By NNN-Nepal News
Kathmandu : Tibetan exiles staged yet another demonstration outside the United Nations premises in Pulchowk, Lalitpur, on Friday, demanding that the world body exert pressure on China to stop ‘brutal crackdown’ on pro-independence protesters in Lhasa.
Dozens of Tibetans including monks in saffron robes displayed placards and banners emblazed with “Free Tibet” slogan while some 20 Tibetan school students apparently jumped into the UN compound at around 10 am and handed over the banners and pamphlets to UN officials.
The police intervened into the demonstration outside the UN office, rounding up at least four dozen protesters.
Ram Babu Shah, National Information Officer, UN Information Centre, said the Tibetan students were allowed to remain inside. They were offered food and were still inside the UN office until 3:00 pm.
“These children should not be harmed in anyway,” he quoted UN’s Resident Coordinator Robert Piper as saying.
According to Shah, the UN is concerned about the continuous demonstrations, but the issue should be dealt with basically by human rights groups and other concerned sides.
The Friday morning demonstration was in a series of protests by the Tibetans in Kathmandu since March 10 when Tibetan exiles marked the 49th year of the Dalai Lama’s escape from Tibet after a failed uprising against the Chinese.
Dozens of Tibetans were injured in police action during their demonstrations outside the UN premises and other place in Kathmandu.
A number of national and international human rights agencies have criticised the Nepal government for using excessive force against demonstrating Tibetans.
While the government has not reacted to the charges of human rights violations it has made clear that no ‘anti-China’ activities will be allowed in Nepal.