She self-immolated near Jonang monastery to protest against the repressive policies of the Chinese government. Local Tibetans carried her body to the nearby Jonang monastery after the incident. Her body was later shifted to her home. Local Chinese authorities asked the family to cremate the body that night itself. Thousands of local Tibetans and monks came to pay their respects and express their solidarity at the funeral.

Jugtso is a native of Barma township in Zamthang. She is married and has a 3 year-old child.

New report confirms Phagmo Dhondup’s death

Phagmo Dhondup

Confirmed reports from Tibet say that Phagmo Dhondup, who set himself on fire on 24 February at Jakhyung monastery in Bayan Khar in eastern Tibet, died at a hospital in Siling. He was reported to be seriously burned during the self-immolation.

Kunchok Tenzin, a 28-year-old monk of Mokhri monastery, set himself on fire at a cross road near the monastery Tuesday (26 March) around 7 pm (local time). He died on the spot. Local Tibetans and monks then carried his body inside the monastery. Fearing Chinese police’s attempt to seize his body, the monks carried out the cremation that night. After the incident, severe restrictions have been imposed on the monastery and the nearby villages.

Kunchok Tenzin was a native of Zamtsa Yultso village in Luchu county. He is survived by his parents Lhakho and Lhamo Tso and his six brothers. He is the sixth Tibetan to set himself on fire to protest against the Chinese rule from the Luchu region.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Central Tibetan Administration organised a prayer service to express solidarity with Tibetan self-immolators, including Kalkyi, Lhamo Kyab, Tulku Athup and his niece Atse.

Speaking at the prayer service, Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay said the CTA continues to urge various parliaments of the world to pass resolutions to resolve the problem of Tibet. He said the Australian Parliament has recently passed a motion on Tibet, urging the Chinese government to address the underlying grievances of the Tibetan people and resume substantive talks with the Dalai Lama’s representatives to prevent the situation in Tibet deteriorating further. Sikyong commended the efforts made by Tibetans and support groups to lobby parliamentarians and government officials in their host countries on the crisis in Tibet. 

The last remains of Lhamo Kyab.

DHARAMSHALA: Reports coming out of Tibet say a Tibetan man has set himself on fire to protest the Chinese rule in Tibet, taking the total self-immolations to 111.

Lhamo Kyab, 43, set himself on fire in Sangchu county (Ch:Xiahe) in Kanlho in north-eastern Tibet (incorporated into China’s Gansu Province) Monday (25 March). Local Tibetans later found his last remains at the protest site. After the news of his immolation spread, Chinese police and security officials arrived at the site. Movements of local Tibetans have been restricted after the incident.

Lhamo Kyab hails from Kyitsang Meshul township in Kanlho. He was working as a forest officer.

The China director of Human Rights Watch on 25 March said Beijing must address its failed policies in Tibet to stop Tibetans from burning themselves to death.

“There is precious little evidence that Beijing is addressing the reasons articulated for the immolations – a desire for religious freedom, for independence or autonomy, for the return of the Dalai Lama among others. Nor is there any discernible sign of redress for Tibetans, as there has occasionally been for others in China who have self-immolated over issues like evictions or land disputes,” said Sophie Richardson, the China director at the Human Rights Watch.

“The willful refusal to see Tibetans as people who want to live a different way and have every right to do so – not as insurgents, criminals or separatists – is ultimately self-defeating. If Beijing wants to stop Tibetan ‘innocents’ from immolating, it must reverse course and loosen up – not batten down,” Richardson said.

Despite the Kashag’s's repeated appeals not to resort to drastic actions, since 2009, over 102 Tibetans have set themselves on fire to protest against the Chinese government’s continued occupation of Tibet and repression.

Latest reports coming out Tibet say Namlha Tsering, 47, self-immolated at Sangchu (Ch: Xiahe) in Kanlho in eastern Tibet, on 17 February 2013. His current condition is not known although sources say chances of his survival are minimal.

No further information is available at the moment.

Since 2009, over 101 Tibetans have set themselves on fire protesting against the repressive policies of the Chinese government in Tibet.

