Tibetan monk Sets Fire to Himself in Protest Against Chinese Suppression

In a protest emulating that of Thích Quảng Ðức, the Vietnamese Buddhist monk, who in 1963 burned himself to death in protest against the persecution of Buddhists by South Vietnam's Ngô Đình Diệm's Catholic administration, a Tibetan monk set fire to himself in the Tibetan-populated town of Aba in southwest China's Sichuan province. The monk, named Tapey, is said to have shouted slogans and waved a Tibetan flag, then doused himself in petrol and ignited it. Campaign groups said witnesses then saw Chinese police shoot the man. Read more HERE.

Over 300 Buddhist monks are praying for world peace over the next four days in India, Nepal, and Tibet. This prayer event follows recent protests in Tibet and a vigil held for the anniversary of a Chinese military crackdown in Tibet in March last year.

The prayer event coincides with the traditional Monlam or "Great Prayer" Festival, currently banned by the Chinese government in Tibet. Travel to Tibet has been limited since March of last year and was recently sealed off completely due to the upcoming 50th anniversary of China's occupation of Tibet. Read more HERE.