A Tibetan monk has died after setting himself on fire yesterday at around 7.10 pm (Tibet Time) in the main street of Cha Township, Ngaba (Chinese: Aba) County, Ngaba Tibetan Autonomous Region, Sichuan Province.
The 20-yr-old monk, Sherab, shouted slogans against the Chinese government while in flames and died on the spot, according to sources. The local Tibetans tried to take possession of the body for cremation but the security officers and armed police arrived at the scene and took away the body. The officers ignored repeated pleas to hand over the body to the deceased family.
Sources also said that the area is now under security clampdown. Around 300 government officials “of undisclosed position/rank” are stationed at Kirti Monastery. Armed police and special police forces are patrolling the streets in Ngaba.
Sherab was born the Penpa Tsang household in Raruwa village, Cha Township in Ngaba County. He is survived by his parents and three siblings.
Sherab became a monk at the age of nine at the Ganden Tenpeling Monastery in Raruwa village. In October 2011, he joined Kirti Monastery for further studies, but he returned home on 26 March 2012.
At present, there are around 31 monks at the Ganden Tenpeling Monastery.