Nepal police arrest 70 Tibetan protestors

Apr 30, 2008, 10:30 GMT

Kathmandu - Nepalese police Wednesday arrested more than 70 Tibetan protestors trying to demonstrate in front of the Chinese embassy visa office in Kathmandu.

Police said they arrested the demonstrators after the Tibetan exiles tried to cross the police lines and march on to the visa office.

The protestors included several nuns and monks holding white and yellow roses to show their solidarity with Tibetans in Lhasa and to protest the Chinese crackdown following rioting earlier this year.

Riot police charged the demonstrators and loaded them unto trucks and vans to be driven off to detention centres. Most detainees were expected to be released later Wednesday.

Tibetans have been involved in protests around the United Nations and Chinese embassy in Kathmandu since 10 March, calling for a Free Tibet and UN investigations into the recent troubles in Lhasa.

The Nepalese government has said it will not allow anti-Chinese activities in Nepal and police have broken up the demonstrations by force.

The government has come under increasing criticism from international human rights organisations for its handling of the protestors, many of whom were beaten by the police.

Rights groups have also accused the Nepalese authorities of threatening the refugees involved in demonstrations with deportation back to Tibet.

The Nepalese government has denied the charges.