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Understanding the Self-Immolations:A TimelineIn 2008, spontaneous protests ignited across Tibet, protesting China’s repressive rule and thedeliberate subversion of the Tibetan culture and of Tibetan Buddhism. The resulting governmentalcrack-down has further limited Tibetan freedom. Numerous Tibetans have found their only outletfor protest to be publicly setting themselves on fire — begging the question: How bad do things haveto be for self-immolation to be the best alternative?The International Campaign for Tibet is working to ensure that each Tibetan’s sacrifice is seen andunderstood as a desperate cry for international support. The following timeline must, for reasonsof space, omit the many protests, arrests, and violence visited upon the people of Tibet — fromschoolgirls to nuns and monks to laypeople — who have courageously raised their voices in protest.FEBRUARY 27, 2009Tapey, a young monk from Kirtimonastery, sets himself on fire toprotest the cancellation of prayerceremonies. He douses himselfwith gas and lights himself on fireat the market while holding ahomemade Tibetan flag. He isshot several times by police while afire, apparently to stop himfrom shouting pro-Tibet slogans. Tapey is removed; destinationunknown. Xinhua, the official Chinese news agency, acknowledgeTapey’s self-immolation but denied police shot him.WELLBEING: UnknownMARCH 16, 2011Phuntsog, 20, a Kirti monasterymonk, sets himself on fire on thethird anniversary of a protest inKirti in which at least 10 Tibetanswere killed. He shouts slogansincluding “May His Holiness theDalai Lama live for ten thousandyears!” Police extinguish the flames and are seen beatingPhuntsog before he dies. WELLBEING: DeceasedIn the aftermath, several hundred security personnel are postedto Kirti monastery. Around 300 monks are removed for “legaleducation,” and two elderly Tibetans are beaten to death. Threemonks are sentenced to prison terms of up to 11 years as“accomplices” in Phuntsog’s death.EARLY JULY, 2011Authorities in Kardze indicate their alarm over the continuingpeaceful actions by Tibetans. Li Dao Ping, the Vice President ofthe Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference inSichuan province, visits Kardze and says “We should firmlysmash separatist activities, firmly protect social stability andmake an effort to equally develop all nationalities.”AUGUST 15, 2011Buddhist monk Tsewang Norbu,29, drinks gasoline, sets himselfon fire, and calls for freedom andthe return of the Dalai Lama toTibet. Chinese state media confirmshis death shortly afterwards,stating: “It was unclear why hehad burnt himself.” WELLBEING: DeceasedSEPTEMBER 26, 2011Kirti monastery monks Lobsang Kunchok (left) and LobsangKalsang (right), both believed to be 18 years old, set themselveson fire while shouting “Long live His Holiness the Dalai Lama”in a protest in Ngaba. After putting out the flames, policetake the two young monks into custody. WELLBEING: Bothreportedly hospitalized.OCTOBER 3, 2011Kelsang Wangchuk, 17, of Kirtimonastery sets himself aflameon Ngaba’s main street. He carriesa photo of the Dalai Lama andshouts slogans against the Chinesegovernment. Sources say policesurrounded him, extinguished theflames, and beat him before taking him away. He is said to bedetained in the county hospital with a head injury from thebeatings. WELLBEING: Unknown8
