Portrait of Kelsang Wangchuk
Photo: International Campaign for Tibet · Used with permission arranged by V-TAG, 2026-10-15
Record
SI-008
Date
Place
Main street, Ngaba (Ch: Aba) county town
Region
Amdo
Age
17
Affiliation
Kirti Monastery (monk)
Outcome
Survived ICT: held in a county hospital ward under strict surveillance, with a head injury from police beatings. CTA lists: released; permanently paralysed after a spinal injury.

What happened

According to ICT, citing Tibetans in exile in contact with the area, 17-year-old Kirti monk Kelsang Wangchuk set fire to himself on the main street of Ngaba county town on 3 October 2011, carrying a photograph of the Dalai Lama and shouting slogans against the Chinese government. Exile sources said Chinese security forces surrounded him, put out the flames and beat him before taking him away.

Aftermath

ICT reported that additional security forces were deployed in Ngaba county town and at Kirti Monastery after his protest.

Sources & References

Primary records