By Phuntsok Yangchen
DHARAMSHALA, November 26: In what is looked at as a blatant infringement of religious right, the Nepalese government has ordered Tibetans not to visit Boudhanath stupa, the main religious site usually thronged by devotees and tourists alike in the capital city of Nepal during the ongoing 18th SAARC Summit.
The notice issued by Settlement office in Boudha reads, “We request our Tibetan Refugee Community people not to visit Boudha stupa from 25th to 28th November, 2014 due to upcoming 18th SAARC meeting to be held at Kathmandu. This notice is strictly given from D.S.P Boudha, Office. We appreciate your cooperation.”
Speaking to Phayul, Passang Chungta, a Tibetan living in Kathmandu, said that there is heavy deployment of police in and around Boudhanath stupa causing difficulty for the local people.
“It is not that Boudha stupa is completely empty, Tibetans living in Boudha are going for circumambulation and shops and restaurants are open. However, Tibetans living outside Boudhanath are restricted from entering Boudha stupa,” said Passang.
He further noted that such restriction is a preventive measure as the Nepalese government fears that Tibetans will carry out a protest.
A Tibetan monk set himself on fire near the holy stupa of Boudhanath in the heart of Nepalese capital city Kathmandu in February last year.
Nepal, a home for some 20000 Tibetan refugees has increasingly clamped down on the cultural and political expression of the Tibetans in the recent years. The country’s increasing dependence on China for financial aid has meant that the freedom of Tibetan refugees has been curtailed. Also, several Tibetans caught trying to escape Tibet through Nepal have been repatriated in recent years.
Since 2011, three Tibetans had set themselves on fire in Nepal in anti China protests leading of the death of two.
The two day SAARC Summit is attended by leaders of eight countries- Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. China is also attending the summit as an observer among European Union, Australia and USA.
Analysts also say that Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal might push for China to become a full time SAARC member from being an observer, its current status.
