Tibetan Monks Sentenced in Self Immolation Case

A court in Sichuan province sentenced three Tibetan monks to long jail terms for involvement in a self-immolation protest of a fellow monk.

On March 16, a 16-year-old monk from the Kirti monastery, Rigzin Phuntsog lit himself on fire, allegedly to protest Chinese security forces’ brutal treatment of Tibetan monks.

On Monday, Tibetan monk Lobsang Tsundue was sentenced to 11 years in jail - accused of “intentional homicide.” On Tuesday, Tenchum was sentenced to ten and Tsering Tenzin to 13 years in jail - both were accused of “plotting, instigating and assisting” the self-immolation of a fellow monk.

But according to Tibetan news website Phayul.com, eyewitness to the immolation saw Chinese security forces beating the monk to death, immediately after dousing the flames. One of the convicted monks, Lobsang Tsundue was seen trying to save Phuntsog from police brutality, Phayul reports.

The sentences have caused international concern over lack of transparency in the court’s ruling.