Group: The 100th Tibetan self-immolates in China

Nepalese policemen rush as a Tibetan monk burns after he set himself on fire in Katmandu, Nepal, Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2013. The Tibetan monk doused himself with gasoline and set himself on fire in Nepal’s capital Wednesday in what is believed to be the latest self-immolation to protest Chinese rule in Tibet. Nearly 100 Tibetan monks, nuns and lay people have set themselves on fire in various countries, mostly in ethnic Tibetan areas inside China, since 2009. AP

BEIJING — An overseas Tibetan rights group says an ex-monk has set himself on fire, becoming the 100th Tibetan to self-immolate in China since 2009 in protest of the Chinese rule.

A few Tibetans outside China also have burned themselves, most recently in Nepal on Wednesday. The protesters have called for the return of their spiritual leader Dalai Lama and more freedom for Tibetans.

London-based Free Tibet said Thursday that 37-year-old Lobsang Namgyal died Feb. 3 in front of a public security bureau in Aba prefecture in southwestern China’s Sichuan province.

The self-claimed, Tibetan government-in-exile has confirmed the report. The exile government has repeatedly urged Tibetans not to self-immolate.

Beijing has accused the Dalai Lama of inciting the self-burning acts.