Wary Tibetans mark Dalai Lama's birthday quietly in China

CHABCHA COUNTY, China--The streets of Chabcha county in western Qinghai province were quiet on July 6 as Tibetan monks marked the Dalai Lama's birthday in their homes, wary that any public celebration could endanger a tentative softening by Chinese authorities.

Tibetans in China have always had to steer clear of public ceremonies revering their 78-year-old exiled spiritual leader who Beijing has denounced as a "wolf in monk's robes."

But in the run-up to this year's anniversary, authorities in Qinghai had discussed proposals to ease restrictions including allowing Tibetans to openly display photographs of the Dalai Lama, the International Campaign for Tibet said.

On July 6, however, there was no sign of any celebration with many ordinary Tibetans not even aware it was his birthday.

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