By Tenzin Chokyi

DHARAMSALA, 14 July : More than 14,176 people have signed an online petition calling on the United Nations, New York City and other relevant authorities to establish a permanent memorial for Tibetan independence activist and martyr Lobga Rangzen, who self-immolated outside the United Nations headquarters on 2 July to protest China’s colonial rule over Tibet and demand the restoration of Tibetan independence.

Issued by the Joint Urgent Action Committee for Martyr Lobga Rangzen of the Tibetan Community of New York and New Jersey, the petition had gathered 14,176 signatures as of Tuesday, leaving 11,424 more to reach its target of 25,600. It urges the United Nations, the City of New York and “all concerned authorities” to work with the Tibetan community in New York and New Jersey to establish a permanent memorial at or near the site where Lobg...