24. Feb 2009
Dalai Lama’s Losar message
(tibet.net ) The Dalai Lama said he admired the resolute decision made by Tibetans both in and outside Tibet to forgo "celebratory activities" during Losar, the Tibetan new year. The Tibetan leader said: "I would like to greet all Tibetans, both inside and outside of Tibet. I pray that there be peace and prosperity, and that our just cause may see gradual resolution". He added: "last year in Tibet we witnessed hundreds of Tibetans losing their lives, and several thousands facing detention and torture, in response to the widespread display by Tibetans all over Tibet of their discontentment with the Chinese authorities' policies". Highlighting the repressive measures enforced by Chinese authorities all over Tibet since then, he called on Tibetans to exercise patience against provocative actions, since otherwise "the authorities can then indulge in unprecedented and unimaginable forceful clampdown". He therefore directed "a strong appeal to the Tibetan people to exercise patience and not to give in to these provocations so that the precious lives of many Tibetans are not wasted, and they do not have to undergo torture and suffering". In the message, the Dalai Lama also reiterated that there should not be a departure in the Tibetan people's commitment towards non-violence in their struggle for freedom.