Teenage monk self-immolates, dies near a Chinese monastery

A teenage monk died after self-immolating close to a monastery in China’s Sichuan province on Saturday, a rights group said.

A teenage monk died after self-immolating close to a monastery in China’s Sichuan province on Saturday, a rights group said.

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Kunchok Sonam (18), London-based Free Tiebt said, set himself afire after morning prayers near the Thangkor Soktsang monastery on Saturday morning.

“Most of those to have died after setting themselves on fire in Tibet have been young - many as young or younger than Kunchok Sonam. They have chosen to die in the hope that others in their country may live their lives without fear of oppression," Free Tibet spokesperson Alistair Currie said.