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DemocracyAlerts

From time to time, the World Movement for Democracy issues alerts concerning participants and other colleagues who are, or may be, facing personal danger due to their work on behalf of democracy and for whom a vigorous response from around the world may be critical.

To see previous alerts go to www.wmd.org/democracyalerts/democracyAlerts.html.

(June 23, 2008)

DemocracyAlert: International Campaign for Tibet Calls for Urgent Appeals for the Release of Tibetans Arrested in Nepal

According to the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT), on June 19, three leaders from the Tibetan community in Kathmandu were arrested due to their protests against the Chinese government crackdown in Tibet.   The three leaders, who have been told that they will have to spend 90 days in prison under a public security offense, include Kelsang Chung, Director of the United Nations-funded Tibetan Refugee Reception Center; Ngawang Sangmo, president of the regional Tibetan Women's Association; and Tashi Dolma, vice president of the regional Tibetan Women's Association.  They are being held in two different prisons in Kathmandu. 

The Chinese government crackdown in Tibet has been intensifying in response to a wave of demonstrations across the Tibetan plateau that began on March 10 – the 49th anniversary of Tibetan Uprising Day.  During the March 10 demonstration in Lhasa, dozens were arrested, and over 100 people died.  According to ICT, the recent arrests of Tibetan community leaders in Kathmandu adds to international concerns over the often brutal treatment by Nepalese police of Tibetan protestors in Kathmandu during the past three months, which in some cases appears to have been directed by Chinese Embassy officials present behind police lines at the demonstrations.   In response to the situation, the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile issued a statement on June 21 requesting the Prime Minister of Nepal to intervene, so that the refugees are treated democratically and that they be allowed the freedom of expression.

Since the wave of protests broke out in Tibet on March 10, thousands of Tibetans in Nepal have jeopardized their safety and security to express their solidarity.  The Nepal border with Tibet, closed in preparation for the Olympic torch ascent on Mount Everest on May 8, remains sealed off and the presence of Chinese border troops stepped up.  China's acute sensitivity over Tibet continues to be a primary feature of China-Nepal relations.

To read the full ICT report, go to: http://savetibet.org/news/newsitem.php?id=1327

To read the statement made by the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, go to: www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=21738&article=Tibetan+Parliament+Appeals+For+Fair+Treatment+of+Tibetans+in+Nepal

To read a previous DemocracyAlert on the March 10 demonstrations in Tibet, go to: www.wmd.org/democracyalerts/mar1808.html