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Monday, 20 July 2015

 

“Come together in the power of unity for Tibet”

 

Last testament of protester

Free Tibet has confirmed that Sonam Topgyal, a 27-year-old monk who staged a self-immolation protest on 9 July, died in hospital that evening.

In a letter discovered in his monastery cell written a week before his protest, he described his reasons for staging the protest and called for fellow Tibetans to take action.

Ultimo testamento di Sonam Topgyal
Free Tibet ha confermato che Sonam Topgyal, un monaco di 27 anni, ha inscenato una immolazione di protesta il 9 luglio, ed è morto la sera stessa in ospedale. In una lettera scoperta nella sua cella del monastero, scritta una settimana prima della sua protesta, ha descritto le sue ragioni per mettere in scena la protesta e ha chiesto ai compagni tibetani di agire.

His testament is below:

To the leaders of Chinese government and particularly the authorities of its regional government in ethnic minorities:

I am from Nangchen in Yushu of Qianghai, 27 years old and middle son of Nangchen Tashi family.

I am currently doing (my) studies in Dzongsar Monastery.

People inside and outside the country are aware of the fact that, without heeding to reason or legitimacy of the ethnic minorities, Chinese authorities repress them them with their violent and brutal law, by demolishing our religion, tradition and culture and causing environmental devastation.

Meanwhile, people absolutely have no freedom of expression nor can they convey their grievances.

While a number of people raise their righteous causes and make complaints, the authorities have not taken decisions in accordance with the demands and welfare of the people and they have been suppressed or arrested instead.

Moreover, monasteries and nunneries have been deceitfully controlled.

In totality, they [Chinese authorities] have been plotting to wipe away the ethnic minorities.

The central hope of our people is to reinstate His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the Potala palace.

Since we cannot convey our righteous cause and cannot raise the reasons,

I lay my evidence by sacrificing myself in front of the world, particularly the Chinese government and its people.

I humbly request my brethren, who belong to the same blood and are of one descent, not to remain inactive and come together in the power of unity to make a definite effort to achieve the victory of truth for future Tibet.

-Written by monk Sonam Topgyal on the 1st July, 2015.