Tibetan woman immolates self
19 April 2013 6:32 AM IST
A young mother died after setting herself on fire to protest Chinese rule, prompting thousands of people to gather near her home and the monastery where the self-immolation occurred.
Chugtso, 20, set herself ablaze Tuesday near Dzamthang county's Jonang monastery, in Sichuan province, bringing to 116 the number of people who have killed themselves in this fashion since 2009, Radio Free Asia (RFA) said.
The woman, who leaves behind a husband and a three-year-old son, died shortly after the flames engulfed her near the monastery. Neighbours later carried her remains to her home. ‘Local authorities and the security forces later pressured the family to cremate her that night,’ RFA said, adding that Chinese officials usually made such demands in the wake of these incidents.
As a show of support, thousands of people from the surrounding area gathered outside Chugtso’s home and the monastery.
The London-based Free Tibet organisation noted that the Jonang monastery was the scene of other self-immolations in May 2012, when two other mothers of small children set fire to themselves there.
Chugtso, 20, set herself ablaze Tuesday near Dzamthang county's Jonang monastery, in Sichuan province, bringing to 116 the number of people who have killed themselves in this fashion since 2009, Radio Free Asia (RFA) said.
The woman, who leaves behind a husband and a three-year-old son, died shortly after the flames engulfed her near the monastery. Neighbours later carried her remains to her home. ‘Local authorities and the security forces later pressured the family to cremate her that night,’ RFA said, adding that Chinese officials usually made such demands in the wake of these incidents.
As a show of support, thousands of people from the surrounding area gathered outside Chugtso’s home and the monastery.
The London-based Free Tibet organisation noted that the Jonang monastery was the scene of other self-immolations in May 2012, when two other mothers of small children set fire to themselves there.
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