Kathmandu, Mar 20 : Nepal Police on Thursday arrested around twenty-four Tibetan refugees as they were about to stage a sit-in in front of the United Nations (UN) building here.

Human Rights Watch (HRW), a US-based international rights group, asked the Girija Prasad Koirala Government to refrain from making arbitrary arrests and harassing Tibetan exiles, who have been carrying out peaceful protests in Kathmandu.

“The Government of Nepal should cease arbitrary arrests and detentions, harassment, and the use of excessive force to silence Tibetan protesters, activists and journalists,” HRW said in a statement.

The rights group also asked the Nepalese Government to reaffirm its commitment to the freedom of assembly, association, and expression.

Brad Adams, Asia director at HRW, said the police were violently dispersing peaceful Tibetan protestors in Kathmandu.

“How can a government that came to power on a wave of public protests against an authoritarian regime justify crushing peaceful protests by Tibetans?” questioned Adams.

He further said that now it was upto the Nepalese Government to protect Tibetans – “not to do the bidding of Beijing."

While the Koirala Government has said it firmly supports the 'one China' policy, it has not particularly reacted to concerns expressed by national and international human rights groups over the use of excessive force on peaceful demonstrations by Tibetans. (ANI)