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Local Tibetans and supporters of Tibet will boycott Tibetan New Year celebrations today - focusing instead on organising protests to mark the anniversaries of protests and exile next month.
A protest is being planned for Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch on March 10 to mark the 50th anniversary of the forced exile of the Dalai Lama after an unsuccessful uprising against China.
It will also mark one year since a Chinese crackdown left about 200 people dead, says Tibetan community spokesman Thuten Kesang.
"The Chinese have had their new year celebrations, but for Tibetans around the world, there is nothing to celebrate."
Tibetan New Year, or Losar, is the biggest holiday on the Tibetan calendar, lasting 15 days. Tibetans traditionally visit families and friends, clean their homes and visit monasteries for performances and prayers.
"This year, we will set aside our traditional observances and instead spend the day mourning and remembering our brothers and sisters who have died, been tortured or jailed by the Chinese over the last 50 years."
The muted observance of Losar will set the tone for protests throughout New Zealand next month against China's 1959 military takeover of the Himalayan region. Mr Kesang says they will be "massive".
"This will be our first protest since the election and we are hoping the National Government will be more supportive and sympathetic to our cause," he said.
The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights, based in India, says China has moved hundreds of paramilitary forces into Tibet before Losar and Chinese authorities had said they would crush any signs of support for the Dalai Lama.
China accuses the Dalai Lama of seeking independence for Tibet and of being behind the protests against Chinese rule last year. Beijing blamed Tibetan "rioters" for the deaths of 21 people, not 200 as claimed by the Tibetans.
The Dalai Lama, who will visit Auckland this year, denies inciting violent protests and says he is only seeking autonomy for Tibet.
