By Tenzin Monlam
DHARAMSHALA, August 2: Exile Tibetans including the Tibetan president Lobsang Sangay and his cabinet gathered at Lhagyal Ri this morning for a prayer service for the latest Tibetan who died of self immolation.
President Sangay said, “We do understand the wishes of those who self immolate, whether in Tibet or in exile. We even pledged to work towards fulfillment of their wishes. Those in exile where there is enough freedom, I urge everyone to use your life to carry out other activities rather than taking your lives.”
CTA President expressed his condolences over the death of the recent self-immolators. He, however, maintains that the Kashag has always urged Tibetans, inside and in exile, not to resort to self-immolation.
“Tibetans in exile especially have every freedom to raise Tibet issue through various means. We must respect human life as precious. So it is imperative that every Tibetan must live and work hard to continue our struggle,” Sikyong said on the sidelines of the prayer service organized by Norbulingka Institute.
Clarifying CTA’s stand regarding self-immolation in exile he said that there have been numerous discussions within the Kashag on whether to attend such services and refrain from mentioning them in CTA official media platforms. “People may say that on one hand we disagree with exile self-immolations and on the other we attend their prayer service. I think we must officially refrain from such actions to clarify any misunderstandings. It would also give a clear message to the youth,” he said.
Tenzin Namsel, cousin brother of the departed, who lit the funeral pyre said that when he first heard the news he was unsettled for a bit. He said, “It is brave of him to self-immolate but I would like to request my fellow Tibetans that it is time to unite together to work collectively for our cause.”
According to Namsel, ever since his brother (Dhundup) left Shimla in 1994, they have been minimal contact with him. He also shared that his brother loved nature, long walk in the woods and his fondest memories with him were taking long walks and painting together.
“I got a call from some relatives saying that he looks like brother Dhundup and the background details in the news also match his. Coincidently I was here in Dharamshala for a workshop,” Namsel said adding that the last time he saw him was when he visited Shimla in 2005-06.
Also known as Passang Dhundup, he had a brother named Migmar who went back to Tibet few years after Dhundup arrived in India in 1991.
He was working at Norbulingka Institute as wood painter from 2012. As per his co-workers, he was someone who was a calm person, well read on Tibetan issues.
Dhundup set himself on fire near Lhagyal Ri on July 29 afternoon around 3 p.m. and died on the spot.
