Berlin  - Tibetan exiles in Germany said Tuesday they were calling off celebrations of the Tibetan new year this week to protest at China's actions last year in their homeland.

The Tibet Campaign of Germany (TID) and the Association of Tibetans in Germany (VTD) appealed to the German government to speak out on behalf of Tibetans.

The Tibetan new year, or losar, begins on Wednesday. The groups said the losar boycott was being spread by word of mouth in Tibet despite Chinese efforts to keep it quiet, and Tibetan exiles in many lands were calling off the celebrations in sympathy.

The groups said they would not celebrate but instead mourn those killed in the crackdown on Tibetan protests one year ago, ahead of the Beijing Olympics.

TID chairman Wolfgang Grader said, "Germany has to tell the Chinese authorities that the increasing repression is a risk. Activity since the start of the year risks setting off a Tibetan powder keg." (dpa)