Additional security forces are deployed in Ngaba and Kirti.Anonymous pamphlets appear around Kirti monasterystating that if the current security crackdown in the area wereto continue, “many more people were prepared to give uptheir lives.”OCTOBER 7, 2011Two former monks — Kayang, 18 (left), and Choepel, 19(right) — clasp hands and set fire to themselves on the mainroad of Ngaba before security personnel extinguish the flamesand take them to the government-run hospital. It is not knownif the two monks opted to leave the monastery or were expelledby government authorities; they were not wearing monks’ robeswhen they self-immolated. Chinese media reported they were“slightly injured.” WELLBEING: Both deceasedOCTOBER 11, 2011Kirti Rinpoche, the exiled head of Kirti monastery, explains hisviews on the self-immolation of monks, saying:“With the Chinesegovernment making arbitrary arrests and passing unimaginablyharsh sentences on the basis of false representations andallegations, Kirti has been turned into a virtual prison. All themonks, young and old, are subjected day and night to deprivationof all freedoms. Internally the monastery’s teaching programis not allowed to function, and externally, Tibetan religionand culture is under such unthinkable repression that it hasreached a point of desperation where people would choose todie rather than go on living.”OCTOBER 15, 2011Norbu Damdrul, a former monkfrom Kirti Monastery, self-immolatesin Ngaba. He is badly burnedbut reportedly alive when policeextinguish the flames, kick him,and drive away with him in theopposite direction of the hospital.The large Tibetan crowd of witnesses is dispersed at gunpoint.WELLBEING: DeceasedKirti monastery is forbidden by authorities to help families ofmonks who have committed self-immolation, such as prayersfor those who have died. Four permanent security policeoffices are built within the monastery compound. Internetaccess is cut off.OCTOBER 17, 2011Tenzin Wangmo, 20, from Mame Nunnery in Ngaba, dies afterself-immolating at the Sumdo Bridge. As she dies, she calls forthe Dalai Lama’s return to Tibet and for religious freedom. Herbody is taken back to the nunnery; authorities demand herbody be turned over or buried the same day. The nuns refuse.Soldiers and police cordon off the nunnery and surroundingvillages. WELLBEING: DeceasedOCTOBER 25, 2011Dawa Tsering, a monk from KardzeMonastery, sets fire to himselfand shouts slogans calling for theDalai Lama’s return to Tibet duringa religious ceremony attendedby hundreds of local people insidethe monastery. Monks put out theflames; Chinese police are immediately deployed around andinside the monastery in an apparent stand-off with the monksand lay-people protecting Dawa Tsering from interrogationand detention. WELLBEING: UnknownNOVEMBER 3, 2011Palden Choetso, a Tibetan nun,sets fire to herself in Kardze. Asher body burns, she calls for thelong life and return of the DalaiLama. Her sister nuns take her tothe nunnery, and she dies soonafterwards. Local authorities havelocked down the area, closing a major road in Tawu, anddeploying troops to the nunnery. WELLBEING: DeceasedDECEMBER 1, 2011Tenzin Phuntsog, a former monk in the Tibet AutonomousRegion, sets himself on fire to protest dramatic repressionsin Chamdo. He was a monk of the Karma monastery inChamdo, founded in the 12th century by the first Karmapa.Tenzin Phuntsog was reportedly hospitalized after his protest.WELLBEING: DeceasedJANUARY 6, 2012Tsultrim and Tennyi (both around 20 years old) set themselvesafire in Ngaba and run into the street calling for the return ofand long life for His Holiness. Tennyi is believed to be a monkat Kirti monastery, and Tsultrim may have been expelled fromKirti by Chinese authorities.WELLBEING: Both deceasedWELLBEING: DeceasedJANUARY 8, 2012Sonam Wangyal, believed to bea reincarnated lama, drinks keroseneand lights himself on fire inAmdo. Before his death he writesthat he does not “act for my personalglory but for Tibet and thehappiness of Tibetans.”As this edition of the Tibet Press Watch went to print welearned of the self-immolation and death of Lobsang Jamyang,21, on January 14. For the most dependable information onthe situation inside Tibet, please visit savetibet.org9
Page 2: MANDALA SOCIETYYOUR LIVING LEGACY T
Page 5 and 6: So Dargye, who embraces social medi
Page 7: The Dalai Lama OutlinesHis Master P
Page 11 and 12: Making Our Voices HeardLobby Day 20
Page 13 and 14: Tibet in the ArtsBook review:Off to
Page 15 and 16: Take Action:Two Ways You Can HelpTh

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