Tibetan Uprising Day Riot

It was a scheduled protest. It happens every year. School bands were even there. This year the Tibetan's were particularly empowered due to the escape of the Karmapa only two months before. Unfortunately this made the Chinese even more adamant about exercising influence over Nepal to crack down on the Tibetans. The protest started to move away from the stupa area and there was talk about marching to the Chinese embassy. They attempted to get past the gates of Boudha and than all hell broke loose...

I wish I was a better Photographer, the below doesn't even begin to represent the Chaos. Keep in mind though that my camera was a throw away and had no zoom. However close I look to the action is how close I was. I kept having to put my camera away to avoid getting hit.

Now one might think that these Photos are pro-Tibetan. Just keep in mind that a Gelugpa Monk is the one that started throwing bricks and that however violent the police response was, they didn't shoot anything but tear gas. There are alot more Photos and I will scan them when I get a chance. This last photo was from the next day. Tibetan Women and Nuns protested.

The official news report from the associated press:

KATHMANDU, March 10 (AFP) - Riot police Friday baton charged a crowd of
more than 5,000 anti-Chinese Tibetan demonstrators at Baudha Nath
monastery, 20 kilometres (12 miles) east of Kathmandu, witnesses said.

At least four Tibetans including a six-year-old boy were gravely injured
in the charge, a Tibetan source said.

He said the condition of the boy was reported as serious.

Tibetan youths and monks held anti-Chinese protests to mark the 1959
uprising against Chinese occupation in Tibet, a spokesman for the
Tibetan Welfare Centre (TWC) said.

Demonstrators carried placards reading "Down with China", "Chinese
thieves quit Tibet", and "We want freedom and Human Rights in Tibet".

They were also carrying placards reading "Stop Chinese population
transfer and nuclear waste dumping in Tibet".

Demonstators wanted to march out of the Baudha Nath monastery and head
towards the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu to present a protest memorandum
to Chinese diplomats.

"The riot police, however, cordoned off the demonstrators and prevented
them from moving towards the Chinese Embassy in a procession chanting
anti-Chinese slogans", a police source said.

The TWC spokesman said: "Some of the demonstrators were arrested.
However, they were released later after a couple of hours detention",

"Our people protesting against the Chinese occupation of Tibet were
heavily baton charged injuring at least four people gravely," he said
"The condition of the six-year-old Tibetan boy is very grave."