Another Tibetan sets self on fire in protest

A Tibetan nun calling for greater religious freedom died after setting herself on fire.

A Tibetan nun calling for greater religious freedom died after setting herself on fire in western China,the latest in a series of self-immolations among the regions Buddhist clergy,an advocacy group said Tuesday.

In a separate incident,security forces shot two Tibetans during a protest outside a police station,London-based Free Tibet reported.

The two incidents could not immediately be independently confirmed Tuesday,although tensions have been high across the region since widespread anti-government protests in 2008. Communist government officials gave no comment when contacted.

Free Tibet said the nun,20-year-old Tenzin Wangmo,died on the scene after setting herself on fire early Monday afternoon outside Dechen Chokorling nunnery in Sichuan provinces Aba prefecture where a number of other self-immolations have taken place this year. The group said she chanted slogans as she set herself alight calling for greater religious freedom and the return of Tibets exiled Buddhist leader,the Dalai Lama.

The two men shot Sunday in Sichuans Garze prefecture,identified as Dawa and Druklo,were taken away by area residents and their conditions were unknown,Free Tibet said. Many Tibetans use just one name.

Although there is no tradition of self-immolation as a form of protest in Tibetan society,a total of nine monks and former monks and one nun have set themselves on fire since March in what are seen as desperate acts to draw attention to repression of Tibetan Buddhism.

Most ignited the flames while calling for Tibetan freedom and the return of the Dalai Lama,who fled to India amid an abortive uprising against Chinese rule in 1959. Aged in their late teens and twenties,at least five died of their injuries,while the condition of the other four is not known.

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The acts of self-immolation are not taking place in isolation,protests have been reported in the surrounding region and calls for wider protests are growing, Free Tibet Director Stephanie Brigden was quoted as saying in a statement.

Chinas Foreign Ministry last week accused the Dalai Lamas followers of encouraging the self-immolations by not denouncing them. Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin on Tuesday said he was still seeking information on the latest incident,but said the government would handle this appropriately. We believe the encouragement of such behaviour at the cost of human life is immoral, Liu said.