Tibetans-in-exile hold a candlelight vigil following the self-immolation attempt by a monk in Kathmandu on February 13, 2013/Getty Images

PRESS RELEASE
14 February 2013

“Dignity is the spirit of a nationality…,” wrote the 42-year-old monk Sopa Rinpoche before his self-immolation on January 8, 2012. Since the first such action by Tapey on February 27, 2009, 100 Tibetans have burnt themselves. This has taken place, despite the recent harsh and unlawful sentencing of 8 Tibetans and arrest of family members, for allegedly instigating Tibetans to self-immolation.

All of them have called for the collective restoration of Tibetan dignity: Return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and to Tibet and freedom for Tibet.

Latest reports coming out of Tibet say Lobsang Namgyal, a 37-year-old monk of Kirti Monastery died after setting himself on fire in Ngaba, north-eastern Tibet, on 3 February 2013. Though the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) continues to repeatedly appeal to the Tibetans in Tibet to refrain from such drastic acts, sadly the self-immolations continue.

The ongoing and unprecedented self-immolations by an increasing number of Tibetans in Tibet are the ultimate acts of civil disobedience against China’s failed rule in Tibet. Instead of owning the onus of tragedy in Tibet – a self evident responsibility of its over 60 years of continuous iron-grip rule in Tibet – China relentlessly and irresponsibly accuses His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan leadership of inciting these self-immolations.

To unveil the truth of the matter in Tibet, we have called on China to provide unfettered access to Tibet for the global media, diplomats and international NGOs. On our part, we have repeatedly invited China to Dharamshala, India, the headquarters of CTA, to investigate our alleged role in the self-immolations. We have pledged full co-operation and unhindered access to our offices.

The CTA, therefore, calls on the national governments and international agencies, including the United Nations, to use their good offices and actively engage with China to stop the deteriorating situation in Tibet by addressing the genuine grievances of the Tibetans. Concrete steps for the leaders of the world need to take immediately are to send Ms Navi Pillay of UNHCR to visit Tibet and investigate the real causes of self immolations, and convene a meeting to discuss and address the crisis in Tibet. It would go a long way not only to encourage the Tibetans in their effort to embrace democracy and non-violence but also to be a catalyst for a moderate China.

Dr. Lobsang Sangay
Sikyong of the Tibetan Administration based in India

Media contacts:
Mr Tashi Phuntsok, Secretary for Information, + 91 9816539103
Mr Lobsang Choedak, Press Officer, + 91 9882232476

Lobsang Namgyal

DHARAMSHALA: The Central Tibetan Administration is deeply saddened by the continuing tragic self-immolations by Tibetans in protest against the repressive policies of the Chinese government.

Lobsang Namgyal, 37, a monk of Kirti monastery, died after setting himself near the local police station in Dzoege in Ngaba, north-eastern Tibet, on 3 February 2013. He raised slogans for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Earlier in September 2012, he went missing for about two weeks and it was later known that he was secretly arrested by the Chinese police. After his release, local Chinese authorities continued to harass him, forcing him to move out of the monastery to live with his parents.

In yet another incident, a Tibetan monk set himself on fire in Kathmandu, Nepal, on 13 February. The details of the incident are not available, therefore not verifiable.
(Fact Sheet)

A section of Indian supporters at the Tibetan People’s Solidarity Campaign in New Delhi, India, on 2 February 2013/TibetNet photo

At the final day event of Tibetan People’s Solidarity Campaign

February 2, 2013, Delhi: Mass gathering with Indian Supporters and speeches by Indian Parliamentarians and prominent Indian leaders marked the final day of Tibetan People’s Solidarity Campaign.

Over 1500 Indian supporters and 6000 Tibetans took part in the daylong event at Jantar Mantar.

Over 30 Indian leaders: Members of Parliament, Party leaders and Youth leaders addressed the gathering.  Shri Yashwant Sinha, former Finance and Foreign Minister and Convenor, All Party Indian Parliamentary Forum for Tibet, Shri Ram Vilas Paswan, former Railway Minister and present MP & President of Lok Jan Shakti Party, Ravi Shankar Prasad, MP, Chief Spokesperson for BJP and Rajya Sabha Deputy leader of Opposition, Chandan Mitra, MP and National Spokesperson for BJP were the prominent speakers.

