Shillong: Shillong’s Tibetan community gathered at the Old Assembly Gate on August 12 to honor activist Lobga Rangzen. Rangzen died following a self-immolation protest outside the United Nations headquarters in New York on July 2. He is gone. Supporters marked his death with a somber candlelight vigil.
Participants shaved their heads to show solidarity and grief. Former MP Yangchen Dolker, Tsering Dolma, and Settlement Officer Tsering Dorji attended the event. The group renewed their push for an independent Tibet while condemning Beijing.
Protesters specifically targeted China’s Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress. They claim the legislation chokes out their culture and heritage. The community labeled the measure as part of a larger plan of repression. They called for the world to pay attention. The group remains defiant. One attendee stated, "The community said it would continue to raise its demand for Tibet’s independence and work to preserve Tibetan identity, culture and heritage."
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