The suppression of the Tibetan New Year
- Gerardo E. Martínez-Solanas
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The suppression of the Tibetan New Year
07 May 2014 18:07 - 23 Jun 2014 19:17
It is not only occupation and territorial ambition, but a cruel Chinese repressive assault on Tibetan Culture, even to the extreme action of suppressing the Tibetan New Year.
It is an unsettling question to consider, but Tibet's ancient culture is being pushed ever closer to extinction by the Chinese regime's oppressive policies in Tibet.
Losar, the Tibetan New Year, has been celebrated in the Chinese occupied territory of Tibet for thousands of years. Losar begins on the first day of the first lunar month when the moon is new. This year, it was supposed to be celebrated in March 2nd and during the following 15 days. It has deep religious and cultural characteristics.
However, freedom to celebrate it changed dramatically when Chinese troops invaded Tibet and the Communist Party took control by force. More than 6000 monasteries were destroyed as part of the cruel campaign that followed to totally extinguish Tibet's ancient culture and religion.
During the first 20 years, the Chinese government banned Losar observations outright and Tibetans were forced to "celebrate" Chinese New Year instead. After 1981, restrictions were loosened somewhat, but Chinese authorities kept their pressure to co-opt Losar and replace Tibetan culture with that of China by force. Despite Chinese New Year (Jan 31st) and the first day of Losar this year (March 2nd) being more than a full month appart, Communist Party officials ordered the hanging of traditional Chinese red lanterns and banners with New Year greetings in Chinese script that have no connection whatsoever with Tibetan customs and religion.
Over the past year of Premier Xi Jinping’s leadership (he assumed full power on March 13, 2013), the crackdown across Tibet has deepened, particularly in areas where there have been self-immolations or unrest. Policies and measures that undermine Tibetan culture and religion that led to the protests and unrest in the first place have been strengthened, while the ‘unbearable oppression’ cited by a number of self-immolators in their last statements has been intensified.
On March 9, in the midst of Losar, a large-scale military drill was held in Lhasa. The state media published images of armed paramilitary police in balaclavas standing in formation and armored vehicles, announcing that it was an ‘emergency stability maintenance’ drill carried out in order to test “the comprehensive combat capability” of the armed forces. ( legal.gmw.cn/2014-03/11/content_10645618.htm )
The future of Losar is uncertain at best due to the Chinese government's intransigence and restrictions on Tibetans' rights.
The International Campaign for Tibet tries to do something about these abuses and it needs the help of generous souls. If you are one of them, you may do so HERE: salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/606...donate_page_KEY=3196
It is an unsettling question to consider, but Tibet's ancient culture is being pushed ever closer to extinction by the Chinese regime's oppressive policies in Tibet.
Losar, the Tibetan New Year, has been celebrated in the Chinese occupied territory of Tibet for thousands of years. Losar begins on the first day of the first lunar month when the moon is new. This year, it was supposed to be celebrated in March 2nd and during the following 15 days. It has deep religious and cultural characteristics.
However, freedom to celebrate it changed dramatically when Chinese troops invaded Tibet and the Communist Party took control by force. More than 6000 monasteries were destroyed as part of the cruel campaign that followed to totally extinguish Tibet's ancient culture and religion.
During the first 20 years, the Chinese government banned Losar observations outright and Tibetans were forced to "celebrate" Chinese New Year instead. After 1981, restrictions were loosened somewhat, but Chinese authorities kept their pressure to co-opt Losar and replace Tibetan culture with that of China by force. Despite Chinese New Year (Jan 31st) and the first day of Losar this year (March 2nd) being more than a full month appart, Communist Party officials ordered the hanging of traditional Chinese red lanterns and banners with New Year greetings in Chinese script that have no connection whatsoever with Tibetan customs and religion.
Over the past year of Premier Xi Jinping’s leadership (he assumed full power on March 13, 2013), the crackdown across Tibet has deepened, particularly in areas where there have been self-immolations or unrest. Policies and measures that undermine Tibetan culture and religion that led to the protests and unrest in the first place have been strengthened, while the ‘unbearable oppression’ cited by a number of self-immolators in their last statements has been intensified.
On March 9, in the midst of Losar, a large-scale military drill was held in Lhasa. The state media published images of armed paramilitary police in balaclavas standing in formation and armored vehicles, announcing that it was an ‘emergency stability maintenance’ drill carried out in order to test “the comprehensive combat capability” of the armed forces. ( legal.gmw.cn/2014-03/11/content_10645618.htm )
The future of Losar is uncertain at best due to the Chinese government's intransigence and restrictions on Tibetans' rights.
The International Campaign for Tibet tries to do something about these abuses and it needs the help of generous souls. If you are one of them, you may do so HERE: salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/606...donate_page_KEY=3196
Last edit: 23 Jun 2014 19:17 by Gerardo E. Martínez-Solanas.
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