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| Two Tibetans detained in China for 'inciting' self-immolations | Two Tibetans detained in China for 'inciting' self-immolations |
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| Two Tibetans have been detained in China for "inciting" self-immolations just days after authorities announced that anybody accused of abetting the fiery protests could be charged with homicide. | Two Tibetans have been detained in China for "inciting" self-immolations just days after authorities announced that anybody accused of abetting the fiery protests could be charged with homicide. |
| China's official Xinhua news agency said 40-year-old Lorang Konchok, a monk at Kirti monastery in Aba prefecture, Sichuan province, and his 31-year-old nephew, Lorang Tsering, had recruited eight people to self-immolate since 2009. Three died from their injuries. | China's official Xinhua news agency said 40-year-old Lorang Konchok, a monk at Kirti monastery in Aba prefecture, Sichuan province, and his 31-year-old nephew, Lorang Tsering, had recruited eight people to self-immolate since 2009. Three died from their injuries. |
| Citing a statement from the Aba police, it said there was "ample evidence" to implicate the "Dalai Lama clique" in directing the self-immolations, but did not specify how it had done so. | Citing a statement from the Aba police, it said there was "ample evidence" to implicate the "Dalai Lama clique" in directing the self-immolations, but did not specify how it had done so. |
| More than 90 Tibetans have set themselves on fire since 2009 as a dramatic protest against Chinese rule, according to Tibetan rights groups; at least 77 of them have died. More than 80 self-immolations have been reported this year alone. | More than 90 Tibetans have set themselves on fire since 2009 as a dramatic protest against Chinese rule, according to Tibetan rights groups; at least 77 of them have died. More than 80 self-immolations have been reported this year alone. |
| Xinhua said Lorang had collected information on the participants after they agreed to self-immolate – including their pictures and family backgrounds – and told them they were "heroes" and their actions would be honoured abroad. Lorang promised to "pass the information on to India", it said. | Xinhua said Lorang had collected information on the participants after they agreed to self-immolate – including their pictures and family backgrounds – and told them they were "heroes" and their actions would be honoured abroad. Lorang promised to "pass the information on to India", it said. |
| The report said the two were detained in August after a string of self-immolations and police had completed their investigation. The Aba government and police could not be reached for comment. | The report said the two were detained in August after a string of self-immolations and police had completed their investigation. The Aba government and police could not be reached for comment. |
| Kirti monastery has been the site of almost a third of all Tibetan self-immolations since 2009. The self-immolations have been widespread in ethnically and culturally Tibetan parts of western China, suggesting they do not spring from a single centre of command. | Kirti monastery has been the site of almost a third of all Tibetan self-immolations since 2009. The self-immolations have been widespread in ethnically and culturally Tibetan parts of western China, suggesting they do not spring from a single centre of command. |
| A recent spike in Tibetan self-immolations coincided with last month's 18th Communist party congress, a once-in-a-decade leadership transition in Beijing. Twenty-nine cases of self-immolations were reported in November. | A recent spike in Tibetan self-immolations coincided with last month's 18th Communist party congress, a once-in-a-decade leadership transition in Beijing. Twenty-nine cases of self-immolations were reported in November. |
| The state-run Gannan Daily newspaper published a report in early December stating that anybody who "organises, plots, incites, coerces, entices, abets, or assists" in self-immolations would face criminal charges. The regulation, which indicates "intentional homicide" as a possible charge, was jointly drafted by China's supreme court, public security ministry and top prosecuting body, according to the newspaper. | The state-run Gannan Daily newspaper published a report in early December stating that anybody who "organises, plots, incites, coerces, entices, abets, or assists" in self-immolations would face criminal charges. The regulation, which indicates "intentional homicide" as a possible charge, was jointly drafted by China's supreme court, public security ministry and top prosecuting body, according to the newspaper. |
| Michael Davis, a professor at the University of Hong Kong, said the Chinese government might be using the case to shift responsibility for the self-immolations from itself to outside groups. | Michael Davis, a professor at the University of Hong Kong, said the Chinese government might be using the case to shift responsibility for the self-immolations from itself to outside groups. |
| He added that the authorities were unlikely to give the two accused Tibetans a transparent trial. "They could probably, if they want to, produce a result where they find that this guy is guilty of doing what they accuse him of, and that he was prompted by instructions from outside," Davis said. "There's no way anyone else would be in a position to contest it." | He added that the authorities were unlikely to give the two accused Tibetans a transparent trial. "They could probably, if they want to, produce a result where they find that this guy is guilty of doing what they accuse him of, and that he was prompted by instructions from outside," Davis said. "There's no way anyone else would be in a position to contest it." |
| Chinese authorities have punished Tibetans for abetting self-immolations in the past. | Chinese authorities have punished Tibetans for abetting self-immolations in the past. |
| In August 2011, a Chinese court sentenced three Tibetan monks to long prison terms for "plotting, instigating and assisting" the self-immolation of 16-year-old Rigzin Phuntsog. One was accused of preventing Phuntsog from receiving medical care for 11 hours after he set himself alight, leading to his death. | In August 2011, a Chinese court sentenced three Tibetan monks to long prison terms for "plotting, instigating and assisting" the self-immolation of 16-year-old Rigzin Phuntsog. One was accused of preventing Phuntsog from receiving medical care for 11 hours after he set himself alight, leading to his death. |
| People accused of assisting with suicides in China are typically charged with murder, yet often receive lenient sentences, said a Chinese university law professor who requested anonymity because of the topic's sensitivity. He added that sentencing in Lorang's case would probably be more severe because of political factors. "The criminal code has a very broad range for sentencing for convicted murderers," he said. | People accused of assisting with suicides in China are typically charged with murder, yet often receive lenient sentences, said a Chinese university law professor who requested anonymity because of the topic's sensitivity. He added that sentencing in Lorang's case would probably be more severe because of political factors. "The criminal code has a very broad range for sentencing for convicted murderers," he said. |
| Tempa Tsering, representative of the Dalai Lama in India, denied the world-famous spiritual leader was responsible and said the cause of the self-immolations was "the Chinese policy of repression, discussion and denial of fundamental human rights". | Tempa Tsering, representative of the Dalai Lama in India, denied the world-famous spiritual leader was responsible and said the cause of the self-immolations was "the Chinese policy of repression, discussion and denial of fundamental human rights". |
| "For years we have requested people to not take drastic steps. The Chinese government needs to allow independent journalists, NGOs and others to go into Tibet and investigate the causes. The solution to the self-immolations lies in Beijing," Tsering, who is based in Delhi, said. | "For years we have requested people to not take drastic steps. The Chinese government needs to allow independent journalists, NGOs and others to go into Tibet and investigate the causes. The solution to the self-immolations lies in Beijing," Tsering, who is based in Delhi, said. |
| Tenzin Jigdal, an activist in Dharamsala, where the Dalai Lama has been based for more than 50 years, said the "repression and heavy restraint" on "friends, families [of self-immolators] and entire communities" would lead to further deterioration of the situation. "These people are sending messages, highlighting the situation within Tibet and how serious it is. They are delivering that message through inflicting pain on their own bodies, not on the Chinese people," Jigdal told the Guardian. | Tenzin Jigdal, an activist in Dharamsala, where the Dalai Lama has been based for more than 50 years, said the "repression and heavy restraint" on "friends, families [of self-immolators] and entire communities" would lead to further deterioration of the situation. "These people are sending messages, highlighting the situation within Tibet and how serious it is. They are delivering that message through inflicting pain on their own bodies, not on the Chinese people," Jigdal told the Guardian. |
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