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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.
In observance of a
one-year mourning period, Tibetans inside Tibet are refraining from public
festivities on Tibetan New Year. Tibet remains under virtual martial
law, with the Chinese government imposing travel restrictions on Tibetans
as well as foreign journalists in many areas.
"This year, we
honor the sacrifice of countless Tibetans who rose up to show China and the
world that even after 50 years of brutal occupation, Tibetans are
determined to regain our freedom," said Dr. B. Tsering,
president of the Tibetan Women's' Association. "We mourn our brothers
and sisters who were killed in China's violent crackdown while we
stand in solidarity with those who continue to suffer under China's totalitarian rule."
Tibetan New Year or Losar is one of the most auspicious holidays in the
Tibetan calendar and is traditionally celebrated for a minimum of three
days. This year Losar falls on 25th - 27th of
February, just over two weeks before the 50th commemoration of the March
10th Tibetan National Uprising of 1959, when the Dalai Lama was forced to
escape into exile. March 10th will also mark one year since protests by
Tibetan monks in Lhasa sparked a nationwide uprising
across the Tibetan plateau.
"By not
celebrating Losar, we are honoring all those
Tibetans who have died in the past year for the freedom of our
homeland," said Ven. Ngawang
Woebar, president of Gu-Chu-Sum
Ex-Political Prisoners' Movement. "On the eve of the commemoration of
two historic uprisings -- one in 1959 and the other in 2008 -- we call on
Tibetans worldwide to join us in re-dedicating ourselves to the cause of
our nation."
The Tibetan People's
Uprising Movement, organized by The Tibetan
Women's Association, Gu-Chu-Sum Ex-political
Prisoners Movement, National Democratic Party of Tibet and Students for a
Free Tibet (India) aims to revive the spirit of
the Tibetan National Uprising of 1959, and by engaging in nonviolent direct
action, bring about an end to China's illegal occupation of Tibet.
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