Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Nepal detains 20 Tibetans for illegal crossing

The cold moon dust high desert behind the Himalayas where moisture from India can only rarely overcome the peaks.
KATMANDU, Nepal (AP) - Police in Nepal say they have detained 20 Tibetans who trekked the treacherous Himalayan trail for more than two weeks from their mountain homes.

They do it to escape the Chinese controlled Autonomous Tibetan Region and visit their exiled spiritual/political leader.] Police spokesman Binod Shrestha said the 15 men and five women were detained Monday after they crossed the border. They are aged 18 to 21 years old and are being transported to the capital, Katmandu. Tibetan refugees who are detained in Nepal are generally handed over to the United Nations' refugee agency.

The U.N. helps them on their journey to the Indian town of Dharmsala where the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama lives. Hundreds of Tibetans trek into Nepal every year to visit Dalai Lama. They walk route to avoid Chinese border guards.

Himalayas (kerdowney.com)