India’s former foreign minister Shri Yashwant Sinha at the Tibetan People’s Solidarity Campaign in New Delhi, India, on 2 February 2013/TibetNet photo

Other leaders include Shri Balbir Punj, MP and National Spokesperson for BJP, Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, MP, BJP, Smt Bimla Kashyap, MP, BJP, Shri Alok Tiwari, MP, Samajavadi Party, Shri Jayant Chaudhary, MP and General Secretary of Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), Shri Inder Singh Namdari, former minister of Bihar state and former speaker of Jharkhand State Legislative Assembly, Shri Vijay Kumar Malhotra, MLA, State Opposition leader of Delhi, Shri S.M Qamar Alan, National Secretary of Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD), Shri Ranjeet Gupta, former Ambassador and many others.

Shri Yashwant Sinha, former Finance Foreign and Finance Minister and Convener, All Party Indian Parliamentary Forum for Tibet, began by saying that ‘Self-Immolation is the ultimate sacrifice an individual can make for one’s cause.’ And pledged to ‘work to invite His Holiness the Dalai Lama to address the Indian Parliament in March this year.’

Shri Ram Vilas Paswan, former Steel and Railway Minister and MP, Lok Janshakti Party condemned the atrocities committed by China in Tibet, and said that ‘he has written to the Prime Minister Shri Manmohan Singh to make efforts to resolve the issue of Tibet.’

Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, MP, Chief Spokesperson and Deputy leader of BJP, said that ‘he had come here at this gathering not only as BJP official but also as a concerned human being to show his solidarity with Tibet.’

Shri Chandan Mitra, MP and National Spokesperson for BJP said that the ‘Tibetan struggle is representative of the struggle of people of the world who love freedom and peace’ and stressed that ‘Tibetans in Tibet have the right to live their lives with dignity.’ He concluded saying that ‘Tibet’s security will ensure India’s security.’

Mr Balbir Punj, member of Rajya Sabha (the Upper House) and a senior leader of BJP, said that the freedom of Tibet is of an as much concern to the people of India as it is for the people of Tibet. He said the enormous public support of Indian masses for the freedom of Tibet will soon force the Government of India to revise its Tibet policy and India will play an active role in the Tibetan people’s struggle for their freedom from Chinese occupation. Mr Punj has been a staunch supporter of Tibet in the Indian Parliament where he has raised the issue of Tibet many times. He is also the member of the External Affairs Committee of Indian Parliament.

Shri Anurag Thakur, BJP MP said that his ‘party (BJP) was, is and always will stand by Tibet.’ Anurag condemned ‘China’s ever expanding control over Tibet and other regions in South East Asia.’ He emphasized that ‘Tibetans inside Tibet are compelled to resort to self-immolation’ and that ‘the time has come for Tibet and India to stand united and challenge China.’

Shri Alok Tiwari, MP, Samajwadi Party said that ‘his party has long standing relationship with the Tibetan issue since the time of Dr. Ram Mohan Lohia and Jaya Prakash Narayan’ and hoped to see a ‘speedy resolution to the Tibetan issue.’

Shri Jayant Chaudhary, MP and General Secretary of RLD said that ‘the Tibetan struggle is a struggle for truth, justice and a non-violent struggle’ and assured that ‘he will raise the Tibetan issue in the upcoming Parliament session in March this year.’

TPIE Speaker Mr. Penpa Tsering was the Master of Ceremony for the day. The 4-day ‘Tibetan People’s Solidarity Campaign’ concluded with the delivery of closing remarks by Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay and the conveying of vote of thanks by Deputy speaker of TPIE,  Khenpo Sonam Tenphel.

