Monks march towards Tibet demanding end to ‘suppression’

The Tibetan marchers started their journey on Wednesday without much publicity from the city outskirts, some nine kilometres from Kathmandu, through mountains and rough terrains.

The marchers said they would avoid major roads to escape arrest by Nepalese authorities ‘under Chinese pressure’.

“We have decided to take risk as the Nepal government stepped up security around Chinese Embassy and Chinese Consulate’s office in Kathmandu and intervened in our peaceful programmes in a rough manner,” another agitator said.

Apart from exposing themselves to harsh terrains and extreme climates, Tibetans here said the marchers risk ‘arrest or torture’ by Nepalese and Chinese authorities.

They said the option has been take up as part of Tibetans’ efforts to carry out various forms of peaceful protests against China until the issue of basic human rights and freedom of expression is resolved.

The move comes at a time when China reopened Tibet to tourists after nearly three months of turmoil in the region, during which, as China claimed, 20 people died.

The Olympic torch passed through Lhasa recently en-route to Beijing.

In the last three months, there has been near daily protests in Kathmandu by Tibetan exiles demanding freedom and human rights in Tibet. Around 20,000 Tibetans who have been residing in Nepal are regularly taking part in these anti-China protests.

The Tibetan protesters have captured world attention and many nations have expressed support to their cause.