Six ethnic Tibetans were sentenced to three to 12 years in prison by a local court in Gansu province on Thursday for their roles in an October self-immolation case.
The Xiahe County People's Court also convicted four people of intentional homicide and sentenced them. Padma Tamdru received 12 years in prison; Kelsang Gyamuktso, 11 years; Padma Co, eight years; and Lhamo Tamdru, seven years.
Two other defendants were convicted of "picking quarrels and provoking troubles". Do Gekyap was sentenced to four years in prison and Yang Monje to three years.
The court found that Togye Rinchen, a local Tibetan villager, set himself on fire near a shopping center in the county around 3:30 pm on Oct 23.
After spotting the incident, police officers put out the fire, and Togye Rinchen still showed signs of life.
When the police officers were trying to rescue the self-immolator, Padma Tamdru, with the help of Kelsang Gyamuktso, Padma Co and Lhamo Tamdru, attacked the officers and hindered their rescue efforts, the court found.
Public security personnel requested a crowd that had gathered there not to hinder police officers' efforts to try to rescue Togye Rinchen.
A Taiwan student's adventure in Beijing
Feedback
RSS