Press contacts:
Ms. Youdon Aukatsang, TPIE member, 0-9999915061
Ms. Dhardon Sharling, TPIE member, 0- 9810847905
Mr. Tashi Phuntsok, Additional Secretary, DIIR: 0-9816539103
Mr. Tenzin Lekshay, Media officer, Delhi Bureau office, 0-9811422930

More photos:

India’s former foreign minister Shri Jaswant Singh at the Tibetan People’s Solidarity Campaign in New Delhi, India, on 1 February 2013/TibetNet photo

Former Indian cabinet minister Shri Ram Vilas Paswan at the Tibetan People’s Solidarity Campaign in New Delhi, India, on 2 February 2013/TibetNet photo

Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, MP, Chief Spokesperson and Deputy leader of BJP, meets Sikyong at the Tibetan People’s Solidarity Campaign in New Delhi, India, on 2 February 2013/TibetNet photo

Shri Chandan Mitra, MP and National Spokesperson for BJP, speaks to Tibetan Parliament Speaker at the Tibetan People’s Solidarity Campaign in New Delhi, India, on 2 February 2013/TibetNet photo

Mr Balbir Punj, member of Rajya Sabha (the Upper House) and a senior leader of BJP, addressing the Tibetan Solidarity Rally in Delhi, India, on 2 February 2013

Shri Anurag Thakur, BJP MP, at the Tibetan People’s Solidarity Campaign in New Delhi, India, on 2 February 2013/TibetNet photo

Shri Jayant Chaudhary, MP and General Secretary of RLD, at the Tibetan People’s Solidarity Campaign in New Delhi, India, on 2 February 2013/TibetNet photo

Harsh Penalties for Tibetans Charged In Connection With Deaths

(New York) – Chinese judicial authorities should immediately release two Tibetans who were found guilty in legal proceedings that relied solely on confessions they gave during five months in detention, Human Rights Watch said today.  Human Rights Watch has documented endemic use of torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and coercion of Tibetans in detention.

On January 31, 2013, the Intermediate People’s Court of the Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture sentenced Lorang Konchok to death with two years’ reprieve and his nephew, Lorang Tsering, to 10 years in prison on charges of “intentional homicide” in connection with the self-immolation protests of other Tibetans.

“These prosecutions are utterly without credibility,” said Sophie Richardson, China director. “The Chinese government seems to think it can stop self-immolation by punishing anyone who talks about it.  But in pursuing these ‘incitement’ cases, the government compounds the tragedy of these suicide protests.”

According to a Xinhua report in December 2012, Lorang Konchok, 41, a monk at the Kirti Monastery, and his nephew, Lorang Tsering, 31, a former monk, had been in detention since August 2012. That same account, the first to confirm their detention, also reported that Lorang Konchok had confessed. At the trial, Lorang Konchok was accused of being the primary actor receiving instructions from organizations associated with the Dalai Lama in India, and Lorang Tsering was accused of being his accomplice. Between the publication of the Xinhua article and the beginning of their trial on January 26, 2013, there was little additional information about their case, and it remains unclear whether they had access to lawyers during their detention.

According to Chinese state media reports of the trial, both men confessed to trying to “goad” or “incite” eight people to self-immolate since 2010, three of whom died, on instructions from “the Dalai Lama clique.” Those confessions were made public in December, after the men had been in detention for four months. According to state media, Lorang Konchok and Lorang Tsering did not present defenses and the lawyers assigned to them asked the court for leniency on the basis of their cooperation.

Since mid-2011, the Chinese government has detained and prosecuted at least a dozen people who have allegedly been associated with immolations. These include:

