The statement issued by the Central Tibetan Administration, the Tibetan government in exile, regarding the Tibetan new year reads as follows: "The CTA will hold only customary religious programs to mark Tibetan New Year, taking into consideration the continuing repression in Tibet and the ruthless crackdown last year (2008) which resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Tibetans and thousands imprisoned. We appeal to all the departments concerned and offices of the administration not to organize any lavish celebrations such as hosting feasts, dance parties and lighting firecrackers."
The statement issued by the Central Tibetan Administration, the Tibetan government in exile, regarding the Tibetan new year reads as follows: "The CTA will hold only customary religious programs to mark Tibetan New Year, taking into consideration the continuing repression in Tibet and the ruthless crackdown last year (2008) which resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Tibetans and thousands imprisoned. We appeal to all the departments concerned and offices of the administration not to organize any lavish celebrations such as hosting feasts, dance parties and lighting firecrackers."
In their preparation for Losar, the Tibetan New Year, as well as the upcoming anniversary of last year’s unrest in Tibet, the presence of Chinese soldiers in the occupied ethnic Tibetan regions has increased by the thousands – possibly as many as 20,000, this in addition to the estimated 1,000,000 or more already present. Dozens of Tibetans suspected of supporting this campaign have already been arrested in Lhasa. Others have been imprisoned and beaten after a Tibetan monk carried a photograph of the Dalai Lama in a public market in Lithang repeating "No Losar." Hundreds joined the protest which continued into the next two days.
No foreigners are permitted to enter any ethnic Tibetan areas until at least April. Tibet is now closed off from the rest of the world.
Tibetans all over the world are supporting the international campaign to not celebrate Losar. The campaign was initiated by the Tibetan Youth Congress and the Students for a Free Tibet. Tibetans have decided to pray and mourn the dead, missing and imprisoned instead of celebrating.
Text messages were sent all over Tibet such as one which read, "To mourn those Tibetans who died in 2008, those many heroes who gave their lives, to show sympathy for all Tibetans, we should have no New Year and join hands to show our solidarity." Homemade posters encouraged people not to celebrate: "One thousand people have been arrested, 1,000 people have disappeared. We others, Tibetans who are living safely, if you have a good heart please do these two things. Do not sing, dance or play and do not set off fireworks. These two actions only. Let us remember the dead and pray for the living."
The Tibetan writer Woeser writes: "...let us light butter lamps to make offerings in memory of the deceased, whose exact number we still do not know, in the corners where the video surveillance cannot reach. Furthermore, those of us who live in alien lands and do not have butter lamps to offer, let us light candles for those deceased whose exact number we still do not know."
This, from the Message of H.H. the Dalai Lama to the Tibetan People, eloquently explains the tragic situation: "Just as we had suspected, the strike-hard campaign has been re-launched in Tibet and there is a heavy presence of armed security and military forces in most of the cities all over Tibet. In all the places those who dare to come out even with a slight hint of their aspirations have to face torture and detention. In particular, special restrictions have been imposed in the monasteries, patriotic re-education has been launched, and restrictions have been imposed on the visit of foreign tourists. Provocative orders have been passed for special celebrations of the Tibetan New Year. Looking at all these developments it becomes clear that the intention and aim behind them are to subject the Tibetan people to such a level of cruelty and harassment that they will not be able to tolerate and thus be forced to remonstrate. When this happens the authorities can then indulge in unprecedented and unimaginable forceful clampdown. Therefore, I would like to make a strong appeal to the Tibetan people to exercise patience and not to give in to these provocations so that the precious lives of many Tibetans are not wasted, and they do not have to undergo torture and suffering."
The state-run Tibetan television service reports that in some areas the occupational government has even been distributing vouchers to Tibetans for the purchase of fireworks and other traditional festive materials. CCTV is transmitting services with titles such as "Jubilant Tibetans embrace coming new year."
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In their preparation for Losar, the Tibetan New Year, as well as the upcoming anniversary of last year’s unrest in Tibet, the presence of Chinese soldiers in the occupied ethnic Tibetan regions has increased by the thousands – possibly as many as 20,000, this in addition to the estimated 1,000,000 or more already present. Dozens of Tibetans suspected of supporting this campaign have already been arrested in Lhasa. Others have been imprisoned and beaten after a Tibetan monk carried a photograph of the Dalai Lama in a public market in Lithang repeating "No Losar." Hundreds joined the protest which continued into the next two days.
No foreigners are permitted to enter any ethnic Tibetan areas until at least April. Tibet is now closed off from the rest of the world.
Tibetans all over the world are supporting the international campaign to not celebrate Losar. The campaign was initiated by the Tibetan Youth Congress and the Students for a Free Tibet. Tibetans have decided to pray and mourn the dead, missing and imprisoned instead of celebrating.
Text messages were sent all over Tibet such as one which read, "To mourn those Tibetans who died in 2008, those many heroes who gave their lives, to show sympathy for all Tibetans, we should have no New Year and join hands to show our solidarity." Homemade posters encouraged people not to celebrate: "One thousand people have been arrested, 1,000 people have disappeared. We others, Tibetans who are living safely, if you have a good heart please do these two things. Do not sing, dance or play and do not set off fireworks. These two actions only. Let us remember the dead and pray for the living."
The Tibetan writer Woeser writes: "...let us light butter lamps to make offerings in memory of the deceased, whose exact number we still do not know, in the corners where the video surveillance cannot reach. Furthermore, those of us who live in alien lands and do not have butter lamps to offer, let us light candles for those deceased whose exact number we still do not know."
This, from the Message of H.H. the Dalai Lama to the Tibetan People, eloquently explains the tragic situation: "Just as we had suspected, the strike-hard campaign has been re-launched in Tibet and there is a heavy presence of armed security and military forces in most of the cities all over Tibet. In all the places those who dare to come out even with a slight hint of their aspirations have to face torture and detention. In particular, special restrictions have been imposed in the monasteries, patriotic re-education has been launched, and restrictions have been imposed on the visit of foreign tourists. Provocative orders have been passed for special celebrations of the Tibetan New Year. Looking at all these developments it becomes clear that the intention and aim behind them are to subject the Tibetan people to such a level of cruelty and harassment that they will not be able to tolerate and thus be forced to remonstrate. When this happens the authorities can then indulge in unprecedented and unimaginable forceful clampdown. Therefore, I would like to make a strong appeal to the Tibetan people to exercise patience and not to give in to these provocations so that the precious lives of many Tibetans are not wasted, and they do not have to undergo torture and suffering."
The state-run Tibetan television service reports that in some areas the occupational government has even been distributing vouchers to Tibetans for the purchase of fireworks and other traditional festive materials. CCTV is transmitting services with titles such as "Jubilant Tibetans embrace coming new year."
Defend Human Rights - Boycott Chinese products
http://www.unmadeinchina.org
