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.

Name: Tsering Tashi

Age: 22

Sex: Male

Status: Layperson

Date of Self-immolation: 12 January 2013, 8 pm (local time)

Location: Sangchu County, Amdo

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Tsering Tashi dressed himself in full traditional Tibetan attire and wound his body with wire before setting himself on fire. Eyewitnesses state that Tashi shouted “Gyalwang Tenzin Gyatso” as he marched on the street engulfed in flames before he fell, succumbing to his injuries. Chinese security personnel arrived at the scene but the Tibetans managed to rescue Tashi’s body after a minor scuffle and delivered it to his home in Kyi Village. However, soon afterwards local Chinese police and Public Security Bureau officials arrived in several vehicles, enclosing the area and barring the monks of Amchok Monastery and local Tibetans from offering prayers. They ordered family members of the deceased to immediately cremate the body. Tashi’s mother, Tsering Dolma, reportedly fainted and had to be rushed to hospital when she heard the orders from the Chinese authorities. Despite the official intervention, monks and Tibetans from nearby gathered to offer prayers and pay their last respects. The officials then reportedly sent a local lama to persuade the family to comply with the orders. Tashi’s family members remained firm and refused to obey the orders for an immediate cremation without performing the necessary prayers and rituals. However, when the family members foresaw an imminent threat to the security and livelihoods of the villagers, they surrendered to the officials’ demands. The head of the local Public Security Bureau office had reportedly charged Tashi’s family members with having “close ties with the splittist Dalai group” and in fury banged his fist on a table. Tsering Tashi was cremated late on the night of 13 January when most people of the village were safely asleep. The Chinese authorities allowed only a few individuals to attend the cremation. Tsering Tashi is survived by his parents, his wife Yumtso Kyi, and two sisters. He was described by Tibetans who knew him as “good-natured and polite” with a keen passion for horses and horse-racing.

Name: Tsering Tashi

Age: 22

Sex: Male

Status: Layperson

Date of Self-immolation: 12 January 2013, 8 pm (local time)

Location: Sangchu County, Amdo

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Tsering Tashi dressed himself in full traditional Tibetan attire and wound his body with wire before setting himself on fire. Eyewitnesses state that Tashi shouted “Gyalwang Tenzin Gyatso” as he marched on the street engulfed in flames before he fell, succumbing to his injuries. Chinese security personnel arrived at the scene but the Tibetans managed to rescue Tashi’s body after a minor scuffle and delivered it to his home in Kyi Village. However, soon afterwards local Chinese police and Public Security Bureau officials arrived in several vehicles, enclosing the area and barring the monks of Amchok Monastery and local Tibetans from offering prayers. They ordered family members of the deceased to immediately cremate the body. Tashi’s mother, Tsering Dolma, reportedly fainted and had to be rushed to hospital when she heard the orders from the Chinese authorities. Despite the official intervention, monks and Tibetans from nearby gathered to offer prayers and pay their last respects. The officials then reportedly sent a local lama to persuade the family to comply with the orders. Tashi’s family members remained firm and refused to obey the orders for an immediate cremation without performing the necessary prayers and rituals. However, when the family members foresaw an imminent threat to the security and livelihoods of the villagers, they surrendered to the officials’ demands. The head of the local Public Security Bureau office had reportedly charged Tashi’s family members with having “close ties with the splittist Dalai group” and in fury banged his fist on a table. Tsering Tashi was cremated late on the night of 13 January when most people of the village were safely asleep. The Chinese authorities allowed only a few individuals to attend the cremation. Tsering Tashi is survived by his parents, his wife Yumtso Kyi, and two sisters. He was described by Tibetans who knew him as “good-natured and polite” with a keen passion for horses and horse-racing.

