Name: Thubwang Kyab

Age: 23

Sex: Male

Profession: Layperson

Date of self-immolation: 26 October 2012

Location: Serti Village, Sangkhog Town, Sangchu County, Amdo

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

His slogans: “Freedom in Tibet” and the “Return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama”

Thubwang Kyab self-immolated near the bus stand on the main street of Setri village in a Tibetan region of Amdo. Tsewang died on the spot. Despite attempts by Chinese officials to intervene, local Tibetans covered Tsewang’s dead body with traditional Tibetan scarves (khatag) and took him to his hometown. Gendun Phuntsok, an exile Tibetan monk living in South India, reported that many thousand Tibetans from around the region converged to pay their last respects to Thubwang Kyab. “Tens of thousands of Tibetans attended the cremation of martyr Thubwang Kyab in his native hometown,” Phuntsok said, citing sources inside the region. “Even though Chinese armed forces were present, they failed to reach near the deceased’s body due to the overwhelming presence of Tibetans.” His slogans: “Freedom in Tibet” and the “Return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama”

His slogan: The return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile

Name: Lhamo Tseten

Age: 24

Sex: Male

Profession: Layperson

Date of Self-immolation: 26 October 2012

Location: Amchok Township in Sangchu County, Amdo

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Husband and father of a two-year-old daughter, Lhamo Tseten self-immolated in front of the local military base and township administration buildings in Amchok. He succumbed to his injuries at the protest site. According to Ajam Amchok, a Tibetan now in South India with close contacts in the region, “Lhamo Tseten repeatedly raised the slogan calling for the “return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile.” Ajam cited witnesses who reported that Chinese security and armed forces immediately arrived at the protest site; however, local Tibetans encircled the charred corpse to prevent the Chinese authorities from taking the remains away. His family members were able to cremate his body with Buddhist rituals. “Following the self-immolation, a large number of Chinese armed forces and security police are deployed in the area and the situation in Amchok is described as tense and under strict surveillance,” Ajam reported. Lhamo Tseten is survived by his wife, Tsering Lhamo, his small daughter Nyingmo Kyi, his father Namchuk Tsering and mother Sungdue Kyi.

His slogan: The return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile

Name: Lhamo Tseten

Age: 24

Sex: Male

Profession: Layperson

Date of Self-immolation: 26 October 2012

Location: Amchok Township in Sangchu County, Amdo

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Husband and father of a two-year-old daughter, Lhamo Tseten self-immolated in front of the local military base and township administration buildings in Amchok. He succumbed to his injuries at the protest site. According to Ajam Amchok, a Tibetan now in South India with close contacts in the region, “Lhamo Tseten repeatedly raised the slogan calling for the “return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile.” Ajam cited witnesses who reported that Chinese security and armed forces immediately arrived at the protest site; however, local Tibetans encircled the charred corpse to prevent the Chinese authorities from taking the remains away. His family members were able to cremate his body with Buddhist rituals. “Following the self-immolation, a large number of Chinese armed forces and security police are deployed in the area and the situation in Amchok is described as tense and under strict surveillance,” Ajam reported. Lhamo Tseten is survived by his wife, Tsering Lhamo, his small daughter Nyingmo Kyi, his father Namchuk Tsering and mother Sungdue Kyi.

Twin Self Immolation

Name: Tenzin

Age: 25

Sex: Male

Status: Layperson

Date of Self-immolation: 25 October 2012 4 pm (local time)

Location: Near a government building in Driru County, Nagchu TAR

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Unknown

Their slogans: Unity, Independence for Tibet, the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet

Name: Tsepo

Age: 20

Sex: Male

Status: Layperson

Date of Self-immolation: 25 October 2012 4 pm (local time)

Location: Near a government building in Driru County, Nagchu TAR

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased same day

Cousins Tenzin and Tsepo set fire to themselves in front of a government building in Narong Phampa village in Driru County calling for independence for Tibet and the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet. While Tsepo died on the way to hospital, Tenzin was removed from the site by government personnel and his current whereabouts or his wellbeing is still unknown. Tenzin had enrolled in TCV Suja School near Dharamshala, India, where he studied for around six months. According to an informant in exile, “brothers also pleaded for all Tibetans to be united like brothers.” It took two days for this report to reach exiles in India due to the intense security and communications clampdown in the area. The Chinese security forces have been deployed in large numbers and all communication channels – internet and telephones – have been blocked. Where lines are still working, Tibetans are too afraid to talk about what is happening because they fear that their conversations are being surveilled by the government.

