By Tenzin Choephel
Katmandu March 24 -In separate incidents, Nepal Police arrested over 400 Tibetans from Bouda, Pulchowk and Maitighar in Kathmandu today. Heavy security forces have been deployed in Bouda, Swayambhu and Jwalakhel, where many Tibetans live, since early morning.
At around 2 PM, Amnesty International organized a solidarity protest at Maitighar Mandala, the designated place in Kathmandu for protests. As soon as 10 members of the Amnesty International Nepal, and human rights activists arrived at the Mandala, Police arrested them. Later hundreds of Tibetans joined the protest but Police arrested the Tibetans too. The Tibetans were just sitting peacefully and saying prayers. The Police held some Tibetans by their hair and dragged away into waiting police vehicles. More Tibetans arrived in buses but the police did not allow many to get off the bus. Those arrested from Mandala were detained at Mahendra Police Club, Bhrikuti Mandap and Anamnagar Police Station.
About 70 Tibetans were arbitrarily detained from streets of Bouda this morning, some Tibetans traveling in public buses on their routine chores were also arrested. Meanwhile, 241 Tibetans were arrested from Pulchowk when they demonstrated and tried to go to the UN House at around 10.30 AM; many were baton charged, kicked and punched and sustained injuries. ≈
Earlier this morning, Tibetans started gathering at Pulchowk near the UN House. Within minute, Police who were already waiting at the UN House stopped the Tibetan demonstrators, who requested that they be allowed to peacefully express their feelings. But the Police started taking away Tibetans forcefully and put them in Police vehicles and drove away. The Tibetans arrested from Pulchowk were detained at Jwalakhel Police Station.
At the time of filing this report, all those held at Mahendra Police Club and Anamnagar Police Stations have been released. One TYC executive told Phayul that others might also be released this evening.
