CHAN:
A Tibetan Lama protesting against the Chinese communist authority’s ban on Tibetan New Year prayers, was gunned down by Chinese police last week. We have interviews with Tibetans who saw it happen.

STORY:
What began as a warning not to pray ends in shocking gunfire. On the Tibetan New Year, February 25th, a Lama named Zhabai wanting to spend a moment to pray for the lives lost during last year's Lhasa protests. But he was turned away and threatened with punishment from Chinese authorities.

After the temple management council rejected his request, the monk took to the streets to protest and put his robes on fire.

[Gaisang Gyaincain, Witness]:
“The Lama Zhabai was just standing in front of the police station burning his robes. Meanwhile he was holding the Tibetan flag with a photo of the Dalai Lama, shouting things and running with his body on fire. ”

Some witnesses say the police fired three shots at Zhaibai’s feet and waist, before pulling him to the ground and pushing him into a police car.

A monk called Chiren says the behavior the police showed was incomprehensible.

[Chiren, Monk]:
“The guy was protesting through self-immolation; he burned his body to protest. In this situation the local policemen even dared to open fire, so we can see how bad the situation is in that area. ”

No one knows where the monk is or if he is even alive.