Police arrest 562 women at pro-Tibet rally

Published on Sunday 11 May 2008 21:57

NEPALESE police detained 562 Tibetan women at an anti-China rally in Kathmandu yesterday, the first all-women protest against Chinese rule in their homeland, officials said.

Some protesters shouted "We want free Tibet" while others wept as they were dragged along the road to police vans and trucks and driven to detention centres. Many were wearing black armbands and had their mouths gagged with cloths.

Nepal considers Tibet part of China, a key donor and trade partner, and has been cracking down on protests. Police said the detained protesters would be freed later.

Exiled Tibetans have been protesting regularly since riots broke out in the Tibetan capital Lhasa in March, followed by demonstrations in other Tibetan areas of China.

More than 20,000 Tibetans have been living in Nepal since fleeing their Himalayan homeland after the failed uprising.

"We are not against Nepal. Our protests are against China. So why are they arresting us?" asked one protester, Chinjhoke, 70.

The first group of protesters was stopped before they could enter a street from an open area where they had gathered. Activists said they were planning a silent march to protest against Chinese restrictions in Tibet.

A second group managed to enter the street, but was quickly stopped by police and taken away in buses and trucks.

The third group, which was smaller, protested near the Chinese Embassy's visa office. They were also detained.