His slogans: “Long Life and Return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Kyabje Kirti Rinpoche”

Name: Kunchok Phelgye

Age: 24

Sex: Male

Profession: Monk

Date of Self-immolation: 8 December 2012 5:20 pm (local time)

Location: Outside the main prayer hall of Taktsang Lhamo Kirti Monastery, Amdo, Northeastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Kunchok Phelgye, a 24-year-old monk from Sumdo Monastery in Dzoege region of Eastern Tibet, passed away following his self-immolation protest. Kunchok carried out his action in front of the main assembly hall of the Taktsang Lhamo Kirti Monastery at around 5:20 pm (local time). Enveloped in flames, and with his hands joined in prayer, he raised slogans for the long life and return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Kyabje Kirti Rinpoche, the exiled head of Ngaba’s Kirti Monastery. He also raised slogans calling for the “return and reunification of Tibetans.” Monks of the monastery surrounded Kunchok Phelgye’s burning body and began to recite prayers, “Losang Gyalwa Kungi Nyingje Ter…” (a prayer usually recited in Kirti Rinpoche’s honour). Monks later carried Kunchok Phelgye’s body to his quarters in the monastery where hundreds of monks and local Tibetans continued to visit to offer their last respects and prayers. Local Chinese personnel placed Taktsang Lhamo Kirti Monastery and the surrounding villages under a security blockade. Kunchok Phelgye had nine family members. His parents are Kunchok Kyab and Dolma Tso. Originally from Sumdo Monastery, Kunchok Phelgye joined Taktsang Lhamo Kirti Monastery in 2010.

His Slogans: “Return His Holiness the Dalai Lama”, “Tibet’s Independence”, “Unity of Tibetans” and the “Land of Tibet to be Ruled by Tibetans”.

Name: Pema Dorjee

Age: 23

Sex: Male

Profession: Farmer

Date of Self-immolation: 8 December 2012 4:30 pm (local time)

Location: Near the main prayer hall of Shitsang Monastery in Luchu, Eastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Marking the death anniversary of the founder of the school of Tibetan Buddhism Gelugpa, Je Tsongkhapa, Pema Dorjee set himself on fire in front of the main assembly hall of Shitsang Monastery in Luchu. The anniversary, Gaden Ngamchoe, is commemorated by offering butter lamps in monasteries, temples, stupas and in private homes. A large number of Tibetans who were at the monastery to celebrate the festival, therefore witnessed the self-immolation protest by Pema Dorjee. He raised slogans calling for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Independence of Tibet, Unity of Tibetans and the land of Tibet to be ruled by Tibetans. The assembly witnessed Pema succumbing to his injuries at the protest site. Heavy restrictions have been placed around the monastery. Pema Dorjee is a native of Chokhor village in Shitsang region of Luchu. His village is located at around a distance of 30 kms from Shitsang Monastery.

His Slogans: “Return His Holiness the Dalai Lama”, “Tibet’s Independence”, “Unity of Tibetans” and the “Land of Tibet to be Ruled by Tibetans”.

Name: Pema Dorjee

Age: 23

Sex: Male

Profession: Farmer

Date of Self-immolation: 8 December 2012 4:30 pm (local time)

Location: Near the main prayer hall of Shitsang Monastery in Luchu, Eastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Marking the death anniversary of the founder of the school of Tibetan Buddhism Gelugpa, Je Tsongkhapa, Pema Dorjee set himself on fire in front of the main assembly hall of Shitsang Monastery in Luchu. The anniversary, Gaden Ngamchoe, is commemorated by offering butter lamps in monasteries, temples, stupas and in private homes. A large number of Tibetans who were at the monastery to celebrate the festival, therefore witnessed the self-immolation protest by Pema Dorjee. He raised slogans calling for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Independence of Tibet, Unity of Tibetans and the land of Tibet to be ruled by Tibetans. The assembly witnessed Pema succumbing to his injuries at the protest site. Heavy restrictions have been placed around the monastery. Pema Dorjee is a native of Chokhor village in Shitsang region of Luchu. His village is located at around a distance of 30 kms from Shitsang Monastery.

Name: Lobsang Gendun

Age: 29

Sex: Male

Profession: Monk

Date of Self-immolation: 3 December 2012 7 pm (local time)

Location: Golog Pema County, Golog, Eastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Slogans: Not reported

Monk Lobsang Gedun set himself on fire at a crossroads in Pema County, then walked 300 steps with hands folded in a gesture of prayer before he collapsed and died. Chinese security police and Public Security Bureau (PSB) officers immediately arrived at the scene and attempted to take his body away — triggering a tussle when local Tibetans tried and managed to wrestle his body from them and take it to Penak Monastery. Lobsang is originally from Penak Monastery in Pema County which sources report was then put under strict surveillance following his action. Several hundred Chinese police and armed PSB personnel sectioned off Pema County centre and imposed stringent restrictions on the movements locals.

