Tibetan protest erupts in Nepal

Article by Rebekah Wilson

“I was peacefully protesting when I was hit on the head by police and fell to the ground. I was then hit with lathis (canes) on the feet and legs by three policemen before they ran off and I was helped home by a passerby. Both of my feet are fractured. The doctor told me my left foot will never be the same again.” 25-year-old Tibetan, Kathmandu, March 19, 2008 (Human Rights Watch July 2008)

While the world had its eyes peeled on Olympic sports in Beijing, the  volunteers for Peace Brigades International (PBI) in Nepal had their eyes peeled on another activity altogether. Regular protests in the capital of Nepal, Kathmandu, resulted in thousands of Tibetans arrested and then mostly released without charge. PBI has volunteers in Nepal who have been monitoring the protests, many of which involved documented abuses by police.

Nepal, a country bordered by Tibet, China and India, is slowly recovering from the end of its own civil war.  This year saw democratic elections and the selection of the leader of the Maoists party (CPN(M)) as the new Prime Minister.  The new interim government faces a multitude of problems not least rice and fuel shortages. Many see the crackdown on the demonstrations by their many Tibetan refugees as a sign that they are unable or unwilling to upset their giant economic neighbour.  Whatever the reasons, for the Tibetans who have had to make Nepal their home, there is anger at their treatment during the protests.    
On the positive side, the presence of international observers, like those volunteering for PBI, made an impact on the authorities’ particularly zealous approach.  

It’s not only protests by Tibetans that keep the PBI volunteers busy in Nepal.  The volunteers provide an essential service for human rights defenders in Nepal; they provide accompaniment to those whose lives are under threat: an international deterrent to any would be assailants. Parts of Nepal remain unsettled, particularly in the Terai region (the southern area bordering India). There are calls for independence, and last year the Terai saw violent outbreaks which led to many internally displaced refugees. For many human rights defenders in Nepal, their work puts them at serious risk and they can turn to the volunteers of PBI for support.

The future of Nepal remains uncertain. The UN mission, which was invited into the country when the peace agreement was signed between the Maoists and other political parties, is soon to be leaving.  Other UN bodies are likely to be leaving soon.  But one thing is certain; the volunteers of Peace Brigades International will remain and continue to provide their essential services.