By Tenzing Jigme
Broken hands, bruised bodies and black eyes are all anticipated when Tibetans go to protest here in Nepal. Still these brave men, women and children continuously put their bodies and lives at risk and have been protesting the illegal occupation of Tibet by the Chinese government at various political institutions like the Chinese embassy and the office of the United Nations in Katmandu. After the Chinese government blocked media access into Tibet back in March, the Tibet issue has been even more highlighted by the treatment of the Nepalese police to these non-violent protestors. Recent statements made by Chinese officials in Katmandu ask the Nepal police to be even more aggressive towards the Tibetan protestors.
Nepal police and the government are not new to protests. For the past 12 years there have been ongoing protests and bandhs called on by various factions, political parties, minority groups in the country and most of them have been allowed to participate in peaceful protests. The downfall of monarchy was due to the people of Nepal protesting against the government. The people of Nepal sacrificed their lives so that the country could enjoy democracy in its purest form. The Tibetan people living in Nepal have always supported the will of the Nepalese people in the country but the very ideal that a democratic nation stands for i.e. freedom of speech; have been infringed upon by the Nepalese government. Today even the Nepalese citizens are shocked at the way the Nepal Police have been using force and violence against the Tibetans. Most of us that have resided in Nepal understand why this is happening. It is not because the Nepalese government hates the Tibetans but it is because the Chinese government heavily influences them. I understand being dependent on a neighboring nation for economic and military reasons, but there comes a time when you have to take back your country on moral and ethical principles and see what is at stake. There is a proposal of a new railway line that is going to be built from Nepal straight into China, which will inevitably bring more Chinese population into the country. Tibetans know very well the consequences of the railway line. Today in Tibet, the Han Chinese population completely outnumbers local Tibetans living there.
If you arrive in Katmandu by plane, as you exit Tribhuvan international airport there is a huge billboard that greets you: “WELCOME TO CHINA”, I kid you not! Such is the nerve of the Chinese government that they feel they can do anything they want in Nepal. Tibetans will keep protesting for a FREE TIBET despite the consequences, but it will not be long before the people of Nepal will have to join in with banners that read FREE NEPAL; but by then it will be too late.
