Three foreigners detained in Nepal for Anti China Protests

Three foreigners detained in Nepal for Anti China Protests

Phayul[Sunday, March 15, 2009 11:09]

Dharamsala, March 15 – As the police in Nepal closely watched the Tibetans against carrying out any protests this year three foreign nationals were arrested yesterday for staging a protest demonstration in Kathmandu. Dutch national Meela Yenssen, Norwegian Giinarne Hanshen and British national Gaisy Karen Wood shouted “Free Tibet” and “China, out of Tibet” at the Chinese Embassy’s visa section at Hattisar in the Nepalese capital. Citing police inspector Bam Dev Gautam, Kantipur online reported that another foreigner fled the scene on a motorbike. The protesters were wearing t-shirts with prints of Free Tibet slogans. Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Hu Zhengyue who visited Nepal last month asked Nepal to control possible anti-China activities in the upcoming months on its soil, according to media reports. Nepalese government has beefed up security around the Chinese embassy and enforced a ban on protests near the “sensitive area” that extends to areas within 200 metres of the Chinese embassy apparently under Chinese pressure. Nepal had come under international criticism last year for its brutal treatment of Tibetan protesters, and was accused of acting under pressure from China. March 10 this year marked the 50th anniversary of the Tibetan Uprising, which forced Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama and thousands of Tibetans to flee into exile in 1959. Nepal is home to about 15,000 Tibetans.