China confirms twin self-Immolation in Lhasa
Two Tibetans set themselves on fire in the afternoon of 27 May 2012 in Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR). The latest self-immolations, first in Lhasa and second in TAR, were confirmed today by Xinhua, the official Chinese news agency.
The Xinhua report said two Tibetans set themselves on fire at 2:16 pm yesterday at Barkhor (Chinese: Pargor) Street in the heart of Lhasa.
Xinhua identified the two Tibetans as Dargye, from Ngaba (Chinese: Aba) County in Sichuan Province, and Tobgye Tseten, from Labrang (Chinese: Xiahe) County in Gansu Province.
The report did not specify their ages although exile Tibetan sources reported the two to be 19 and 22 years old. Some exile Tibetan sources also said the two were monks, but the Xinhua report simply said they were “Tibetan men”.
Sources said soon after the incident attempts to make phone calls to Lhasa proved unsuccessful. However, some sources say phone lines were working today and reported that the site of immolations – the Jokhang Temple – has been completely cordoned off.
Moreover, security officers have blocked access to the Jokhang area and movement of Tibetan pilgrims and foreigners alike is heavily restricted.
With the latest self-immolations in Lhasa, the total number of Tibetans self-immolating in protest in Tibet has reached 37.
Tenzin Phuntsok, aged 46, became the first lay Tibetan to set himself on fire in TAR. He self-immolated on 1 December 2011 and died few days later in Karma Township in Chamdo (Chinese: Changdu) Prefecture, TAR.
