At least 34 Tibetans arrested in Nepal over anti-Chinese protests

Demonstrations in Kathmandu and a nearby village took place on March 10, the 51st so-called Uprising Day that commemorates the occupation of Tibet in 1959. In a bid to please Beijing, Nepali forces dispersed protesters and arrested many.

At least 34 four Tibetan protesters have been arrested today for holding anti-Chinese rallies to mark Uprising Day, in spite of Nepal having warned Tibetans earlier this week to refrain from doing so. Police had stepped up security at Chinese establishments, especially in Kathmandu, the capital of the country. However, at least two demonstrations took place, with activists chanting pro-independence slogans and waving Tibetan national flags right in front of the Chinese Embassy's Consulate Office. According to Thai-Indian News, protesters chanted slogans such as “Long live the Dalai Lama”, but also “Wake up, UN, Tibet’s freedom is Nepal’s security.” Similar scenes could be witnessed by inhabitants of the village Boudha, home to the famed stupa (shrine, temple) where police tried to prevent protesters to enter their own sacred site. A statement the the news agency Press Trust of India shows that protesting against China is - without doubt - against the law.

They have been arrested as they broke law by staging anti-China demonstrations in different parts of the capital, a senior police officer said.

Forget freedom of speech, that is the message this action sends. So paranoid seems the Chinese government, it even closed its border with Nepal and grounded flights to Lhasa, the former seat of the Dalai Lama. The Asian Tribune writes this:

According to a press statement issued by International Campaign for Tibet (ICT), Chinese authorities have effectively closed the Friendship Bridge, the bridge connecting Nepal with Tibet. The rights body also said that flights to Lhasa were grounded at Kathmandu airport from March 5 to thwart possible protests on the part of Tibetans.

On the website of nepalnews.com, there's a small slideshow (6 images) of monks, nuns and others during today's demonstrations.