摄影记者：关永杰
2026年8月19日星期三，正值藏人活动人士洛噶·让赞（Pawo Lobga Rangzen）在纽约联合国总部大厦外自焚抗议逝世满49日（七七），一场沉痛而坚定的和平抗议集会在中国驻旧金山总领事馆前举行。活动由北加州藏人协会（TANC）、旧金山地区藏青会（SFRTYC）发起，华语青年挺藏会、中国民主党、中国民主人权联盟、香港人社区等多个团体成员及声援民众齐聚现场，共同悼念这位以极端方式表达抗争的逝者。
洛噶·让赞于7月2日携带西藏旗帜，在纽约曼哈顿联合国总部外自焚身亡。据活动方介绍，他此前因反对中国政府在西藏推行的所谓“民族团结进步法”及相关同化政策，以这一决绝的方式向国际社会发出呼吁。
当天活动现场旗帜飘扬，参与者不断聚集，最高峰时约有100多人到场。
悼念逝者，呼吁以非暴力方式持续行动
活动首先由北加州藏人协会（TANC）主持人致辞。发言表示，当天的祈祷仪式与和平游行，是为了表达对洛噶·让赞的深切哀悼与敬意，同时向所有为西藏事业献出生命的藏人致敬。
发言人表示，藏人反对中国政府在西藏实施的相关政策，特别是所谓《民族团结进步法》。根据西藏中央行政机构此前发布的声明，相关政策以及藏人所称的“持续性压制和同化”，是促使洛噶·让赞作出这一悲剧性选择的原因之一。
发言中还提到，自2009年以来，西藏境内已有157名藏人以自焚方式抗议，其中136人死亡、9人幸存，另有12人的情况尚不明确；在流亡藏人中，包括洛噶·让赞在内，共有11人曾以自焚方式抗议，其中9人死亡、2人生还。
发言指出，这些自焚抗议者并未以伤害他人生命或财产为目的，而是通过牺牲自己的生命，希望引起中国政府以及国际社会对藏人处境的关注。同时，西藏流亡政府方面也曾呼吁藏人珍惜生命，以非暴力、合法、有尊严的方式继续开展相关行动。
发言人呼吁藏人从家庭做起，更加努力地保护西藏独特的宗教、文化、语言和传统，以应对其所认为的针对藏人身份认同的政策；同时呼吁世界各国政府和议会关注西藏问题，并推动中藏之间恢复对话。
在国际层面，发言还呼吁各国政府、议会、智库及媒体关注西藏问题，进行公平、客观的分析与报道，并呼吁中国政府停止其所称的针对民族身份、语言、文化及宗教传统的相关政策。
发言最后表示，藏人将铭记那些为西藏事业牺牲生命的人，并将继续努力，不负他们的牺牲。
随后，全场齐声高喊：
Free Tibet！
Long live the Dalai Lama!
We reject ethnic law!
削发悼念，以行动表达声援
在发言和祈祷之后，现场举行了具有象征意义的削发仪式。约20名声援者当众剃发，以表达对洛噶·让赞的悼念与支持。参与削发的人员不仅有藏人，也有来自湾区的华人民运人士盛虎。参与者希望通过这一具有象征意义的行动，表达对逝者诉求的关注，以及对保护民族语言、文化和身份认同等诉求的支持。
挺藏汉人盛虎
发表公开信，藏人的诉求
削发仪式结束后，活动进入下一阶段。现场主持人宣读了藏族青年议会（TYC）代表全球成员，就洛噶·让赞逝世49日发表的公开呼吁。
首先反驳将藏人自焚简单归因于个人经济或心理因素的说法，认为相关行动应当放在长期政治、社会及人权争议的背景下理解。公开信同时强调，自1998年以来，已有超过170名境内外藏人采取自焚方式表达抗议。
公开信还明确表示反对将藏人简单定义为“少数民族”，并提出西藏历史地位及其主权问题应重新受到国际社会关注。
针对联合国，公开信提出多项诉求，包括承认藏人自焚抗议所具有的政治性质，将西藏的独立与主权问题重新纳入国际议程，并敦促中国政府停止其所称的强迫同化、限制自由以及对藏语、文化和宗教身份的侵蚀。
同时，公开信呼吁允许联合国特别报告员、独立人权专家以及国际媒体不受限制地进入西藏开展调查。
TIBETAN YOUTH CONGRESS（西藏青年大会）Appeal to the Secretary-General and Member States of the United Nations Following the Self-Immolation of Pawo Lobga Rangzen（就英雄洛噶·让赞自焚事件致联合国秘书长及会员国的呼吁书），共三页
中领馆前高喊口号，随后绕馆游行
宣读公开呼吁后，全体参与者在主持人的带领下走向中国驻旧金山总领事馆办事大厅前门，现场高举西藏旗帜和标语，高声喊出“Free Tibet”“Long live the Dalai Lama”等口号。
随着人群聚集，领馆方面随即放下门前大闸，并加强现场安保。随后，参与者沿总领馆外围街道展开游行，一路高举旗帜、标语并持续高喊口号，引起周边车辆和行人的注意。期间，有车辆鸣笛表示声援。
整个活动从上午10时30分开始，持续至下午近3时，历时四个多小时。从祈祷、悼念，到削发声援，再到中领馆前的和平抗议与街头游行，当天的活动以不同形式表达了参与者对洛噶·让赞的悼念，以及对西藏问题、人权、民族文化与身份认同等议题的持续关注。
活动最后在和平与悼念的氛围中结束。
集会现场影像
华语青年挺藏会到场声援
华语青年挺藏会，呼吁释放挺藏会成员张雅笛
编辑：钟然 校对：熊辩 翻译：戈冰
Marking the 49th Day of Lobga Rangzen’s Passing, Multiple Bay Area Groups Jointly Protest in Front of the Chinese Consulate
Photojournalist: Guan Yongjie
Abstract: On August 19, Bay Area Tibetans and multiple pro-democracy groups held a peaceful protest in front of the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in San Francisco to commemorate the 49th day of the passing of Lobga Rangzen. Through head-shaving, marches, and other means, they expressed their concern for human rights, culture, and identity in Tibet.
