Hundreds Tibetan Exiles Celebrating Dalai Lama's Birthday Detained in Nepal

Nepal Police on Tuesday detained at least 300 Tibetan exiles on their way to celebrate the Dalai Lama's 75th birthday in Kathmandu.

Photo: Hundreds Tibetan Exiles Celebrating Dalai Lama's Birthday Detained in Nepal

Hundreds Tibetan Exiles Celebrating Dalai Lama's Birthday Detained in Nepal

Superintendent of Police Ramesh Prasad Kharel, in-charge, Metropolitan Police Range, Hanumandhoka, said they were briefly detained to ascertain whether any of them were included the 'police list' and released after interrogation. He, however, did not divulge who the listed Tibetans were. Scuffles and injuries were not reported , Himalayan Times says .

In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang refused to comment on the Dalai Lama's birthday celebrations. Qin told reporters at a regular daily briefing that only two dates in Tibet's history are important: March 28, 1951, when, as he said, "Tibet was Liberated peacefully;" and May 23, 1959, when, in his words, Tibet adopted democratic reform.

The Dalai Lama fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule. China accuses him of inciting a separatist movement in Tibet. He says he is not seeking independence for Tibet, just greater autonomy, Voice of America informs.