Lobsang Thokmey
A man and woman are dead after self-immolating in separate protests in the Ngaba region of eastern Tibet.
Lobsang Thokmey, 28, set himself on fire Saturday afternoon inside his room at Kirti Monastery. Carrying prayer flags, he rushed outside toward the monastery before collapsing. He was taken to a local hospital, where he died. Phayul reports that his body was later taken away by Chinese police. Thokmey leaves behind his parents and four siblings.
Meanwhile, reports are emerging that a woman self-immolated in the Dzoege region of Ngaba last Wednesday. Kunchok Wangmo, who was in her thirties, died from her burns at the scene and was cremated by Chinese authorities. Her husband, Dolma Kyab, was arrested after he refused to give police a statement that his wife had immolated because of a family feud. His location and condition are unknown.
Though counts vary among sources, at least 109 Tibetans have self-immolated since 2009.
