Sangye Gyatso, 27, is the 54th Tibetan to make the extreme sacrfice. Shortly before his death, he called for the return of the Dalai Lama in Tibet. Director of Free Tibet, "These acts show the absolute determination of these people to protect their freedom."

Lhasa (AsiaNews) - A Tibetan set himself on fire and later died near the monastery of Dokar (Autonomous Prefecture Kanlho), calling for the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet and freedom of religion and expression for the Tibetan people. Sangye Gyatso, this was his name, was 27 years old and father of two children. With his gesture - which took place on October 6th - 54 Tibetans have now chosen self-immolation as a form of protest against the Chinese regime.

According to testimonies collected by Free Tibet, the young man died soon after setting fire to himself.  The monks of Dokar then took the body to recite the prayers for the dead, then returned it  to the family. Shortly after the self-immolation, the Chinese army deployed a large number of soldiers to guard the monastery and Dzeruwa, the village of origin of the victim.

" Sangye Gyatso's protest - said Stephanie Brigden, director of Free Tibet - shows the absolute determination of the Tibetan people to protect their freedom, no matter what the price. International governments must raise their voices to put an end to the humanitarian crisis faced by Tibet ". He leaves a wife, a 7 year old son and a daughter of 5. (NC)

 

• tibet
• china
• self
• immolations
• death
• freedom