Norbu Damdrul is from Cheji township, Ngaba county, Ngaba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan province, the Tibetan area of Amdo. His protest is the eighth self-immolation protest in Ngaba since 2009, seven of which have occurred since March 16, 2011. Norbu Damdrul is a former monk at Kirti monastery and has lived with his parents since June, 2010, according to the same Tibetan exiled sources. It is not known whether Norbu Damdrul chose to disrobe, or was expelled from the monastery by government authorities.

Self-Immolation as the last resort option

Norbu Damdrul is the eight Tibetan monk or former Tibetan monk to self-immolate since a young Kirti monk named Tapey set fire to himself on February 27, 2009 after monks at the monastery were told by the local authorities that they were not allowed to observe Monlam, a traditional prayer festival that is held after Tibetan New Year (Losar). Tapey was shot by security personnel before they put out the flames, according to ICT report: Monk in Tibet sets himself on fire; shot by police during protest. Eight of the self-immolations have taken place in Ngaba, while one, by a Nyitso monastery monk named Tsewang Norbu, took place in neighboring Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan province. 

Of the nine self-immolation protests, four are known to have died. Most recently, two former monks died following their self-immolation protest on October 7, 2011. Choephel, age 19, and Kayang, age 18, clasped their hands together and set fire to themselves along the main street in Ngaba county town, according to exile Tibetan sources in contact with Tibetans in the area. According to at least one source, both may have been expelled from Kirti during the current crackdown: Two Tibetan teenagers set fire to themselves in latest protest in Ngaba; ICT calls for urgent actions by governments, 7 October 2011 and Kirti Rinpoche speaks of self-immolations; death of two former Tibetan monks after immolation. 

There are unconfirmed reports that Kesang Wangchuk, who is in hospital after committing self-immolation protest on October 3, has been subjected to interrogation and torture according to ICT report. 

Chinese “iron fist” policy over Ngaba

The Ngaba area has been under military lockdown since major protests were held in the area following the spread of protests across the Tibetan plateau beginning in March, 2008. Earlier this year on March 16, a 20-year old monk named Phuntsog died after setting fire to himself in a protest held on the 3rd anniversary of a protest at Kirti in 2008 during which at least 10 Tibetans were shot dead. A stepped-up crackdown by authorities in the area ensued, in which hundreds of Kirti monks were detained, many were expelled, and several received prison sentences varying from 10 to 13 years. There is a deepening climate of fear in the Tibetan area of Ngaba, Sichuan, as a result of a worsening crackdown by the authorities following the self-immolation and death of a young monk called Phuntsog from Kirti monastery on March 16. The authorities have now imposed a lockdown on the monastery, with a new barbed wire fence and wall being built around the back of the monastic complex, and armed troops within the compound preventing monks from leaving and food from being delivered. All movement of monks is restricted and monks are even being prevented from burning incense for religious rituals. There have been several more disappearances of Tibetans from the monastery and lay community in the area, including the younger brother and uncle of the monk who set fire to himself, and a rigorous ‘patriotic education’ campaign is being enforced, creating further resentment and despair.

Related stories

TIbetan blogger awarded a Prince Claus award
300 Tibetan monks detained in Kirki monastery