Tibetan refugees protest globally as Olympics near

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Source: Reuters

DHARAMSALA, India (Reuters) - Tibetan refugees protested across the world on Monday to mark the 49th anniversary of an uprising against Chinese rule and press their demand for independence ahead of the Beijing Olympics.

In Nepal, many people were hurt when police used batons to break up a march on the Chinese embassy, while in neighboring India 101 refugees set off on a five-month march to Tibet accompanied by thousands of well-wishers.

In Greece, a dozen Tibetans lit a torch outside Olympia, site of the ancient Olympic Games, to launch a global torch relay which they hope will be taken to more than 20 countries and end at Tibet's border just as the Beijing Olympics start on August 8.

As the Olympics approach, Tibetans are trying to reinvigorate their freedom movement and protest against what they see as China's illegal occupation of their homeland.

"As refugees we have a right to return to our homeland," he said, but Indian officials said the marchers would not be allowed to cross the border.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSSP5170620080310

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1. India stops Tibet protest march

BBC

More than 100 Tibetan exiles in India have been barred by from marching to Tibet to protest against China holding the Olympics, Indian police say.

The marchers left Dharamsala on the 49th anniversary of the Dalai Lama's escape from Tibet after a failed uprising against Chinese rule.

But police in Dharamsala say they have been prevented from leaving the area.

"We have issued a restraining order to the marchers not to leave the Kangra district and if they violate the order then all necessary actions will be taken," district police chief Atul Phuljile told the AFP news agency.

Mr Phuljile said the order had been issued at the behest of the central government in Delhi.