Age: 28
Sex: Male
Profession: Monk with Kirti Monastery Date of Self-immolation: 16 March 2013, 2:40 pm (local time)
Location: Kirti Monastery, Ngaba, Amdo, Northeastern Tibet
Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Deceased
Slogans: Not reported

On 16 March 2013, fifth anniversary of the protest in Ngaba in 2008 during which PLA (People’s Liberation Army) armed police fired into an unarmed crowd, monk Lobsang Thokmey set himself on fire. Lobsang was the third Kirti Monastery monk to self-immolate on the anniversary of this 2008 slaughter of unarmed Tibetans.

According to the Dharamshala-based Kirti Monastery, Lobsang Thokmey doused his body with kerosene in front of his monastic quarters to the west of Kirti Monastery and started running towards the east; he fell to the ground before reaching the monastery gate. By that time, a mass of monks and laypeople reached the spot and rushed Lobsang to the county hospital where he shortly passed away.

An eyewitness states that Lobsang was carrying the Buddhist religious flag but could not confirm if he shouted slogans during his protest. A large contingent of armed police and the military arrived at the hospital and forcibly took possession of Lobsang Thokmey’s remains, which they transported to the Prefecture Headquarters at Barkham.

Lobsang Thokmey is survived by his parents, Rogtrug and Depo, and a sister and three brothers.