Portrait of Lobsang Kelsang
Photo: International Campaign for Tibet · Used with permission arranged by V-TAG, 2026-10-15
Record
SI-006
Date
Place
Ngaba (Ch: Aba) county town
Region
Amdo
Age
Believed to be 18
Affiliation
Kirti Monastery (monk)
Outcome
Survived Survived and was imprisoned. RFA, cited by ICT and Phayul, reported his release from Deyang prison on 29 July 2017; CTA lists: legs amputated, released on 28 February 2019.

What happened

According to ICT, Lobsang Kelsang and fellow Kirti monk Lobsang Kunchok, both believed to be about 18, set fire to themselves together in Ngaba county town on 26 September 2011 while calling for the long life of the Dalai Lama. Chinese security forces put out the flames and took both young monks into custody.

Reported words

Long live His Holiness the Dalai Lama

ICT fact sheet

Aftermath

Taken into custody by Chinese security forces (ICT) and held in Deyang prison for about five years (RFA via ICT).

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

Sources & References

Primary records

News reports and other sources