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.