    * On January 31, 2013, six Tibetans were sentenced by a Gansu court for their alleged involvement in the October 2012 self-immolation of Dorje Rinchen. Four of the six were given sentences ranging from seven to twelve years on charges of “intentional homicide,” based on claims they had prevented police from reaching Rinchen. The other two were given three- and four-year sentences for blocking traffic after the immolation. Chinese authorities said on January 24, 2013, that at least 10 other people in Gansu have been charged with “planning” or “organizing” self-immolations, without giving further details;
    * On January 25, 2013, state media reported that Drolma Kyab, a “prospective self-immolator,” and his “suspected inciter,” known as Pakpa, were both detained for investigations relating to homicide;
    * In mid-January 2013, four Tsodun Kirti monks were sentenced to prison for charges that stem from ties to monks from the same monastery who self-immolated in 2012. All four were detained at the Kirti monastery in August 2012, but the reasons for their arrest were not made clear at the time, and the monks were subsequently held in an undisclosed location. According to family members and Kirti monks in exile who passed on the information, the Barkham Intermediate People’s Court in Ngaba (Ch. Aba) sentenced Namsey, aged 18, to ten years in prison; Yarphel, aged 18, six years; Lobsang Sengye, aged 19, two years; and Asung, aged 22, two and a half years. Sources believe they were arrested on suspicion of involvement in the self-immolation protests by fellow monks in March and July of 2012, but no further information is known;
    * In August 2012, another Tsodun Kirti monk, Tubwang Tenzin, was arrested.  He has not yet been tried and remains in detention, conditions unknown;
    * In July 2012, three monks belonging to Bongtak monastery in Tsonub (Ch. Haixi) prefecture in Qinghai province were given sentences ranging from 9 to 11 years in prison in connection with the self-immolation death of another monk;
    * In September 2012, two Ngaba (Ch. Aba) Kirti monks were sentenced to prison terms of between 8 and 11 year in connection with the self-immolation deaths of a fellow monk in March 2012;
    * In late June 2012, a week after Ngawang Norphel and Tenzin Khedup self-immolated together, Ngawang Norphel’s wife, Drolma Dekyi, and two other family members were detained for questioning;
    * In August 2011, sentences of 10 and 13 years were given to two monks from Ngaba Kirti monastery for “intentional homicide” in not handing over a monk to the authorities after he had self-immolated, and at least four others were sentenced for sending photographs of self-immolators to exiles.

There are numerous reports of other detentions that have been carried out after the immolations of fellow monks and family members as an apparent deterrent against future immolations. However, those detained are often held in secret and information about them is difficult to obtain.

Self-immolations take place in the context of the Chinese government’s long-standing repressive policies in the Tibetan areas that have seen severe restrictions on Tibetans’ rights. Statements left behind by some individuals make clear their actions were protests against government policies. The current wave of immolations began after the government cracked down on mostly peaceful, large-scale protests against Chinese policies in 2008.

To date there has still been no concerted effort from the Chinese government to address the underlying grievances in Tibet, which have contributed to the rising number of self-immolations by Tibetans. The latest in the 99 self-immolations since February 22, 2009, occurred on January 22, 2013. Twenty-six-year-old Konchok Kyab died after setting fire to himself in Kanlho (Ch. Gannan) Tibet Autonomous Prefecture in Gansu province.

“Sentencing someone to death for allegedly inciting someone else to commit suicide is neither just nor respectful of the right to life,” said Richardson. “The ongoing prosecution of people linked with self-immolation appears to be about stifling dissent and laying blame on others for this tragedy.  It is time for China to respond to the grievances and human rights violations that appear to be provoking this tragic form of protest.”

Thousands of Tibetans taking part in the four-day Tibetan People’s Solidarity Campaign in New Delhi on 30 January 2013 to solicit global support on the crisis in Tibet/Photo/Altaf Qadri/AP

[Asian Age/PTI]

New Delhi, 1 Feb: Resolution of the Tibet issue through “genuine” autonomy could act as a catalyst for modernisation of China, prime minister of Tibetan government-in-exile Lobsang Sangay said on Thursday, asking countries to speak up openly in favour of the cause.
Addressing a seminar on ‘Tibet: Current situation and its implications for China and India’ here, he said India should treat Tibet as a “core issue” during its talks with China so that its security and environmental issues are taken care of.

He also slammed the apathy of countries in not recognising the “peaceful struggle” by Tibetans for “genuine autonomy” from Chinese regime, saying they need to understand that there is a “disconnect between reality and rhetoric”.

In this regard, he criticised western countries’ stand on Syria saying they support an “armed revolution” but not a “peaceful struggle”.

“We have made our stand very clear. We want genuine autonomy. Granting that autonomy would act as a catalyst for modernisation of China. We have been maturely and peacefully protesting. It would act as catalyst for modernisation and liberalisation of China,” he said.

Mr Sangay made it clear that Tibetans in no way plan or intend to challenge China’s territorial integrity over Tibet, but would need “genuine autonomy” and restoration of their “self-respect”.

“As a guest, we would just like to request India to treat Tibet as a ‘core issue’ during its talks with China so that its security and environmental issues are taken care of,” he said.

Former foreign secretary Lalit Mansingh, who was also present, emphasised the need for India to make Tibet its core issue during talks with China and said the China-Pakistan nexus” is always a cause of concern for India.