Kathmandu - Nepalese police Thursday broke up anti-China
demonstrations by Tibetan exiles near the Chinese embassy and
detained over 500 demonstrators.
More than 800 Tibetans gathered in small groups shouting
anti-China slogans and denouncing the Beijing Olympic Games before
they were detained police.
The demonstrators, including monks and nuns, carried banners
depicting killings in Tibet by the Chinese forces and shouted 'down
with IOC' for letting the games be held in China.
'Nearly 500 demonstrators were detained during Thursday's
protests,' Kathmandu district police said. 'The Tibetans were
arrested after they tried to break lines and march on the
Chinese embassy consular section.'
Earlier this month, the government banned protests around the
Chinese embassy and its consular section and warned of tougher
actions against those violating the order.
However, police said most protestors were expected to be released
by Thursday night.
Tibetan exiles have held almost daily protests in Nepal since
March 10 and have intensified their protests since the start of the
Olympic Games on August 8.
Nearly 20,000 Tibetans are officially listed as refugees in Nepal.
However, several thousand more have not been given that status after
the government stopped recognizing arrivals after 1989 as refugees.
Human rights organizations say an estimated 3,000 Tibetans cross
the Himalayan passes each year, risking their lives to escape
Chinese rule in Tibet.
Nepal has come under growing criticism over its handling of the
Tibetan protests. Human rights organizations say thousands of
Tibetans have been arrested since the anti-China protests began in
March.
Nepal, which recognizes Tibet as an integral part of China, will
not allow anti-China protests in the country because it would affect
relations with its northern neighbour.
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