Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, July 10: Three Tibetan youth activists from Students for a Free Tibet (SFT) themselves to the gates of the United Nations headquarters in New York City on Thursday, July 9, escalating pressure on international leaders to respond to the self-immolation of Tibetan independence activist Lobga Rangzen and the deteriorating human rights situation in Tibet.
The demonstration coincided with the first anniversary week of Tibetan activist Lobga Rangzen’s self-immolation, which took place outside the U.N. headquarters on July 2. The activists said their action was prompted by the United Nations’ continued silence, noting that a week had passed without any meaningful statement or response acknowledging his sacrifice or addressing ongoing concerns over human rights in Tibet.
The United Nations publicly addressed the incident for the first time during a press briefing on July 6, when U.N. spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric described Lobga Rangzen’s self-immolation outside the organization’s headquarters as “absolutely tragic.” Speaking on behalf of U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, Dujarric extended condolences to the Tibetan activists family.
However, the response was met with disappointment and criticism from many Tibetans, who argued that expressions of sympathy alone fall short of addressing the circumstances that led to the protest. They have called on the United Nations to move beyond condolences by publicly confronting the human rights situation in Tibet, urging U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk to speak out on Tibet, press for independent access to the region, and take concrete steps to hold China accountable for policies they say threaten Tibetan identity, language, religion, and culture.
Chanting slogans and displaying banners, the three activists specifically urged United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk to break his silence on Tibet and press for meaningful international action. A number of Tibetans also gathered near the U.N. headquarters in solidarity, according to visuals from the scene.
The activists- Tenzin Tseten, Tsela Zoksang, and Tenzin Kunchok were later detained by the New York City Police Department (NYPD) after blocking an entrance to the U.N. headquarters. They have since been released, reportedly facing several charges.
Speaking during the protest, Tsela Zoksang, Campaign director at SFT, said the demonstration was intended to draw international attention to what campaigners describe as the accelerating erosion of Tibetan identity under Chinese rule.
“Today we’re blockading the exit of the United Nations headquarters because just one week ago, Pawo Lobga Rangzen, a Tibetan independence activist and beloved member of our community, self-immolated right across the street,” Tsela said. “We’re taking action because Tibetan identity and Tibetan life are on the brink of extinction.”
She further stated that more than 170 Tibetans have self-immolated over the past several years in protest against Chinese policies in Tibet, describing the acts as expressions of desperation under what she called decades of political repression.
The activists also highlighted China’s Ethnic Unity and Progress Law, which came into effect on July 1, one day before Lobga Rangzen’s self-immolation. They argued that the legislation formalizes and expands assimilation policies already being implemented in Tibet.
According to the protesters, the law reinforces measures including the placement of large numbers of Tibetan children in state-run boarding schools where Mandarin is the primary language of instruction, as well as policies affecting Tibetan nomadic communities. They contend that these measures threaten the survival of the Tibetan language, culture and identity.
Calling on the United Nations to take concrete action, the demonstrators urged the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to publicly address the situation in Tibet and press for unfettered access for independent investigators to assess conditions inside the region.
SFT stated that the activists remain steadfast in their conviction and continue to demand justice for Pawo (martyr) Lobga Rangzen and justice for Tibet.
