Chinese Police Allegedly Gun Down Tibetan Monk On Fire

A Tibetan monk, Tabey, was gunned down by Chinese police after he set himself on fire today in the Ngaba region of Tibet, reports Phayul. Tabey apparently set himself ablaze to protest the government's restrictions a Tibetan New Year's prayer festival, it reports.

"I was told the monk had gasoline spilled onto his body, and as soon as he reached the main road of the town he set himself on fire. Bystanders said he held high a picture of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and chanted something but couldn't be heard," Tsering said, adding that he might be calling for the return to Tibet of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and independence for Tibet.

According to Tsering, bystanders saw him collapse on the ground after they heard three gunshots. The monk was reportedly taken in a vehicle to a nearby hospital, said Tsering, but it is not known if he is alive or dead at the time of this report going online.

Spokesman for the Free Tibet campaign Matt Whitticase spoke about the incident, Reuters reports:

The monk was surrounded by armed police, three gun shots were heard and he was carried away in a van after falling to the ground, Whitticase said, citing unidentified sources. It was not known whether the monk was dead or alive, he added.

The Guardian reports that this follows tension in China over the Tibetan New Year.

Free Tibet said up to 800 monks had reportedly gone to Tabe's home village of Trinkin to say prayers, believing him to be dead.

The group said Tabe's protest followed an attempt by almost 1,000 monks at Kirte to use a prayer hall to observe the Monlam festival - part of Tibetan new year - despite being told not to do so. They were told to return to their rooms.

The authorities have been angered by some Tibetans deciding to boycott new year celebrations other than religious rituals as a mark of protest against Chinese rule.

Comments

[FairTalk]

So now the truth is out. Results of an investigation into reports of shooting reveal that a Monk spread rumours that a shooting had occured, when so such thing happened, to attract international attention.

In fact the so called monk that set himself on fire was a student at the monastery, and was burned about the head and shoulders. The Chinese police quickly put out the fire and took him to the hospital, where he is recovering.

[FairTalk]

On March 1, 2009, VOA published a "news report" that was false and fabricated by carefully selecting snipits of false and misleading bits of propaganda.

VOA was a department in the US Information Agency until Oct 1, 1999, when the Independent Agency of the US Government, the Broadcasting Board of Govenors took over.They are appointed by the President, now Obama, no more than 4 from one party, and the 9th is the Sec of State, H Clinton.

Their Mission Statement is..."To promote and sustain freedom and democracy by broadcasting accurate and objective news and information about the US and the world to audiences over seas."

However, when it comes to China and Tibet, the VOA is broadcasting anything but accurate and objective news. The VOA is broadcasting knowingly false information, and one wonders what the purpose of this is, other than to cloud the mind, and rob folks of their criticle thinking skills.

[PaPaPeng]

The four Falungong followers tried the same stunt at Tienanmen Square. http://www.mingjing.org.cn/e-falun/news-158.htm . Three survived. Do a google search and there was an interview with one regretting that what he did was stupid. The Tibetan monk in this report is likely to survive. After his recovery he will be excellent walking testimony to other monks that self immolation is not a karma thing to do.

[AngieMom57]

Shame on the Chinese.

[FairTalk]

Is "unrest" in Tibet incited by those outside Tibet?

""We don't have a happy life. We have no freedom," said one of the three monks, whose names are being withheld to protect them from possible reprisals. "We are not celebrating the new year," he said as he refuelled the stove with a mixture of coal slack and dried cow dung.

Another monk, in his mid-20s, handed me his mobile phone to show a video of last year's protests. They began in Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region, on March 10, the 49th anniversary of the 1959 uprising.

Then he showed two photographs of the Dalai Lama in meetings with the US president, Barack Obama, and California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

"It gives me hope to know that these foreigners are supporting the Dalai Lama," he said. "I have more hope and strength when I see these photographs and I hope that Tibetans can find a peaceful solution."

http://www.sundayherald.com/international/shinternational/display.var.2492501.0.0.php

The Chinese official confirmed "A man dressed in Monk's robes," set himself on fire. He also said the incident is "under investigat­ion." Sounds good to me, and I will wait until I see the official report before forming my opinion. Why? Because last March the Free Tibet folks claimed, falsly, the violence in Lahsa was "peaceful.­"

[AZ AF VET]

As far as the Monk's attempt at Self-immolation, the police did him a favor by shooting him if struck him in a location that killed him instantly. Death by fire is one of the most terrible ways to die.

[FairTalk]

Tibetans in China celebrating Tibetan New Year 2009 with traditional "horse riding."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuayLge2qcA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWgXlSe4Q2E&feature=channel_page

[TrnsNtnl]

This is BS they cant even use their own halls to practice their cerimonies anymore? I hope Obama speaks up about Tibet and Clinton doesnt just let this kinda crap slide.