Monk commits self-immolation in Tibet

A Tibetan monk, who committed self-immolation more than a week ago in China, has succumbed to his injuries, the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) here said on Friday.

Sonam Tobgyal, 27, committed self-immolation on July 9 in Yulshul Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture to press for the cause of Tibetan freedom, it said.

Tobgyal had left a will addressed to the political heads of minority nationalities. In the will, he had spoken about the Chinese government's repressive policies against minority nationalities.

"Political repression, cultural assimilation, economic marginalisation, social discrimination and environmental destruction in Tibet are the key issues in Tibet and, in fact, we do not have freedom of speech," the will said.

According to the CTA, self-immolations in Tibet started in 2009.

The common cry of all the self-immolators is that the Tibetan spiritual head the Dalai Lama be allowed to return to Tibet, which must be given autonomy and freedom of worship.

The Dalai Lama has been living in India since fleeing his homeland in 1959.

The Tibetan government-in-exile is based in this Himachal Pradesh hill town.