By: Jessica Ties
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BEIJING, China – Two more Tibetan monks, nineteen-year-old Choephel and eighteen-year-old Khaying, protested Chinese rule through self-immolation on Friday in the Tibetan region of the Sichuan province.

Tsering, who is in close contact with the Kirti monastery, reported that “[t]hey folded their hands in supplicatory gestures and shouted protests against Chinese rule.”

Tsering also stated that, after arriving, the police tried to extinguish the flames and beat the monks as they did so.

Both men were taken to the hospital but the condition of the two men is uncertain due to conflicting reports. While some sources have reported that both of the monks received only minor injuries, others have reported that Choephel has died from his injuries.

For over three years the Kirti Monastery has been an active opponent of China’s rule over Tibet. Most notable was their position at the center of the anti-China protests that occurred in 2008.

Since March, the Kirti Monastery has been responsible for all but one of the seven self-immolations that have taken place in China’s Sichuan province. As a result of these protests, the monastery has become increasingly subject to involvement by Chinese security forces.

Poor treatment of monks by authorities, including allegations of physical violence, combined with general tension related to Chinese rule in Tibet has led other monks to declare a willingness to sacrifice themselves.

According to the director of Free Tibet, Stephanie Brigden, “[i]t is now evident there are many courageous young Tibetans who are determined to draw global attention to one of the world’s greatest and longest-standing human rights crises no matter the cost to themselves.”

Interestingly, Chinese state media did not report the self-immolations and an employee of the public security bureau in the city in which the self-immolations occurred stated that “… [n]othing like that happened…” when questioned about the incident.

Both men are former monks from the Kirti monastery. Choephel was expelled following a self-immolation that occurred in March. Khaying voluntarily left the monastery for unknown reasons although it is known that his uncle was among those sentenced to death by Chinese authorities for his participation in the 2008 riots against Chinese rule and the resulting crackdown by Chinese forces.

Sporadic unrest and violence has erupted in response to China’s rule since 1950 when China sent troops into Tibet and assumed control over the region. Many Tibetans feel that they have been mistreated by Chinese authorities and denied the ability to freely exercise their political and religious freedom.

For more information, please see:

BBC – Tibetan Youths Self-Immolate in Protest at China Rule – 7 October 2011

Forbes – Two Tibetans Set Self on Fire in Latest Protest – 7 October 2011

New York Time – Two Tibetan Teenagers Set Themselves on Fire in Southwest China – 7 October 2011

Radio Free Asia – Two Tibetan Youths Self Immolate– 7 October 2011

BBC – Q&A: China and Tibet – 19 June 2008