Tibetan Protests Continue in Kathmandu

Tibetans demonstrated today in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Kathmandu continuously for about an hour chanting anti-China slogans. Most of them were wearing vests on which was printed “Save Tibet”.

The Tibetan protesters numbered about 120 while they were demonstrating at Durbar Margh, the heart of Kathmandu.  About 50 policemen were deployed to contain their protests. Police detained about more than 50 Tibetans this afternoon.

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Three Western ladies also took part in the Tibetan protests. One of them said, “I’m not a Tibetan but I support their movement for democracy.” A European lady immediately hired a taxi, got on it and began to take photos.

Because of the protest, the traffic system at Durbar Margh was disrupted for about an hour.

Nepal has so far maintained her position of One-China policy according to which the Nepal government tries to control Tibetans’ anti-China protests here but in vain. Tibetans have protested more than 60 times in Kathmandu from May 2006 till today.

As most of the Tibetan refugees in Nepal have received naturalized citizenships, it is difficult to estimate exactly how many Tibetan refugees live in Nepal. But some estimate the number to be nearly 20,000. Out of the number, only a few dozens have been protesting against China in Kathmandu.