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Indian police halt Tibetan march | Indian police halt Tibetan march |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Police in India have detained more than 100 Tibetan refugees who were trying to march to the Chinese border in protest against China hosting the Olympics. | Police in India have detained more than 100 Tibetan refugees who were trying to march to the Chinese border in protest against China hosting the Olympics. |
The marchers were arrested at Dehra Bridge, 31 miles from Dharamsala town, from where the Dalai Lama heads the Tibetan government in exile. | The marchers were arrested at Dehra Bridge, 31 miles from Dharamsala town, from where the Dalai Lama heads the Tibetan government in exile. |
The walk began on Monday as part of a global pro-independence protest. | The walk began on Monday as part of a global pro-independence protest. |
It coincided with the 49th anniversary of the Dalai Lama's escape from Tibet after a failed uprising against China. | It coincided with the 49th anniversary of the Dalai Lama's escape from Tibet after a failed uprising against China. |
Among the arrested were five women and some foreigners. | Among the arrested were five women and some foreigners. |
The Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual leader, has called for greater pressure on China over its human rights record. | The Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual leader, has called for greater pressure on China over its human rights record. |
'Victory to Tibet' | 'Victory to Tibet' |
"We have arrested 100 people," police official Atul Fulzele was quoted by news agency AFP as saying. | "We have arrested 100 people," police official Atul Fulzele was quoted by news agency AFP as saying. |
The Dalai Lama has called for greater pressure on China | The Dalai Lama has called for greater pressure on China |
Tibetan activists say they began marching at 0530 local time (midnight GMT). | Tibetan activists say they began marching at 0530 local time (midnight GMT). |
"At around 0630, Indian police blocked the march and forcibly removed all marchers from the road at Dehra Bridge," the activists said in a press release. | "At around 0630, Indian police blocked the march and forcibly removed all marchers from the road at Dehra Bridge," the activists said in a press release. |
"The police first detained Tenzin Tsundue, a high-profile Tibetan activist, carrying him away as he shouted 'Bhoe Gyalo, Victory to Tibet'." | "The police first detained Tenzin Tsundue, a high-profile Tibetan activist, carrying him away as he shouted 'Bhoe Gyalo, Victory to Tibet'." |
The marchers sat down on the road, linking arms and chanting Tibetan Buddhist prayers. | The marchers sat down on the road, linking arms and chanting Tibetan Buddhist prayers. |
The police broke up the crowd and took away the protesters in five police buses, the release said. | The police broke up the crowd and took away the protesters in five police buses, the release said. |
"Our cause is just and our actions are non-violent," Tenzin Choeying, one of the march leaders, said moments before he was arrested. | "Our cause is just and our actions are non-violent," Tenzin Choeying, one of the march leaders, said moments before he was arrested. |
"While these extreme measures taken by the Indian authorities are unfortunate, this is but a momentary set-back in our plan and we are determined to continue our March home to Tibet," he said. | "While these extreme measures taken by the Indian authorities are unfortunate, this is but a momentary set-back in our plan and we are determined to continue our March home to Tibet," he said. |
Rights violations | Rights violations |
About 100 activists began their walk on Monday from Dharamsala. | About 100 activists began their walk on Monday from Dharamsala. |
The local police served a restraining order against them which they said had been issued by the authorities in Delhi. | The local police served a restraining order against them which they said had been issued by the authorities in Delhi. |
The marchers say that their aim is to expose what they say are serious human rights violations in Tibet. | The marchers say that their aim is to expose what they say are serious human rights violations in Tibet. |
They say Tibetan refugees have the "right to return to Tibet". | They say Tibetan refugees have the "right to return to Tibet". |
India has in the past been sympathetic to the Tibetan cause, correspondents say, but in recent years it has not allowed large-scale public protests for fear of embarrassing Beijing. | India has in the past been sympathetic to the Tibetan cause, correspondents say, but in recent years it has not allowed large-scale public protests for fear of embarrassing Beijing. |
Police also say that the planned march to Tibet is in breach of an agreement between Delhi and the Tibetan government-in-exile. | Police also say that the planned march to Tibet is in breach of an agreement between Delhi and the Tibetan government-in-exile. |
As the Olympics near, Tibetans have begun a global campaign to protest against the Chinese rule in Tibet. | As the Olympics near, Tibetans have begun a global campaign to protest against the Chinese rule in Tibet. |
On Monday, some 1,000 Tibetan exiles clashed with police in the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, while trying to march to the Chinese embassy. | On Monday, some 1,000 Tibetan exiles clashed with police in the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, while trying to march to the Chinese embassy. |