KATHMANDU: A senior leader of China's ruling Communist party on Monday lodged a formal objection with Nepal's government about public demonstrations by Free Tibet campaigners in Kathmandu valley last week as part of a global protest by Tibetans against the Chinese occupation of Tibet.
Liu Qi, a senior politburo member of the party, and his visiting delegation met Nepal's Prime Minister, Dr Baburam Bhattarai, on Monday, expressing concern that China's security could be under threat due to anti-China protests from Nepal's soil. The Chinese delegation had arrived in Kathmandu on a four-day visit Saturday and will be followed by another high-level visit from Beijing this month, which is expected to discuss Bhattarai's visit to China.
Bhattarai's media advisor Ram Rijan Yadav said the premier had tried to allay the Chinese fear by saying that Nepal was committed to the 'One China' policy that regarded Tibet as an integral and inalienable part of China and would not allow Nepal's soil to be used for anti-China activities.
But despite the assertion by a succession of governments, Nepal has not been able to stamp out dogged protests by Tibetans. Last week, the protests became violent after police tried to tear down the portrait of the Dalai Lama at a Tibetan settlement and stop exiles from holding prayers for 11 people who had set themselves on fire in Tibet since 2009 demanding the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet and an end to the political and religious repression suffered by Tibetans in Tibet.
During the three days' protests last week, Tibetans held demonstrations in nearly 60 cities across the world, including Nepal and India, and in both countries, at least two persons attempted to self-immolate. While grappling with the protests and China's growing concern, Nepal's Maoist government now faces a backlash as well.
In the wake of the recent police crackdown on Tibetans, Nepal's government was warned by a US lawmaker, Frank Wolf, that he would try to block the Obama government's funding for Nepal if Kathmandu failed to improve its rights record, including granting exit visas to Tibetans trying to flee to India through Nepal.
Nepal has been recently arresting the fugitive refugees, said to be under pressure from China, and even considering deporting them. China says there are no Tibetan refugees, only illegal immigrants who should be punished according to the law of the land
China objects to Free Tibet campaign in Nepal - The Times of India
Liu Qi, a senior politburo member of the party, and his visiting delegation met Nepal's Prime Minister, Dr Baburam Bhattarai, on Monday, expressing concern that China's security could be under threat due to anti-China protests from Nepal's soil. The Chinese delegation had arrived in Kathmandu on a four-day visit Saturday and will be followed by another high-level visit from Beijing this month, which is expected to discuss Bhattarai's visit to China.
Bhattarai's media advisor Ram Rijan Yadav said the premier had tried to allay the Chinese fear by saying that Nepal was committed to the 'One China' policy that regarded Tibet as an integral and inalienable part of China and would not allow Nepal's soil to be used for anti-China activities.
But despite the assertion by a succession of governments, Nepal has not been able to stamp out dogged protests by Tibetans. Last week, the protests became violent after police tried to tear down the portrait of the Dalai Lama at a Tibetan settlement and stop exiles from holding prayers for 11 people who had set themselves on fire in Tibet since 2009 demanding the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet and an end to the political and religious repression suffered by Tibetans in Tibet.
During the three days' protests last week, Tibetans held demonstrations in nearly 60 cities across the world, including Nepal and India, and in both countries, at least two persons attempted to self-immolate. While grappling with the protests and China's growing concern, Nepal's Maoist government now faces a backlash as well.
In the wake of the recent police crackdown on Tibetans, Nepal's government was warned by a US lawmaker, Frank Wolf, that he would try to block the Obama government's funding for Nepal if Kathmandu failed to improve its rights record, including granting exit visas to Tibetans trying to flee to India through Nepal.
Nepal has been recently arresting the fugitive refugees, said to be under pressure from China, and even considering deporting them. China says there are no Tibetan refugees, only illegal immigrants who should be punished according to the law of the land
China objects to Free Tibet campaign in Nepal - The Times of India
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