Tawu monk sets himself alight |
Monk dies after setting himself on fire in protest in Tibet
A 29-year-old monk, Tsewang Norbu, also known as Norko, set himself on fire on in the centre of Tawu, Kandze Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province at 12:30 pm (Tibet local time) today.
Tsewang Norbu drank petrol, sprayed himself with petrol and then set himself on fire. He was heard calling out: “We Tibetan people want freedom”, “Long live the Dalai Lama” and “Let the Dalai Lama Return to Tibet”. He is believed to have died at the scene.
Shortly after details emerged about Tsewang's death telephone lines to a number of contacts in town have been cut and internet cafes closed in an effort to control news spreading across Tibet and to prevent news being shared with the outside world. We have received reports that the army has surrounded the monastery.
The local community celebrated the Dalai Lama’s birthday in their thousands this year despite a ban by the local authority. After thousands defied the ban and joined in the celebrations on 6 July 2011 the new hardline Party Secretary for Tawu County Tashi Wangyal (Ch:Zha xi Wen jia) called a county level meeting. In the meeting he reportedly said that he believed the people who had organised the birthday celebrations were also behind the protests in Tawu in 2008. He vowed to track down the ringleaders.
Nyitso Monastery's water and electricity supply has been cut repeatedly since the birthday celebrations. A local source thinks that the authorities instructed the army to cut the water and electricity at the monastery to punish the monks for attending the birthday celebrations.
Lobsang Khedup originally from Nyitso Monastery who now lives in India appealed for the support the international community. He said: "The current situation is unpredictable. Telephone lines are cut off. I can not contact my family in Tawu. This is a very bad sign. I can not imagine what the authorities in Tawu will now do if there are protests against Chinese oppression. International governments should urge China to respond with tolerance. Please help us. '
TAKE ACTION
Write to the Chinese consulates in your country
UK: Ambassador Liu Xiaoming
49-51 Portland Place
London W1 1JL
Fax: 020-76362981
Email: press@chinese-embassy.org.uk
Dear
I am deeply concerned about the situation in Tawu County (Ch: Daofu), Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province) where Tsewang Norbu from Nyitso Monastery died after setting himself on fire on 15 August 2011.
Since his death security forces have surrounded the monastery.
Tsewang’s death has happened less than 6 months after another monk, Phuntsog, set himself on fire on the streets of Ngaba Town. Following Phuntsog’s death, the Chinese regime deployed troops onto the streets of Ngaba, forcibly removed hundreds of monks, undertook house searches and detained and sentenced scores of Tibetans.
Military presence at Nyitso monastery, the continued intimidation of its monks and a communication blackout are unacceptable and only inflame an already tense situation.
I urge you to exercise restraint and respect the feelings and rights of the Tibetans in Tawu.
I will be closely following the Chinese government's actions and response to Tsewang Norbu's death.
Yours sincerely
Please send copies of any responses to Free Tibet to help us monitor the situation.
Help us continue our vital work. Your participation in the Urgent Action campaign is essential for our success in putting pressure on political and economic decision-makers to improve the human rights of Tibetans. Running the Urgent Actions is possible because of the kind donations the participants make.
You can send a cheque or make a donation online here