Chinese police reportedly shoot dead two Tibetans

Feb 10, 2012, 3:11 GMT

Beijing - Two Tibetan brothers died after they were shot by police in south-western China, and another Tibetan self-immolated in a separate incident, reports said on Friday.

Police opened fire after surrounding the fugitive brothers on Thursday in Luhuo county, known as Draggo in Tibetan, in Sichuan province, US-based Radio Free Asia reported.

The brothers were hiding in hills after fleeing following an anti-government protest by Tibetans in Luhuo on January 23, the broadcaster quoted an exiled Tibetan monk in India as saying.

It named them as Yeshe Rigsal, a 40-year monk, and Yeshe Samdrub, 38.

At least six Tibetans died in clashes with security forces in Luhuo and the nearby Seda area of Sichuan's Ganzi, or Garze, prefecture last month, according to reports by Tibetan exile groups, international rights groups and Radio Free Asia.

Tibetan protests have escalated in recent weeks despite crackdowns in many monastery towns by Chinese security forces.

Another monk self-immolated in Chenduo, or Tridu, county in Qinghai province on Wednesday, according to reports by the broadcaster and London-based Free Tibet.

The unidentified monk in his 30s suffered serious burns but was still alive when police took him away, Free Tibet quoted witnesses as saying.

The protest was the 21st self-immolation reported by Tibetans in the last 13 months.

Up to 350 monks gathered in another areas of Chenduo on Wednesday, calling for the return of the exiled Dalai Lama and the release of the Panchen Lama, Free Tibet said.

The reincarnate Panchen Lama is often considered second in importance to the Dalai Lama by Tibetan Buddhists.

An 11th Panchen Lama, chosen and recognized by supporters of the Dalai Lama in 1995, has reportedly been held under virtual house arrest in China since he was six years old.

China's state-sponsored Tibetan Buddhist leaders appointed a rival 11th Panchen Lama.

The Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959 after an abortive uprising against the occupation of Tibet by Chinese troops.

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