Police in Nepal arrest protesters marking Tibet uprising

Mar 10, 2011, 9:50 GMT

Kathmandu - Nepalese police arrested 15 Tibetan exiles in the capital Kathmandu Thursday, following a scuffle with officers that took place near the Buddhist shrine of Boudhanath.

Police baton charged demonstrators who gathered near the shrine early Thursday for a prayer service organized by the Tibetan Refugee Welfare Office to mark the 52nd anniversary of an uprising against Chinese rule in Tibet.

Police confirmed 20 were injured in the incident.

Security was stepped up Thursday to prevent possible anti-China protests by Tibetan exiles living in Kathmandu and police said they would use force if required.

The local administration issued orders prohibiting mass assemblies and public demonstrations and deployed 1,500 security personnel around the city, especially around the Chinese embassy and areas populated by Tibetan refugees.

March 10 marks the 1959 Tibetan rebellion against China, which led to the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama fleeing Tibet.

Last month, police seized ballot boxes in Kathmandu, preventing Tibetan exiles from electing a local leadership.

About 20,000 Tibetan refugees live in Nepal, according to government statistics, but thousands more are there as undocumented migrants.

Nepal has repeatedly said it would not to allow anti-China activities on its soil, saying it observes a 'one China policy,' which holds that Tibet is part of China.

China has stepped up pressure on the Nepalese government to curb 'anti-China' activities in Nepal since 2008 when Tibetan refugees living there staged protests against China in the run-up to the Beijing Olympic Games.

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