14 April 2008
4,000 Tibetans protest in Kathmandu
(AP) About 4,000 Tibetans exiles took to the streets in Kathmandu, resuming demonstrations against the Chinese crackdown on rioting in Tibet, but this time Nepalese authorities did not intervene. The protest began as a silent march with demonstrators holding candles, but soon they began chanting anti-China slogans. Unlike at recent rallies, Nepalese police - who previously broke up demonstrations with bamboo baton charges and mass arrests - did not intervene at the demonstration. Nepal has been criticised by international rights groups and the UN for use of excessive force against the protesters. Nepal's government had said it would not allow any demonstrations against friendly nations, including China. Demonstrations were suspended for about a week before elections for a Constituent Assembly in Nepal.