Tibetan self-immolations: 2 herdsmen die after setting fire to themselves
Tibetan Buddhist monks leave a ceremony at the historic Labrang Monastery, which is second only to the Potala Palace in Lhasa in size, in the town of Xiahe, Gansu Province on March 14, 2008.
Another two ethnic Tibetans have self-immolated in China, as the wave of grisly protests against Beijing’s hardline rule in heavily Tibetan regions of the country continues.
Earlier today, a herder identified as Tsering Dongdri died after setting fire to himself in the northwestern province of Gansu, the Associated Press reported, citing the official Chinese news agency Xinhua.
His death came a day after a 25-year-old herdsman locked himself in the dwelling of his brother, a Tibetan monk, before setting fire to himself in neighboring Qinghai province, IANS reported.
The AP said the latest burnings bring to at least 77 the number of Tibetans who have set fire to themselves since 2009.
Many Tibetans accuse the Chinese government of cultural and religious repression, while Beijing claims people in Tibetan-inhabited areas enjoy religious freedom and a better standard of living thanks to investment in economic development.
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