Tibetans cancel New Year celebrations

Tibetans inside Tibet and around the world are refraining from Losar (Tibetan New Year) celebrations this year to mourn the more than 200 Tibetans killed by Chinese forces.

For first hand information about the situation inside Tibet from Tibetan bloggers, visit: www.highpeakspureearth.com

This announcement was released on January 27th:

TIBETANS CANCEL NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS TO MARK ‘BLACK YEAR’

Prayer vigils planned to mourn Tibetans killed by Chinese forces in 2008

Dharamshala, India – Tibetan exile groups announced today they will cancel Tibetan New Year celebrations to mourn the deaths of over two hundred Tibetans killed by Chinese forces following the uprising in Tibet last year, and to protest China’s ongoing crackdown. According to the Tibetan lunar calendar, February 25th will mark the first day of 2136, the year of the Earth Ox. Instead of the usual celebrations marked by singing, dancing and other festivities, silence will be observed and butter lamps will be lit in the temples and homes to pray for the deceased. Tibetan leaders also called on Tibetans worldwide to organize similar observances in their communities.

read the full press release here….

also from Reuters:

This year, some Tibetans, including exiles and intellectuals, are refraining from celebrating as a quiet protest gesture, and have urged others to do the same in heated exchanges on the Internet. Meanwhile, some communities that usually celebrate at the same time as Chinese have delayed their holiday to coincide with the Tibetan calendar.

read the full story at TibetCity.com…