Binaj Gurubacharya
Canadian Press (CP)
July 6, 2010

KATMANDU, Nepal -- Dozens of Tibetan exiles on
their way to take part in a celebration for the
Dalai Lama's birthday were detained by police on
Tuesday in the Nepalese capital.

Police stopped vehicles to check for the exiles,
and an Associated Press reporter saw at least 22
Tibetans detained at the Anamnagar police station
before authorities told reporters to leave the premises.

Kathmandu Police Chief Ramesh Kharel said the
Tibetans were taken for questioning and would be soon released.

Laxmi Prasad Dhakal, Kathmandu district
administration chief, said the government has
banned and will not tolerate protests against
what it calls all friendly nations, including China.

Dhakal said the exiles will, however, be allowed
to celebrate the Dalai Lama's birthday inside
monasteries and refugee camps so long as the
facilities do not contain slogans or banners protesting against China.

The Chinese government is highly sensitive about
anything related to the Dalai Lama, whom it has
accused of supporting independence for Tibet.
Tensions in the region escalated after 2008
rioting in the Tibetan capital Lhasa, in which at least 22 people died.

Hundreds of exiles are expected to attend a
celebration to mark the Tibetan spiritual
leader's birthday at a refugee camp in Kathmandu's suburbs on Tuesday.

Tibetans living in Nepal demonstrate regularly
against China, but Nepal's government has
repeatedly urged the Tibetan community to obey Nepalese laws.

Tibetan protesters are generally detained by
police for few hours before being released.