Portrait of Lobsang Kunchok
Photo: International Campaign for Tibet · Used with permission arranged by V-TAG, 2026-10-15
Record
SI-007
Date
Place
Ngaba (Ch: Aba) county town
Region
Amdo
Age
Believed to be 18 (unconfirmed)
Affiliation
Kirti Monastery (monk)
Outcome
Survived Survived and was imprisoned; released from Deyang Prison on 28 March 2017 with lasting injuries (ICT, citing exile Tibetan sources; CTA gives the same date).

What happened

According to ICT, Lobsang Kunchok and fellow Kirti monk Lobsang Kelsang, 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

According to ICT and CTA, since his release he has been kept under strict surveillance at his home in Meruma (Ngaba county).

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

Sources & References

Primary records