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Towards the last two months of my last visit to India in the spring of 2012, I encountered the Tibetan community in exile in India experiencing painful news of their people self-immolating in fire one after another in China-occupied Tibet. My experiences in the past visits in India (drawing a cremation site in Varanasi, documenting fire pits, cremation alters, and contemplating on life and death around fire) synchronized with this particular movement, an extreme way of ‘offering’ their bodies to ‘fire’ for asking freedom and peace.I could not help drawing large and small drawings as emotional response and with a sense of mourning.

After coming back to Vancouver, the self-immolation kept happening and I felt that my personal and professional task is not finished.

I have come back to India to continue to document and draw under the same theme. tomoyoihaya@hotmail.com

13 March 2013

For Kunchok Wangmo

For Kunchok Wangmo, a mother of an 8 yr old, set herself on fire on March 13 in the Dzoege region of Ngaba, Amdo,Tibet

News came late on 17th to the Tibet in exile community

Security force took her body.
Later returned her ashes to the family
Police forced her husband to sign the paper
'the reason of her passing is due to their internal dispute'
He denied and was arrested

It is heart breaking
to imagine how you became determined to give up your life so as your voice and thousands other voices for peace and freedom would be heard. Your Land of Snows is crying.

Truly hope that peace will prevail for your 8 yr old child and all others left behind. So as no more precious life like yours does not get lost
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