New York, Jul 3: A Tibetan man died after setting himself on fire near the United Nations headquarters in New York in an apparent protest calling for Tibetan independence, according to police and Tibetan exile groups.
The New York Police Department said officers responded to an emergency call at around 6:30 p.m. ET and found the man with severe burn injuries. He was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Authorities have launched an investigation and have not officially disclosed his identity or a motive.
However, Voice of Tibet, a media outlet run by exiled Tibetans, identified the deceased as Lobga Rangzen, alleging that he self-immolated after making a live appeal for Tibetan independence and unity outside the UN headquarters.
According to local reports, Rangzen worked as an Uber driver and arrived at the scene carrying a Tibetan flag. Fellow community members said he was deeply distressed over restrictions imposed on Tibetans under Chinese rule.
The incident comes amid growing international concern over China’s new Ethnic Unity Law, which recently came into effect. The United States and the European Union have raised concerns that the legislation provides Beijing with broader legal authority over ethnic minority issues, including Tibetans and Uyghurs.
China maintains that Tibet has been part of the country since what it describes as the “peaceful liberation” of the region in 1950. However, Tibetan exile groups and international human rights organisations have long accused Beijing of suppressing religious, cultural and political freedoms in Tibet—allegations China has consistently denied.
The International Campaign for Tibet expressed sorrow over Rangzen’s death, describing him as a committed advocate for the Tibetan cause. The organisation says more than 150 Tibetans self-immolated between 2009 and 2022, with 10 such incidents involving Tibetans living in exile.
