Tibetans Remember Jampel Yeshi

Exiled Tibetans hold a candle light vigil in New Delhi to commemorate a year since Jampel Yeshi’s self-immolation. DHARAMSHALA, March 27: Tibetan Youth Congress, the largest exile Tibetan organization, yesterday organized a candle light vigil in New Delhi to commemorate a year since Jampel Yeshi’s self-immolation. “We are reminded once more of him in flames, in the hospital and finally his demise and through this experience of grief and anguish, we think of all the self-immolators inside Tibet and their family members, their sorrows and miseries, their pain and suffering,” said Konchok Yangphel of the youth congress. “We take this moment to think and pray for all our Tibetan heroes who have selflessly given up their lives for Tibet.” Hundreds of Tibetans attended the candle light vigil at Jantar Mantar in India’s capital city. Jampel Yeshi, 27, set himself on fire on March 26 last year to protest against China’s occupation of Tibet a day before the then Chinese President Hu Jintaos’ visit to attend the 4th BRICS Summit in New Delhi. In his last hand-written message, Yeshi wrote: 'At a time when we are making our final move toward our goal – if you have money, it is the time to spend it; if you are educated it is the time to produce results; if you have control over your life, I think the day has come to sacrifice your life. The fact that Tibetan people are setting themselves on fire in this 21st century is to let the world know about their suffering, and to tell the world about the denial of basic human rights. If you have any empathy, stand up for the Tibetan people.' Yeshi became the second self-immolate in exile to die after Thupten Ngodup, who died from self-immolation in 1998. Since 2009 as many as 111 Tibetans have set themselves on fire in Tibet calling for freedom in Tibet and return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. 93 have died.