Tibetan teenagers self-immolate in protest against China's rule

A Tibetan exile participates in a protest against Chinese rule over Tibet in New Delhi, India, May 23, 2012. / AP

(AP) BEIJING — Two Tibetan teenagers died after setting themselves on fire outside a monastery in southwest China in the latest such protests against Chinese rule, an overseas rights group said Tuesday.

The incidents pushed the number of confirmed self-immolations to 51 since 2009, London-based Free Tibet said in a statement.

The group said 18-year-old monk Lobsang Kalsang and 17-year-old former monk Damchoek set themselves on fire Monday outside Kirti Monastery in Sichuan province's Aba county. They died later in the day after they were taken to a hospital by Chinese authorities, Free Tibet said.

Tibet monks self immolate in protest over Chinese rule
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Group: China cops beat Tibetan monk as he burns

Citing eyewitnesses, Free Radio Asia said the two teenagers shouted slogans condemning Chinese policies in Tibet.

Police in Aba county said Tuesday that they had no information on the self-immolations, which are rarely reported by Chinese state media.

Aba, home to the restive Tibetan Kirti Monastery, has witnessed at least 27 self-immolations, according to an earlier tally by the International Campaign for Tibet.

Supporters say the self-immolators are protesting Beijing's heavy-handed rule in Tibetan regions and calling for the return of the Dalai Lama. China has blamed the Tibetans' exiled spiritual leader for inciting the immolations, but the Dalai Lama denies the claim.

The spiritual leader has never publicly supported or denounced the acts.

Lobsang Sangay, the political leader of Tibetan exiles, said earlier this month that the incidents were against the movement's commitment to nonviolence but that it was his duty to highlight why the protesters were dying.

He expressed his disappointment that the self-immolations by Tibetans have not received the same international attention as the similar suicide of a Tunisian man that sparked the Arab Spring.

In Washington, State Department Spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said Monday that the United States had called on Beijing to "meet the legitimate grievances of the Tibetan people within China to protect their human rights, to protect their way of life, and to work on these issues through dialogue."

[vincent_80]

If not instigated, how could the teenagers set themselves on fire for the goal of so-called independant Tibet? And why would Dalai, a spiritual leader for many Tibetans, have his young monks and laypersons continue to harm themselves in such a bloody way? The reason is simple, as a matter of fact. The Dalai Lama has been the organizer behind the self-immolation incidents.

[matt6052]

Dalai Lama must renounce violence and self-immolation or he cannot be considered a leader like Ghandi or Martin Luther King.

[guest173]

I've lived in Asian countries and am half Asian. These monks are probably very destitute people coming from very poor villages, they probably need some light at the end of the tunnel which education would bring. I don't agree with the monks (really young boys) being forced to beg in the streets every day as part of learning humility, they should be in school, but it may be culturally hard to change. Still, lack of education is a big thing, not so much politics, monk leaders need better guidance, the Dalai Lama is failing them, he should encourage them to get educated.

[guest173]

who is encouraging young people to keep burning themselves? seems like a taliban tactic except that they aren't killing others. monks shouldn't be committing suicidal acts, I suspect a teacher there is not teaching peaceful buddhist beliefs but rather some kind of suicidal idealogy. very disturbing.

[guest173]

what does the Dalai Lama say about this? He isn't doing this, why are young monks? some kind of sick teacher must be teaching something, this keeps happening, it isn't a coincidence I'm sure.

[notparicular]

If there is evil in the world it is spelled Chinese. I hope I live to see them fall.

[bobnjersey]

[If there is evil in the world it is spelled Chinese. I hope I live to see them fall.]
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so ... you have no knowledge of history ... most of it w/ them being the most advanced and intelligent of all civilizations?

[DCCorruption]

I think the Chinese government is handling this situation like blithering idiots. Since the people of Tibet will not cave into China's anti religion position, it would seem that China should allow the people of Tibet to leave if any countries would accept them be those countries the U.S., India etc. Torturing, murdering and fear mongering the people of Tibet only makes the Chinese government appear to be Hitler type bullies or put another way, they are acting exactly as the Japanese did when they invaded China in WWII. Is that really how the leadership of China wants the world to see them?

[DCCorruption]

From what I understand of the situation 88Ronin, you are wrong. Keep in mind that one of the biggest things for the Budhist religion is to cause no harm to others and the monks are celibate (or so they are supposed to be). I am an atheist myself, but at the same time I've read and heard about systematic displacement of the people of Tibet. If China wishes to undo Tibet, then they should provide a means for the people of Tibet to leave China instead of wiping them out systematically the way they are now. Read up on what is going on over there.

[Jim_Schwartz_85]

I can't believe this article! Why, China is THE "most favored trading partner of the U.S.", and has been for years. Yet the U.S. boycotts Cuba because they are so evil there. Other lies about China: electrical appliances shipped to the U.S. with fake U.L. labels, causing fires; children's toys with lead; poisoned pet food, and on and on.

[nohater]

instead of this form of protest, really suicide, why don't they attack china or chinese soldiers even if just armed with a spear. take some of their perceived enemies with them rather than self immolation which is really suicide without hurting their enemy in any way, shape, of form.

[I_am_3rd]

I am no expert, but guessing the Tibetan religion is about non-violence.

[Big-Daddy-Kahuna]

nohater - I get what you are saying, but remember Nirvana....