Nepal foils Tibetan vote for govt in exile
Nepal acted on information provided by the Chinese embassy and foiled an attempt by Tibetans trying to vote for a government in exile. China has been protesting against activities carried out under the banner of the 'Free Tibet' movement in Nepal.
The police foiled the election mid-way and seized ballot-boxes after it received stern instructions from the Prime Minister's office on Sunday not to allow the voting to continue "at any cost". The voting was in progress in Bouddha, Swayambhu and Jawalakhel areas. A sizeable population of Tibetans in exile attended the event, however, they abandoned it after the police arrived. The crackdown is in keeping with Nepal's stated policy that it will not permit its soil to be used by Tibetans for political activities.
On Sunday a primary vote was on to elect a Prime Minister — a successor to the current Samdong Rinpoche —- and a 44-member government in exile.
"The government acted swiftly after the Prime Minister's office received information from Chinese authorities at the embassy," a Home Ministry source told The Indian Express. Tibetan activists protested against the government's action saying it was "against the human rights of the Tibetans". "It violates the sanctity and core principle of Nepal's relations with China, and on the other hand, it also amounts to abuse of the hospitality extended (to refugees) by the host country," an official in the Foreign Ministry said.