Tibetan nun self-immolates in protest against Chines rule

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.

Tenzin Choedon was born to father Lopey and mother Tsepo in the Kyegyamtsang household in Raruwa Village, Ngaba County. As a child, she attended primary school for three years before becoming a nun at Mamae Nunnery.

Some sources say the nunnery is under siege, surrounded on all sides by security forces although there is no information on the situation inside the nunnery.

This is the second self-immolation protest to occur at Mamae Nunnery. On 17 October 2011, Tenzin Wangmo, a nun from the same nunnery burnt herself to death in protest.