Tibetan student dies after setting himself on fire in protest against Chinese rule in Tibet

DHARAMSALA, Sep 23: Lhamo Tashi, 22 set himself on fire in front of a police station in Tsoe City in Kanlho Prefecture in the traditional Tibetan Province of Amdo on Sep 17, coinciding with the first day of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s three-day India visit. Lhamo Tashi died at the protest site after shouting slogans.

An undated photo of Lhamo Tashi
An undated photo of Lhamo Tashi

Police took his body away and despite his family’s request to return the body, it was cremated by the Chinese authorities and only his ashes were returned to the family on Sep 19.

Although the fiery protest happened on Wednesday, news about Lhamo Tashi’s self-immolation emerged only on Sunday due to restrictions placed on communication channels and the slogans he shouted before his death also could not be confirmed.

Born to father Choepa Tsering and mother Dhugkar Tso, Lhamo Tashi was a native of Drogdo Village in Bora Township in Kanlho Prefecture’s Sangchu County and was studying in Tsoe City.

The Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile on Sep 22 passed a unanimous resolution to express condolence and solidarity with the deceased and his family members.

“We are deeply saddened to learn about the death of Lhamo Tashi following his self-immolation protest against the Chinese government’s repressive policies in Tibet. We mourn and express solidarity with his family members,” Central Tibetan Administration’s official website Tibet.net quoted Speaker Penpa Tsering as saying.

With Lhamo Tashi’s self-immolation protest, the total number of known Tibetans from inside Tibet to have set their bodies on fire in protest against Chinese rule in Tibet since February 2009 has now reached 131.

 

 

 

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