Name: Sonam Rabyang

Age: 42

Sex: Male Profession: Monk

Date of Self-immolation: 9 February 2012 around 1 pm (local time)

Location: Triwang Town, Yushul, Kham, Eastern Tibet

Current whereabout/wellbeing: Unknown

His Slogans: Not Reported On 9 February 2012, monk Sonam Rabyang from Lab Monastery in Tridu County, Jyekundo set himself on fire on the main road of Lab Township. It was reported that at the time he was removed from the scene by security personnel, he was alive, but in a serious condition and his legs may have been amputated. No additional information has been received on his condition or subsequent whereabouts. Following the incident, the Chinese authorities reportedly detained senior monks from Lab Monastery.

Name: Rinzin Dorjee (aka Rikpe)

Age: 19

Sex: Male

Profession: Former monk at Kirti Monastery

Date of Self-immolation: Wednesday 8 February 2012

Location: No. 2 Primary School in Ngaba County, Amdo, Northeastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased 21 February His slogans: Not Known In the evening of 8 February 2012, Rinzin Dorjee self-immolated at a primary school in Ngaba County town. At the time he was swiftly taken away by the police he was believed to have been alive but “on the verge of death.” He was first taken to the Ngaba County Hospital and then to a hospital in Barkham (capital of Ngaba). On 21 February 2012 Rinzin Dorjee passed away. Two monks from the vicinity were also detained. Rinzin Dorjee came from a nomadic area of Meruma Township in Ngaba County. He left his monastery in 2010 and had been living with his family since then. The youngest of six children, Rinzin used to enjoy looking after the birds that lived around the monastery. One of his relatives, now living in India, said, “He was a humble and kind person, and a hard and persistent worker.”

His slogan: “Long Live His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Freedom in Tibet”

Name: Lobsang Jamyang

Age: 22

Sex: Male

Profession: Former Monk at Andu Monastery, leader in promoting Tibetan language in his village

Date of Self-immolation: 14 January 2012

Location: Ngaba town, Amdo, Northeastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased 16

January 2012 On 14 January 2012, Lobsang Jamyang asked for a ride into town from a Tibetan neighbour and asked him to stop at Andu Monastery where he made a circumambulation. Lobsang Jamyang said no one knew what he was going to do. He had not told anyone. He also talked about the Tibetan language programme he had set up and said that people should be more united and put more effort into this. When they reached Ngaba town, he told his neighbour that he was going to have some vegetarian food and then went to the toilet. This was at around 1:30 pm (local time). Lobsang had apparently already doused himself in kerosene at an intersection in Ngaba town and when he emerged from the toilet he was already in flames. He then marched a few yards at the centre of the town, faced Kirti Monastery, and shouted slogans calling for Tibetan independence from China and for the return of the Dalai Lama.

In the already heavily-militarized town, the nearby police immediately pounced on him. As can be seen at the start of the YouTube footage of his immolation, the flames have died down and armed police and special forces have closed in on him as Tibetans gather around. Armed police can be seen using a pushcart to knock Lobsang to the ground. As he falls police on either side can be seen kicking him brutality. This was corroborated by witnesses. The authorities then covered him with a white cloth — as if dousing the flames — but continued to beat and stomp on him according to bystanders. Sources reported that bystanders stood up to the armed security personnel unable to bear the sight. They completely disregarded the consequences of resisting the officials and demanded that his body be handed over to them. The Chinese police started firing teargas and shot at the massed crowd and a scuffle ensued. At least two people were shot although no information on their condition could be relayed. A Tibetan man was apparently severely wounded in the neck by a spiked weapon. According to sources, a Tibetan woman in her 40s died after she was hit in the eye with iron chains during the standoff between the police and the crowd. Almost 700 Tibetans had gathered to protest the police actions and at least 10 were arrested. The crowd tried their best to block the path of the police as they began to take Lobsang’s body away. Lobsang Jamyang subsequently died; reliable sources state that he may have survived until 16 January but this could not be confirmed as he was in police custody. Security personnel visited Lobsang Jamyang’s family and demanded compensation for fire damage to police uniforms, which were described as ‘State property’. A monk in childhood at Andu Monastery, Lobsang later joined Bontse Primary School in Ngaba County to complete his education. A Tibetan now in exile who knew him said that “when he was very small, he used to be quite self-sufficient and he would play for hours with a small thing, like just one blade of grass. After being a monk as a child, he went to school and learnt Tibetan and Chinese. His family is not well-off and they depended on him, so he continued life as a layman. “I hadn’t seen him for some time but I heard that after 2008 he became more nationalistic, and was inspired by the actions of other Tibetans. He said that Tibetans couldn’t remain as they were under such conditions. In 2011, Lobsang became a leading member of a popular association in his village for the promotion of Tibetan language called Pure Land Program for which he was being constantly targeted and harassed.” Lobsang Jamyang’s mother, Lacham said she did not regret his death and was proud of her son who had “sacrificed his life for the Tibetan cause”.

