Tibetan nun self-immolates in China – rights groups

A Buddhist nun has died after setting herself on fire in southwest China, becoming the first woman and the ninth Tibetan in the area to self-immolate to protest perceived repression, rights groups said.

Tenzin Wangmo called for religious freedom as she set herself on fire in Sichuan province’s Aba town on Monday, according to the London-based Free Tibet, which has reported an escalation in such protests in recent months.

Eight Tibetan monks have set themselves alight in Aba since the self-immolation of a young monk at a Buddhist monastery in the town in March sparked major protests that led to a government clampdown.

Some local residents contacted by AFP said they had heard about the death of the 20-year-old nun, but many refused to speak, saying they feared reprisals, and local officials said they had no knowledge of the incident.

Free Tibet said the nun’s death came a day after security forces shot and wounded two Tibetans during a weekend protest in another part of Sichuan, which is home to a large population of ethnic Tibetans.

“The acts of self-immolation are not taking place in isolation, protests have been reported in the surrounding region and calls for wider protests are growing,” the organisation said in a statement.