Portrait of Kunchok Sonam
Photo: International Campaign for Tibet · Used with permission arranged by V-TAG, 2026-10-15
Record
SI-127
Date
Place
Outside Soktsang (Tashi Thekchokling) Monastery, Thangkor (Ch: Tangke) town, Dzoege (Ch: Ruo’ergai) County
Region
Amdo
Age
18
Affiliation
Soktsang (Tashi Thekchokling) Monastery (monk)
Outcome
Died

What happened

According to ICT, Kunchok Sonam, an 18-year-old monk regarded as an exceptional student, set fire to himself and died outside his monastery in Thangkor, Dzoege, on 20 July 2013. He had told friends that life under Chinese rule in Tibet had brought too much suffering.

Aftermath

ICT reported a heavy troop presence in Thangkor town and at the monastery afterwards, and, according to one Tibetan source, the detention of another monk, Tangdzin. Radio Free Asia reported that hundreds of Tibetans gathered at the monastery in support of monks who prevented the Chinese authorities from taking his body.

Sources & References

Primary records