A pro-Tibet activist, identified as Lobga Rangzen by the International Campaign for Tibet, tragically passed away on Thursday after setting himself on fire while holding a Tibetan flag outside the United Nations headquarters in New York. The 52-year-old man was found with severe burns by local authorities and subsequently pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. An ongoing investigation is seeking to establish the motives behind his self-immolation protest, which occurred around 6:30pm local time (22:30 GMT). The UN Secretary-General's office expressed condolences for the deceased and his family. According to reports, Rangzen was a tireless advocate for Tibetan rights and had criticized China's newly enacted "Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress," which is believed to further erode the rights of ethnic minorities such as Uighurs and Tibetans. The US and European Union have also expressed concerns about this law, which grants Beijing the authority to take action against individuals outside its borders. This self-immolation incident marks at least the 150th such act by Tibetans since 2009, according to the International Campaign for Tibet. Tensions between China and Tibetan exiles have been escalating over accusations of oppressive rule in Tibetan areas, a charge that Beijing denies. The Dalai Lama, the 90-year-old spiritual leader of Tibet, has lived in India since fleeing his homeland after Chinese troops suppressed an uprising in 1959. China does not recognize the Tibetan government-in-exile and has ceased dialogue with the Dalai Lama's representatives since 2010. The Dalai Lama advocates for a "Middle Way" policy, which seeks autonomy for Tibet through nonviolent dialogue and mutual benefit to resolve the Sino-Tibet conflict.