Tibetan nun, three men commit suicide in anti-China protests

Situation in Tibet has turned grim with four more Tibetans, including a nun committed self- immolation in the last two days, taking the toll in the restive Himalayan region to 23 this month, increasing pressure on China's new leadership to resolve the vexed Tibet issue.

At least 20 students were hospitalised yesterday after a protest turned violent in Qinghai province's Hainan prefecture, Voice of America's Tibetan Service reported.
While three men set themselves ablaze yesterday, a nun died of self immolation a day earlier.

Wangyal, a Tibetan in his 20s, self-immolated in Sichuan province. He was reported to have shouted slogans calling for the return of the Dalai Lama and freedom for the Tibetan people, the VOA report said.

Chinese authorities immediately arrived at the scene and removed Wangyal's charred body, the report said.

Another Tibetan, 24-year old Gonpo Tsering, burned himself to death in front of a monastery in Gansu province.

He also shouted slogans for a free Tibet, while setting himself on fire.

The third man, 18-year-old Kunchok Tsering, also died after setting himself ablaze in Gansu.

Sangay Dolma, a nun affiliated with the Sangag Mindrol Dhargeyling convent, died after burning herself the day before in front of a government office in Qinghai province, the report said.

Separately, Chinese security forces cracked down on a demonstration by thousands of Tibetan students in Qinghai, yesterday leaving some severely injured.