The Chinese government sentenced Lobsang Kunchok and Lobsang Kalsang, Two monks of Kirti monastery in Ngaba county who self-immolated for the cause of Tibet in 2011. After serving seven years in prison, Lobsang Kalsang was released on 28 March 2017 and Lobsang Kunch released from Mianyang prison on 30 July of that year. But after their release, their health condition remained unknown.
On 26 September 2011, around 10am local time, Lobsang Kalsang and Lobsang Kunchok from Kirti monastery set themselves on fire on the road of Ngaba township and called for ‘religious freedom in Tibet’ and ‘long live His holiness the Dalai Lama.’ Shortly after setting them on fire, the Chinese police and soldiers arrived, extinguished the fire and took them away.
Later, the Chinese government reported that medical professionals amputated Monk Lobsang Kunchok’s legs in order to save his life. He was left in such severe condition that he had to eat through tube feeding. According to reliable information received by Tibet Times, this was unnecessary and another human rights violation towards Tibetans.Like other Tibetan political prisoners, their detailed condition in prison and after their release is yet difficult to know, since they are placed under heavy restrictions.
Since Tapey, a monk of Ngaba Kirti monastery self-immolated on ‘Martyr’s Road’ of Ngaba on 27 February 2009, until now, 157 Tibetans have self-immolated to protest against Chinese rule in Tibet. Among them, 17 Tibetans were taken away by the Chinese police and yet, conditions whether they are alive or dead remain unknown.
