Chinese-government owned news agency Xinhua today confirmed the death of nun Tenzin Choedon after her self-immolation protest in Ngaba (Ch: Aba) County on 11 February 2012.
The Xinhua report said the Tibetan nun self-immolated at a place 5 kms away from Ngaba County. It further said she died on the way to hospital. The report identified the nun as 19- year old Tenzin Choedon, born in “Ri-a-luo” village (Tibetan Reruwa), “Jialuo” Township, Ngaba County.
A Chinese government-owned newspaper has reported that the security forces shot dead two Tibetan brothers on 9 February 2012 in Drango (Ch: Luhuo) County, Kardze (Ch: Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province.
The brothers’ death by gunshots was extensively reported earlier by exile Tibetan sources. However, the 11 February 2012 report in the Ganzi Daily News is the first confirmation of the case.
The report said Tibetan monk Yeshe Rigsal, aged 40 and his wounded brother Yeshe Samdrub, aged 38 were shot dead by the security forces.
A Tibetan nun from Mamae Nunnery, also known as Dechen Choekhorling Nunnery, has set herself afire at Ngaba (Ch: Aba) County in Sichuan Province.
Tenzin Choedon, aged 18, shouted protest slogans against the Chinese government before setting herself alight at an intersection near a bridge located below her nunnery.
It is believed that she did not die on the spot but was taken away by security personnel from People’s Armed Police and Public Security Bureau to Barkham, capital of Ngaba Tibetan & Qiang Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.
A 19-yr-old Tibetan set himself alight in protest against the Chinese government on 8 February 2012 around 6.30 pm (Tibet Time) at Ngaba County in Sichuan Province.
Rinzin Dorjee aka Rikpe self-immolated at No. 2 Primary School in Ngaba town, where 13 Tibetans have now set themselves on fire. Soon after the incident, security personnel arrived, doused the flames, and reportedly took Rikpe to the Aba County hospital. Later, he was taken to a hospital in Barkham (Ch: Ma’erkang), capital of Ngaba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture.
Not much details are available on his condition. However, some sources say that by the night of 8 February, he was believed to be “on the verge of death.”
After gunning down unarmed Tibetan protesters in Drango, Serta, and Dzamtang counties, the Chinese government has announced further restrictions on Tibetans living in Tibet Autonomous Region and other Tibetan autonomous areas in Qinghai, Gansu, Yunnan, and Sichuan provinces.
Beginning 1 March 2012, those who enter Tibet are required should to carry their government-issued identity cards (in Chinese: shen fen zheng), reported the Chinese government-owned website ChinaTibetNews.com today quoting Qi Zhala, the Communist Party Secretary of Lhasa City. (Go to this link for the report: http://www.chinatibetnews.com/lvyou/2012-02/01/content_872080.htm)
A Tibetan was arrested in Dzamtang County, Ngaba Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (TAP) on 26 January at about 12PM (Tibet Time), for pasting a leaflet which states that the reason for the self-immolation protests was for freedom in Tibet and for the return of the Dalai Lama. It further said that until these demands are met, there is no chance that the campaign will stop. The youth is identified as Tharpa, son of Ripung Normo, from Barma Township in Dzamtang County. Tharpa had also written his name and pasted his photo on the leaflet, claiming himself responsible for the leaflet. It further said that the Chinese authorities could come and arrest him if they wished.
A Tibetan man was arrested for distributing leaflets at Barkhor Square in Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region. The arrest of Namkha Gyaltsen, aged 25, happened at around 5 pm (Local Time) on 25 January 2012. Sources informed TCHRD that police officers arrested Namkha Gyaltsen near the Nang-tse-shak building at Barkhor as he distributed leaflets that contained slogans for the swift return…
It is now confirmed that Norpa Yonten (aged 49) was indeed shot dead by the security forces during 23 January 2012 Drango County protest.
There is, however, unconfirmed information that more than one Tibetan had died of gunshot wounds.
TCHRD has received further details on the identity of the 36 Tibetans arrested in the protest. Among those arrested, 18 belong to Norpa village in Drango County:
Norpa Sonam, Norpa Soegay, Norpa Lobsang Gonpo, Norpa Dudhul, Norpa Jamyang Sherab, Norpa Wangchen, Norpa Tsering Gyaltsen, Norpa Sangyal Gyatso, Norpa Namgyal Dhondup, Norpa Rinchen Thinlay, Norpa Yeshi Rigsel (aged 40), Norpa Tenpa (aged 26), Norpa Lodoe, Norpa Choeshe (aged 27), Norpa Yeshi Tsering AKA Yetse (aged 54), Norpa Jampa Dhondup (aged 36), Norpa Jamnam (aged 27), and Norpa Youtrug (aged 50).
Two Tibetan men died after security forces opened fire on protesters on 24 January 2012 at Serta County (Ch: Seda) in Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province.
The series of self-immolation protests involving Tibetan monks, nuns, and lay people did not occur in a vacuum. Ever since the 2008 unrest in Tibet, the Chinese government’s control of Tibetan life has become significantly restricted. The self-immolations are symptomatic of the greater plight that Tibetans find themselves in throughout the Tibetan plateau.
These are some of the conclusions drawn in the 2011 Annual Report on Human Rights Situation in Tibet released by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) here today.
Despite the increasing frequency of self-immolations, the Chinese government refuses to admit any responsibility and has instead
increased the level of oppression in Tibet, all the while continuing to violate its international human rights obligations, states the
report.
One Tibetan layman, identified as Yonten, has died of gunshot after security officials clamped down on a protest in Drango County (Ch: Luhuo County) in Kandze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, according to information received by TCHRD today.
The body of Yonten, a resident of Drango County, is being kept at Drango Monastery.