The abbot of Namgyal Monastery presides over the prayer service at Tsuglagkhang in Dharamsala on 16 August

CTA holds prayer service to mourn self-immolations

DHARAMSHALA: The Department of Religion and Culture of the Central Tibetan Administration yesterday organised a prayer service to mourn the recent self-immolations of Lungtok and Tashi in Ngaba.

The prayer service at the Tsuglagkhang was attended by entire officials of the Central Tibetan Administration. “We express deep condolence and solidarity with all those Tibetans who have sacrificed their lives for freedom in Tibet,” the department of religion and culture said in a statement.

Kalon Tripa briefed the gathering about the two US congressmen’s urgent appeal to the state department to undertake visible and coordinated diplomatic pressure on the Chinese government to end the crisis in Tibet.

Congressmen James P McGovern and Frank R Wolf sent a letter to Secretary Clinton on 9 August, expressing grave concern over the spate of tragic self-immolation of Tibetans in response to the Chinese government’s repression in Tibet.

“We are very aware that US officials regularly discuss Tibet and many other human rights issues with like-minded governments. However, more visible, public and coordinated diplomacy is necessary for the Chinese government to feel pressure to alter its conduct,” the letter noted.

The congressmen suggested that the US could host an international conference on the issue of Tibet, hold periodic, public meetings with governments and establish Contact Group among its partner nations at the United Nations as an effective means of expressing support to the issue of Tibet.

“As the United States continues its “pivot” towards Asia, it is important that the US demonstrate that it is not deaf to the desperate appeals for help and support emanating from Tibetans,” the congressmen said.

A Tibetan woman dies of self-immolation August 7, 2012 5:13 pm DHARAMSHALA: Dolkar Tso (Kyi), a 26-year-old Tibetan woman from Kanlho, Amdo in north-eastern Tibet set herself on fire today at around 2:30 pm local time. It was the second self-immolation in two days.

Latest reports coming out of Tibet say she died on the spot after setting herself on fire near Tsoe monastery in Kanlho. She was protesting against the continued occupation of Tibet by the People’s Republic of China.

Tibetans who witnessed the incident tried to douse the fire and carried her body to the monastery. It was reported that more and more Tibetans are making their way to the monastery to pay their respects to her.

Dolkar Tso, daughter of Druk Gyalkhar and Sangye Tso, is from Tsoe Tasar village.

Since 2009, 46 Tibetans have self-immolated in Tibet demanding the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet and freedom for Tibetans.

Dolkar Tso’s body at Tsoe monastery after her self-immolation on 7 August 2012.

Self-Immolator Tashi Dies

August 15, 2012 4:27 pm

DHARAMSHALA: Tashi, the 21-year-old former monk of Kirti monastery, who self-immolated this Monday succumbed to his burn injuries at Barkham the later day.
 
It is not known whether the authorities have handed over his body to his family members.

As a mark of respect, all the shops and restaurants remained closed and local Tibetans offer prayers to mourn the dead and express solidarity with the family members.

The other self-immolator, Lungtok, a 20-year-old monk of Kirti monastery, died that day.

Following the twin self-immolation incident in Ngaba on Monday, Kirti monastery’s disciplinarian and other senior officials were summoned several times to the town office.