The Times Online is reporting Chinese security forces are rounding up Tibetans who they believe are organizing a boycott of Losar (Tibetan New Year) celebrations.

Police in Lhasa have arrested dozens of Tibetans suspected of supporting a campaign against celebrating the Tibetan New Year. The protest has been organised to commemorate last year’s anti-Chinese demonstrations.

Witnesses told The Times that uniformed and plainclothes police and members of the paramilitary People’s Armed Police were involved in the sweep, which began on Monday. They raided tea houses, which are popular with young Tibetans, and picked up people of all ages in the street.

Many of those detained were accused of “spreading rumours”, sources in the Tibetan capital said.

The sweep appeared to have begun in the district around the Ramoche temple in the old city, where peaceful demonstrations in support of the exiled Dalai Lama burst into violence on March 14 last year, with protesters rampaging through the streets, setting fire to shops and offices. At least 18 people died in the violence and, over the next few days, dozens of demonstrations swept neighbouring provinces and troops opened fire on protesters.

Tibetans campaigning against celebration of the New Year, or Losar, on February 25, say that the day should be a time of remembrance. They have issued appeals on the internet and sent text messages putting their case.

One text message says: “To mourn those Tibetans who died in 2008, those many heroes who gave their lives, to show sympathy for all Tibetans, we should have no New Year and join hands to show our solidarity.”

Hand-made posters have been pasted on walls in ethnic Tibetan areas of western China urging people not to celebrate. One reads: “One thousand people have been arrested, 1,000 people have disappeared. We others, Tibetans who are living safely, if you have a good heart please do these two things. Do not sing, dance or play and do not set off fireworks. These two actions only. Let us remember the dead and pray for the living.”

I recently received an emailed translation of the poster referenced above. I received a copy of the posters that are being put up and circulated in Ngaba, Amdo. A copy of the poster was received by Kirti Monastery in Dharamsala on January 27th, 2009, which is translated below:

“To the Tibetans of the three provinces; monks, nuns, lay men and women:
Let us unite our strength and let us not surrender to this invasive system of oppression.
Let us hold our hands across all three provinces and share our joys and sorrows.
We must never forget that those killed (in the uprising) did not die fighting for their own interests;
They died fighting for our just and noble cause and for the freedom of the Land of Snows.
For that matter, we must not celebrate Losar this year.
So long as you are Tibetan, you must not celebrate this Losar.
Do you want to be reunited with your guru?
Do you want Tibet to be free?
If yes, then you should cancel Losar celebrations, as a political act.
Dear brothers and sisters, do not despair.”

These are powerful words, distributed by Tibetan patriots who knew they actions could lead to detention and imprisonment by Chinese forces. After all, expressions of desire for Tibetan independence are thought crimes in occupied Tibet.