Having never protested publicly, I might be ignorant to this. Who am I to say what feelings are rushing through your body while protesting. That you are elevated to such an irrational level that you not only entertain the idea but actually follow through with setting youself on FIRE.
What!!! Set yourself on fire? Why? What purpose does that serve? I can just see it now:

FADE IN:

EXT. COURTHOUSE -- AFTERNOON

Obigabu Stands proud on the front steps of the city courthouse. People around him carry signs and hurl insults at those who pass by. Feeling unnoticed and unheard, Obigabu reaches into his trench coat pocket and removes a lighter.

He then begins to light his own trench coat on fire and stands there while immersed in flames. People around him shout and scream. Obigabu falls as a burnt dead corpse.

EXT. COURTHOUSE -- LATER

The steps are now empty except for the charred remains of Obigabu. A city worker carrying a shovel and five gallon paint bucket approaches the burnt corpse. He sets the bucket down and begins shoveling the remains into the bucket.

FADE OUT:

END

What a moron!!! Yea you showed them. You showed them how stupid you were. Here's what I think. The only way I can conceive of something as stupid as this happening is to say it was a granted wish. Now follow me here for a second. The people were protesting against the French government and looking outside the French government saw the people and someone said: "I wish those people would burn in hell". Something was messed up in the translation from French to the wish granting authority and they burnt in place.
I know this sounds far fetched but I just can't think of any other reason for it.