The tight political crack down over Tibetan refugees in Nepal is well known, local police has reportedly detained around five Tibetans as voting in exile elections were held in secrecy. According to the Tibetan report by Radio Free Asia, five Tibetans including a journalist and an official have been detained by Nepal Police in Boudha region on Sunday.
Considering the sensitivity of Tibetan political matters in Nepal, the scheduled exile Tibetan elections for 2021 were held early in Nepal. Since there has been tight crack down on holding public elections among Tibetan refugees, voting by Tibetan refugees in Nepal took place in a very low profile, secret manner on December 25 and 26. However, there is a report of at least five Tibetans being detained by the local police on Sunday.
According to the report by Radio Free Asia, a reporter of the news agency and the Tibetan settlement officer in Choejor are among five detained by Nepal police. A Tibetan working for Human Rights Organisation of Nepal has confirmed the news and told in the report that the release of these Tibetans in custody could take sometime as there is a visit by Chinese officials taking place.
Last time when the Tibetans held their exile elections openly in Nepal in 2011, the local police confiscated their ballots. This led to an incomplete election procedure for the region of Nepal. The 2016 exile Tibetan elections were held successfully by the Tibetan administration without any arrests. However, there has been at least five Tibetans detained by Nepal police for holding exile Tibetan elections in Nepal.
The unique democratic system of exile Tibetan administration based in Nepal enters the third full fledged election of Tibetan leaders in Exile this year. Since His Holiness the Dalai Lama devolve his complete political responsibility, Tibetan refugees vote to elect their political leader and members of Tibetan Parliament in Exile. The elections are held in two phases. While the preliminary phase will be held on January 3, 2021, the final election will be held on April 11, 2021.
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