New York, NY—At 3:25 p.m. EST, three Tibetan youth activists chained themselves to the vehicular exits and entrances of the United Nations (UN) headquarters gates on First Avenue, demanding action after the self-immolation of Tibetan independence activist, Lobga Rangzen.
After 47 minutes chained to the UN vehicular entrance, all three activists have been arrested and are currently detained. As they were being taken into police custody, Tenzin Tseten said: “Lobga Rangzen loved Tibetan culture, and he believed our people had the right to be free. He did not give up his life, his family, and his community because he wanted Tibetans to be a well-behaved “minority” inside a Chinese empire. He did it to sound the alarm on China’s new so-called “Ethnic Unity” law—a law designed to legally erase Tibetan national identity. The United Nations has failed Lobga Rangzen, the United Nations has failed the Tibetan people, time and time again.”
Even after the activists were taken away, a growing protest of Tibetan community members remained on site, calling on the UN to take action for Tibet.