“I am not self-immolating for my personal interests or problems, but for the six million Tibetans who have no freedom and for the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet.”
... Sopa Tulku

• Maps / Factsheets:
  • Full list of self-immolations in Tibet at FreeTibet.org
  • List of Political Self-immolations at Wikpedia.org
  • Maps - Tibet in Flames at RangZen.net
  • Photos and Learn More at StandUpforTibet.org
  • Self-immolation Fact Sheet at SaveTibet.org
  • Timeline: Self-immolations in Tibet since 2009 at TibetSun.com
• Essays and Overviews
  • Jamyang Norbu The hope for any kind of autonomous status under China is not realistic because it assumes that the Chinese system is flexible enough or tolerant enough to accommodate different political or social systems within it. 13 December 2009
  • Chophel Thubten Tibet in flames: Can we pour some water on? 25 June 2012
  • Dhundup Gyalpo Lies, damned lies, and Chinese propaganda 31 March 2012
  • Hissay P Bhutia Burning soul — A struggle for freedom 31 March 2012
  • Ngawang Chopehel Are we ignoring the self-immolations? 1 February 2012
  • Vijay Kranti Tibetan self-immolations: Why isn't the world listening? 3 April 2012
  • Tsering Namgyal On self-immolation 25 June 2012
  • Woeser Fire on the mountain 19 March 2012 Remembering the first person who self-immolated inside Tibet, Tapey 13 February 2012 Why didn't Kalon Tripa read out Tapey's name? 15 January 2012
  • Westerners: Dying as a political act Goodspeed Beacons of resistance, not desperate acts Besuchet

“Not a single reference [has been] made by the self-immolators to the United Nations or to any foreign government in their messages.”
... Besuchet

The crime of carrying prayer flags and pamphlets in China-occupied Tibet:

"If she has been involved in this kind of activity, there is no other way but to die. She has committed a serious offense and crime. There is nothing left for all of you to inquire about her well-being. Moreover, all of you must not contact the outside world on this matter."
— Kardze police, to relatives of arrested nun who had marched alone carrying prayer flags and pamphlets supporting a free Tibet. (March 2009)

"The plight of Tibet's Buddhist population pales in comparison with
America's need for China's cash."

China's increasing interconnection with the outside world means that domestic governance in China no longer only affects the Chinese people, but also the world at large. — China Elections and Governance website

“While we fully believe and support the freedom of speech and the freedom of rights in this country, I'd hate to see that overshadow what has been a growing and developing relationship [with China].” — New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, former investment banker.