For Sherab, a 20 year old monk, who set himself on fire on March 28, 2012 in Cha township,Ngaba,Tibet.
For Jamphel Yeshi, who set himself on fire at a demonstration on March 26, 2012 in New Delhi, India.
Sherab passed away on site and the paramilitary police in Ngaba removed his body immediately following his self immolation, ignoring pleas for his body to be handed over to his family.
He was a monk at the small Ganden Tenpenling monastery in Rauwa since the age of nine and also studied at Kirti monastery in Ngaba.
Jamphel Yeshe was from Kardze, Kham, Tibet. He arrived in India several years ago.
He set himself on fire in the midst of 500 Tibetan demonstrators protesting against the visit by Hu Jintao and ran, engulfed in flames before fellow activists put out the blaze with Tibetan flags and rushed him to hospital. He passed away a few days after.
The news of Sherab's self immolation protest and of Jamphel Yeshe's passing at the hospital
arrived on the same day, March 29th to Tibetan community in exile.
One passed away in his homeland, another in exile, after crossing many mountains and rivers.
They were far away, however, their will and spirit were in the same place.
Jamphel Yeshe gave away all his possessions before he carried out his protest and left his final letter behind. This letter is for his fellow Tibetans at the same time, it speaks to us, especially when there are millions of people standing up for their justice and freedom at this moment in the world.
Freedom is the basis of happiness for all living beings.
Without freedom, six million Tibetans are like a butter lamp in the wind, without direction.
My fellow Tibetans from Three Provinces, it is clear to us all that if we put our strength together,
there will be results.
So, don't be disheartened.
(translated by Chuchung D Sonam)
May we have courage to stand up firmly together for fellow brothers and sisters with butter lamps in our palms without being blown in wind.
