Katmandu Valley, Nepal
At the Tibetan Refugee Center along the outskirts of Katmandu, some 400 exiled Tibetans (including 150 monks) offered prayers to those Tibetans who have self-immolated in Tibet this year.
Police suited up in riot gear entered the prayer meeting and took down a banner depicting His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tibet’s spiritual leader.This upset many of those present, with hundreds spilling in to the street in protest; their chants called for a free Tibet, calling for China to leave their homeland. More than 100 were arrested and taken away on trucks.
According to an article in The Washington Post, “There have been a number of similar protests in the past in Nepal. Police generally don’t charge the protesters and they are usually released by nightfall.
Nepal’s government has said it cannot allow protests against friendly nations, including China. Nepal is also under pressure from the Chinese government to stop them.”
