Press Release
8 October 2012
DHARAMSHALA: Sangay Gyatso, a 27-year-old father of two children, self-immolated near Dokar Gelug Monastery at Tsoe, Kanlho in north-eastern Tibet, last Saturday, 6 October. He became the third Tibetan to self-immolate in the last week alone.
Sangay Gyatso set himself on fire and shouted slogans demanding the swift return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet, and freedom of religion and language in Tibet. He died on the spot. Local Tibetans took possession of his charred body and carried inside the monastery for prayers.
The situation in the area remains tense with a massive deployment of Chinese security forces at the monastery.
“The Central Tibetan Administration is extremely concerned over the increasing self-immolations by Tibetans in Tibet. We again strongly urge the Chinese government to address the underlying causes which are pushing Tibetans to set themselves on fire,” said Kalon Dicki Chhoyang, Department of Information & International Relations of the Central Tibetan Administration.
She added further: “It is high time for the international community, especially the United Nations, to take tangible actions to press the Chinese leadership to find a lasting solution to the crisis in Tibet. We also reiterate our appeal to Tibetans inside Tibet not to resort to drastic actions,” she said.
Since 2009, 54 Tibetans have now set themselves on fire.
Media contacts:
Mr Tashi, Secretary for Information
+91 98168 43798
Mr Tashi Phuntsok, Additional Secretary
+91 98165 39103
Mr Lobsang Choedak, Press Officer
+91 98822 32476
Skype: [email protected]
Twitter: @lchoedak
