According to Lorang Konchok, the pair told him to gather information about self-immolators after Tapey's death. "They said it was for the Tibetan cause and the Dalai Lama," he recalled. "They said that those who self-immolate are devoted to the cause of founding an independent country for Tibetans."

Their words gave Lorang Konchok the idea of encouraging people to self-immolate and he asked his nephew, Lorang Tsering, to act as his assistant. They then began to target laypeople as well as monks.

"Lorang Konchok told me that the more Tibetans self-immolate, the better it is for Tibet," said the 32-year-old nephew in early December.

In March, Lorang Tsering told a local herdsman, Jopa, that his uncle would help to pass information and photos overseas if he agreed to set himself on fire. On a subsequent visit on Aug 9, he again encouraged Jopa to perform the act.

Lorang Tsering phoned his uncle and arranged for him to meet Jopa later the same day. He then took photos of the young man on his mobile phone and assured him that they would be sent abroad to publicize the deadly act.

The following day, Jopa called Lorang Konchok to confirm that he had deleted group photos of himself and others from his mobile phone, as instructed. At 9:41am, the 19-year-old set himself on fire and died.

Lorang Tsering said, "I didn't realize it was a crime. I am poor and I just wanted to keep my uncle happy so I could borrow money from him. I never gave it (self immolation) much thought before, but now I feel that they are not Tibetan heroes. Instead, I think they were just stupid."

Lorang Konchok even suggested that Lorang Tsering's younger brother should be encouraged to perform self-immolation, because the 24-year-old was lazy and the "sacrifice" would restore his reputation with family and friends. However, Lorang Tsering simply couldn't urge the young man to commit the act.

Police later discovered that Lorang Konchok was behind five other acts of self-immolation this year, including that of a young man who also took his own life in March. Two people were also forced to flee their hometown to avoid Lorang Konchok, who harassed them and urged them to commit self-immolation. They did not return to their homes until Lorang Konchok and Lorang Tsering were apprehended by the police.

"Jopa was not a bad boy, he just liked making friends," said Jopa's father Palo, 60. "He picked herbs with us from the age of six, but never went to school."

Palo was outraged at those who instigated the death of his youngest son. "As an old man, I was looking forward to him taking care of me. Overall, our life is so much better than before, but I feel so sad whenever I think of these sudden deaths. I don't know if he is a hero or not. All I know is that the pain is so real," he said.

Will to live

Song Guangjun, the director of Aba county hospital's surgical department, said the most impressive thing about those who commit the act is their strong will to live. "Normally, these patients arrive at our hospital within 10 minutes of the act. Most are aged around 16 or 17. As a father of child of similar age, I feel so sad for them," he said.

Song is currently treating two young monks from Exiu Monastery in Aba county. They were part of a group of three who set themselves on fire on Nov 7. They jumped into a pond to douse the flames, and were sent to the hospital. "They are too young to know about the consequences, but they desperately want to live," he said. The third member of the group died from his injuries.

One of the survivors, Sonam Gyamtso, admitted that he didn't think before setting himself on fire, he just followed the example of his friend. "I would never do it again, no matter who asked. Back then, I didn't know how scary it was. But now I know," said the 16-year-old.

"The pain feels like needles stinging your heart. It was so painful. I really regret doing it," he said. "If I get the chance I will tell others how painful it was, and still is."