Posted on 03/24/2008 5:16:07 AM PDT by nuconvert
Nepalese Police Beat Monks, Refugees in Tibetan Protest; 40 Arrested
March 24, 2008
KATMANDU, Nepal — Police in Nepal broke up a protest by 200 Tibetan refugees and monks near the offices of the United Nations on Monday by beating them with bamboo sticks and arresting 40.
The refugees demonstrating in Katmandu were demanding that the U.N. investigate the recent crackdown in Tibet by Chinese authorities.
Chanting "China, stop killings in Tibet. U.N., we want justice," the protesters were marching to U.N. headquarters when police stopped them about 300 feet from the office and snatched their banners.
When the Tibetans tried to break through the police line and push ahead, officers charged with batons and arrested several protesters, dragging them to trucks and vans to be taken to police stations.
Nepal has said it will not allow protests against any "friendly nation," including China.
International human rights groups and the U.N. have already criticized Nepal on the use of force in the past few days on protests around Katmandu involving some of the thousands of Tibetan refugees living in the country.
The U.N.'s human rights office last week said it was concerned about the police use of excessive of force on peaceful protests and it was seeking clarification from the Nepal government about the instructions given to the police.
New York-based Human Rights Watch also urged Nepal to stop doing "Beijing's bidding" and end its crackdown on Tibetan exiles protesting against China.
The groups said last week that Nepal "should cease arbitrary arrests and detentions, harassment, and the use of excessive force to silence Tibetan protesters, activists and journalists."
Nepal's government has good relations with neighboring China, and has not issued any statements on Beijing's crackdown on anti-Chinese protests in Tibet.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Communist China-—a place to be disdained.
Woops—Nepal. Same.
Nepal’s government knows darn well that if they are not Beijng’s puppet, then they’ll be the next annexation based on “historical lands”, just like Tibet. China is following a well-used storyline here. Sadly, most of the rest of the world is also sticking to the same script.
I know a lama (teacher) who lives near Katmandu. I hope he is alright. Freedom is not free though.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.