Tibet

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Tibetan Woman Kills Herself by Self-Immolation
By Edward Wong
17 April 2013

BEIJING — A young Tibetan mother has killed herself by self-immolation to protest Chinese rule, according to reports by Radio Free Asia and Voice of America, two news organizations financed by the United States government.

The woman, Chugtso, 20, set fire to herself about 3 p.m. on Tuesday near the Jonang Monastery in Dzamthang County of Sichuan Province, according to a Radio Free Asia report that quoted a Tibetan living in exile in India who is in contact with people in the area.

Ms. Chugtso, who used only one name, is survived by her husband and 3-year-old child. Her body was taken to the monastery, where monks said prayers, then to her home.

At least 116 Tibetans in Chinese-ruled regions have set fire to themselves since 2009 in acts of protest. Chinese officials have said the Tibetans are psychologically unbalanced or have been incited by the Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader of Tibet, or his allies.

© The New York Times 2013.

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3 Tibetans Sentenced in Immolation Cases
21 March 2013
By Edward Wong

BEIJING — Three Tibetans from Qinghai Province have been given prison sentences for “inciting state secession,” according to a statement on an official provincial Web site. On Monday, a court in Haidong Prefecture sentenced the Tibetans — Kalsang Dhondup, Jigme Thabkey and Lobsang — to terms of six, five and four years, respectively. The online announcement said that the men used self-immolations by Tibetans for publicity purposes and circulated texts and photographs related to Tibetan independence, spreading “bad influence locally and internationally.” Since 2009, at least 109 Tibetans have set fire to themselves to protest Chinese rule, and most have died. To deter the act, Chinese officials are trying to prosecute people associated with those who commit self-immolation. Tibetans opposed to Chinese rule say those who self-immolated did it out of frustration with Chinese policies.

© The New York Times 2013.

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Killings Stir Fears of Ethnic Tensions in Chinese Region
By Edward Wong
8 March 2013

BEIJING — At least four people were killed and eight injured in what appeared to be a knife fight in the city of Korla, a center of oil production in the western Chinese region of Xinjiang, regional officials said on Friday.

The outburst of violence on Thursday put local residents on edge over a potential flare-up in ethnic tensions, a common occurrence in parts of Xinjiang where ethnic Uighur, a Turkic-speaking people, bridle at what they call discrimination by the Han Chinese, who rule China. The police ordered people to stay off the streets in parts of Korla after the fight, but the authorities had lifted that ban by Friday. (Read more)

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For earlier articles, please see the “Archived Updates” section on Tibet’s page. 

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