By Ariel Lin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia
KATHMANDU, Nepal – UN officials reports Nepalese police stopped two separate protests by Tibetan exiles and monks in Katmandu, and arrested 475 protesters on Monday as they gathered to protest the recent crackdown on Tibetans in China. The UN human rights office in Nepal said the arrested included some prominent Nepali human rights activists who joined the protests.
Chanting “China, stop killings in Tibet. UN, we want justice,” the protesters were marching toward the UN offices when police stopped them and snatched their banners. The protest in Katmandu by 200 Tibetan refugees and monks was broken up by police, who beat them with bamboo sticks and arrested scores, dragging them to trucks and vans to be taken to police stations. Police official Sarad Karki said about 245 demonstrators were arrested in the protest.
Police also stopped a second protest near Singhadurbar, where the prime minister’s office and all government ministries are located, but less force was used. Police official Sarvendra Khanal said 155 protesters were arrested there.
The UN human rights office said it was deeply concerned at the arbitrary arrests and detentions of several hundred individuals. “These actions by police violate individuals’ basic rights to freedom from arbitrary detention and freedom of movement, in addition to impairing the individuals’ rights to peaceful assembly and expression,” the UN said in a statement.
The Nepali government denied it was using excessive force, saying it was only trying to stop political activities by Tibetans. “We will not allow any anti-China activities in Nepal and will stop it. The allegations that excessive force was used to break these protests are baseless,” said Modraj Dotel, Nepal’s home ministry spokesman.
For more information, please see:
AP – Nepal Police Arrest Tibetan Protesters – 24 March 2008
CBC News – 400 Tibetan supporters arrested in Kathmandu – 24 March 2008
FOX News – Nepalese Police Beat Back Monks, Refugees in Tibetan Protest; About 475 Arrested – 24 March 2008
Reuters – Tibetans protest in Nepal, 250 detained – 24 March 2008
