The Nepali drivers gathered on the Nepali side of the border on Thursday, leaving around 15 containers on the Chinese side. They have decided not to return to work unless their safety is ensured. [break]"The excess meted out to Nepali workers in Khasa has by now crossed all bounds," said Durga Bahadur Shrestha, the president of Araniko Truck Association. "We will not operate our vehicles unless our safety is ensured in Khasa area."
According to Shrestha, Sangbo Lama, a Nepali driver, was thrashed and given electric shock by Chinese security personnel on Thursday morning. The previous evening, a Chinese security man had misbehaved with Lama when his heavily-loaded container could not move on the uphill road. Lama stayed there till Thursday morning only to be thrashed and tortured.
Lama, who was tortured inside the custody of Chinese security men, was later freed after Nepali drivers took to the streets. Local Nepali traders have also expressed solidarity with the agitating drivers. They have asked the government to hold talks with the Chinese government to protect Nepali workers from harassment and tortured in Khasa region in future days.
"This is not the first incident," says Madhav Shrestha, another Nepali driver. "We have been facing harassment and torture at the hands of Chinese security personnel in Khasa for as silly a reason as one´s eyes meeting with those of a local Chinese. If one drives either fast or slow, he may be victimized."
Nepali drivers have launched protests against atrocities committed by the Chinese security personnel several times in the past. "The Chinese officials have apologized to us for many times; but security personnel still continue to thrash us," says Arjun Sapkota, senior vice president of the Container Operator´ Association.
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