Tibetans Push for Permanent Memorial at UN Site of Lobga Rangzen’s Self-Immolation, Petition Gathers 14,176 Signatures
By Tenzin Chokyi
DHARAMSALA, 14 July : More than 14,176 people have signed an online petition calling on the United Nations, New York City and other relevant authorities to establish a permanent memorial for Tibetan independence activist and martyr Lobga Rangzen, who self-immolated outside the United Nations headquarters on 2 July to protest China’s colonial rule over Tibet and demand the restoration of Tibetan independence.
Issued by the Joint Urgent Action Committee for Martyr Lobga Rangzen of the Tibetan Community of New York and New Jersey, the petition had gathered 14,176 signatures as of Tuesday, leaving 11,424 more to reach its target of 25,600. It urges the United Nations, the City of New York and “all concerned authorities” to work with the Tibetan community in New York and New Jersey to establish a permanent memorial at or near the site where Lobga Rangzen carried out his final act of protest.
The petition describes Lobga Rangzen as a respected member of the Tibetan community in New York who dedicated his life to the Tibetan cause and whose final act was intended as a call for Tibetan independence and the protection of human rights. It says he chose the United Nations headquarters as the site of his protest because it symbolises the conscience of the international community.
“A permanent memorial near the United Nations headquarters would provide a lasting place for remembrance and reflection,” the petition states. It says the memorial would honour the resilience and nonviolent spirit of the Tibetan people while reminding the world that freedom, justice and human dignity are universal values.
The petition also draws parallels with New York City’s existing monuments commemorating struggles for freedom, including the Statue of Liberty and the “Old Glory Atop the Empire State Building” marker honouring defenders of freedom. It argues that a memorial for Martyr Lobga Rangzen would reaffirm the principles of liberty, justice and fundamental human rights enshrined in the United Nations Charter and the US Constitution.
The appeal concludes by calling on the United Nations, New York City and other relevant authorities to establish the memorial in collaboration with the Tibetan community, saying it would ensure that Lobga Rangzen’s legacy and the Tibetan people’s peaceful struggle continue to inspire future generations.
Before carrying out his protest earlier this month, he livestreamed a final message urging Tibetans to remain united beyond regional and sectarian divisions and work towards the restoration of Tibet’s independence.
