No New Year for Tibetan monks
- 12 years ago
Tibetan New Year celebrations in Beijing.
Monks dance and sing to ward off evil spirits and honour Buddha on the religious holiday.
And locals and visitors gather at the temple to watch the ceremony.
But for monks at this monastery in northwest China, there is no cause for celebration.
After a series of self-immolations, China tightened security in the Tibet Autonomous Region ahead of the New Year.
Beijing accuses Tibetan exiles and spiritual leader the Dalai Lama of inciting protests.
(SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) TIBETAN MONK WHO ASKED TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS SAYING:
"We have no freedom, no religious freedom, and not even freedom of speech. The pressure is too great, people had no choice, so we protest. But people protest and they open fire, there's nothing else we can do."
China has controlled the region since 1950.
The government rejects accusations it is stifling Tibetan culture and faith and says it has helped lift the region from poverty.
Lindsey Parietti
Monks dance and sing to ward off evil spirits and honour Buddha on the religious holiday.
And locals and visitors gather at the temple to watch the ceremony.
But for monks at this monastery in northwest China, there is no cause for celebration.
After a series of self-immolations, China tightened security in the Tibet Autonomous Region ahead of the New Year.
Beijing accuses Tibetan exiles and spiritual leader the Dalai Lama of inciting protests.
(SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) TIBETAN MONK WHO ASKED TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS SAYING:
"We have no freedom, no religious freedom, and not even freedom of speech. The pressure is too great, people had no choice, so we protest. But people protest and they open fire, there's nothing else we can do."
China has controlled the region since 1950.
The government rejects accusations it is stifling Tibetan culture and faith and says it has helped lift the region from poverty.
Lindsey Parietti