Tibetan New Year celebrations canceled

PRESS RELEASE
Auckland Tibetan Association and Friends of Tibet (NZ)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
24th February 2009

Tibetans And Supporters Cancel Tibetan New Year Celebrations In Solidarity With "No Losar" Resistance Movement In Tibet Campaigners Call On China To Cease Its ``Strike Hard Campaign’’

Tibetans and supporters in New Zealand have, in solidarity with Tibetans in Tibet, cancelled traditional celebrations of Losar, (Tibetan New Year 2009) and are marking the occasion with Prayers sessions in various Buddhist Centres around New Zealand.

Large numbers of Tibetans in Tibet have decided not to hold the traditional celebrations of this auspicious holiday, both as an act of passive resistance and a mark of respect to those who lost their lives during China’s crackdown on the wave of peaceful protest that swept the Tibetan plateau following 10 March 2008.

Friends of Tibet (NZ) and the Tibetan Community’s spokespersn Thuten Kesang a member of the International Tibet Support Network, said: ``We are holding Prayer session in honour of the countless Tibetans who bravely stood up last year to show the Chinese authorities that, even after half a century, the Tibetan people continue to resist the occupation of Tibet.’’

The ``No Losar’’ movement has spread across Tibet by word of mouth at a time when Tibet remains under virtual martial law. Security in Tibet remains high following last year’s protests and, with another 10 March fast approaching, China has instituted new measures to intimidate Tibetans and denigrate their cultural and religious identity.

On February 15 and 16 2009, more than 100 Tibetan monks, lay people and nomads staged the largest protests to have taken place in Tibet since the early months of 2008. The first protests took place in Lithang County in eastern Tibet and were prompted by the arrest of Lobsang Lhundup, a 39-year old Tibetan monk who had publicly called for Tibetans not to celebrate Losar. At least 24 Tibetans have reportedly been detained at present as a result of the protests.

In just over a week on March 10 2009 Tibetans and supporters will be commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising of 1959, when thousands of Tibetans rose up against Chinese rule and the Dalai Lama was forced to escape into exile. In 2008, Tibetans once again demonstrated their dissatisfaction with Chinese rule and government leaders across the world expressed concern over China’s violent response to the protest, but campaigners are calling on their governments to take further action, with almost 200 Tibet organisations signing a letter to world leaders.

Friends of Tibet (NZ) and the Tibetan Community is urging our Foreign Minister Hon Murray McCully to raise the issue with the Chinese government, specially the provocative "Strike Hard" campaign and put an end to their hard-line policies in Tibet immediately.

Notes for editors:

1. 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. According to the Tibetan Lunar calendar, February 25th will mark the first day of 2136, the year of the Earth Ox.

2. The International Tibet Support Network (ITSN) is a global coalition of Tibet related non-governmental organizations, which works to maximise the effectiveness of the worldwide Tibet movement. ITSN Member organisations hold varied positions on Tibet's future political status, but all regard Tibet as an occupied country and are dedicated to ending human rights violations in Tibet, and to working actively to restore the Tibetan people's right under international law to determine their own political, economic, social, religious, and cultural status.

3. 196 Tibet organisations this week signed a letter which has been sent by the International Tibet Support Network to over 200 world leaders, which additionally calls on leaders for greater ommitment to helping the Dalai Lama resolve the occupation of Tibet, and to press China for an independent enquiry into its excessive use of force in cracking down on last year’s protests.

ENDS