Name: Lobsang Gendun

Age: 29

Sex: Male

Profession: Monk

Date of Self-immolation: 3 December 2012 7 pm (local time)

Location: Golog Pema County, Golog, Eastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Slogans: Not reported

Monk Lobsang Gedun set himself on fire at a crossroads in Pema County, then walked 300 steps with hands folded in a gesture of prayer before he collapsed and died. Chinese security police and Public Security Bureau (PSB) officers immediately arrived at the scene and attempted to take his body away — triggering a tussle when local Tibetans tried and managed to wrestle his body from them and take it to Penak Monastery. Lobsang is originally from Penak Monastery in Pema County which sources report was then put under strict surveillance following his action. Several hundred Chinese police and armed PSB personnel sectioned off Pema County centre and imposed stringent restrictions on the movements locals.

Name: Sungdue Kyab

Age: 17

Sex: Male

Profession: Farmer

Date of Self-immolation: 2 December 2012 3:40 pm (local time)

Location: Bora, Labrang, Amdo, Northeastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Unknown, Believed to be at Kanlho People’s Hospital Slogans: Not reported A young father of one, Sungdue Kyab, self-immolated on the main road near Bora Monastery. Sources reported that Chinese police who arrived at the site within minutes took him to Kanlho People’s Hospital. He has not been seen since and family and friends were barred from visiting him. His current wellbeing and definite whereabouts remain uncertain.

Name: Kunchok Kyab

Age: 29

Sex: Male

Profession: Nomad

Date of Self-immolation: 30 November 2012

Location: Shagdom in Ngaba County, Amdo Northeastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Slogans: Not reported

Kunchok Kyab carried out his self-immolation on 30 November near a gas station in the Shagdom region of Dzoege in Ngaba. Chinese security forces immediately whisked him away. The following day the Chinese authorities returned “his ashes” to his family who therefore presumed that he had died. Monks and laymen then gathered to offer prayers and respect to Kunchok Kyab — defying the ban on such rituals by the Chinese authorities. According to sources, a group of young Tibetans who followed the Chinese police vehicles removing Kunchok, subsequently went missing. Kunchok Kyab had two children, a nine-year-old and a six-year-old.

Name: Tsering Namgyal

Age: 31

Sex: Male

Profession: Farmer

Date of Self-immolation: 29 November 2012

Location: Near the local government office in Luchu, Eastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Slogans: Not reported

Tsering Namgyal, a father of two from Zamtsa Lotso Dewa Region of Luchu, self-immolated on 29 November by setting himself on fire near the local Chinese government office. Tsering passed away in his fiery protest. Tsering Namgyal is survived by his wife, Choekyong Tso, their two children, Dorjee Kyi (7), and Kalsang Dolma (3), and his parents.

Name: Tsering Namgyal

Age: 31

Sex: Male

Profession: Farmer

Date of Self-immolation: 29 November 2012

Location: Near the local government office in Luchu, Eastern Tibet

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

Slogans: Not reported

Tsering Namgyal, a father of two from Zamtsa Lotso Dewa Region of Luchu, self-immolated on 29 November by setting himself on fire near the local Chinese government office. Tsering passed away in his fiery protest. Tsering Namgyal is survived by his wife, Choekyong Tso, their two children, Dorjee Kyi (7), and Kalsang Dolma (3), and his parents.

His Slogans: “Return of HH the Dalai Lama”, “Release of Panchen Lama”, “Freedom for Tibet”, and “Protection of Tibet’s Environment”

Name: Wangdhen Khar

Age: 21

Sex: Male

Profession: Semi-nomad

Date of Self-immolation: 28 November 2012, 7 pm (local time)

Location: Tsoe Region in Kanlho, Amdo

Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased

On the evening of 28 November Wangdhen Kar set himself on fire in Tsoe region, Eastern Tibet. Wangdhen died at the scene of his protest. He was 21-years-old.

According to sources, Wangdhen raised slogans calling for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet, the release of Panchen Lama, freedom for Tibet, and the protection of Tibet’s environment. Following his self-immolation protest, monks and local Tibetans reportedly gathered at his home in Yarki Sokdhi village — about 20 kms from Tsoe — to offer prayers and pay their respects.

He is survived by his father, Tsering Thar, mother, Kunsang Dolma, and an elder brother, Jampa, and younger brother, Sangay Dhondup.