On Wednesday, August 19, 2026, marking the 49th day (the completion of the seven-week mourning period) since Tibetan activist Pawo Lobga Rangzen passed away following his self-immolation protest outside the United Nations Headquarters in New York, a solemn and resolute peaceful protest rally was held in front of the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in San Francisco. Initiated by the Tibetan Association of Northern California (TANC) and the San Francisco Regional Tibetan Youth Congress (SFRTYC), members of multiple groups—including the Chinese Youth for Tibet Association, the China Democracy Party, the Alliance for China’s Democracy and Human Rights, and the Hongkonger community—along with supporting members of the public, gathered at the site to jointly mourn this deceased individual who expressed his resistance through such an extreme measure.
On July 2, Lobga Rangzen carried a Tibetan flag and committed self-immolation to his death outside the United Nations Headquarters in Manhattan, New York. According to the event organizers, having previously opposed the Chinese government’s push for the so-called “Law on Ethnic Unity and Progress” and related assimilation policies in Tibet, he chose this resolute way to issue an appeal to the international community.
On that day, flags fluttered at the event site, and participants continuously gathered, reaching a peak of around over 100 people present.
Mourning the Deceased, Calling for Sustained Action through Nonviolent Means
The event began with opening remarks delivered by the host from the Tibetan Association of Northern California (TANC). The speech stated that the day’s prayer ceremony and peaceful march were intended to express deep condolences and respect for Lobga Rangzen, while paying tribute to all Tibetans who have given their lives for the Tibetan cause.
The speaker stated that Tibetans oppose the relevant policies implemented by the Chinese government in Tibet, particularly the so-called “Ethnic Unity and Progress Law.” According to a statement previously released by the Central Tibetan Administration, these relevant policies—alongside what Tibetans term “ongoing suppression and assimilation”—were among the reasons that prompted Lobga Rangzen to make this tragic choice.
The speech also mentioned that since 2009, 157 Tibetans inside Tibet have protested by means of self-immolation, of whom 136 died, 9 survived, and the situations of 12 others remain unclear; among Tibetans in exile, including Lobga Rangzen, a total of 11 people have protested by self-immolation, resulting in 9 deaths and 2 survivors.
The speaker pointed out that these self-immolation protesters did not aim to harm the lives or property of others, but rather hoped, through sacrificing their own lives, to draw the attention of the Chinese government and the international community to the plight of Tibetans. At the same time, the Tibetan Government-in-Exile has also called on Tibetans to cherish life and to continue relevant actions in a nonviolent, legal, and dignified manner.
