Report: Tibet Monk Self-immolates In China’s West

BEIJING (AP) — An overseas group says a Tibetan monk has died after setting himself on fire at a monastery in western China’s Sichuan province.

The London-based International Campaign for Tibet said on Monday that 18-year-old Nangdrol self-immolated on Sunday after shouting slogans in favor of Tibetan independence and exiled Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama.

His death brings to at least 21 the number of Tibetans who have set themselves on fire over the past year to protest Chinese government policies over Tibetan society and the Buddhist religion. Chinese security has cut off access to Tibetan areas, making it virtually impossible to independently confirm such acts.

The Dalai Lama’s supporters have issued statements discouraging self-immolation.