Tibetans barred from annual prayer festival

Thursday, February 05, 2009

Phayul
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This picture taken on Feb. 2 from a cellphone shows workers installing a new surveillance camera in Labrang. (Photographer's name withheld)

Dharamsala, Feb. 5 - A Tibetan in Amdo Labrang has secretly sent an email accompanied by pictures for dissemination outside Tibet. The Tibetan man, who did not give his name, wrote in a broken English that Chinese authorities are threatening Tibetans of dire consequences if they attend the annual prayer (Monlam Chenmo) at Labrang monastery from February 13 to 16, 2009.

The man writes, "At the moment in Amdo every local government saying to the local people. If you will go to Labrang monastery on the 13th 14th 15th and 16th then we don't take care about for your life."

Annual Prayer festival at Labrang monastery usually draws thousands of people from other parts of Tibet but this year the authorities are not allowing devotees to attend the event that is significant for many Tibetans.

The local government is installing many surveillance cameras in Labrang to monitor movement of the Tibetans. More and more Chinese troops are being deployed in the area.

The authorities are also not allowing tourists during the festival.

Labrang witnessed intense military crackdown after Tibetans in the area initiated some of the most vociferous protests against the Chinese government last year.

He ends his short email with "please help my nation and send this news to all of the world."

This picture taken from cellphone on Feb. 2 shows troops marching in Labrang. (photographer's name withheld)