Man dies from burns near UN headquarters; activists say Tibetan self-immolated in protest
New York, July 2 (Reuters) – A man died from severe burns near the United Nations headquarters on Thursday evening, according to the New York City Police Department. Activists and an exiled Tibetan media outlet identified the man as Logba Rangzen, a Tibetan who they said set himself on fire to protest Chinese policies in Tibet.
Police responded to an emergency call at around 6:30 p.m. ET (2230 GMT) and found the man with critical burns. He was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The police did not release his name and said an investigation is ongoing.
Voice of Tibet, a media outlet run by exiled Tibetans, said Rangzen was a Tibetan activist who “self-immolated outside the UN headquarters in New York after a live appeal for Tibetan independence and unity.” According to local news website amNewYork, Rangzen was an Uber driver and had brought a Tibetan flag to the scene. Another Uber driver, Lobsang Paljor, told the website that Rangzen was angered by restrictions imposed by the Chinese government on Tibetans.
The incident comes as China’s new ethnic unity law came into effect this week. The law aims to promote a shared national identity among China’s 55 ethnic minority groups, including Tibetans and Uyghurs. It also gives Beijing legal grounds to take action against individuals outside China who are deemed to threaten national unity. The United States and the European Union have expressed concern over the law. Tibetans around the world have opposed it.
China seized control of Tibet in 1950, which it describes as a “peaceful liberation” from feudal serfdom. International human rights groups and exiled Tibetans have long criticized Chinese rule in the region as oppressive, a charge Beijing rejects. Since President Xi Jinping came to power in 2012, Beijing has tightened institutional control in Tibet, increasing surveillance for signs of “separatism”.
Tencho Gyatso, president of the International Campaign for Tibet, described Rangzen as “a tireless advocate for Tibet” and expressed deep sadness at his death. Previous self-immolations by Tibetans have occurred in protest against Chinese policies.
The New York Police Department has not confirmed the motive or the identity of the deceased. The investigation continues.
