Another Tibetan dead after staging self-immolation protest against Chinese government repression
The expanding tentacles of the security state accompanied by increased government repression in Tibet has claimed the life of yet another Tibetan in a self-immolation witnessed in Ngaba County, Ngaba (Ch: Aba) Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, in the Tibetan province of Amdo.
On 4 November 2018, Tibetan man named Dopo, 23, died after staging a self-immolation protest against the repressive policies of the Chinese government in Ngaba County. A source with contacts in Ngaba informed TCHRD that Dopo died shouting, “May His Holiness the Dalai Lama live long! May we soon behold his golden countenance!”
Dopo is from nomadic camp no. 2 of Jakorma village in Choejema (Ch:Qiujima) Township, Ngaba County. His father’s name is Chopa, and his mother, Trinle Kyi, passed away a few years ago. He had been living at the house of his uncle Jampal Drakpa.
There are no details available on the status of Dopo’s body and the situation of the bereaved relatives.
Dopo’s protest has increased the total number of known self-immolation protests to 154. The number of known self-immolation protests in Ngaba has also grown to 41 so far. The first self-immolation in Tibet was staged in 2009 by a monk named Lobsang Tashi aka Tapey in Ngaba County.
TCHRD expresses deep concern over the untimely death of a young Tibetan man in self-immolation protest which exposes the insidously brutal and inhumane policies implemented by Chinese government for decades in Tibet. Along with Dopo, all Tibetan self-immolation protesters had expressed the collective grievances and aspirations of the Tibetan people in the face of extreme repression that penalises free expression and freedom of assembly. The fatal nature of self-immolation protest which in turn is caused by state repression places the responsibility of ensuring the right to life of a citizen on the Chinese government and the Chinese government’s failure to account for the 133 deaths and wounded Tibetans warrants international opprobrium and sanctions. Most importantly, Chinese government should make immediate arrangements to address the grievances and fulfill the aspirations of the self-immolation protesters.
