Tibetan Activist Lobga Rangzen Dies in Self-Immolation Protest for Tibetan Independence
Lobga Rangzen was a beloved member of the Tibetan community in Queens, New York City, and a fierce advocate for an independent Tibet.
NEW YORK CITY – On 2 July 2026 at 5:49pm EDT 52 year-old Lobsang Palden, widely known as Lobga Rangzen, self-immolated in front of the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, USA. He later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at 7:04pm EDT at Bellevue Hospital.
Inside Tibet and in exile, at least 170 Tibetans are known to have self-immolated since 2009 in protest against China’s brutal occupation. However, Lobga Rangzen’s death marks the first self-immolation protest in the United States of America.
In the hours before his self-immolation, Lobga Rangzen livestreamed on Facebook in Tibetan, explaining his motivations. He stated that his actions were driven not by personal circumstances, but his commitment to Tibet; that China is leading a campaign of genocidal policies against the Tibetan people.
“I don’t want you to mourn for me, I want you to continue the struggle for Tibetan independence. Because the lack of independence is the root of our problems.”
– Lobga Rangzen
A beloved member of the Tibetan community living in Queens, New York City, Lobga Rangzen was serving as the President of the Tibetan National Congress of New York and New Jersey at the time of his death.
Tenzin Rabga from Free Tibet states: “The distressing news of Lobga Rangzen’s death a day after China’s Ethnic Unity and Progress Law took effect has shocked me to my core. To see a fellow Tibetan activist go to such lengths to raise Tibet’s profile is truly heartbreaking, but it is also indicative of the destructive impact China’s Ethnic Unity and Progress Law would have on Tibetans.
For too long world governments have been silent on rights abuses in Tibet, Lobga Rangzen’s message and ultimate sacrifice outside the UN Headquarters will not be allowed to fall on deaf ears and blind eyes.”
Free Tibet is joining with the Tibetan Community in Britain, Voluntary Tibet Advocacy Group UK, Tibet Action Institute, Students for a Free Tibet London, and the International Tibet Network for a vigil outside of the Chinese Embassy in London to commemorate Lobga Rangzen’s life:
Date: 3 July 2026
Time: 6:00pm BST – 9:00pm BST
Location: Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, 49 Portland Place, London, W1B 1JL
A further press statement has been released by the Tibetan National Congress of New York and New Jersey, which can be found on the International Tibet Network website at: https://tibetnetwork.org/activist-lobga-rangzen-self-immolates-for-tibetan-independence/
Press Contact:
All media enquiries are being directed towards Students for a Free Tibet (USA) and the Tibetan National Congress of New York and New Jersey.
Tsela Zoksang, Students for a Free Tibet, [email protected], +1 (917) 754-1799
Dickey Tsering, Tibetan National Congress of New York and New Jersey, [email protected], +1 (347) 774-5774
