Tibetan refugees shelve protest plan

Pokhara, March 9:

Tibetan refugees, who have been living in several camps in Pokhara and other parts of Kaski district for decades, have said that would not organise any formal programme for Free Tibet due to the pressure of the local administration.

The local administration is on alert to prevent any anti-China activity by the Tibetan refugees as Tibetans mark the 50th anniversary of a failed uprising in Tibet tomorrow.

The refugees said they fear police action if they held any formal programme even though the administration had not intervened in peaceful programmes organised by the refugees in the past.

A Pokhara-based Tibetan refugee, however, said peace lamps would be lit in memory of the Tibetans killed during the uprising even though they do not plan any programme for Free Tibet.

"The administration has told us not to organise any programme in Pokhara," a refugee leader told this daily on condition of anonymity. "However, large number of Free Tibet campaigns and protests would be organised across the world tomorrow," he said.

Around 2,500 Tibetan refugees are living in four camps in Kaski and its adjoining areas.

Meanwhile, Kaski CDO Madhav Prasad Ojha held talks with the refugee leaders this afternoon. He, however, claimed that the talks. The administration has warned of stern action if any programme was organised tomorrow.