Name: Sonam Wangyal (popularly called Sopa Rinpoche)

Age: 40s

Sex: Male

Profession: Monk at Dungkyob Monastery, Darlag County, Golog

Date of Self-immolation: 8 January 2012

Location: Darlag County, Golog, Amdo, Northeastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased, 8 January

On 8 January 2012 Sopa Rinpoche — a well-respected religious figure in Darlag County — drank kerosene and set himself on fire in front of Darlag County police station. Eyewitnesses reported that he shouted slogans calling for Tibet’s freedom and the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.Sopa Rinpoche passed away the same day. His cremation service attracted thousands of followers from around the Golog region of Eastern Tibet. And elsewhere in Golog, hundreds of Tibetans took out a day-long peaceful protest carrying photos of the Dalai Lama and the Karmapa in Amdo Golog Pema district from 9 am until 5 in the evening. The demonstrators were raising slogans for the return of the Dalai Lama and freedom in Tibet. Chinese security personnel had reportedly allowed the demonstration to continue while taking photos and videos of the demonstrators. In a message he recorded before his self-immolation protest, Sopa Rinpoche stated: “to all the six million tibetans — inCluDinG those livinG in exile — i am Grateful to pawo thupten nGoDup, anDall other tibetan heroes, who have saCrifiCeD their lives for tibet anD for the reunifiCation of the tibetan people. thouGh i am in my forties, until now i have not haD the CouraGe liKe them. but i have trieD my best to teaCh all traDitional fielDs of KnowleDGe to others, inCluDinG buDDhism.this is the 21so many tibetan heroes have DieD. i am saCrifiCinG my boDy both to stanD in soliDarity with them in flesh anD blooD, anD to seeK repentanCe throuGh this hiGhest tantriC honour of offerinG one’s boDy. this is not to seeK personal fame or Glory.i am GivinG away my boDy as an offerinG of liGht to Chase away the DarKness, to free all beinGs from sufferinG, anD to leaD them – eaCh of whom has been our mother in the past anD yet has been leD by iGnoranCe to Commit immoral aCts – to the amitabha, the buDDha of infinite liGht. my offerinG of liGht is for all livinG beinGs, even as insiGnifiCant as liCe anD nits, to Dispel their pain anD to GuiDe them to the state of 21stCentury, anD this is the year in whiCh enliGhtenment. i offer this saCrifiCe as a toKen of lonGlife offerinG to our root Guru, his holiness the Dalai lama, anD all other spiritual teaChers anD lamas.i am taKinG this aCtion neither for myself nor to fulfill a personal Desire nor to earn reCoGnition. i am saCrifiCinG my boDy with firm ConviCtion anD a pure heart just as the buDDha bravely Gave his boDy to a hunGry tiGress to stop her from eatinG her Cubs. all the tibetan heroes too have saCrifiCeD their lives with similar prinCiples. but in praCtiCal terms, their lives may have enDeD with some sort of anGer. therefore, to GuiDe their souls on the path to enliGhtenment, i offer prayers that may leaD all of them to buDDhahooD.may all spiritual teaChers anD lamas insiDe tibet anDin exile live lonG. espeCially, i pray that his holiness the Dalai lama will return to tibet anD remain as tibet’s temporal anD spiritual leaDer.”

[lama soepa then reCites the lonG-life prayer for the Dalai lama.]

(Translated from Tibetan by Bhuchung D. Sonam)

Tennyi

Name: Tennyi

Age: 20s

Sex: Male

Profession: Former monk of Kirti Monastery

Date of Self-Immolation: 6 January 2012

Location: Ngaba County Town, Amdo, Eastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased 6 January

Their slogans:“His Holiness tHe dalai lama must return to tibet” and “may His Holiness the Dalai Lama live for 10,000 years”

Tsultrim

Name: Tsultrim

Age: 20s

Sex: Male

Profession: Former monk of Kirti Monastery

Date of Self-Immolation: 6 January 2012

Location: Ngaba County Town, Amdo, Eastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased 7 January

Tennyi and Tsultrim set their bodies ablaze on 6 January at around 2:40 pm (local time) in the tense Ngaba region of Eastern Tibet, an area which has seen the most number of self-immolations since 2009. Eyewitness accounts said that the two, a monk and a layman, were together when they ignited themselves. With folded hands they faced towards Kirti Monastery and raised a number of slogans amongst which the audible ones called for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and his return to Tibet eyewitnesses report.

According to a release by the exile base of Kirti Monastery in Dharamshala, Tennyi succumbed to his burns shortly after Chinese security personnel arrested him on 6 January. Tsultrim passed away a day later during the night of 7 January. This action led to the region suffering increased security restrictions by the Chinese authorities.

“Following their self-immolations, all the Tibetan shops and businesses were closed as a mark of respect and to show solidarity with the family of the two deceased,” the release said. “However, as in earlier instances, local Tibetans were barred by the Chinese authorities from visiting the families of the deceased to offer their condolences and prayers.” his last testament which was tape-recorded called for Tibet’s Freedom and the Long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Tennyi

Name: Tennyi

Age: 20s

Sex: Male

Profession: Former monk of Kirti Monastery

Date of Self-Immolation: 6 January 2012

Location: Ngaba County Town, Amdo, Eastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased 6 January

Their slogans:“His Holiness tHe dalai lama must return to tibet” and “may His Holiness the Dalai Lama live for 10,000 years”

Tsultrim

Name: Tsultrim

Age: 20s

Sex: Male

Profession: Former monk of Kirti Monastery

Date of Self-Immolation: 6 January 2012

Location: Ngaba County Town, Amdo, Eastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased 7 January

Tennyi and Tsultrim set their bodies ablaze on 6 January at around 2:40 pm (local time) in the tense Ngaba region of Eastern Tibet, an area which has seen the most number of self-immolations since 2009. Eyewitness accounts said that the two, a monk and a layman, were together when they ignited themselves. With folded hands they faced towards Kirti Monastery and raised a number of slogans amongst which the audible ones called for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and his return to Tibet eyewitnesses report.

According to a release by the exile base of Kirti Monastery in Dharamshala, Tennyi succumbed to his burns shortly after Chinese security personnel arrested him on 6 January. Tsultrim passed away a day later during the night of 7 January. This action led to the region suffering increased security restrictions by the Chinese authorities.

“Following their self-immolations, all the Tibetan shops and businesses were closed as a mark of respect and to show solidarity with the family of the two deceased,” the release said. “However, as in earlier instances, local Tibetans were barred by the Chinese authorities from visiting the families of the deceased to offer their condolences and prayers.” his last testament which was tape-recorded called for Tibet’s Freedom and the Long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

His Slogans: not reported

Name: Rongtsa Tenzing Phuntsok

Age: 46

Sex: Male

Profession: Former monk at Karma Gon Monastery in Chamdo township

Date of Self-Immolation: 1 December 2011

Location: Chamdo, Kham, Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing:

Deceased Slogans: Not reported Tenzing self-immolated in Chamdo and was hospitalized in Chamdo Hospital with fatal injuries. Sources report that Chamdo Township in Tibet Autonomous Region was then under lockdown and intensive military surveillance following rumours of a bomb blast at a local government building on 26 October 2011. Tenzing Phuntsok reportedly died on 6 December 2011 and, according to exile sources, even three days after his death his family members had not been given his body to conduct the final Buddhist rituals. Phuntsok’s wife, Dolma, went missing after the police detained her following Phuntsok’s self-immolation. There is no information on Dolma’s wellbeing and whereabouts. She is left with two sons and a daughter.

On 8 December, exile Tibetans received a document including a will left by Tenzing Phuntsok in which he wrote: “If Khenpo Lodoe Rapsel, Namsey Sonam and all the monks and nuns of Karma Gon Monastery, the true and unmistakable practitioners of Buddhist dharma, have to endure torture and imprisonment like this, then it is better for all of us at Karma Gon Monastery to die. I, the despicable Tenzin Phuntsok, write this with loyalty. “Brothers and sisters, don’t be sad and don’t lose your courage. My Dharma friends, think about our two khenpos and the monks and nuns who are holders of the Dharma practice. How can we believe in these rules that restrict the freedom of religion? I, Tenzin Phuntsok, wrote this. Dharma friends in Karma Gon Monastery, it is useless just to live thinking about our beloved khenpos and the monks and nuns. Stand up! Clinging to the taste of the eight worldly concerns, beings run away from these as they would from their enemies, I bow before the Buddha, who cannot be placated by small pleasures. I, the sorrow-filled, loathsome man called Tenzin Phuntsok wrote this. “When I think about the suffering throughout Tibet, and especially the pain at Karma Gon Monastery, there is no way that I can go on living.”
(Translated from Tibetan by Bhuchung D.Sonam)

His Slogans: not reported

Name: Rongtsa Tenzing Phuntsok

Age: 46

Sex: Male

Profession: Former monk at Karma Gon Monastery in Chamdo township

Date of Self-Immolation: 1 December 2011

Location: Chamdo, Kham, Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing:

Deceased Slogans: Not reported Tenzing self-immolated in Chamdo and was hospitalized in Chamdo Hospital with fatal injuries. Sources report that Chamdo Township in Tibet Autonomous Region was then under lockdown and intensive military surveillance following rumours of a bomb blast at a local government building on 26 October 2011. Tenzing Phuntsok reportedly died on 6 December 2011 and, according to exile sources, even three days after his death his family members had not been given his body to conduct the final Buddhist rituals. Phuntsok’s wife, Dolma, went missing after the police detained her following Phuntsok’s self-immolation. There is no information on Dolma’s wellbeing and whereabouts. She is left with two sons and a daughter.

On 8 December, exile Tibetans received a document including a will left by Tenzing Phuntsok in which he wrote: “If Khenpo Lodoe Rapsel, Namsey Sonam and all the monks and nuns of Karma Gon Monastery, the true and unmistakable practitioners of Buddhist dharma, have to endure torture and imprisonment like this, then it is better for all of us at Karma Gon Monastery to die. I, the despicable Tenzin Phuntsok, write this with loyalty. “Brothers and sisters, don’t be sad and don’t lose your courage. My Dharma friends, think about our two khenpos and the monks and nuns who are holders of the Dharma practice. How can we believe in these rules that restrict the freedom of religion? I, Tenzin Phuntsok, wrote this. Dharma friends in Karma Gon Monastery, it is useless just to live thinking about our beloved khenpos and the monks and nuns. Stand up! Clinging to the taste of the eight worldly concerns, beings run away from these as they would from their enemies, I bow before the Buddha, who cannot be placated by small pleasures. I, the sorrow-filled, loathsome man called Tenzin Phuntsok wrote this. “When I think about the suffering throughout Tibet, and especially the pain at Karma Gon Monastery, there is no way that I can go on living.”
(Translated from Tibetan by Bhuchung D.Sonam)

Her slogans: “Freedom in Tibet”, “Long live H.H. The Dalai Lama” and “Let the Dalai Lama Return to Tibet”

Name: Palden Choetso

Age: 35

Sex: Female

Profession: Nun at Genden Jangchup Choeling Nunnery, Tawu County, Kandze, Kham

Date of Self-Immolation: 3 November 2011 at around 12:40 pm (local time)

Location: Tawu. Kham, Eastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Palden Choetso set herself on fire at a road near the Namgyal stupa in Tawu, Kandze County. She reportedly died the same day. In a short clip that was clandestinely smuggled out of Tibet, Palden can be seen standing upright near a busy street while her entire body is engulfed in flames, showing no signs of physical pain. Tibetans in the background can be heard chanting prayers. A young woman dressed in chupa (Tibetan traditional dress) walks up to her burning body and throws a khatag (Tibetan ceremonial scarf) towards her. Palden Choetso’s self-immolation coincided with the two-day G-20 Summit in France which opened the same day. At the time, Tibetans and Tibet supporters in more than 60 cities in 25 countries across the world were urging world leaders to raise the urgent issue of self-immolations in Tibet with the then-Chinese president, Hu Jintao, at the G-20 Summit. According to a source in exile in India, “After Palden Choetso’s self-immolation the nuns carried her to their nunnery, and she died soon afterwards. The nuns then made prayers for her. The local authorities have locked down the area, closing a major road in Tawu and deploying troops to surveille the nunnery.”

Her slogans: “Freedom in Tibet”, “Long live H.H. The Dalai Lama” and “Let the Dalai Lama Return to Tibet”

Name: Palden Choetso

Age: 35

Sex: Female

Profession: Nun at Genden Jangchup Choeling Nunnery, Tawu County, Kandze, Kham

Date of Self-Immolation: 3 November 2011 at around 12:40 pm (local time)

Location: Tawu. Kham, Eastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Palden Choetso set herself on fire at a road near the Namgyal stupa in Tawu, Kandze County. She reportedly died the same day. In a short clip that was clandestinely smuggled out of Tibet, Palden can be seen standing upright near a busy street while her entire body is engulfed in flames, showing no signs of physical pain. Tibetans in the background can be heard chanting prayers. A young woman dressed in chupa (Tibetan traditional dress) walks up to her burning body and throws a khatag (Tibetan ceremonial scarf) towards her. Palden Choetso’s self-immolation coincided with the two-day G-20 Summit in France which opened the same day. At the time, Tibetans and Tibet supporters in more than 60 cities in 25 countries across the world were urging world leaders to raise the urgent issue of self-immolations in Tibet with the then-Chinese president, Hu Jintao, at the G-20 Summit. According to a source in exile in India, “After Palden Choetso’s self-immolation the nuns carried her to their nunnery, and she died soon afterwards. The nuns then made prayers for her. The local authorities have locked down the area, closing a major road in Tawu and deploying troops to surveille the nunnery.”