Two dozen protesting Tibetans arrested; HRW asks Nepal govt to stop doing Beijing's bidding
Police arrested some two dozen Tibetan refugees when they were preparing to stage a sit-in in front of the United Nations (UN) building at Lalitpur Thursday, demanding that the world body pay attention to the crackdown on pro-independence demonstrators in Lhasa.
The police arrested the Tibetans just as they reached the UN gate. The protesters allowed the police to arrest them without any defiance.
Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch (HRW), a US-based international rights group, has asked the Nepal government to refrain from making arbitrary arrests and harassing Tibetan exiles, who have been carrying out peaceful protests in Kathmandu for some days now.
"The government of Nepal should cease arbitrary arrests and detentions, harassment, and the use of excessive force to silence Tibetan protesters, activists and journalists," HRW said in a statement Thursday, asking the government to reaffirm its commitment to freedom of assembly, association, and expression.
Brad Adams, Asia director at HRW, said the police are violently dispersing peaceful Tibetan protestors in Kathmandu and are detaining increasing numbers.
"How can a government that came to power on a wave of public protests against an authoritarian regime justify crushing peaceful protests by
Tibetans?"
Adams added, "Now is the time for the Nepali government to protect Tibetans - not to do the bidding of Beijing."
On Wednesday, 15 prominent human rights activists of Nepal had condemned the arrests and physical assault on Tibetans who were demonstrating in front of the UN office in Lalipur a few days earlier.
While the government has said it firmly supports 'one China' policy it has not particularly reacted to concerns expressed by national and international human rights groups over the use of excessive force on peaceful demonstrations of Tibetans. nepalnews.com mk/ps Mar 20 08
Related News
- Rights activists condemn police action on Tibetans' demonstrations
- Tibetans clash with police; scores arrested
