China Offers Reward for Tips about Planned Tibetan Immolations Following Labrang Suicides

Following the self-immolation of two Tibetans near the Labrang Monastery in the north-western Gansu province, Chinese police are offering a reward of $7,700 for tips about people planning to burn themselves to death.

The local police have issued a notice saying that the wave of self-immolations has "seriously impacted social stability and harmony as well as people's ability to live and work".

In order to tighten the grip on demonstrations, people who tip off police about self-immolation plans will be rewarded 50,000 yuan ($7,700). Those who offer information on the organisers of the recent string of burning suicides will be rewarded up to 200,000 yuan ($30,000).

"Self-immolation is an extreme suicidal behaviour that goes against humanity, society and the law and deprives people of their right to life," the police noitice said. "The instances of self-immolation that have occurred recently in our prefecture are part of a political conspiracy by the Dalai clique that means to split China and undermine national unity."

The authorities have also named the two men who burned themselves to death in Labrang.

Dorjee Rinchen, a 57-year-old farmer from the village of Sayie set himself ablaze and died. Rinchen was "an appointed village leader, well-respected by local Tibetans, who spoke both Tibetan and Chinese," the International Tibet network told IBTimes UK.

On Monday, Dhondup, a herdsman in his late 60s, set himself on fire near the prayer hall at the Labrang monastery, which is one of the most important monastic institutions outside of Tibet and the site of numerous protests by monks.

At least seven people have set themselves on fire in the Gansu province since March and all have died.