Varanasi — A young Tibetan man set himself on fire in Varanasi, a city in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, India, in continued protest against China's occupation of Tibet.
"Tenzin Choeying 19, born in kollegal Tibetan Settlement, Southern India and a student of Central University of Tibetan Studies in Varanasi, India has set himself on fire at university campus in Varanasi, on July 14, 2017 Friday morning around 09:00am," TPI sources said.
It said that "Choeying was protesting against China's illegal occupation of Tibet and their ferocious policies towards Tibetan people."
The sources said "He is an active member of Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) chapter in Varanasi and he was also a part of TYC volunteer crew during the 2017 Kalachakra Teachings in Bodh Gaya."
The latest self-immolation by Choeying brought the total number of self-immolations in-exile to nine. A verified total of 149 self-immolations took place inside Tibet, of these, 125 are known to have died. Most of the self-immolators called for the return of the Dalai Lama and freedom for the Tibetan people.
Choeying is the 5th TYC member to resort to this style of protest in India. He currently remains in Heritage hospital, Varanasi with more than 40% burns. From the hospital bed he talked about the reason for his self -immolation.
"Since I was a small boy I always wanted to do something for Tibet as Tibet is illegally occupied by Chinese government and the current policies of the Chinese government like wiping out Tibetan language and culture is another reason for my protest" says Choeying.
The latest self-immolation by Jamyang Losel brought the total verified number of self-immolations inside Tibet to 149. Of these, 125 are known to have died. Most of the self-immolators called for the return of the Dalai Lama and freedom for the Tibetan people.
Tibet was invaded by the Communist regime in China, starting in 1949. Since that time, over 1.2 million out of 6 Tibetans died as a direct result of China's invasion and continued occupation of Tibet, over 6000 monasteries have been looted and destroyed— Crimes against Humanity and Genocide include murder, massacres, torture, rape, starvation, extreme deprivation, forced marches, enslavement, brutal violence, and systematic extermination. The communist regime continues to call this a 'peaceful liberation', that the "Tibetans are living in a Maoist socialist paradise."
