By EuAsiaNews,
Brussels : The European Parliament (EP) has adopted a resolution calling on the Nepalese government to respect the voting rights and freedom of speech of Tibetans living in the country .
A statement from the EP today noted that more than 82,000 exiled Tibetans across the world were invited to vote on 20 March to elect the new Kalon Tripa (Prime Minister) of the Tibetan government-in-exile but several thousand Tibetans in Nepal were not given permission to vote by the Nepalese authorities in Kathmandu, under pressure from the Chinese government.
The EP resolution urged the Nepalese authorities “to resist the strong pressure exerted by the Chinese government to silence the Tibetan community in Nepal by using restrictions, which are illegal under domestic and international law”.
It called on the EU’s External Action Service delegation in Kathmandu to closely monitor the treatment of Tibetan refugees in the country, and stressed that this issue must be on EU High Representative Catherien Ashton’s political agenda when dealing with Nepalese and Chinese governments.