Her Slogans: “Long Life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama”, “Independence for Tibet and “May Tibetan people prevail for tens of thousands of years”

Name: Bhenchen Kyi

Age: 17

Sex: Female

Profession: Schoolgirl

Date of Self-immolation: 9 December 2012, 8 pm (local time)

Location: Dokarmo Region of Tsekhog, Rebkong County, Amdo

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Her Slogans: “Long Live Gyalwang Tenzin Gyatso”

On the eve of International Human Rights Day, a teenage schoolgirl, Bhenchen Kyi, set herself on fire calling for an end to China’s ongoing occupation of Tibet and a long life for Tibet’s spiritual leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Bhenchen Kyi passed away at the site of her protest. Subsequent to her self-immolation, local Tibetans managed to prevent her body from falling into the hands of the Chinese authorities. According to an informant in exile, “Around two thousand Tibetans gathered at the site of her protest and raised slogans calling for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s long life and reciting his long life prayers. The crowd was emotionally charged and many of them were crying,” the source added. Bhenchen Kyi was cremated around 12:15 next morning in the presence of her family members. Tibetan people from nearby started to rush to her cremation ceremony after hearing the news of her self-sacrifice. Approximately three thousand people were reportedly present at the funeral to pay their last respects. Prior to her action, Bhenchen Kyi had vowed she would self-immolate for the cause of Tibet and had further stated that she would carry out her action in a nomadic area populated by Tibetans, and not in a town centre, so that her parents could have access to her dead body. “I don’t want the Chinese authorities to take away my body,” Bhenchen Kyi had reportedly said. She is survived by her parents, Sonam Tsering and Sermo, and two siblings.

His slogans: “Long Life and Return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Kyabje Kirti Rinpoche”

Name: Kunchok Phelgye

Age: 24

Sex: Male

Profession: Monk

Date of Self-immolation: 8 December 2012 5:20 pm (local time)

Location: Outside the main prayer hall of Taktsang Lhamo Kirti Monastery, Amdo, Northeastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Kunchok Phelgye, a 24-year-old monk from Sumdo Monastery in Dzoege region of Eastern Tibet, passed away following his self-immolation protest. Kunchok carried out his action in front of the main assembly hall of the Taktsang Lhamo Kirti Monastery at around 5:20 pm (local time). Enveloped in flames, and with his hands joined in prayer, he raised slogans for the long life and return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Kyabje Kirti Rinpoche, the exiled head of Ngaba’s Kirti Monastery. He also raised slogans calling for the “return and reunification of Tibetans.” Monks of the monastery surrounded Kunchok Phelgye’s burning body and began to recite prayers, “Losang Gyalwa Kungi Nyingje Ter…” (a prayer usually recited in Kirti Rinpoche’s honour). Monks later carried Kunchok Phelgye’s body to his quarters in the monastery where hundreds of monks and local Tibetans continued to visit to offer their last respects and prayers. Local Chinese personnel placed Taktsang Lhamo Kirti Monastery and the surrounding villages under a security blockade. Kunchok Phelgye had nine family members. His parents are Kunchok Kyab and Dolma Tso. Originally from Sumdo Monastery, Kunchok Phelgye joined Taktsang Lhamo Kirti Monastery in 2010.

His Slogans: “Return His Holiness the Dalai Lama”, “Tibet’s Independence”, “Unity of Tibetans” and the “Land of Tibet to be Ruled by Tibetans”.

Name: Pema Dorjee

Age: 23

Sex: Male

Profession: Farmer

Date of Self-immolation: 8 December 2012 4:30 pm (local time)

Location: Near the main prayer hall of Shitsang Monastery in Luchu, Eastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Marking the death anniversary of the founder of the school of Tibetan Buddhism Gelugpa, Je Tsongkhapa, Pema Dorjee set himself on fire in front of the main assembly hall of Shitsang Monastery in Luchu. The anniversary, Gaden Ngamchoe, is commemorated by offering butter lamps in monasteries, temples, stupas and in private homes. A large number of Tibetans who were at the monastery to celebrate the festival, therefore witnessed the self-immolation protest by Pema Dorjee. He raised slogans calling for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Independence of Tibet, Unity of Tibetans and the land of Tibet to be ruled by Tibetans. The assembly witnessed Pema succumbing to his injuries at the protest site. Heavy restrictions have been placed around the monastery. Pema Dorjee is a native of Chokhor village in Shitsang region of Luchu. His village is located at around a distance of 30 kms from Shitsang Monastery.

