50 Tibetans held in Nepal for protesting against China

Kathmandu, June 27 (PTI) Nepalese police today detained over 50 Tibetans protesting against Chinese rule in Tibet, a day after the United States expressed concerns over the harsh treatment meted out to the Buddhist exiles by the security forces in Kathmandu.
Chanting anti-Beijing slogans, over 50 Tibetans gathered in front of the Chinese Embassy's visa office, protesting against the Communist rule in their country. The police broke up the protest and detained over 50 Tibetans, including monks and nuns, officials said.

The United States has expressed serious concerns over the harsh treatment meted out by Nepalese security forces to Tibetans, particularly three leaders of the Buddhist community, linked to the anti-China protests in Kathmandu.

Nepal police has arrested Kalsang Chung, Ngawang Sangmo and Tashi Dolma, raiding their houses and accusing them of instigating anti-China activities in Nepal. They have been put in jail under the draconian Public Security Act with three month sentence.

"The United States is deeply concerned by the Government of Nepal's recent detention without charge of Tibetan community activists Kelsang Chung, Ngawang Sangmo, and Tashi Dolma. We call for their immediate and unconditional release," the State Department's Deputy Spokesman Tom Casey said.

The official asked Kathmandu "to adhere to its international human rights obligations as Nepal continues on its path as a democratic nation." Nepal has also been criticized by human rights groups for its handling of the Tibetan protests, which have been an almost daily occurrence since March. Tibetan refugees have been protesting in Kathmandu since unrest broke out in Lhasa in March that was violently suppressed by the Chinese Communist regime. PTI