Today is the beginning of Losar, and the first day of the year, according to the Tibetan lunar calendar. It may not be a happy year. The Tibetan government in exile has called on Tibetans to shun the traditional celebrations and instead pray for Tibetans under Chinese rule.
An Associated Press report by Charles Hutzler describes the tense situation within ethnic Tibetan populations in China and the Tibetan Autonomous Region. In the past year, 21 Tibetans -- mostly monks and nuns -- have set themselves on fire in protest of Chinese policies. Beijing has responded by clamping down even more tightly on Tibetans, and this in turn has touched off large-scale protests.
Hutzler writes that police and government officials have moved into monasteries to maintain control. But the heavier security has inflamed protests. The anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan uprising is just around the corner, and in the next few days the situation could deteriorate further.
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