Tibetan Dies after Self Immolation in TAR

Tenzin Phuntsok has reportedly succumbed to burns on 6 December in Chamdo Hospital in Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) after setting himself on fire on 1 December. Some sources also say the body was handed over to his family two days later (on 8 December).

Tenzin Phuntsok, aged 46, had distributed leaflets, expressing solidarity with the local monks while criticizing Chinese rule, before self immolating on 1 December, in protest against Chinese policies, in Karma Township, Chamdo, (TAR). He was taken to Chamdo Hospital after Chinese police extinguished the flames.

Phuntsok’s wife Dolma went missing since the police detained her after Phuntsok’s self immolation. There is no information on Dolma’s well-being and whereabouts. The couple has two sons and a daughter.

Karma Monastery was taken over by Chinese armed police following the bombing of a nearby government building on 26 October 2011. The monastery continues to remain under severe repression. Many monks were detained and some were expelled from the monastery.

According to a source, their son Choying Nyima was among a group of young monks who were ordered to return home after Karma Monastery siege. The source also added that even after these monks reached their home, they were constantly harassed and threatened by the police in order to extract more information about the monastery and other monks.

Earlier sources reported that Phuntsok, a former monk of Karma Monastery, was very frustrated over the recent crackdown and restrictions on Karma Monastery.

This is the 12th case of self immolation and the seventh death due to self immolation in Tibet this year.