By Tenzin Monlam
DHARAMSHALA, December 13: Three Tibetan youth have been arrested on Monday in connection with the latest self-immolation by a Tibetan in Machu County in Gansu Province, reported VOT.
According to Trisong Dorjee, a Tibetan from Machu, the Chinese authorities yesterday arrested three Tibetans for clicking pictures and taking video of the self-immolation by Tashi Rabten on December 8. However, the identities of detained Tibetans are unknown as of now.
A day after the self-immolation, the officials arrested Tashi Rabten’s wife, his two children and relatives for approaching his body. Their current situation is still unknown.
The source, however, confirmed that the officials have returned the remains of the deceased.
The 33-year old Tibetan, Tashi Rabten, set himself on fire on December 8 at about 7:00 p.m. (local time) on a road leading from the Machu County center to the Machu Bridge. While on flame, he called for ‘Tibet’s Freedom’, return of the exiled Tibetan leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the release of 11th Panchen Lama.
This was the 146th case since 2009 of Tibetan resorting to self-immolation as a form protest against the repressive rule of China in Tibet.
