CTA remembers Tibetan youth who died after self-immolation protest

According to the Central Tibetan Administration, Choepa was from Meruma, a nomadic village in Ngaba, in northeastern Tibet. The CTA said Choepa self-immolated on August 10, 2012, calling for freedom in Tibet and the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet.

The Tibetan administration alleged that Chinese police reached the spot shortly after the protest and beat Choepa while he was still engulfed in flames. It said authorities later took his body away and eventually returned only his ashes to his family.

The CTA said security forces also surrounded the township to prevent further unrest. Remembering him on the 14th anniversary of his death, the Central Tibetan Administration described Choepa's sacrifice as a reminder of Tibetans who, according to the administration, have sought freedom, dignity, and preservation of their cultural identity.

Self-immolation has been one of the most extreme forms of protest adopted by some Tibetans since 2009. Human rights groups and the CTA say more than 150 Tibetans have set themselves on fire in protests against Chinese policies in Tibet. Many of those who protested called for greater freedom, protection of Tibetan culture and religion, and the return of the Dalai Lama.

The protests are rooted in the larger and long-running dispute over Tibet's political status and China's policies in the region. China says Tibet has been part of its territory for centuries and maintains that its rule has brought development and stability. The Tibetan side, however, says Tibetans have faced restrictions on their cultural, religious, and political freedoms and seeks greater autonomy and protection of Tibetan identity.

As the Central Tibetan Administration remembers Choepa 14 years after his death, his case remains part of the broader history of Tibetan protests and the continuing debate surrounding freedom, cultural identity, religious practice, and political rights in Tibet. (ANI)