New York — A Tibetan delegation including family members of the late Tibetan martyr Lobga Rangzen, who self-immolated in front of the UN headquarters in New York, met with representatives of the U.S. Mission to the UN, the Special Representative of the UN Human Rights Council, and the U.S. Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues in August. The delegation urged them to shed light on the true cause of Lobga Rangzen's self-immolation and condemn the Chinese government's genocidal law aimed at eradicating Tibetan identity.
Tibetan independence activist Lobga Rangzen self-immolated in front of UN headquarters in New York, on July 2,2026. He protested against the Chinese government’s repressive policies in Tibet including so-called the China’s new “Ethnic Unity Law” and demanded an Independence for Tibet, as well as preservation of Tibetan culture and language.
The President of the Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) Tsering Chomphel, together with members of the family of Pawo Lobga Rangzen, former TYC President and MP Tenzing Jigme and Rtyc NYNJ President Jamphel Choesang, met with representatives of the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, on August 27, 2026 and briefed them on the deteriorating human rights situation in Tibet as well as Tibetan martyr Lobga Rangzen’s extraordinary sacrifice.
According to Tibetan Youth Congress, the delegation met with Yaryna Ferencevych, Deputy Representative U.S Mission to United Nations and Maria Macarena Apud, Adviser, U.S. Mission to the United Nations on Human Right Desk. The delegation briefed U.S. officials on the circumstances surrounding Lobga Rangzen’s self-immolation in front of United Nations headquarters on July 2, 2026, as well as his final message calling for attention to the struggle for Tibet’s freedom and the urgent need for international action. The delegation emphasized that his sacrifice reflected the deep despair caused by the persistent denial of fundamental rights in Tibet.
The delegation also raised serious concerns regarding China’s recently enacted "Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress", which further institutionalizes policies that threaten Tibet’s distinct national, cultural, linguistic, and religious identity.
"The meeting underscored the importance of continued U.S. and international attention to Tibet at the United Nations, particularly through the General Assembly and its human rights mechanisms," TYC said. The delegation further urged the United States Mission to continue raising Tibet’s human rights situation at the United Nations and ensure that the issue of Tibet is raised with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the upcoming meeting with President Trump.
Sonam Choedon, niece of Tibetan Martyr Lobga Rangzen, Tsering Chomphel, the President of the Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC), Jamphel Chosang, President of Regional Tibetan Youth Congress (New York and Nwe Jersey), Yeshi Tenzin, Former TYC centrex member, Tenzin Youdon, President Washingtong Area RTYC and former TYC President Chisur Tenzing Jigme, met with Riley Barnes, U.S Special Coordinator for Tibetan issue, on August 19, 2026, in Washingtong D.C.
The delegation outlined the Special Coordinator about the Tibetan martyr Lobga Rangzen's sacrifice, his final message, and the circumstances surrounding his death.
"The meeting provided an opportunity for Lobga’s family to share their concerns and to urge continued U.S. attention to the human rights situation in Tibet and the issues that motivated his final act," TYC said.
According to the TYC, The TYC President also presented several points for continued U.S. support for the Tibetan cause and for greater international attention to Tibet and urged the U.S. government to raise the issue of Tibet with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his upcoming visit.
"The meeting underscored the importance of ensuring that Pawo Lobga Rangzen’s sacrifice and his call for justice, unity, and action are not forgotten. The participants expressed appreciation for the U.S. government’s willingness to hear directly from Lobga’s family and representatives of the Tibetan Youth Congress," the President of TYC said.
Two Family members of the Lobga Rangzen and Tsewang Rigzen, former President of TYC and former Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, met with UN Human Rights Council Special Representative Anne Siyota at the United Nations in New York, on August 12, 2026.
During a one-hour meeting, they informed Siyota of the circumstances surrounding Lobga Rangzen’s self-immolation in front of United Nations headquarters on July 2, 2026, as well as his final message calling for attention to be drawn to the struggle for Tibet’s freedom and the urgent need for international action.
They also presented six demands to the UNHRC representative, in which they urged him to take more effective action in response to the deteriorating human rights situation in Tibet.
Another demand concerned the United Nations’ implementation of its previous resolutions on Tibet, adopted in 1959, 1961, and 1965. Those resolutions had expressed concern about violations of the fundamental rights and freedoms of the Tibetan people and called for an end to policies that infringed upon the human rights of Tibetans, including their right to self-determination.
The Tibetan delegation also called on the UN to pressure Beijing to dismantle the Chinese boarding school system in Tibet, which aims to systematically erase Tibetan identity, language, and religion by separating children from their parents and homes.
The delegation further urged the United Nations to publicly oppose the so-called China's "Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress" recently adopted, and called for the immediate repeal of that law.
