SUICIDE: Three teenage monks burn themselves alive in Ngaba

Dharamsala, November 8, 2012: Three Tibetan monks in their mid-teens have burned themselves alive at around 3 pm on Wednesday in Ngaba (Ch: Aba) County of Ngaba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province.

Tsering Tsomo, Executive Director, Tibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) said ,”The three monks belonged to Ngoshul Monastery located in Ngoshul nomadic village in Gomang Township, Ngaba County.  Dorjee, 15, and Samdup, 16, and Dorjee Kyap, 16, set themselves on fire in front of a Public Security Bureau office calling for 'return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet' and 'freedom for Tibet' in Gomang Township in upper part of Ngaba County. Moments later, the PSB officers arrived on the scene and took the monks away.”

Quoting eyewitnesses, sources she said that Dorjee died on the scene, but Samdup and Dorjee Kyap are believed to be admitted to Ngaba County hospital. A number of People's Armed Police have now been rushed to Ngaba County, putting heavy restrictions on the movement of local Tibetans. Restrictions have been increased in Gomang township, in particular, Ngoshul Monastery has come under intense surveillance. At the moment, TCHRD is unable to obtain more information on the security situation in the area.

Ngoshul Monastery has around 130 monks and situated over 12 miles north of Ngaba County.