Name: Dorjee Rinchen

Age: 58

Sex: Male

Profession: Bread vendor

Date of Self-immolation: 23 October 2012 at 3:30 pm (local time)

Location: Near a military camp Gyugya market main street, Labrang, Amdo

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

His slogans: Not reported

Dorje Rinchen set himself on fire on the main street of Labrang town right in front of the military headquarters and not far from Labrang Tashikyil Monastery. Nearby Tibetans reportedly shielded the burning body from the Chinese authorities, resulting in a standoff. Security personnel tried to prevent the locals from carrying Dorjee Rinchen’s body back to his family; but after a brief confrontation, his corpse was taken to his home in Upper Zayue village, Sangchu County. But later, tensions flared when Beijing’s security forces prevented monks from Labrang Tashikyil Monastery from visiting Dorje Rinchen’s residence in Upper Zayue to pay their last respects. The monks reportedly sat at the roadside in defiance and started their prayers there and then for the man who sold bread to their monastery.

Later on, many Tibetans headed towards Zayue village to pay their respects, despite the fact that a large Chinese security contingent had already been deployed there. Chinese state media reported that, “Dorje Rinchen got up very early this morning and went to pray at Labrang Monastery. He walked around the monastery several times, and walked three times between the monastery and his home,” a source said. “After that, he cleaned his house inside and out and then went to the Chinese police station, where he self-immolated and died.” Dorje Rinchen is survived by his wife, Luthar Tso, a son Tabo, and a daughter.

Name: Dhondup

Age: 60

Sex: Male

Profession: Farmer/petty business

Date of Self-immolation: 22 October 2012 at 9:47 am (local time)

Location: Labrang Tashikyil Monastery, Kanlho, Amdo

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

His slogans: Not reported

Dhondup set himself on fire beside a temple called Serkhang (the golden house) in the complex of Labrang Tashikyil Monastery — the major monastery in the Tibetan area of Gansu Province. The self-immolation took place on the circumambulation route near the entrance to Labrang Monastery. Eyewitness accounts state that the flames produced a huge blaze and that Dhondup died at the site of his protest. Subsequently armed soldiers put Dhondup’s body in a bag and removed it, according to the report. When monks from Labrang TashiKyil Monastery later attempted to hold a prayer ceremony for Dhondup at the place of his demise, Chinese police sent by the local government, and the monastery’s Management Committee, tried to prevent the prayer service being held. Local Tibetans reportedly offered khatags (traditional Tibetan ceremonial scarves) at the place of his self-immolation protest. Dhondup was born in DhongNhe Do village in Denme Township, Sangchu County. He is survived by his wife, Drolma Tso, and their adopted son, Rigzin Choepel.

Name: Dhondup

Age: 60

Sex: Male

Profession: Farmer/petty business

Date of Self-immolation: 22 October 2012 at 9:47 am (local time)

Location: Labrang Tashikyil Monastery, Kanlho, Amdo

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

His slogans: Not reported

Dhondup set himself on fire beside a temple called Serkhang (the golden house) in the complex of Labrang Tashikyil Monastery — the major monastery in the Tibetan area of Gansu Province. The self-immolation took place on the circumambulation route near the entrance to Labrang Monastery. Eyewitness accounts state that the flames produced a huge blaze and that Dhondup died at the site of his protest. Subsequently armed soldiers put Dhondup’s body in a bag and removed it, according to the report. When monks from Labrang TashiKyil Monastery later attempted to hold a prayer ceremony for Dhondup at the place of his demise, Chinese police sent by the local government, and the monastery’s Management Committee, tried to prevent the prayer service being held. Local Tibetans reportedly offered khatags (traditional Tibetan ceremonial scarves) at the place of his self-immolation protest. Dhondup was born in DhongNhe Do village in Denme Township, Sangchu County. He is survived by his wife, Drolma Tso, and their adopted son, Rigzin Choepel.

