On Monday morning of 27, August 2012, two Tibetans set themselves aflame in Ngaba County, north-eastern Tibet (Chinese: Aba-Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province) to protest Chinese authority in their homeland. The two young teenagers, 18-year old monk from Kirti Monastery, Lobsang Kalsang, and 17-year old former monk from the same monastery, Dhamchoe, emerged engulfed in flames while shouting protest slogans before they collapsed after taking about twenty steps.
The event, organized by Regional Tibetan Youth Congress and Regional Tibetan Women Association, started at the Main Square and ended at the Tibetan Museum located in HH the Dalai Lama Temple. An estimated 200 people attended the event, all of whom were holding candles while bowing to show respect for the Tibetan self-immolators. Shortly after, a few people gave speeches in front of the hero and heroine statues in the Tibetan Museum.
"They must listen to the Tibetan reasons as to why they are setting themselves on fire...It is the fail policies of Chinese government. It is the brutality of these policies in targeting the life, culture, and the whole race of Tibetan people. These are the only option left because there is no sense of democracy and freedom for people to express their opinions and frustrations. Instead of coming down on the people with violent and oppression, Chinese government must find a way to talk to Tibetan people and find a real solution," said Tenzin Tsundu, former president of Regional Tibetan Youth Congress.
Including the recent incidents of the twin self-immolation, 51 people have ignited themselves on fire to protest against Chinese oppressive policies as well as advocating for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
