Two Tibetan civilians set themselves afire in the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) in southwest China in the latest attempt at self-immolation as a mark of protest to demand freedom, a rights group claimed on Thursday evening.
A statement from the London-based Free Tibet claimed that two, Sonam and Choephak Kyap, both in their 20s, self-immolated together in a town called Barma in TAR. The statement also said both were taken to a hospital and were said to be critically injured. The government was yet to comment till late Thursday.
Free Tibet director Stephanie Brigden said in the statement: “Barma Township has seen its fair share of trouble in the past months: Chinese state security forces shot dead a young man called Urgen in January, and in February a teenager called Nangdrol died after setting fire to self. All three self-immolations in Barma have been by lay (civilians, not monks) people.”
The toll of Tibetans, monks and civilians, who have set themselves on fire, has crossed the 30; many have died from the injuries. The Chinese government maintains that the self-immolations are instigated by the Dalai Lama.
{{/usCountry}}The toll of Tibetans, monks and civilians, who have set themselves on fire, has crossed the 30; many have died from the injuries. The Chinese government maintains that the self-immolations are instigated by the Dalai Lama.
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