International Campaign for Tibet

Tibetan self-immolation in Rebkong

A Tibetan mother of two, Chagmo Kyi, self-immolated today (November 17) at around 4 pm and died in Dolma Square, Rebkong (Chinese: Tongren), Qinghai. It was the eighth self-immolation in the Rebkong area since November 4, and the 75th in Tibet since February, 2009 (Self-Immolations Inside Tibet Fact Sheet).

Local lay Tibetans and monks gathered to mark Chagmo Kyi's death despite an intense military buildup in the area following peaceful protests and other self-immolations over the past week. According to Tibetan sources hundreds of Tibetans attended her cremation, at a site normally used for the cremation of monks and lamas. They were surrounded by troops.

Chagmo Kyil was from Madpa village in Rebkong county, Malho (Chinese: Huangnan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai (the Tibetan area of Amdo). She was a taxi driver, frequently driving between Rebkong and Xining, the provincial capital, and a farmer. She had two children.

The news of the self-immolation reached exile Tibetans today even despite restrictions on communications in the Rebkong area following an intense week of self-immolations and protests. (ICT: Thousands of Tibetans mobilize in reaction to self-immolations despite security build up and ICT: Thousands of Tibetan students and schoolchildren gather for peaceful demonstration in Rebkong)