Friends intervene to stop Tibetan woman setting herself on fire

A Tibetan woman who threatened to set herself on fire was saved by fellow members of the exiled Tibetan community in Katmandu, Nepal, on Wednesday.

The incident followed the arrest of more than 100 Tibetans in the city on Tuesday after they gathered to pray for nine Tibetans who self-immolated in protest against Chinese rule.

Navesh Chitrakar / Reuters

An exiled Tibetan woman is stopped by her friends as she tries to set fire to herself after an argument with police personnel during a protest in Katmandu, Nepal, on November 2.

Navesh Chitrakar / Reuters

Niranjan Shrestha / AP

Navesh Chitrakar / Reuters

About 20,000 Tibetans live in Nepal with valid refugee papers, while many more are believed to be residing illegally, Reuters reports. With China's influence over Nepal increasing, the Nepalese government has taken a strong stand against Tibetan exiles whose protests in support of their homeland have increased in recent years.

Nepal ceased issuing refugee papers to Tibetans in 1989 and recognizes Tibet to be a part of China, according to Reuters.