The speaker called on Tibetans to start from their families and work harder to preserve Tibet’s unique religion, culture, language, and traditions, in order to respond to policies they view as targeting Tibetan identity; simultaneously, the speaker called on governments and parliaments around the world to pay attention to the Tibet issue and promote the resumption of dialogue between China and Tibet.
At the international level, the speech also called on governments, parliaments, think tanks, and media outlets of all countries to focus on the Tibet issue, conduct fair and objective analysis and reporting, and urged the Chinese government to cease policies targeting ethnic identity, language, culture, and religious traditions.
The speech concluded by stating that Tibetans will remember those who sacrificed their lives for the Tibetan cause and will continue to work hard so as not to betray their sacrifice.
Subsequently, the entire audience chanted in unison: Free Tibet! Long live the Dalai Lama! We reject ethnic law!
Shaving Heads in Mourning, Expressing Solidarity Through Action Following the speeches and prayers, a symbolically significant head-shaving ceremony was held at the scene. Approximately 20 supporters shaved their hair in public to express their mourning and support for Lobga Rangzen. Those participating in the head-shaving included not only Tibetans, but also Sheng Hu, a Chinese pro-democracy activist from the Bay Area. Through this symbolic action, participants hoped to express concern for the deceased’s demands, as well as support for appeals such as the protection of ethnic language, culture, and identity.
Sheng Hu, a Han Chinese Supporting Tibet
Publishing an Open Letter on the Demands of Tibetans Following the conclusion of the head-shaving ceremony, the event proceeded to its next phase. The on-site host read aloud an open appeal issued by the Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) on behalf of its global membership regarding the 49th day of Lobga Rangzen’s passing.
It first refutes statements that attribute Tibetan self-immolations simply to personal economic or psychological factors, maintaining that such actions should be understood within the context of long-term political, social, and human rights disputes. The open letter simultaneously emphasizes that since 1998, over 170 Tibetans inside and outside Tibet have used self-immolation as a form of protest.
The open letter also explicitly opposes defining Tibetans simply as an “ethnic minority,” proposing that the historical status of Tibet and its sovereignty issue should once again receive attention from the international community.
Directing its demands at the United Nations, the open letter presents multiple requests, including recognizing the political nature of Tibetan self-immolation protests, re-incorporating the issue of Tibet’s independence and sovereignty into the international agenda, and urging the Chinese government to cease what it calls forced assimilation, restrictions on freedoms, and the erosion of Tibetan language, culture, and religious identity.
At the same time, the open letter calls for allowing UN Special Rapporteurs, independent human rights experts, and international media unfettered access into Tibet to conduct investigations.
TIBETAN YOUTH CONGRESS Appeal to the Secretary-General and Member States of the United Nations Following the Self-Immolation of Pawo Lobga Rangzen, totaling three pages.
Shouting Slogans in Front of the Chinese Consulate, Followed by a March Around the Building After reading the open appeal, all participants, led by the host, walked to the front door of the service hall of the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in San Francisco. Raising Tibetan flags and placards high at the site, they loudly chanted slogans such as “Free Tibet” and “Long live the Dalai Lama.”
As the crowd gathered, the consulate promptly lowered the main gate in front of its doors and strengthened on-site security. Subsequently, the participants marched along the surrounding streets outside the Consulate General, holding high their flags and placards and continuously chanting slogans along the way, attracting the attention of passing vehicles and pedestrians. During this time, some vehicles honked their horns to express solidarity.
The entire event began at 10:30 a.m. and lasted until nearly 3:00 p.m., spanning over four hours. From prayers and mourning, to head-shaving in solidarity, and then to the peaceful protest in front of the Chinese Consulate and the street march, the day’s event expressed through various forms the participants’ mourning for Lobga Rangzen, as well as their sustained attention to issues such as the Tibet issue, human rights, ethnic culture, and identity.
The event ultimately concluded in an atmosphere of peace and mourning.
Images from the Rally Site
Chinese Youth for Tibet Association Calls for the Release of Association Member Zhang Yadi
Editor: Zhong Ran Proofreader: Xiong Bian Translator: Ge Bing
