Another Self-Immolation; Serious Concerns about Increased Incidents

We have confirmed reports from Tibet that at around 11:50 this morning (15 October 2011) one more unfortunate incident of self-immolation occurred in the Ngaba region. This is the eighth incidence of self-immolation in Tibet this year.

Norbu Damdul, who is around 19 years of age, set himself on fire in the Ngaba town market. He was seen shouting slogans such as ‘Freedom in Tibet’ and ‘Return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet.’ Chinese police, who routinely patrol in the area, rushed to the scene where they extinguished the fire and took him away in a police car.

Eyewitnesses say that Damdul was severely burned but did not die at the scene. We are awaiting information regarding his current medical condition.

A former Kirti monk, Damdul left his monastery in June 2010. He is from Choejey Township in Ngaba County.

As a result of the repressive policies put in place by Chinese government authorities around Kirti Monastery, the situation has become so desperate that Tibetans are increasingly turning to self-immolation as the only available form of protest. Unless local authorities ease the restrictions they have placed on local people, there are serious concerns that self-immolations may continue to occur more frequently.