February 2013 at around 9:30pm (local time)

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

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Slogans: Not reported

Name: Sonam Dhargye

Age: 18

Sex: Male

Status: Layperson

Date of Self-immolation: 19 February 2013 at around 9:30pm (local time)

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

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Slogans: Not reported

Teenagers Rinchen (17) and Sonam Dhargye (18) set themselves on fire in a dual protest on 19 February in Ngaba County at around 9:30 pm (local time). Both succumbed to the flames. According to sources, the families were able to recover their bodies. Rinchen and Sonam reportedly went to the same primary school in Kyangtsa Township. Rinchen had however attended another school in Wenchuan for a few years and moved to Qinghai, where he worked. At the time of his protest, Rinchen was on his Losar (Tibetan New Year) Holiday visiting his family in Kyangtsa. According to the same sources, the families were able to recover both their bodies; it is not clear if they were allowed to carry out the traditional prayers and rituals without interference by the Chinese officials. Rinchen’s parents were Dhondup Tsering and the late Aadon. Sonam Dhargye’s parents are Tsering Dhondup and Takho.

Name: Namlha Tsering

Age: 49

Sex: Male

Status: Layperson

Date of Self-immolation: 17 February 2013, 5:40 pm (local time)

Location: Labrang, Amdo

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Slogans: Not reported

On 17 February 2013, 49-year-old Namlha Tsering — also known as Hoba — set himself on fire in the main street of Labrang, Gansu (the Tibetan area of Amdo). Images received from Tibet depict a man sitting cross-legged in the middle of the street as towering flames rage while vehicles cars pass by. Chinese police and paramilitary personnel immediately arrived at the scene, doused the flames and bundled his charred body away.

A resident of Gengya Township, sources cite that Namlha Tsering — although alive at the time of his removal — was “severely burned”. Security forces stated that he had died. Later photos show Chinese security personnel surrounding the area where his body had lain, ashes clearly visible on the ground. 

Name: Namlha Tsering

Age: 49

Sex: Male

Status: Layperson

Date of Self-immolation: 17 February 2013, 5:40 pm (local time)

Location: Labrang, Amdo

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Slogans: Not reported

On 17 February 2013, 49-year-old Namlha Tsering — also known as Hoba — set himself on fire in the main street of Labrang, Gansu (the Tibetan area of Amdo). Images received from Tibet depict a man sitting cross-legged in the middle of the street as towering flames rage while vehicles cars pass by. Chinese police and paramilitary personnel immediately arrived at the scene, doused the flames and bundled his charred body away.

A resident of Gengya Township, sources cite that Namlha Tsering — although alive at the time of his removal — was “severely burned”. Security forces stated that he had died. Later photos show Chinese security personnel surrounding the area where his body had lain, ashes clearly visible on the ground. 

Name: Drugpa Khar

Age: 26

Sex: Male

Profession: Layperson

Date of Self-immolation: 13 February 2013, 1 pm Location: Amchok town in Sangchu County in Kanlho, Amdo

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Slogans: Not reported

On 13 February 2013, falling on the third day of Tibetan New Year and the centenary of the Declaration of Tibet’s Independence by HH the 13th Dalai Lama in 1913, Drugpa Khar doused himself in gasoline and set himself on fire in Amchok Township in Sangchu County in Kanlho. He passed away from his action. Drugpa Khar was the father of three aged between one and six years old. He was born at Lushu Kyi village in Tsoe, Kanlho.

