Saturday, August 9, 2008

Freedom of speech, movement ??

Think I've mentioned it before here, but it's kind'a important. Tibetans are protesting against Chinese human rights violations in Nepal. Still. Since 10. March. And of course also now, during the Olympics. And despite Nepal's ban on all anti-Chinese activities. I'll not repeat the gruesome details again now, but Chinese torture etc. is well documented. And if you've ever spoken with some of the underground activists, you'll understand their continued protests. But Nepal is ignoring their protests, despite all the talk about a new nepal and such. Friday, at the opening day of the Olympics, Nepal Police had even put up check points around Tibetan settlements in Kathmandu and stopped them from going to the centre of the capital - purely based on them being Tibetan. I'm not sure how many international human rights they broke that day... So thought I'd share this little photo essay with you. I was embedded with about a hundred Tibetans, mostly monks, trying to sneak out of their virtual captivity. Unsuccessfully. They were intercepted and detained...

(again, I forgot my sound recording gear, so no multimedia this time.)



Trying to exercise free speech...



...but met by Nepal's Police...



...and rounded up with some force...



...then loaded up on some overcrowded trucks...



...and driven away to shadow-land.