[box type=”note” border=”full”]WARNING: GRAPHIC PHOTOGRAPHIC CONTENT[/box]
The body of Sonam Wangyal, known as Lama Sobha, following his self-immolation on January 8. Lama Sobha was a popular and respected Tibetan reincarnation. These images were provided to ICT by Tibetans in exile, and are believed to have been taken at the monastery where Lama Sobha was based in Golog, prior to the funeral ceremonies.
Sonam Wangyal (also referred to as Lama Sobha), a respected religious figure in his local area, drank kerosene and set himself on fire on January 8 early in the morning in Darlag county, Golog (Chinese: Guoluo) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai (the Tibetan area of Amdo). Before he set himself ablaze, he climbed a local hill to burn incense and pray before distributing leaflets saying he would act “not for his personal glory but for Tibet and the happiness of Tibetans.”
ICT Reports
- Harrowing images and last message from Tibet of first lama to self-immolate (1 February 2012)
- Tibetan self-immolations continue and spread in Tibet into 2012 (9 January 2012)