Self-immolation moves to Nepal

As the Chinese government cracks down heavily on those involved in self-immolations in Tibet, the protest act has arrived to Kathmandu As the Chinese government cracks down heavily on those involved in self-immolations in Tibet, the protest act has moved to Kathmandu in Nepal where there is a large Tibetan refugee community. Despite intense police scrutiny in areas like Boudha where there are sizeable populations of Tibetans, a 25-year-old man believed to be a monk, set himself on fire at 8:30AM on Wednesday. Eye-witnesses told Nepali Times the man with a shaved head and a down jacket had spoken to them minutes before dousing himself in kerosene and setting himself on fire. “He shook our hands and said he loved Tibet and the Dalai Lama, and even wanted to pose for a picture with a lighter in his hand,” one Belgian visitor said, “soon we heard a commotion outside and we saw this man on fire.” At first bystanders started running away, and the police when they arrived made no move to douse the flames. The man burned for about three minutes before some covered him with blankets and started pouring water, witnesses said. The man is now in the Teaching Hospital, severely burnt, but still alive. An hour after the event, pilgrims and tourists were walking around at Boudha as if nothing had happened, although security appeared to be tighter. The man is said to be the 100th monk and nun to self-immolate in protest against the Chinese presence in Tibet. Last week the Chinese government sentenced two people to prison terms for instigating self-immolations. This is the second known self-immolation attempt in Nepal. A source at the Teaching Hospital told Nepali Times that the man's life is still at risk despite being treated at the Intensive Care Unit.

PM stays overnight at Bankariya settlement

HETAUDA, FEB 09 - Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai stayed overnight at a house in the Bankariya settlement at local Twangra, Handikhola VDC-7 on Friday night as part of the programme of the prime minister spending one night at people's house. Twangra is 15 kilometres from Hetauda and is backward in terms of development. It is predominantly settled by the people of the minority Bankariya community. The prime minister's personal secretary Phanindra Devkota said the prime minister chose to spend a night at a Bankariya house. The Bankariya people live on wild roots and fruits even in the 21st century. Although different social organisations work in this poor settlement, this is the prime minister's first visit to the Bankariya settlement. Upon reaching the settlement, Prime Minister Bhattarai said that the government was committed to empowering the minority Bankariya people. He said that the government would provide all the services and amenities provided by the state to the Bankariya people who number only 75. He also stressed that the government was committed to protecting the culture and ethos of this unique community. On the occasion, the Bankariya people demanded construction of a suspension bridge over the local Handikhola stream and resolution of different problems including that of drinking water. To this request, the prime minister said that he would issue directives to the bodies concerned to that end. RSS