Outside a police station in Amchok, Tibet today, a 33-year-old man self immolated in protest of Chinese rule.
The man, one Sangye Khar, self immolated during a time of celebration in Tibet which had been marked by self immolations in the past, and his body was carried away by Chinese military police. Tibetans nearby protested the removal of the body, and the situation was reported to be tense, according to the International Campaign for Tibet.
The action took place on an anniversary celebrated by Tibetans: a religious festival commemorating the death of the founder of a particular school of Tibetan Buddhism called Gelugpa (Yellow Hat), to which both the Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama belong.
The festival celebration was attended by masses of pilgrims–as well as camouflaged military troop–at Lhasa’s Jokhang temple.
Since 2009, at least 134 Tibetans have self immolated in protest of Chinese authority in Tibet, counting Sangye. All told, 140 people have self immolated for the cause. China has ruled Tibet since conquering it in 1959. Speaking in favor of their exiled spiritual high leader the Dalai Lama, as well as sharing words and singing or listening to songs that voice a desire for independence or greater autonomy from Chinese rule, are among the crimes for which Tibetans are regularly sentenced to multi-year jail terms.
Many of these political prisoners have died of torture in prison.
Read more: Tibetan protester dies six years into 15-year prison sentence, two days after release
Three other Tibetans had self immolated on the same day of the year in 2012.
The most previous two self immolations in Tibet also took place outside police stations.
Read more: 138th Self Immolation in Protest of Chinese Rule in Tibet
Sangye hailed from Khyungri Thang villiage in Amchok, Sangchu, Kanlho, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. He is survived by two daughters.
More details were unavailable due to the media restrictions imposed by the Chinese government on Tibetans.
Photos: International Campaign for Tibet
