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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

30 January 2021

For Tenzin Nyima and all stood up with him


 For Tenzin Nyima, 19 year old monk, who passed away from injuries inflicted on him in prison on  in Wonpo township, Kham, Tibet on January 19th 2021.

On November 7 2019, Tenzin Nyima, aka Tamey, carried out a peaceful demonstration with four young monks outside of the local police station, throwing leaflets in the air, calling for Tibet's independence. All were arrested. 

After military troops were deployed in the area following their protest, two other Tibetans were arrested on November 21 2019 for holding a similar protest to express their solidarity to monks arrested on November 7th. 

He was released in May 2020 but re-arrested on August 11 2020 for sharing the news of his arrest and contacting Tibetans in exile in India.

In October 2020, he was returned to his family as the police informed that his health had deteriorated.  The family gathered all fund to get him costly treatments for him but in vain. 

He passed away at his family home on January 19 2021. 

In November and December 2020, the other protesters in Dza Wonpo village had a secret trial by the local People's Court.  Kunsal, Choegyal and Yonten were sentenced four years with a crime of 'inciting separatism. Sotra was sentenced three years in prison, Tsultrim for one year in prison. Another monk called Nyimay was sentenced five years in prison for leaking information to social media. 

"The spirit and dignity of Tibetan people is in our blood and can never be extinguished".  

-A statement posted on social media by the second group which carried out the solidarity protest on November 21 2019, prior to their action. 



May justice prevail so as they are all free in the peaceful land.