China’s Tibetan areas not celebrating the new year

The communist government claims they are not destroying the culture of Tibet, yet they continue to prevent the Tibetan New Year celebrations through intimidation of their military, and/or bastardize it with communist practices.

China’s Tibetan areas not celebrating the new year

Only a handful of pilgrims gathered here last weekend at the historic Labrang monastery, normally bustling before the Tibetan New Year.

“There was a war in Lhasa this year. Lots of Tibetans were killed,” one resident murmured, referring to protests last March against Chinese rule that broke out in the Tibetan capital and spread to other cities in western China, including Xiahe. The unrest was the largest and most sustained in decades.

“There is no new year festival for us,” the woman said.

The Dalai Lama, Tibet’s spiritual leader, called this week on Tibetans to skip festivities surrounding the new year, which begins Wednesday, saying they would be inappropriate after the Chinese government’s heavy-handed crackdown on the protests. Tibetans across the region say they are still in mourning.

The Dalai Lama also denounced Chinese-backed celebration plans as “provocations.” [read on]

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