British monk dies in Tibetan blaze protest

A Briton has become the first Western Tibetan Buddhist monk to die by self-immolation, dousing his head and clothes with petrol at a monastery in southwestern France.

Tonden, 38, whose name at birth was David Alain, had been training for the past five years in the Nalanda monastery near the southwestern village of Labastide-Saint-Georges.

The secluded monastery's 25 monks, including five Britons, are in retreat.

Horrified colleagues rushed into the garden of the monastery, which is surrounded by farmland, at 4.50pm on Thursday. They saw their orange-robed, shaven-headed colleague burst into flames on the lawn.

They were powerless to help and by the time the emergency services arrived, Tonden had died.

Monks and local police said they were unsure whether Tonden had committed suicide or whether it was a political statement.

It might have been significant that Tonden died on the day that the Chinese Communist Party enacted its once-in-a-decade leadership change, with Xi Jinping taking over from Hu Jintao.

In the past week alone, at least nine Tibetans were reported to have self-immolated in protest at what they say is religious and cultural repression by the Chinese authorities.

In all, 74 Tibetans have now set themselves on fire since 2009 demanding freedom and the return of the Dalai Lama, who has been in exile since 1959.

Tonden was keenly aware of the Dalai Lama's plight, having met the spiritual leader last year when he visited the monastery. He also met the Dalai Lama's sister in September when she came to Nalanda and its meditation centre, Vajra Yogini, which receives lay people.

However, the office of the public prosecutor in Castres, said: "Nothing in the investigation allows us to confirm that it is linked to the events in Tibet."

Michel-Antoine Andreani, number two of the Tarn gendarmerie said he first thought the death might have been a protest linked to Tibet

But he said: "Given the information we have gathered so far, the individual was psychologically fragile and was having difficulty coming to terms with all the obligations his position demands."

The five Buddhist precepts urge against harming living beings, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying and intoxication.

The monastery, 50 miles east of Toulouse, is described as "a unique monastery for Western monks in the Tibetan Geluk tradition".

The entrance to the location warns visitors: "Retreat in progress. Nalanda monastery is completely closed to all visitors except by appointment."

A lone monk praying by a gold-topped stupa - the structure used for meditation - smiled but declined to speak.

Standing outside, its director, the venerable Losang Tendar, said: "We don't know at this stage whether he acted for personal or political reasons and cannot comment due to an ongoing police investigation."

"What I can say is he never once spoke about such an act. He gave no warning and left no note. I also can say that nobody was with him at the time."

Beside him, Francois Lecointre, a monastery spokesman, said: "We are like his Buddhist family and it's a huge shock for the whole community that nobody could have predicted. We have of course followed the events in Tibet, but until now it was simply inconceivable that it would happen here in the West."

He said, "Buddhism proscribes all forms of violence including against oneself. That is clear in Buddhist teachings."

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are aware of the death of a British national in France and we are providing consular assistance to the family at this difficult time."

While police try to piece together the motives, others warned that frustration against Chinese repression of Tibetan Buddhists is threatening to spill over in the West.

"I befriended someone on Facebook recently who was threatening to self-immolate to draw international attention to what is going on," said Kate Saunders at the International Campaign for Tibet. Yesterday, the political leader of Tibetan exiles called for support for his people's struggle against Chinese rule.

At a meeting in Dharmsala, the Dalai Lama's headquarters, Prime Minister Lobsang Sangay said, "Tibet is a litmus test for China and the world."

Beijing insists it has boosted living standards in minority areas and treats minorities fairly.