Tibetan monks shy away from self-immolation as families threatened by Chinese police
There are 143 known cases of Tibetans setting themselves on fire to oppose Beijing’s policies in Sichuan region, but burnings have slowed as result of government intimidation, say monks
Adrak's last words before Chinese police dragged him away were “May the Dalai Lama live 10,000 years”.
The 20-year-old Tibetan monk was carrying the spiritual leader’s portrait as he walked down the main street outside his monastery, also calling for freedom for Tibet.
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The picture fell to the ground as police set upon him and when several onlookers joined his calls, they were beaten and taken away, too, according to witnesses and former monks currently in exile.
There is so much pressure living here, no one can breathe. I feel as if I have died and was reincarnated in hell
However, the protest in September did not play out like so many previous ones – Adrak did not self-immolate, or even try to, as monks in the pasts have often done.
The burnings have slowed to a trickle, replaced by less incendiary solo demonstrations after what monks say is a campaign of intimidation by the government, mainly targeting family members and friends of those who killed themselves.
Nothing has been heard of Adrak or three fellow monks since they mounted four such actions in as many days.
Their Kirti monastery in Aba has been at the centre of the 143 known cases of Tibetans setting themselves on fire, most of them dying, to oppose China’s policies in the region and call for the return of the Dalai Lama, a Nobel Peace laureate.