This archive report was first published on 7 July 2019.
On July 6, 2019, Nepal's government denied permission for a celebration of the Dalai Lama's 84th birthday, citing concerns over peace and security.
Assistant Chief District Officer Krishna Bahadur Katuwal explained that the decision was made to prevent potential problems, stating, "Permission was not issued because there might be a problem in peace and security."
He added, "Nothing may happen, but we have to be cautious about chances of inappropriate activities or even self-immolations," as reported by AFP.
Security personnel were visibly present in areas with Tibetan communities, including near a monastery where the celebration was planned.
Despite the denial, a member of the organizing committee expressed frustration, saying, "A lot of preparation was made but in the end we did not get permission. The government is becoming increasingly strict... what can we do."
Instead, families marked the Dalai Lama's birthday privately at home.
The Dalai Lama was forced into exile in 1959 after the Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule, and thousands of refugees fled into Nepal.
However, Nepal's commitment to a one-China policy has led to increased police crackdowns on Tibetan protests and activities, discouraging the community from participating in public events.
Even foreign visitors, like an American citizen of Tibetan origin, have been denied entry into the country, and Nepalese journalists have been investigated for reporting on the Dalai Lama.
China has invested heavily in Nepal, pumping in nearly $60 million in the last fiscal year for infrastructure projects, and the two countries signed the Belt and Road Initiative in 2017.
