Portrait of Lobsang Gyatso
Photo: International Campaign for Tibet · Used with permission arranged by V-TAG, 2026-10-15
Record
SI-025
Date
Place
Top of the main street, Ngaba (Ch: Aba) county town
Region
Amdo
Age
19
Affiliation
Kirti Monastery (monk)
Outcome
Survived Survived and was held for five years and three months; released on 10 May 2017 (ICT, citing exile sources). CTA lists: released around 2018; suffers from a mental disorder.

What happened

According to ICT, 19-year-old Kirti monk Lobsang Gyatso set fire to himself at the top of the main street of Ngaba town at about 2.30 pm on 13 February 2012, shouting slogans against the Chinese government. Chinese armed and special police put out the flames and took him away.

Aftermath

According to ICT, Chinese security forces beat him as they took him away, and exile sources said he was subjected to torture during his detention.

Labelled unconfirmed: outcome note. The sources differ or do not confirm these details; both versions are kept in the record.

Sources & References

Primary records