DHARAMSHALA: Thousands of Tibetans gathered at Tsuglagkhang today to pray for the latest self-immolator Tenzin Gyatso, who died after burning himself in protest on 20 May. The gathering also prayed for the other Tibetan self-immolaters and political prisoners suffering incarceration in Chinese prisons.
The members of Kashag, Tibetan Parliament and the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission attended the prayer service along with officials of the Central Tibetan Administration. The service was presided over by Thomtok Tulku Rinpoche, the abbot of Namgyal monastery.
Tenzin Gyatso, a father of four children in his mid thirties, set himself on fire around 8:00 p.m on 20 May. The act was an apparent protest against the deployment of massive Chinese forces in his hometown ahead of a planned celebration to mark His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 80th birthday.
The fiery protest took place in Khangsar township of Tawu (Ch: Daofu) County, Kardze (Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (incorporated into China’s Sichuan Province).
Speaking at the prayer service, Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay expressed his profound sadness and solidarity with the sufferings of the Tibetan people inside Tibet particularly those who have sacrificed their lives for the cause of Tibet. He also spoke about media reports of a 36-year old woman who self immolated this morning in Kanlho in Tibet.
Despite the repeated appeals of the Central Tibetan Administration urging the Tibetan people not to resort to drastic actions, at least 139 Tibetans have set themselves on fire protesting against the repressive polices of the Chinese government since 2009.
Out of the 139 Tibetan self-immolaters, 120 have died while the status of the rest remains unknown or critically injured.
