Tibetan Protestors Arrested in Nepal

PROTEST: Nepal police detain Tibetans who were shouting
anti-China slogans in tribute to the Tibetans who died
in the recent self-immolation, in Kathmandu,
Nepal. (Niranjan Shrestha, AP) Credit

AsiaOne News (Singapore)
November 1, 2011.

KATHMANDU - Nepal police arrested more than 50 Tibetan exiles Tuesday as they demonstrated in support of monks from their homeland who have set themselves on fire in protest against Chinese rule, campaigners said.

Nine Buddhist monks and a nun have self-immolated since March in southwest China's Sichuan province, home to a large ethnic Tibetan population.

Hundreds of Tibetan exiles gathered in solidarity around a monastery on the outskirts of Kathmandu, but Nepalese police barred hundreds more from getting in.

"A total of 53 Tibetans were arrested when they came out the monastery after the ceremony," Tsewang Dolma, president of the Tibetan Youth Club, told AFP.

She said she was detained along with another 35 women and 17 men. Dozens of policemen were deployed behind the monastery where prayers were taking place, an AFP reporter saw, while other officers blocked the entrance.

Half a dozen policemen climbed on the roof of a house adjoining the monastery and seized posters of the Dalai Lama and the monks who have self-immolated.

A scuffle broke out when the protesters, including women, teenage girls and elderly men, tried to grab the posters. Nepal, which is home to around 20,000 Tibetans, is under intense pressure from Beijing over the exiles, and has repeatedly said it will not tolerate what it calls "anti-China activities".

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Comment: An AP news report says that the number of protectors arrested is more than 100.

Nepal says that it will continue to allow thousands of Tibetan exiles to live in Nepal but it won't allow protests against China because it considers China a friendly country.

South Africa does not recognize any movement calling for an independent Tibet.  Our leaders have forgotten where we come from and can be bought so you should not be surprised that they grin-and-chin for China.

Tibet does not belong to China who is busy displacing Tibetans with Chinese from other regions of China.

In effect, Tibet is being erased by China while most of us are just gobbling up Chinese imports.

If you are in London tomorrow (November 2 between 6-8pm) and would like to add your voice to Free Tibet then join the Enough is Enough! Global day of Action protest in front of the Chinese Embassy.

Get more protest information here. 

See also other related links from the International Campaign for Tibet.

Onward!