Chinese protestor who set himself on fire identified as popular Tibetan singer

A Tibetan man who staged a self-immolation protest against the Chinese government in the capital of Tibet has been identified as a popular contemporary Tibetan singer whose relative is a political prisoner under Chinese rule.

Tsewang Norbu, died after he shouted slogans and self-immolated in front of the Potala Palace on Feb. 25. Initial reports said Norbu had been prevented from completing his stunt, but a source confirmed to Radio Free Asia that he was taken away only after he set himself on fire.

“Tsewang Norbu tried to protest the Chinese government by attempting to self-immolate and according to few of my reliable sources from inside Tibet, (he) has died,” a Tibetan living in exile told RFA on Saturday. The exact time and date of his death has not yet been confirmed.

Self-immolation is the act of sacrificing oneself by setting oneself on fire and burning to death. It used as an extreme form of non-violent protest or act of martyrdom.

Nobu was a well-known contemporary singer and composer, considered one of the rising talents from inside Tibet. His hit singles include Tsampa, Dress Up and Except You, among others.

The incident comes days before Tibetan Uprising Day, which is celebrated every year on Mar. 10 to commemorate the 1959 Tibetan uprising in Lhasa City against invading Chinese forces. It eventually failed, resulting in a violent crackdown where over 85,000 Tibetans were killed, reported Phayul.

Potala Palace served as the Dalai Lama’s winter palace until he fled during the 1959 uprising.

Norbu’s uncle, Sogkhar Lodoe, is one of the longest-serving known Tibetan political prisoners since the country was annexed by China in 1950. Lodoe had already served 23 years in prison for two previous convictions when he was given an 18-year sentence for protesting in front of the same Potala Palace in 2018.

With Norbu’s death, 158 Tibetans are confirmed to have set themselves on fire since 2009. The singer’s is the first since 2019 and the first in Lhasa since 2012.

Tibetans in exile mourned the death of Norbu with a procession in Dharamshala, India – the de facto capital of exiled Tibet. Chinese streaming services reportedly removed Norbu’s songs from streaming apps.