His Slogans: “Return His Holiness the Dalai Lama”, “Tibet’s Independence”, “Unity of Tibetans” and the “Land of Tibet to be Ruled by Tibetans”.

Name: Pema Dorjee

Age: 23

Sex: Male

Profession: Farmer

Date of Self-immolation: 8 December 2012 4:30 pm (local time)

Location: Near the main prayer hall of Shitsang Monastery in Luchu, Eastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Marking the death anniversary of the founder of the school of Tibetan Buddhism Gelugpa, Je Tsongkhapa, Pema Dorjee set himself on fire in front of the main assembly hall of Shitsang Monastery in Luchu. The anniversary, Gaden Ngamchoe, is commemorated by offering butter lamps in monasteries, temples, stupas and in private homes. A large number of Tibetans who were at the monastery to celebrate the festival, therefore witnessed the self-immolation protest by Pema Dorjee. He raised slogans calling for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Independence of Tibet, Unity of Tibetans and the land of Tibet to be ruled by Tibetans. The assembly witnessed Pema succumbing to his injuries at the protest site. Heavy restrictions have been placed around the monastery. Pema Dorjee is a native of Chokhor village in Shitsang region of Luchu. His village is located at around a distance of 30 kms from Shitsang Monastery.

Name: Lobsang Gendun

Age: 29

Sex: Male

Profession: Monk

Date of Self-immolation: 3 December 2012 7 pm (local time)

Location: Golog Pema County, Golog, Eastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Slogans: Not reported

Monk Lobsang Gedun set himself on fire at a crossroads in Pema County, then walked 300 steps with hands folded in a gesture of prayer before he collapsed and died. Chinese security police and Public Security Bureau (PSB) officers immediately arrived at the scene and attempted to take his body away — triggering a tussle when local Tibetans tried and managed to wrestle his body from them and take it to Penak Monastery. Lobsang is originally from Penak Monastery in Pema County which sources report was then put under strict surveillance following his action. Several hundred Chinese police and armed PSB personnel sectioned off Pema County centre and imposed stringent restrictions on the movements locals.

Name: Lobsang Gendun

Age: 29

Sex: Male

Profession: Monk

Date of Self-immolation: 3 December 2012 7 pm (local time)

Location: Golog Pema County, Golog, Eastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Slogans: Not reported

Monk Lobsang Gedun set himself on fire at a crossroads in Pema County, then walked 300 steps with hands folded in a gesture of prayer before he collapsed and died. Chinese security police and Public Security Bureau (PSB) officers immediately arrived at the scene and attempted to take his body away — triggering a tussle when local Tibetans tried and managed to wrestle his body from them and take it to Penak Monastery. Lobsang is originally from Penak Monastery in Pema County which sources report was then put under strict surveillance following his action. Several hundred Chinese police and armed PSB personnel sectioned off Pema County centre and imposed stringent restrictions on the movements locals.

Name: Sungdue Kyab

Age: 17

Sex: Male

Profession: Farmer

Date of Self-immolation: 2 December 2012 3:40 pm (local time)

Location: Bora, Labrang, Amdo, Northeastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Unknown, Believed to be at Kanlho People’s Hospital Slogans: Not reported A young father of one, Sungdue Kyab, self-immolated on the main road near Bora Monastery. Sources reported that Chinese police who arrived at the site within minutes took him to Kanlho People’s Hospital. He has not been seen since and family and friends were barred from visiting him. His current wellbeing and definite whereabouts remain uncertain.