The cost of Tibetans’ resistance and courage is high.

Tibetans may – and do – face sentences up to life imprisonment for crimes China calls “splittist”. Splittist crimes can include any act the government is threatened by, such as singing Tibetan songs, writing political blogs or staging any form of protest. Torture is common. Prisoners are often denied access to their families, lawyers and even medical treatment.

China’s response to self-immolations has been to punish protester’s families and communities and blame the Dalai Lama.

Chinese military presence at protest locations has increased and hundreds of Tibetans have been arrested or disappeared. House searches and intimidation are regular features of daily life in many areas. Peaceful demonstrators have been beaten, tortured and shot dead – such as Yonten.

After thousands of Tibetans staged the largest protests in Tibet for over 50 years in 2008, Chinese authorities arrested, tortured and jailed an estimated 6,800 Tibetan protesters. The fate of some remains unknown.