NEW YORK, July 3 (ANI) — A 42-year-old man carrying a Tibetan flag died after setting himself on fire outside the United Nations headquarters in Manhattan on Thursday evening in an apparent act of protest, the New York Post reported.
The man was identified by a friend as Lobga Rangzen, who had reportedly lived in the United States for about two decades. The incident occurred at approximately 7 p.m. near East 43rd Street and First Avenue in New York City.
According to the New York Post, Rangzen became engulfed in flames as passing motorists sounded their horns before he collapsed to the ground. Two first responders extinguished the flames with fire extinguishers about 15 seconds later.
Law enforcement officials said Rangzen was transported to Bellevue Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The New York Post reported that the Tibetan flag remained at the scene about an hour after the incident as police cordoned off the area and conducted an investigation.
Officers were seen collecting documents from the scene, including a sheet of paper bearing the slogan “CHINA OUT OF TIBET,” a phrase commonly associated with the Tibetan independence movement and the broader Free Tibet campaign.
According to historical records, more than 150 people have self-immolated in Tibet since March 2009 in protest against what demonstrators describe as Chinese rule over the region.
The broader movement advocates restoring sovereignty to the Tibet Autonomous Region and seeks the return of the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism.
According to the official website of the advocacy group Free Tibet, many self-immolation protesters have shouted slogans while on fire, calling for the Dalai Lama’s long life and return to Tibet, the release of the Panchen Lama, and greater human rights and freedom for Tibet.
The organization also states that severe penalties are imposed on individuals accused of assisting or encouraging protesters or sharing information about such incidents internationally.
The movement continues to challenge China’s incorporation of Tibet following the signing of the Seventeen Point Agreement in May 1951, which facilitated the deployment of the People’s Liberation Army into the region.
The Tibetan cause gained significant international attention during the 1990s through the Tibetan Freedom Concerts held across the United States, featuring performances by artists including U2, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Rage Against the Machine.
Before the establishment of Chinese Communist Party control, Tibet operated with de facto autonomy during the Republic of China era and maintained its own administrative institutions. (ANI)
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