Portrait of Tenzin Gyatso
Photo: International Campaign for Tibet · Used with permission arranged by V-TAG, 2026-10-15
Record
SI-147
Date
Place
Outside a government building, Tawu (Ch: Daofu) County (the CTA gives Khangsar township)
Region
Kham
Age
Early thirties (unconfirmed)
Outcome
Outcome unknown ICT: taken away by Chinese armed police; not known if alive. CTA lists: Died on 20/05/2015. (unconfirmed)

What happened

According to ICT, citing Tibetan sources, Tenzin Gyatso, a father of four, set fire to himself outside a government building used for political education in Tawu (Ch: Daofu), apparently in response to tightened security ahead of the Dalai Lama's 80th birthday. He was the fourth Tibetan to carry out a self-immolation protest in 2015, ICT said.

Aftermath

Taken away by Chinese armed police (ICT).

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

Sources & References

Primary records