The Tibetan community in exile is mourning the death of activist Lobga Rangzen, who died after setting himself on fire outside the United Nations headquarters in New York City on Thursday evening. Fellow Tibetans said his act was a protest against China's rule in Tibet and its latest assimilation policies.
According to reports, Lobga Rangzen carried the Tibetan national flag before setting himself ablaze outside the UN headquarters in Manhattan around 6 pm on July 2, calling for Tibet's independence. He later died from severe burn injuries.
Reacting to the incident, Sikyong Penpa Tsering, the democratically elected leader of the Tibetan government-in-exile, expressed sorrow and said Lobga's act was a reflection of the mounting frustration among Tibetans over China's continued repression in Tibet.
He said the incident came soon after China's Ethnic Unity and Progress Law came into force on July 1. The law was passed in March and has been strongly opposed by the Tibetan leadership in exile.
"The law has serious consequences for Tibetans. We reject it and demand its repeal. It also contains provisions that seek to criminalise those who criticise or oppose it, extending restrictions beyond China's borders," Tsering said.
The Sikyong said Lobga was originally from Kanze in eastern Tibet. He fled to India in the early 1990s before moving to the United States around 2005 or 2006. He said Lobga's actions reflected the growing anger and frustration among Tibetans over the situation in Tibet. At the same time, he urged Tibetans not to take such extreme steps, saying every life is valuable and that people can contribute more to the Tibetan cause by staying alive.
The Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) also paid tribute to Lobga Rangzen, describing him as a "martyr" for Tibet. The organisation said he showed unwavering courage until his final moments and hoped his sacrifice would draw global attention to the Tibetan cause.
According to the Central Tibetan Administration, Lobga Rangzen is the 158th known Tibetan to self-immolate in protest against Chinese rule.
Tibetan activist Tenzin Tsundue said the self-immolation sent a powerful message about Tibet's struggle for freedom. He claimed the protest was linked to China's implementation of the Ethnic Unity and Progress Law, which he described as an attempt to erase the identity, language and culture of Tibetans and other communities.
The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) also expressed condolences to Lobga's family and the Tibetan community. It said his death came a day after the new law took effect and described the legislation as another step in China's assimilation campaign in Tibet.
Meanwhile, members of various Tibetan organisations held a candlelight vigil at McLeodganj on Friday evening to pay tribute to Lobga Rangzen and express solidarity with his family.
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