Self-immolations: China convicts Tibetan monk, 7 others

About 95 people set themselves on fire in the recent months in different part of Tibet Autonomous Region and Tibetan prefectures, which China blamed it on the Dalai Lama and his supporters to discredit the Chinese government.

Konchok is the second Monk to have been convicted.

Monk Drongdru was sentenced to 11 years in 2011 at the same place for plotting, instigating and assisting the self immolation of fellow monk.

Last month China has brought a new law in Tibet making inciting others to set themselves on fire or not affectively intervening to stop people indulging in such acts as an "intentional homicide".

According to the new regulation people who plan, organise, incite or help others to perform self-immolations will be tried for intentional homicide.

According to the court Konchok, a monk in Aba's Kirti Monastery, maintained long-term and close contact with Samtan, a member of an overseas "Kirti Monastery media liaison team" -- a "Tibet independence" organisation.

He used his status as a "geshe," or a high-level Tibetan religious scholar, to convince monks and others to self-immolate, the court said.

Konchok sent information regarding self-immolations to Samtan.

The information was used by some overseas media as a basis for creating secessionist propaganda, according to the court.

The two convinced eight people to self-immolate, constituting the crime of intentional homicide, the verdict said.

Konchok was described by the court as the prime culprit, which would typically result in a death sentence.

After he was arrested, Konchok recounted the main facts of the case, pled guilty and showed repentance during the trial, which led to his punishment being mitigated, the verdict said.

Lorang Tsering acted under Lorang Konchok's instruction, according to the court, adding that he played a secondary role as an accessory.

He also recounted the main facts of the case, pled guilty and showed repentance during the trial, leading to a lighter sentence, according to the verdict.

... contd.

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