By Tenzin Choephel
Phayul Correspondent
Kathmandu, April 18 – 508 Tibetan protestors were arrested and detained in the Nepalese Capital of Kathmandu yesterday (April 17) after a series of demonstrations staged by Tibetans in different groups near the Chinese Embassy in Baluwatar, calling for ‘Free Tibet’ and urging the United Nations to send fact finding delegation. Ten people were injured in the protest and were later attended to in a medical facility. All the detainees were released around 11 PM. Over 200 Armed Police Force personnel were deployed at the Chinese Embassy to curb any Pro-Tibet movement.
The demonstrations started at 11.08 AM, where the first group of over 100 activists came from Bhatbateni Chowk and started running with banners and the Tibetan National Flag towards the Chinese Embassy about 300 meters away. The protestors were stopped by Police after 50 meters, who immediately herded them into waiting police vans.
Subsequently, a second and a third group of more than 150 protestors consisting of men, women, monks and nuns rushed towards the Chinese Embassy after a few hours in an attempt to protest against the recent happenings in Tibet. Before long, the police were seen charging at the crowd with batons and using physical force against unarmed Tibetans, men and women alike. They were immediately overpowered by the men in uniform and taken away. A pro-Tibet activist from England, Yohan Pour was manhandled and forcibly pushed into a police van where Philip Blenkinsop, a Photo-journalist from NOOR Agency was physically assaulted by the officers on scene. A Tibetan journalist present was also questioned for recording the argument between the law enforcement officers and the journalist.
Many of the protestors were baton charged, punched, kicked and pulled by the hair during the series of protests and arrests. Among the protestors were many minors and school students as well. A total of 508 Tibetans were arrested yesterday with 482 activists detained at Metropolitan Armed Police Force Group No.2 Barrack, Maharajgunj, 11 at Narayan Gopal Chowk Police Station, 10 at Kamal Pokhari Police Station and 5 at Gausala Police Station.
Yohan Pour was immediately released and told Phayul that the police had apologized to him. He further added, “Police hit everyone, pushed and shoved us into vehicle like animals”.
Of a total 115 Tibetan protestors who were arrested April 16, 13 were released at around 11 PM, with the remaining 102 detained overnight and released at around noon yesterday (April 17).
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