Article 19 concerned over govt statement on Tibetans' protests

Article 19, an international human rights organisation, has expressed its concern over the government statement that force might be used to stop the Tibetan refugees from demonstrating during the Olympic torch relay to the top of Mt Everest.

In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala on Wednesday, Article 19 said repeated arrest of the demonstrators in Kathmandu since March "amounts to a significant violation of the right to freedom of expression and opinion and freedom of peaceful assembly".

"The right to freedom of expression is an international human right which applies to everyone in Nepal, citizens and non citizens. The Tibetans, and others who support them, have every right to carry out peaceful demonstrations to express their disagreement with the actions of the Chinese authorities in Tibet," it further said. nepalnews.com ia May 08 08