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Four Tibetans set themselves on fire | Four Tibetans set themselves on fire |
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At least four people set themselves on fire in ethnic Tibetan parts of China on Wednesday, a rights group and media reports say. | At least four people set themselves on fire in ethnic Tibetan parts of China on Wednesday, a rights group and media reports say. |
Three teenage monks set themselves alight in Aba county in Sichuan province, where many self-immolations have taken place in recent months. | Three teenage monks set themselves alight in Aba county in Sichuan province, where many self-immolations have taken place in recent months. |
One of the boys died and the other two were taken to hospital. | One of the boys died and the other two were taken to hospital. |
Later the same day a 23-year-old woman died after setting herself on fire in Qinghai province. | Later the same day a 23-year-old woman died after setting herself on fire in Qinghai province. |
More than 60 Tibetans have set themselves on fire since early 2011, in what rights group say are acts of protest against Beijing's rule. | More than 60 Tibetans have set themselves on fire since early 2011, in what rights group say are acts of protest against Beijing's rule. |
Beijing says Tibetans have religious freedom and accuses Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, of inciting the incidents - claims he rejects. | Beijing says Tibetans have religious freedom and accuses Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, of inciting the incidents - claims he rejects. |
The incidents took place the day before China's Communist Party opened a congress in Beijing that will begin the process of transferring power to a new generation of leaders. | The incidents took place the day before China's Communist Party opened a congress in Beijing that will begin the process of transferring power to a new generation of leaders. |
UN call | UN call |
Dicki Chhoyang, a spokesperson for the Tibetan government in exile in India, told Agence-France Presse news agency that their sources were able to confirm the four cases, calling them a "cry for help". | |
The London-based Free Tibet group said that the three boys set themselves on fire outside their local police station. | The London-based Free Tibet group said that the three boys set themselves on fire outside their local police station. |
It said it was the first documented case of a triple self-immolation. | It said it was the first documented case of a triple self-immolation. |
The youngest, aged 15, died at the scene. The whereabouts of his two 16-year-old companions are unknown, a group spokesman said. | The youngest, aged 15, died at the scene. The whereabouts of his two 16-year-old companions are unknown, a group spokesman said. |
The woman was identified by Voice of America as 23-year-old Tamding Tso. She had a five-year-old son, reports said. | The woman was identified by Voice of America as 23-year-old Tamding Tso. She had a five-year-old son, reports said. |
Radio Free Asia also reported a fifth self-immolation inside Tibet, citing an exiled monk who had spoken to people in the region, however this could not be confirmed. | Radio Free Asia also reported a fifth self-immolation inside Tibet, citing an exiled monk who had spoken to people in the region, however this could not be confirmed. |
Foreign media are banned from the region, making verifying the self-immolation cases difficult. Chinese state media have confirmed some but not all. | Foreign media are banned from the region, making verifying the self-immolation cases difficult. Chinese state media have confirmed some but not all. |
More than half of those who set themselves on fire are believed to have died. | More than half of those who set themselves on fire are believed to have died. |
Last week UN rights chief Navi Pillay called on China to address issues behind the series of self-immolations and to allow monitors and the media access to the region. | Last week UN rights chief Navi Pillay called on China to address issues behind the series of self-immolations and to allow monitors and the media access to the region. |