DHARAMSHALA, February 17: The 25-year-old former monk of Ngaba monastery, Lobsang Dorjee, who set himself on fire week in protest against China in Tibet’s Ngaba region has succumbed to his injuries at a hospital in Barkham County on Sunday.
Kanyag Tsering, a Tibetan monk with close contacts in the region, said despite repeated appeals by his family members Chinese authorities have denied them the right to perform last rites for Lobsang and secretly cremated him. His remains were handed over to his family.
Tibetan owned businesses in the region will remain closed for three days to pay respect to Lobsang. Prayer offering and post – death rituals are being performed at various monasteries in the area. Tibetans have poured in monetary contributions for the last rites as a mark of respect for the deceased.
With the great prayer festival (monlam) underway in the monasteries several armed forces have been deployed in the area that has been a hotbed for anti – China protests since 2008.
The same source said that Chinese officials and police in plain clothes have been spotted among the local populace making sure no sign of anti – government protest is seen.
Since 2009, 127 Tibetans have set themselves on fire in Tibet to protest against China’s occupation of Tibet and its hard-line policies.
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