Tenzin Phuntsog | Tibetan Self-Immolation Memorial

Portrait of Tenzin Phuntsog — Photo: International Campaign for Tibet · Used with permission arranged by V-TAG, 2026-10-15

Record: SI-017
Date: 1 December 2011
Place: Khamar township near Karma Monastery, Chamdo (Ch: Changdu), the so-called Tibet Autonomous Region
Region: Kham
Age: Forties
Affiliation: Former monk of Karma Monastery
Outcome: Died Died at Chamdo hospital on 6 December 2011 (TCHRD via ICT; CTA: died 06/12/2011).
Other spellings: Tenzin Phuntsok

What happened

According to ICT, Tenzin Phuntsog, a former monk of Karma Monastery in his forties, set fire to himself in Chamdo on 1 December 2011, the first self-immolation protest in the so-called Tibet Autonomous Region. Radio Free Asia reported that the protest took place in Khamar township.

Sources & References

Primary records

Self-immolation fact sheet International Campaign for Tibet · 2026-07-03
Fact Sheet on Tibetan Self-Immolation Protests in Tibet Since February 2009 Central Tibetan Administration · 2022-03-14

Human rights organisations

Tibetan dies after self-immolation in TAR Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy · 2011-12-09

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