China unhappy over Nepal's response to anti-China demonstrations

May 13, 2008, 5:35 GMT

Kathmandu - China has expressed unhappiness over the Nepalese government's efforts to control anti-China demonstrations by Tibetan exiles and called for a tougher policy, media reports said Tuesday.

The Kantipur newspaper quoted the Chinese ambassador to Nepal, Zheng Xianglin, as saying Nepal needed to take stern action against Tibetans involved in protests in the capital Kathmandu.

Xialing's comment came amid growing protests by Tibetan exiles in Nepal despite a Nepalese government crackdown on them.

He described the demonstrators as 'separatists' and accused anti-Chinese demonstration as being supported by 'foreign forces.'

'Some United Nation offices and human rights groups are trying to instigate the protests,' Xianglin was quoted by the newspaper as saying. 'UN officials are present during each and every demonstration that occurs in Kathmandu.'

He said he was aware Nepal was under pressure from the international community over its attempts to stop the demonstrations but added the current measures were not enough.

'Arresting Tibetan demonstrators and releasing them hours later is nothing but a drama,' Xianglin said. 'The Nepalese government must take tougher measures against such demonstrators and not release them.'

Kathmandu has seen almost daily street protests by Tibetan exiles around the Chinese embassy, its visa office and consular section and the United Nations office since March 10.

On Sunday, Nepalese police arrested more than 550 Tibetan women protestors, including elderly women and Buddhist nuns.

It was the largest number of arrests of Tibetan protestors by Nepalese police in a single day.

All protestors are usually released within hours of arrest.

Nepal has a large Tibetan exile community settled mainly in Kathmandu and Pokhara in western Nepal.

According to government figures, there are about 20,000 Tibetan refugees. But the figure does not include many thousands of arrivals after 1989 because the Nepalese government stopped according them refugee status.

Refugee organisations say most of the new arrivals are sent to India on their way to Dharmashala, where the Tibetan government-in-exile is based.

The Nepalese government maintains it recognises Tibet as an integral part of China and has vowed to stop anti-Chinese activities in its territory.