Tibetan activist dies after self-immolation outside UN headquarters in New York

On July 2, a man identified by Voice of Tibet as longtime Tibetan activist Lobga Rangzen carried a Tibetan Flag in front of the UN headquarters in Manhattan before reportedly setting himself on fire.

New York officers responded to an emergency call at about 6:30 p.m. and found Rangzen near the UN headquarters. He was taken to the city's Bellevue Hospital, where he died as a result of his severe burns. A makeshift memorial has since been erected outside the UN headquarters

Fellow community members quoted by amNewYork shared that Rangzen had expressed anger over China’s policies toward Tibetans, including a new ethnic unity law that took effect this week. In his final statement, which he posted on his Facebook account, Lobga warned that China’s policies threaten the very survival of Tibetan identity, language, and culture, and called on all Tibetans to be united in their fight for the cause of the Tibetan struggle.

According to Chinese officials, this new law is intended to promote a shared national identity among China's ethnic groups. However, critics argue that this new law raises concerns for censorship and ethnic erasure by potentially limiting expressions of ethnic diversity, especially among Tibetans and Uighurs.

Now Rangzen joins the 131 Tibetan men and 28 Tibetan women who have self-immolated since 2009 and were confirmed by The International Campaign for Tibet.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Lobga Rangzen following his self-immolation outside the UN headquarters in New York on Thursday evening. Lobga was a tireless advocate for Tibet who devoted himself to peacefully raising awareness of the human rights crisis and independence of Tibet and he will be remembered for his unwavering commitment to justice and the Tibetan cause,” said ICT President Tencho Gyatso.

The full official list of inmolations in no particular order: Taphun (81); Tsewang Norbu (25); Yonten (24); Drugkho (Unknown); Dorbe (23); Tsekho Tugchak (~40); Konpe (~30); Tenga (~60); Jamyang Losel (~20); Chagdor Kyab (16); Wangchuk Tseten (Unknown); Pema Gyaltsen (Unknown); Tashi Rabten (~30); Sonam Tso (~50); Kalsang Gandu (18); Shurmo (26); Tashi Kyi (55); Sonam Tobgyal (late 20s); Sangye Tso (36); Tenzin Gyatso (early 30s); Neykyab (40-50); Yeshi Kandro (~40); Norchuk (late 40s); Kalsang Yeshe (~30); Tseypey (19); Sangye Khar (Unknown); Lhamo Tashi (early 20s); Kunchok (42); Thinley Namgyal (32); Dolma (31); Lobsang Palden (20); Jigme Tenzin (late 20s); Lobsang Dorje (25); Phagmo Samdup (late 20s); Tsultrim Gyatso (41); Kunchok Tseten (Unknown); Tsering Gyal (20); Shichung (40); Kunchok Sonam (18); Wangchen Dolma (early 30s); Tenzin Sherab (early 30s); Losang Dawa (20); Konchok Woeser (23); Chugtso (20); Kunchok Tsomo (early 40s); Konchok Tenzin (28); Lhamo Kyab (43); Kalkyi (30); Lobsang Thogme (28); Kunchok Wangmo (31); Sangdag (Unknown); Tsesung Kyab (late 20s); Phagmo Dundrup (early 20s); Rinchen (17); Sonam Dhargye (18); Namlha Tsering (49); Drugpa Khar (~20); Lobsang Namgyal (~35); Konchok Kyab (26); Tsering Phuntsok (~20); Tsering Tashi (22); Wangchen Kyi (17); Kunchok Pelgye (24); Pema Dorjee (23); Lobsang Geleg (29); Sungdue Kyab (17); Kunchok Kyab (29); Tsering Namgyal (31); Wande Khar (21); Sanggye Tashi (18); Keslang Kyab (24); Gonpo Tsering (24); Kunchok Tsering (18); Wangyal (~20); Sangay Dolma (Unknown); Tamdrin Kyab (23); Tamdrin Dorjee (29); Lubhum Gyal (18); Tsering Dundrup (24); Wangchen Norbu (25); Sangdag Tsering (24); Chagmo Kyi (Unknown); Khabum Gyal (18); Tangzin Dolma (23); Nyangchag Bum (20); Nyangkar Tashi (24); Gonpo Tsering (19); Jinpa Gyatso (Unknown); Dorjee (15); Samdrup (16); Dorjee Kyab (16); Tamdrin Tso (23); Tsegyal (27); Dorjee Lhundrup (~25); Tsewang Kyab (early 20s); Lhamo Tseten (~25); Tsepo (20); Tenzin (25); Dorje Rinchen (late 50s); Dhondup (~60); Lhamo Kyab (late 20s); Tamdin Dorje (early 50s); Sangay Gyatso (27); Gudrub (43); Yangdang (27); Passang Lhamo (62); Lobsang Damchoe (17); Lobsang Kelsang (18); Lungtok (~20); Tashi (21); Chopa (24); Dolkar Tso (~20); Lobsang Tsultrim (21); Losang Lozin (18); Tsewang Dorjee (22); Dickyi Choezom (~40); Ngawang Norphel (22); Tenzin Khedup (24); Tamdin Thar (~50); Rikyo (33); Dargye (25); Dorje Tseten (19); Choepak Kyap (~20); Sonam (~20); Thubten Nyandak (45); Atse (23); Chimey Palden (21); Tenpa Darjey (22); Lobsang Sherab (20); Sonam Dargye (44); Lobsang Tsultrim (20); Jamyang Palden (~30); Gepey (18); Dorjee (18); Rinchen (early 30s); Tsering Kyi (19); Nangdrol (18); Damchoe Sangpo (38); Lobsang Gyatso (19); Tenzin Choedron (18); Sonam Rabyang (~35); Rinzin Dorje (19); Losang Jamyang (~20); Sonam Wangyal (~40); Tsultrim (~20); Tennyi (~20); Tenzin Phuntsog (~40); Palden Choetso (35); Dawa Tsering (38); Tenzin Wangmo (20); Norbu Damdrul (19); Choepel (19); Kayang (18); Kelsang Wangchuk (17); Lobsang Kelsang (~18); Lobsang Kunchok (~18); Tsewang Norbu (29); Phuntsog (20); Tapey (~20), Thubten Ngodup (60); Lhakpa Tsering (Unknown); Sherap Tsedor (25); Bhutok (Unknown); Jampa Yeshe (27); Drongchen Tsering (25); Karma Ngedon Gyatso (38); Dorjee Tsering (16); Tenzin Choeying (~20); Dhondup (also known as Passang Dhondup) (49); Lobga Rangzen (52).