DHARAMSHALA: Hundreds of Tibetans including Kalons, Tibetan Parliamentarians, Justice Commissioners, and officials of the Central Tibetan Administration gathered at Tsuglagkhang today to pray for Tashi Kyi.
Tashi Kyi, a mother of five children died after setting herself on fire in protest against the repressive policies of the Chinese government in Tibet on 27 August. She hailed from Ngura village, Sankhog Township in Sangchu County, Kanlho Tibet Autonomous Prefecture (incorporated into China’s Gansu Province).
The reason of the self-immolation is unclear. However, local Tibetan villagers believed the self-immolation protest was triggered by the arrival of 150 Chinese authorities recently, who destroyed Tibetan owned properties claiming the properties as belonging to the Chinese government.
Ven. Thomtok Rinpoche, abbot of Namgyal monastery, led the prayer service organised by the Department of Religion and Culture.
Religion and Culture Kalon Mr. Pema Chhinjor, officiating as the Sikyong, gave the condolence remarks of the Kashag.
Tashi Kyi is the 7th Tibetan to resort to self-immolation this year and the 142 since 2009. Out of the 142 Tibetans; 25 were women and the remaining 117 were men. At least 123 out of the total 142 have died while the status of the rest is unknown.
