New Video Footage of Latest Self-Immolation Incident
On June 20, 2012, two
Tibetan men self-immolated in Tridu, Yushul: Ngawang Norphel (age 22) and Tenzin
Kedhup (age 24). The latter succumbed to his injuries on the same day.
The former, Ngawang Norphel, survived and was taken
to a nearby monastery. The following graphic video footage of seriously
burned Ngawang Norphel was recently obtained by the Central Tibetan
Administration, based in India. Despite his heavy injuries, he articulates the
reasons for their self-immolation: the survival of Tibetan culture,
language, and identity.
The English translation of
what is being said is as follows:
The following text is
the transcript of an exchange between Ngawang Norphel (attempted to
self-immolate on 20 June 2012) and the monk by his side. The person he refers
to as ‘Khedup’ and ‘Tenzin Khedup’ is the other man who self-immolated with him
and died on 20 June 2012.
(0:00-0:09)
Ngawang Norphel (N.N): My people have no freedom of language. Everybody is
mixing Tibetan and Chinese.
(0:11) Be that as
it may
(0:16) take my
wealth
(0:21) I don’t need
them
(0:24) What has
happened to my Land of Snow?
(0:30) What has
happened to my Land of Snow?
(0:55) N.N:
How is Tenzin Khedup?
(0:59) Monk by
his side: He is fine
(01:02) Monk:
He is home
(01:07-01:12) We
two “sworn brothers”, we won’t fail next time
(01:12-01:20) [This
is] for the sake of Tibet. We are in the land of snow
(01:26-01:35) if we
don’t have our freedom, cultural traditions and language, it would be extremely
embarrassing for us
(01:37) We must
therefore learn them
(01:42-01:54) Every
nationality needs freedom, language and tradition
(01:55-01:59)
Without language, what would be our nationality?
(02:01) [Should we
then] call ourselves Chinese or Tibetan?
(02:16) N.N:
Aro Khedup! Aro Khedup! Khedup!
(02:26) Where are
you?
(02:32) Voice
from back: Just behind you
(02:33) N.N: What?
(02:3) Voice:
Just behind you
(02:38) N.N:
Are you behind me?
(02:40-02:43) What
are you doing? Aro! How is my face?
(02:45-02:47) Voice:
Not bad. It will get better
(02:48) N.N: I
don’t look like a human? Aro!
(02:51) N.N:
I look dreadful, don’t I?
(02:56) N.N:
I smell kerosene. We poured quite a lot of kerosene.
(03:02-03:08) N.N:
Really, the way you fell down and rose up again, you really showed some
courage. Aro!
Voice: Right
(03:29) N.N:
Aro! Now you hold it.
(03:39) Monk:
It is better now. It really is!
(03:41-03:44) N.N:
Did you hand me over to the Chinese?
(03:45-03:47) Monk:
All the monks of monastery are taking care of you.
(03:47-03:51) N.N:
Thank you. Thank you. I am grateful to Silkar monastery.
(03:52-03:59) Monk:
All the monks of Silkar monastery are here. We don’t have good medical
facilities but we are doing our best.
(03:59) N.N:
Thank you
(04:02-04:15) N.N:
There is no hope of my recovery. I have only one wish in my heart. I just wish
to raise the prestige of my people. Aro!
(04:17) I have no
other wish.
(04:29-04:32)
N.N: What is Tenzin Khedup doing?
(04:32-04:36) Monk:
Tenzin Khedup is fine. He is home.
(04:37) N.N:
Swear
(04:38) Monk:
Yes. Then.
(04:40) N.N:
You are fooling me
(04:43) Monk:
I am not fooling you.
(04:51) N.N:
Is he dead?
(04:53) Monk:
He is not dead
(04:54) N.N:
What?
(04:55) Monk: He is
not dead
(04:57) N.N:
He is dead, right?
(04:58) Monk:
He is not dead
(05:11-05:13) N.N:
Where is he?
(05:54) N.N:
What has become of my “sworn friend”?
(05:56)Monk: He is
fine.
(05:58) N.N:
Where is he?
(06:00) Monk:
At home.
(06:01)N.N: Where
is he?
(06:03) Monk:
He was taken to his home.
(06:04)N.N: What?
(06:05) Monk:
He was taken to his home.
(06:06) N.N:
Where is he?
(06:08) Monk:
He is at his home
(06:13) N.N:
Is he dead?
(06:15)Monk: He is
not dead
(06:16)N.N: Swear
(06:18) Monk:
Okay
The video footage can be
viewed by clicking here
According to the latest
update, Ngawang Norphel has since been admitted into a military hospital in
Xining, the provincial capital of Qinghai Province. The two monks who were sent
from Silkar Monastery to help him have been forbidden entry into the hospital.
They are now said to be at the hospital gate where soldiers stand guard. Tridu,
the place where the self-immolations took place is reported to be under heavy
military surveillance and presence. Friends and relatives of the two
self-immolators are said to be taken into police custody for interrogation.
Monks from Silkar monastery, where Ngawang Norphel was tended to immediately
after the self-immolations are also reported to be under heavy police
surveillance and their movements restricted.
Media contacts:
Tashi, Secretary for
Information
+91 9816843798
Lobsang Choedak, Press
Officer
+91 98822 32476
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