Note left by mother of three emerges months after self-immolation

A mother of three who died of self-immolation on 30 May 2012 left behind a note calling on fellow Tibetans to cultivate merit andpreserve Tibetan culture for the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet before setting herself on fire.

TCHRD received today the note from a reliable source who has contacts in Tibet. The note was written in Tibetan in blank ink on a white paper.

Following is a translation of the note left by Rikyo, 36, who died the same day of her self-immolation protest:

“Prayers for world peace and happiness!

To ensure His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s return to Tibet, do not indulge in slaughtering and trading of animals, do not steal,

Speak Tibetan, do not fight,

Bearing all sufferings of the sentient beings on myself,

Do not resist by fighting if I get into Chinese hands alive,

Be united,

Study Tibetan culture,

On fire I burn, do not worry my family.”

Rikyo set herself on fire at around 3 pm (local time) near Jonang Gonchen Monastery at Dzamthang (Chinese: Rangtang) County in Ngaba (Chinese: Aba) Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province. The mother of three was cremated the same day at around 11 pm near Jonang Gonchen Monastery.

Thousands including lay Tibetans and monks had attended her cremation to express solidarity and offer prayers. The prayers were held until the next morning, according to sources.

Rikyo is survived by her husband, Nangtong, 41, three children – two sons, Lobsang 17, Kunga, 10, and daughter Semlha, 14 – and her father APang Chuklo and mother Rinlha.

Rikyo became the fourth Tibetan from Dzamthang to self-immolate in protest against the Chinese government.