Tibetan self-immolation survivor released after over six years in Chinese prison

By Lobsang Tenchoe

DHARAMSALA, July 31: A Tibetan political prisoner whose whereabouts and conditions remained unknown following his self-immolation protest against China’s repressive rule in Tibet in 2011 has been released by Chinese authorities.

Lobsang Kelsang, a monk from Kirti Monastery in Ngaba county in the traditional Tibetan province of Amdo, has been released by Chinese authorities from Deyang prison in Sichuan province on July 29, reports Gu-Chu-Sum Movement Association of Tibet.

Lobsang Kelsang, along with Lobsang Kunchok, another monk from Kirti Monastery staged a twin self-immolation protest against China’s repressive rule in Tibet on September 26, 2011 in Ngaba county town.

The Chinese officials quickly put off the fire and whisked them away. Lobsang Kelsang and Lobsang Kunchok were 18 and 19 years old respectively when they staged their fiery protest.

With Lobsang Kelsang’s release from prison, both the monks who survived the self-immolation protest have been released. Earlier, Lobsang Kunchok was released by the Chinese authorities from the same prison on March 28, 2017 with one of his legs having amputated.

Lobsang Kelsang has spent over six years in Chinese prison and his release is the only update since his detention by the Chinese authorities following his protest. Similarly, nothing was heard about Lobsang Kunchok since his detention until his release.