Press Release
8 December 2012
The Central Tibetan Administration in Dharamsala today reiterated its deep concern and sadness over the worsening situation in Tibet, as two more Tibetans self-immolated in protest against the Chinese government’s rule on Saturday.
Kunchok Phelgye, 24, a monk of Dringwa Sumdo monastery at Dzoege, set himself on fire at Taktsang Lhamo Kirti monastery in Ngaba on Saturday evening.
With folded hands, he called for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Kirti Rinpoche to Tibet, and the reunion of Tibetans in Tibet. He died on the spot. Monks took his body to the monastery where a special prayer service is being held.
In another incident, Pema Dorjee, 23, died after setting fire to himself on fire outside Shitsang monastery in Luchu in Kanlho in eastern Tibet.
He raised slogans calling for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, independence of Tibet and unity of Tibetans.
The Chinese authorities have reinforced clamp down on the monasteries and surrounding villages following the incident.
“We call on the international community to stand in solidarity with Tibet campaign on human rights day on 10 December to press the Chinese government to address the long-standing grievances of Tibetans in Tibet,” said Ms Dicki Chhoyang, Kalon for the Department of Information & International Relations.
Despite repeated appeals by the Central Tibetan Administration to refrain from taking drastic actions, over 94 Tibetans have self-immolated inside Tibet since 2009, including 81 in 2012 and 29 this November alone.
Media contact: Lobsang Choedak, Press Officer, +91 98822 32476
In three separate cases in Tibet, three people have died in the past two days after they set themselves on fire in protest of Chinese occupation of Tibet. 

Yesterday, Pema Dorje, 23, and Kunchok Phelgye, 24, died after they set themselves on fire in front of monasteries in northeastern and eastern Tibet. Then today, Bhenchen Kyi, 17, died after she set herself on fire in the Tsekhog,  region.

The deaths are described as s, where a person or persons set themselves on fire as a form of protest, often resulting in death. The first Tibetan reported case happened in 2009 when a monk named '' set himself on fire in . He survived the incident. Since then, reportedly at least 95 people have attempted self-immolation, 28 of those in November of this year.

Authorities say the self-immolations may be incited and as a result, have arrested two men believed to be connected to the cases. Today, Chinese authorities announced the arrests of Lorang Konchok, 40, and his nephew Lorang Tsering, 31, who were arrested in August. Konchok is a  working at a monastery in . In a confession Konchol claims he was working on orders from the  and his followers. He also says he recruited Tsering to help instigate the incidents, telling potential individuals they would be "heroes" if they went through with the immolation. Authorities say the two men were attempting to persuade more people to go through with the immolations, but those people backed out after police, family members, and government officials intervened.

Lobsang Choedak, a spokesperson for the Tibetan government in exile in , denies the allegations against Konchok and Tsering saying, "We believe the suspects have been forced to make these confessions. We would welcome the Chinese government investigating whether we are instigating these immolations."