Tibetan man self-immolates outside the UN, protesting the repressive policies of China & Xi Jinping
In a tragic incident, which reflects the authoritarian iron fist of the Communist Party of China(CPC) on the autonomous himalayan territory of Tibet, a Tibetan man has self-immolated(set himself on fire) outside the United Nations(UN) in New York. This reflects the protest of the man against the repressive policies of China and a demand for independence from Beijing.
The man set himself on fire, just days after Communist Party of China(CPC) unleashed the new Ethnic Unity Law. This law calls for a single national identity across the 55 recognised ethnic groups of China. As per the law, the ethnic identities such as Tibetans, Uyghurs, Mongolians and other minorities are not recognised, instead reiterates and imposes, single Chinese identity for the entire population across the second most populous country. The man thus self immolated against such restrictive policies of China. His death outside the UN echoed the draconian rule of Beijing and lack of accommodative approach towards diverse ethnic groups.
New York police said that the man died as he was suffering from severe burns as he set himself on fire near the United Nations headquarters. Activists and a media outlet identified him as a Tibetan who set himself on fire in an appeal for independence. He was immediately shifted to the hospital, but couldn’t survive. The New York City police department spokesperson said that the man was badly burnt and was shifted to hospital after responding to an emergency call around 6.30PM(Local Time) .
Voice of Tibet, a media outlet of exiled Tibetans, said that the man was a Tibetan activist Lobga Rangzen who self-immolated outside the UN headquarters in New York after a live appeal for Tibetan independence and unity. As per the sources, he was an Uber driver and went to near the United Nations headquarters with a Tibetan flag. Fellow Tibetans also said that Lobga Rangzen was enraged by the restrictions imposed by the Chinese government on Tibet.
Responding to the self-immolation of the Tibetan man Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director Sarah Brooks said, “Self-immolation as a protest by Tibetans has persisted for many years and it does not happen in a vacuum. It reflects the depth of desperation felt by the people who see no other way to draw attention to ongoing human rights violations. This death comes just a day after China’s Ethnic Unity Law entered into force, a law that brazenly pushes non-Han ethnic groups including Tibetans, Uyghurs and Mongolians toward a single, state-defined national identity rather than protecting their distinct cultures and languages”.
The latest ethnic unity law also gives Beijing a legal basis to take action against the people who live outside the borders, if they violate Chinese rules and adds more leverage for surveillance. This tragic incident, once again resurfaced the issue of the iron fist of China in Tibet and the authoritarian erosion of the indigenous ethnic identity. China annexed Tibet and seized control of the Himalayan territory in 1950. Since then, there is imposition of Chinese rules, laws and principles that are causing severe strain to the ethnic and cultural fabric of the Tibetan community.
There are repeated protests held across the world, a series of self-immolations to grab global attention towards the repressive actions of Beijing in Tibet and human rights violations. According to The International campaign for Tibet there have been more than 150 cases of self immolation by the Tibetan men between 2009 and 2022, as a symbol of protest against Beijing and demanding independence. The self-immolation incidents have also occurred when President Xi Jinping tried to visit Tibet. Tibetans have also set themselves on fire when President Xi marked high-profile visits to the US & other countries, as a symbol of refuting CPC & President Xi’s rule in Tibet.
