Chinese authorities on Friday blocked funeral plans for a Tibetan protester set for the next day.Tenzin Khedup, 24, was one of two young Tibetans who self-immolated on June 20 in Dzatoe township in a protest against Chinese rule in Tibetan areas.His companion, Ngawang Norphel, 22, survived the fiery protest with severe burns and was taken to hospital for treatment.The monks of Zikar monastery and local Tibetans had planned a large funeral for Tenzin Khedup on June 23, but the Chinese authorities intervened at around 11:00 p.m. the night before.Authorities demanded that Khedup’s funeral be held at 5:00 a.m. local time and not during daylight hours, apparently to prevent large crowds from gathering.

The monks were told that if they did not comply with this official directive, security forces would take possession of the body.Finally, they had to agree to conduct the funeral ceremony in the early hours of June 23.

Though authorities said at first that only 25 monks would be allowed to attend, monastery managers insisted on the participation of more of the monks, and finally all of the monks of Zikar monastery took part.

No other Tibetans were allowed to go to the monastery, and this restriction was enforced by over 700 police who were deployed around the monastery and in Dzatoe town.Photography and videotaping of the event were forbidden, apparently in a bid to stop news of the event from spreading.