New York, 03 July (H.S.): A man carrying a Tibetan flag died after setting himself on fire outside the United Nations Headquarters in New York on Thursday, according to a spokesperson for the New York City Police Department (NYPD). Authorities have not yet released the identity of the deceased. Demonstrations outside the UN headquarters are common, and the area is subject to heightened security. According to the Central Tibetan Administration (the Tibetan government-in-exile), dozens of self-immolation incidents linked to protests against Chinese rule in Tibet have occurred over the past several decades.

According to CNN, an NYPD spokesperson said law enforcement officers responded to a 911 emergency call at around 6:30 p.m. Upon arrival, officers found a 52-year-old man with severe burn injuries. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police have not commented on the motive behind the act and said the investigation remains ongoing. The identity of the deceased has not yet been made public.

A video livestreamed on Facebook appeared to show a man carrying a Tibetan flag stopping on First Avenue outside the United Nations Headquarters before suddenly becoming engulfed in flames. He then collapsed to the ground while traffic continued moving nearby. Moments later, two individuals rushed to the scene carrying fire extinguishers in an attempt to put out the flames.

In another video posted on the same Facebook account around the time of the livestream, a man was seen urging Tibetans to unite for the cause of Tibetan independence and never forget their heritage and identity. He also accused the Chinese government of implementing policies aimed at eroding Tibetan identity, culture and language. Responding to the incident, the Central Tibetan Administration said that dozens of self-immolation protests have taken place over the past several decades in opposition to Chinese rule in Tibet.

In a separate video released by Tibetan activist groups in New York, noted Tibetan writer Jamyang Norbu described the deceased as a freedom activist and respected community leader. Norbu said the man fled Tibet in the 1980s and later settled in New York, where he worked as a taxi driver.

China's ruling Communist Party has governed Tibet since 1951. Beijing maintains that Tibet has been an integral part of Chinese territory for centuries. On July 1, China implemented a new Ethnic Unity Law, expanding the mandatory use of the Chinese language in schools and government administration across ethnic minority regions. Tibetan activists have expressed concern that the legislation could further weaken Tibetan language, culture and identity.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar