Exiled Tibetans say the man’s self-immolation was an appeal for Tibetan independence from China
Police in New York said a man has died from severe burns near the United Nations headquarters, and activists and a media outlet of exiled Tibetans identified him as a Tibetan who set himself on fire in an appeal for independence.
A New York City police department spokesperson said police found the man badly burned after responding to an emergency call made at about 6.30pm ET .
He was taken to Bellevue hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said, adding they were still investigating the death. Police did not name the man and did not provide any potential motive for his action.
Voice of Tibet, a media outlet of exiled Tibetans, said Tibetan activist Lobga Rangzen “self-immolated outside the UN headquarters in New York after a live appeal for Tibetan independence and unity”.
I find myself unable to comprehend why anyone would do this, as it clearly will not alter the situation with Tibet.
- China just won’t care at all
- No other country is going to negatively engage China on Tibet because of one man’s act of suicide
- Self-Immolation was likely shocking the first few times it was done, but now only warrants a short, quickly forgotten news article
- Just like hunger strikes, it harms no one but the person doing it, and so effects zero actual change
- So he basically died to accomplish nothing whatsoever
I can only assume his last moments were spent in extreme pain and regret (which is what I think likely happens with most suicides that last long enough to allow for such a thing).
Unless the guy was severely depressed or was otherwise planning to off himself regardless, and just took this as a ‘justified’ way to end everything, this act is bizarre and nonsensical.
From my limited understanding. The symbolism of an act like this is rarely, if ever, meant to affect western based society. It just doesn’t resonate with western values.
It does however mean a lot to the members of their culture. Also, the level of self control, personal faith and mental strength required to do this the way it is done is nothing short of miraculous.
They don’t just run out yelling and half-assedly set themselves on fire randomly. They meditate to the point of being able to withstand the pain of being burnt alive without making a sound or moving a muscle.
It’s very terrible, but unbelievably fascinating.
