Nepal frees 18 Tibetans protesters

Monday, March 29, 2010

The Associated Press
By BINAJ GURUBACHARYA
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Nepalese police officers detain an exiled Tibetan activist protesting against the Chinese government, outside the Chinese Embassy in Katmandu, Nepal, Sunday, March, 14, 2010. Sixteen Tibetan exiles arrested after they attempted to storm the embassy earlier this week will remain in jail without trial for 90 days, officials said. (AP Photo/Binod Joshi)

Kathmandu-- Nepal released 18 Tibetan exiles Monday after they were arrested earlier this month trying to storm the Chinese Embassy's visa office in a protest against Beijing's rule over their homeland.

Many members of the group wept and hugged well-wishers upon their release in the Nepali capital following their 20-day detention. Sonam Lama, 35, said many had fallen ill in jail and were "very happy" to be released.

"We will not be deterred by these setbacks," said Norbu Dorje, another of the protesters. "We will continue our nonviolent protests against China demanding there should be talks between Dalai Lama and the Chinese government."

The group had been ordered jailed for 90 days under a security law that allows detention without trial of people considered a threat to the public. But the activists were deemed to be no longer a threat and released, Katmandu chief administrator Laxmi Dhakal said.

Human rights activist Sudip Pathak said he negotiated the release with the government.

Altogether, 23 Tibetans were arrested March 10 and 14 following the protests at the Chinese Embassy. Nepal's supreme court released three of them last week while two more were freed on health grounds.

Tibetans in Nepal have regularly protested against China since 2008 _ a source of embarrassment to Nepal's government, which wants strong ties with Beijing and has banned anti-China demonstrations.

Thousands of Tibetan exiles live in Nepal, and hundreds more are allowed to pass through the country on their way to Dharmasala, India, where the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader, lives in exile.

China claims Tibet has always been part of its territory, but many Tibetans say the Himalayan region was virtually independent for centuries until Chinese troops invaded in the 1950s. They say Beijing rules the region with a heavy hand and have called for independence or greater autonomy.