China urges Nepal to control Tibetan activities on its soil

Kathmandu, Apr 3 (UNI) The Chinese government has requested the Nepal government to check anti-China ''illegal political activities'' of Tibetans on its soil.

Tibetans are demonstrating almost every day since last month.

Most Tibetan protestors in Nepal are associated with the ''so-called'' Tibetan Government-in-Exile and serve as the vanguard and main force of the ''Dalai clique''' to achieve their goal of Tibetan independence, Kantipur quoted Chinese ambassador Zheng Xianglin as saying while speaking at a press meet in Kathmandu yesterday.

The envoy said Tibetan demonstrators damaged Chinese embassy building in Kathmandu a couple of days ago and also beat up Tibetans who took a different position.

''We hope the government of Nepal can uphold justice, safeguard the dignity of law, and take severe measures to prevent these political organisations from organizing and implementing illegal political activities,'' he said.

The envoy said that the government should take responsibility for the safety of the embassy building.

The envoy charged that Tibetan demonstrations were fuelled by ''foreign forces,'' but did not categorically implicate anyone.

He claimed that anti-China forces were operating in Nepal camouflaged as Tibetan protests and were attempting to sabotage relations between the two countries. ''We should be alert on this,'' he said.

''We hope the government of Nepal adheres to One-China policy and does not allow anti-China forces here. Our long term friendly relations should not be undermined by these forces,'' he further said.

The Nepal Government is criticised for the suppression and arrest of peaceful Tibetans demonstrators in Nepal by western countries and human rights groups.

This is the first time that the norhtern neighbour has publicly expressed dissatisfaction over handling of Tibetans in Nepal. Now suspended king Gyanendra had shut down the office of the Dalai Lama four years ago.

There are an estimated 20,000 Tibetan refugees living in Nepal.

UNI XC SZ RN1424