His slogans demanded the Dalai Lama’s return to Tibet

Name: Lhamo Kyab

Age: 27

Sex: Male

Profession: Farmer From

Date of Self-immolation: 20 October 2012, around 2 pm (local time)

Location: Near Bora Monastery in Sangchu County, Kanlho, Amdo

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Father of two young daughters, Lhamo Kyab set himself on fire in Bora Village in Sangchu County on 20 October 2012. According to eyewitnesses, Lhamo fought off security police who were attempting to douse his flames, and ran towards Bora Monastery where he fell to the ground and died. He was reportedly shouting demands for the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet. Following the self-immolation, a minor scuffle broke out at the site of the protest between Chinese security personnel and the assembled Tibetans who succeeded in carrying Lhamo Kyab’s charred body inside the monastery’s main prayer hall. The monks were therefore able to start chanting prayers for the deceased. A large number of Tibetans reportedly started congregating at Bora Monastery when news of the protest spread. After the prayer rituals were completed, monks and local Tibetans carried Lhamo Kyab’s body to his home. He is survived by his wife, Dorji Kyi, and two daughters — Pema Tso and Drugmo Tso — both under 10 years. Bora Monastery was also the scene of major protests against Chinese rule on 20 March 2012. More than 100 monks marched to local government buildings, displaying Tibetan flags and pictures of the Dalai Lama and shouting slogans for freedom in Tibet and the return of the Dalai Lama.

His slogans demanded the Dalai Lama’s return to Tibet

Name: Lhamo Kyab

Age: 27

Sex: Male

Profession: Farmer From

Date of Self-immolation: 20 October 2012, around 2 pm (local time)

Location: Near Bora Monastery in Sangchu County, Kanlho, Amdo

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Father of two young daughters, Lhamo Kyab set himself on fire in Bora Village in Sangchu County on 20 October 2012. According to eyewitnesses, Lhamo fought off security police who were attempting to douse his flames, and ran towards Bora Monastery where he fell to the ground and died. He was reportedly shouting demands for the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet. Following the self-immolation, a minor scuffle broke out at the site of the protest between Chinese security personnel and the assembled Tibetans who succeeded in carrying Lhamo Kyab’s charred body inside the monastery’s main prayer hall. The monks were therefore able to start chanting prayers for the deceased. A large number of Tibetans reportedly started congregating at Bora Monastery when news of the protest spread. After the prayer rituals were completed, monks and local Tibetans carried Lhamo Kyab’s body to his home. He is survived by his wife, Dorji Kyi, and two daughters — Pema Tso and Drugmo Tso — both under 10 years. Bora Monastery was also the scene of major protests against Chinese rule on 20 March 2012. More than 100 monks marched to local government buildings, displaying Tibetan flags and pictures of the Dalai Lama and shouting slogans for freedom in Tibet and the return of the Dalai Lama.

Name: Tamdin Dorjee

Age: 52 Sex: Male

Profession: Farmer

Date of Self-immolation: 13 October 2012

Location: Mila Serkhar Choten near Tso, Amdo, eastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

His slogans: Not reported

Tamdin Dorje, the grandfather of a prominent young Tibetan reincarnate lama — the 7th Gungthang Rinpoche of Labrang Tashikyil Monastery — died after setting himself on fire near a white stupa beside Tsoe Gaden Choeling Monastery in Gansu’s Kanlho Prefecture. He reportedly shouted slogans demaning Tibetan freedom as he lit himself. According to sources, the local Tibetans took his body back to his home and refused to hand it over to Chinese authorities and monks of Tsoe Monastery offered prayer service. It was also reported that the Chinese officials have sealed off the monastery by deploying a large number of paramilitary forces in and around the monastery. Tamdin was originally from Drong Che village in Khasag Township, Kanlho. Tibetans gathered in huge numbers to pray for him despite an intense military build-up following his fiery protest. This self-immolation is likely to raise a higher level of concern among the Beijing authorities due to Tamdin’s relationship to the influential young rinpoche.