Chinese soldiers in Lhasa

Dharamshala: The Central Tibetan Administration is deeply concerned about the escalating crisis in Tibet as one more Tibetan self-immolated in northeastern Tibet and hundreds being detained in crackdown in capital Lhasa. Rikyo, a 36-year-old mother of three, died on the spot after setting herself on fire in front of the Jonang Zamthang monastery in Barma town in northeastern Tibet’s Ngaba region on 30 May. The local Tibetans took the body inside the monastery, where thousands of monks offered prayers. The Chinese authorities threatened to take the body into their custody if the local Tibetans do not cremate it quickly. So, the cremation was carried out near the monastery at around 11:00 pm that night. Over 5,000 local Tibetans, including monks of Zamthang Monastery, gathered at the funeral. They braved heavy rain that night to conduct the last rites. Rikyo, daughter of Chuklo and Rinlha, was a nomadic herder. Residents described her as very friendly and virtuous person, who always cares for the poor. Moreover, according to media reports, Tibetans living in capital Lhasa say police and paramilitary forces are out in force to impose crackdown after the region was hit by two self-immolations on Sunday. Over 600 Tibetans have been detained in Lhasa and those from outside Tibet Autonomous expelled. With the latest incident of self-immolation, 38 Tibetans have set themselves on fire calling for freedom and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to his homeland. Out of these, 29 died and those survived are either in serious condition or maimed. The whereabouts and well-being of 5 still remain unknown. http://tibet.net/2012/05/31/crisis-deepens-with-one-more-self-immolation-and-arrest-of-hundreds-in-crackdown/