WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 (UPI) -- An 18-year-old Tibetan citizen became the 23rd person since 2009 to commit suicide in protest against Chinese authorities, a rights group said.
The International Campaign for Tibet, in Washington, says the 18-year-old shouted "Freedom for Tibet" before he set himself on fire last weekend. Tibetan monks told the rights group they refused to hand his body to authorities.
Free Tibet, an advocacy group with headquarters in London, said the incident occurred in the Ngaba region of the Tibetan autonomous prefecture. More than 20 self-immolations have occurred there since March 2011.
"The township is the same place where Chinese forces shot and killed a young Tibetan named Urgen in January," the rights group said in a statement. "There are reports that people in the town are now living under severe restrictions."
Chinese authorities had called for security forces to stand ready to respond to Tibetan activists ahead of New Year festivities this week.
U.S. officials warned Beijing that the unrest that gripped much of the Middle East last year was "coming to China."
Beijing blames supporters of Buddhist leader the Dalai Lama for supporting unrest in the region. A report from the English-language edition of China Daily blamed mobs for attacking police stations during recent clashes.