His Slogans: Long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Name: Lobsang Namgyal

Age: 37

Sex: Male

Profession: Monk of Kirti Monastery

Date of Self-immolation: 3 February 2013 6 am (local time)

Location: Outside the County Public Security Bureau headquarters in Ngaba, Amdo

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

According to the exile-based Kirti Monastery in Dharamshala, India Lobsang Namgyal set himself ablaze near the local police building in Dzoge at around 6 am. Engulfed in flames, Lobsang shouted slogans for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama as he ran towards the PSB headquarters. He passed away at the scene of his protest. Chinese security personnel removed his body from the protest site and carried out his cremation without informing his family members, only handing back his ashes. Lobsang Namgyal’s identity was confirmed after Chinese police found his ID card and a letter inside a bag near the protest site. The contents of the letter are unknown. In September 2012, Lobsang Namgyal had gone missing for two weeks. A search by his family and friends later revealed that Chinese security personnel had detained him for no reasons. Upon release, due to constant harassment by local officials, he was compelled to live with his relatives. Before carrying out his self-immolation protest, Lobsang Namgyal reportedly visited Kirti Monastery to offer prayers. Following his self-immolation, Lobsang’s relatives have also been subjected to scrutiny and surveillance. His younger brother, monk Lobsang Sangay, was also detained for a few days following the protest. Lobsang Namgyal is survived by his father, Karkho, and mother, Kar Kyi, and eight brothers and sisters. Lobsang Namgyal was known as an exceptional student at Kirti Monastery who had been tipped to study for the highest qualification in Tibetan Buddhism, a Geshe (doctorate) degree. “He was regarded as a model for a new generation of students at Kirti,” added monastery sources.

Name: Konchok Kyab

Age: 23

Sex: Male

Profession: Layperson

Date of Self-immolation: 22 January 2013, 12 noon

Location: Bora, Sangchu County, Kanlho, Amdo

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Slogans: Not Known

Father of a new-born ten-month old infant, Konchok Kyab (also known as Konba) set fire to himself around noon on 22 January near the local Bora Monastery. Konchok passed away during his fiery protest following which Chinese security personnel whisked his body away to an undisclosed location. According to reports from sources, a huge number of local Tibetans from the adjoining regions gathered at around 7 pm and marched to the local Chinese government office to pressure the authorities to return his body funeral rites could be carried out. However, the authorities responded with a strict warning prohibiting anyone from visiting Konchok’s home. Nevertheless the crowd insisted that if the authorities took such a hard-line stance, they would sit in front of the government office with their ritual instruments and perform the cremation rights right there and then. In the meantime a large contingent of armed forces were deployed in the Sangchu and Bora region. Konchok, who was from Gyara village in Bogtsa district of Bora Township, is survived by his wife, Kharmo Thar, and their newborn son.

Name: Konchok Kyab

Age: 23

Sex: Male

Profession: Layperson

Date of Self-immolation: 22 January 2013, 12 noon

Location: Bora, Sangchu County, Kanlho, Amdo

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Slogans: Not Known

Father of a new-born ten-month old infant, Konchok Kyab (also known as Konba) set fire to himself around noon on 22 January near the local Bora Monastery. Konchok passed away during his fiery protest following which Chinese security personnel whisked his body away to an undisclosed location. According to reports from sources, a huge number of local Tibetans from the adjoining regions gathered at around 7 pm and marched to the local Chinese government office to pressure the authorities to return his body funeral rites could be carried out. However, the authorities responded with a strict warning prohibiting anyone from visiting Konchok’s home. Nevertheless the crowd insisted that if the authorities took such a hard-line stance, they would sit in front of the government office with their ritual instruments and perform the cremation rights right there and then. In the meantime a large contingent of armed forces were deployed in the Sangchu and Bora region. Konchok, who was from Gyara village in Bogtsa district of Bora Township, is survived by his wife, Kharmo Thar, and their newborn son.

Name: Tsering Phuntsok

Age: 20’s

Sex: Male

Status: Layperson

Date of Self-immolation: 18 January 2013, 3:15 pm

Location: Drachen village, Marthong County, Ngaba, Amdo

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Slogans: Not reported

Tsering Phuntsok, set himself on fire in front of the local Chinese Police Station in Drachen Village, Marthong County, Ngaba. He passed away at the scene of his protest. Chinese security personnel then bundled his body into a vehicle and drove it to Barkham. He is survived by his wife and two children.