འབྲེལ་གཏུགས་དུས་དེབ།
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www.contactmagazine.net 31 January 2013
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Volume: XV Issue: 1
contact Magazine A Free Monthly Publication For Tibetan Issues & Community Information
Tibetan Self-Immolations in 2013
We are saddened to report the following self-immolations that have taken place since the beginning of January. 24 Jan: Jigjey Kyab, 17, was found dead on 19 Jan, his body doused with kerosene and lighters in his hand in the Luchu region of eastern Tibet. He apparently died before he could set himself on fire, having consumed poison to ensure that he didn’t fall into the hands of the Chinese authorities alive. In a note Jigjey Kyab called on Tibetans to rise up. 22 Jan: Kunchok Kyab, 26, set himself on fire in the Bora region of Labrang, eastern Tibet in an apparent protest against China’s continued occupation of Tibet. He passed away in his fiery protest and the Chinese authorities whisked away his body to an undisclosed location. He is survived by his wife and an infant son. 18 Jan: Tsering Phuntsok (Dupchok), 28, set himself on fire around 3:15 pm at Khyungchu, Ngaba, in an apparent protest against China’s repressive policies in Tibet. He died on the spot and Chinese security Continued on page 20
The Fire is Still Raging in Tibet
by Palden Choedon Candle lit vigils have been held in the evenings here in McLeod Ganj as we learn fresh news from Tibet of more self-immolations. As the number of known self-immolations nears 100, there seems to be no way to douse the fire raging in Tibet as it continues to cry for freedom and the return of His Holiness. One teenager, Jigjey Kyab, was found dead with his body doused with kerosene and lighters in his hand. He had reportedly consumed poison prior to his self-immolation protest to ensure that he didn’t fall into the hands of the Chinese authorities alive. In earlier instances, surviving Tibetan self-immolators have suffered amputations of all limbs, verbal abuse, interrogations, and maltreatment by doctors and Chinese officials at the hospitals. In a last note left by his bedside, which was later found by his family members, Jigjey Kyab has called on Tibetans to rise up: “I pray that my aspirations will be fulfilled. If you are your mother’s son - rise up. Sons of the Land of Snows - rise up. Singers of the Snow Land - rise up. May His Holiness the Dalai Lama live for thousands of aeons. My respect to the white snow lion (symbol of Tibet). My prayers for happiness in Tibet.” Following Kunchok Kyab’s selfimolation at Bora, Ladangin in eastern Tibet’s Amdo region, heavy security has been deployed in the area and scores of monks from Bora monastery have been detained by Chinese security officials. A local Chinese court in Barkham in eastern Tibet’s Ngaba region has
sentenced four monks from Tsodun Kirti monastery to prison terms ranging from 2 –10 years.The reasons for their arrest were not revealed at the time of their detention by the Chinese authorities. Kirti monastery has been the hotbed of Tibetan self-immolations against brutal Chinese policies and the monastery has been under strict Chinese surveillance for the last two years. Also in Ngaba, China has tried two Tibetans for intentional homicide for having allegedly incited other Tibetans
Jigjey Kyab’s letter
to self-immolate. It was reported that the two were guilty of instigating eight Tibetans to self-immolate. Chinese state media reports said that one was a monk of Kirti Monastery and used his position and influence to encourage others to self-immolate, and alleged that he acted in concert with “some key figures with the media liaison team – a ‘Tibet independence’ organization of the Dalai Lama group, and he continuously sent the latter information about incidents of self-immolation.” The harsh measures provide an early indication that the country’s new leadership is not easing up on Tibet. Since the start of self-immolations in January this year, and despite repeated international calls for restraint and Continued on page 4