The Austin Westminster car in which Thích Quảng Đức, a Buddhist monk, traveled to his self-immolation, Thiên Mụ Pagoda, Hue, Vietnam, Asia
Thích Quảng Đức; 1897 – 11 June 1963; born Lâm Văn Túc) was a Vietnamese Mahayana Buddhist monk who burned himself to death at a busy Saigon road intersection on 11 June 1963. Quảng Đức was protesting the persecution of Buddhists by the South Vietnamese Roman Catholic Christian government led by Ngô Đình Diệm. Photographs of his self-immolation were circulated widely around the world and brought attention to the policies of the Diệm government. John F. Kennedy said in reference to a photograph of Quảng Đức on fire, "No news picture in history has generated so much emotion around the world as that one." Malcolm Browne won a Pulitzer Prize for his photograph of the monk's death. Quảng Đức's act increased international pressure on Diệm and led him to announce reforms with the intention of mollifying the Buddhists. However, the promised reforms were not implemented, leading to a deterioration in the dispute. As protests continued, the ARVN Special Forces loyal to Diệm's brother, Ngô Đình Nhu, launched nationwide raids on Buddhist pagodas, seizing Quảng Đức's heart and causing deaths and widespread damage. Several Buddhist monks followed Quảng Đức's example, also immolating themselves. Eventually, a Army coup toppled Diệm, who was assassinated on 2 November 1963.
Size: 6020px × 4013px
Location: Hue, Vietnam, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia
Photo credit: © John Keates / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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