Tragic Self-immolations Continue, CTA reiterates appeal to China to address grievances

Press Release

21 June 2012

As the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) was holding a prayer service to mourn the tragic self-immolations in Tibet yesterday, reports came out from Tibet that two more Tibetans have set themselves on fire in Kyegudo (Yushul) region in eastern Tibet.

Ngawang Norpel, 22 and Tenzin Khedup, 24, set themselves on fire yesterday afternoon in Tridu in Kyegudo (Yushul).

A video footage coming out of Tibet shows both the self-immolators carrying Tibetan national flag when they set themselves on fire. They shouted slogans, calling for freedom in Tibet and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to his people. Tenzin Khedup died on the spot, while Ngawang Norpel was critically injured and his whereabouts is not known.

The Embassy of Denmark in China on 19 June stated that Danish Parliament’s Foreign Policy Committee delegation will visit both Beijing and the Western Province Qinghai to discuss China’s environmental, social, economic and political challenges, foreign policy and growing role on the international stage. The delegation will visitYushul Tibetan Prefecture People’s Congress and local villages in Yushul.

“We hope the Danish Parliamentary delegation be allowed by the Chinese authorities to carry out independent interviews with members of local community in Yushul,” said Dicki Chhoyang, Kalon for the CTA’s Department of Information & International Relations.

Since 2009, 42 Tibetans have set themselves on fire demanding freedom and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to his homeland.

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Tashi,

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Lobsang Choedak, Press Officer

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