China kicks out five Americans over Tibet protest

BEIJING: Five Americans were expelled from China on Friday after staging an illegal demonstration at Mount Everest base camp that was aimed at "splitting" the country, the Chinese foreign ministry said.   

China has also lodged an official protest with the United States over Wednesday's protest, in which the Americans called for Tibetan independence and voiced outrage at the 2008 Olympic torch passing through the Himalayan region.   

"Upon discovering this activity, a border unit of China's public security bureau stopped the protest and according to... relevant laws will expel these people outside of China," a foreign ministry statement said.   

The Americans had unfurled banners demanding a "free Tibet" and protested against plans to take the Olympic torch to the top of the mountain ahead of the 2008 Beijing Games, according to US-based Students for a Free Tibet.   

Police immediately detained four of the protesters at the scene, while the fifth American was apparently taken into custody later, as Chinese authorities had previously said that one person had fled base camp.   

Students for a Free Tibet, which organised the protest, confirmed that the protesters had been expelled from Tibet and insisted that the group would continue to protest against China's oppressive policies there.   

"They called us from the border, they were expelled at the Nepal border, they are on their way to Kathmandu," said Lhadon Tethong, a spokeswoman for the group in the Nepalese capital.   

"They said they were all together, we are thrilled that they are here safely."   

She said the group would continue to protest against China's occupation of Tibet, especially in the run-up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.   

"The occupation of Tibet remains and we will continue to protest China's political use of the Olympic Games to legitimise their control of Tibet," she said.   

The group said China was trying to whitewash widespread religious and cultural oppression in Tibet through its Olympic activities.   

China has ruled Tibet since sending troops in to "liberate" the region in 1951 and has violently suppressed a number of uprisings since then.   

The ministry statement said the Chinese government had lodged an official complaint with the United States over the protest and demanded that Washington prevent similar incidents from occurring.   

"Tibet is an inseparable part of China and the Chinese government and people will never tolerate any activity aimed at splitting China," the statement said.   

"The United States should work to dispel the odious influence of this (protest) and prevent similar incidents from occurring."   

The protest came a day before the Beijing Olympic Games organisers formally announced plans to bring the Olympic torch to the top of the world's highest peak, while also sending the torch relay through Lhasa, the capital of Tibet.