Dharamshala: The Regional Tibetan Youth Congress of Dharamsala on Tuesday urged fellow Tibetans around the world not to celebrate Losar (Tibetan New Year), as a show of solidarity against Chinese atrocities and a tribute to those Tibetans who died for their homeland.
Sonam, President of RTYC of Dharamsala, explained that the purpose of the Losar protest is, "To stand in solidarity with the families of four Tibetans, who took part in the peaceful protest broke out in Tibet 2008 and executed by Chinese government in October last year, and to against the continuing suppression and human right violations all over Tibet, we urge all fellow Tibetans around the world not to celebrate nearing Losar."
Sonam also remarked that Tibetans should grieve the fact that 2009 marks the 50th year of the Chinese occupation of Tibet.
Members of the Kashag Secretariat also requested that Tibetan exile government officials forego the coming Losar celebrations.
Chinese authorities disparage exiled Tibetan leader His Holiness Dalai Lama as a separatist and pressure other foreign leaders not to meet with him. Beijing warned US President Barack Obama recently that a US meeting with His Holiness would erode ties between the two powers.
During the 9th round of Sino-Tibet talks last month, Beijing claimed that His Holiness Dalai Lama was not in a position to represent Tibet, and that his demand for a high level of autonomy for the Tibetan people violates China's constitution.
Edited by Amy Elmgren, Online assistant for The Tibet Post International U.S.A.
