Two Buddhist monks and a Tibetan woman died after setting themselves on fire in southwestern China on Thursday as self-immolation protests against Chinese rule in the restive Himalayan region, resumed after a brief lull. The protests coincide with the visit of French President Francois Hollande and European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton to Beijing.
Two Tibetan monks aged 20 and 23 set themselves on fire at the Kirti monastery in Aba county in Sichuan province, according to US-based Radio Free Asia (RFA) and Britain-based rights group Free Tibet. Several monks from the same monastery have attempted self-immolation earlier. The Radio report identified the two monks as lobsang Dawa and Konchog Woeser.
The Radio did not reveal the identity of the woman.
Over 110 Tibetans have committed self-immolation since 2009, with most dying, in protests against perceived Chinese oppression.