UCS 23/02/05: Nepal orders closure of Dalai Lama's office and Tibtean refugee centre |
Urgent Campaign - 23 February 2005
Free Tibet Campaign is extremely concerned at the order given to close the Dalai Lama's representative office and the Tibetan Refugees Welfare Office (TRWO) in Kathmandu on 21 January 2005. At the time of going to press, the offices' work has been suspended. Nepal closed the offices on the grounds that they were not properly registered under Nepali law; however, according to the Dalai Lama's representative, Wangchuk Tsering, Nepali law has no provision that allows refugees to register such establishments.
The order to shut the offices down is believed to reflect Nepal's increasingly close relationship with China and desire to appease the Chinese Government. In early February, China "expressed appreciation" for the closure of the Dalai Lama's office in Kathmandu. Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said Nepal made "the right decision" in maintaining Chinese sovereignty. The British Embassy in Kathmandu has made representations to the Nepalese Foreign Affairs Ministry, as has a delegation from HURON, the Human Rights Organisation of Nepal, but so far to no avail.
In a recent appeal, Free Tibet Campaign documented the perilous situation for Tibetan refugees in Nepal. Each year between 2,500 - 3,000 Tibetans make the treacherous journey across the Himalaya. Once they reach Kathmandu they are helped by the TRWO who work with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. The TRWO is responsible for the care of Tibetan refugees transiting through and legally resident in Nepal. There are approximately 1,000 Tibetan refugees currently at the Kathmandu reception centre.
Of further concern is the Nepalese King's suspension of parliamentary democracy for three years on 31 January 2005. In the past China has capitalised on Nepal's political upheaval. In May 2003 China forcibly repatriated 18 Tibetan refugees from a Nepalese prison. Following an international campaign, Nepal agreed to stop returning Tibetan refugees to China and allow them to use Nepal as a transit point.
What you can do:
Tibetans in Nepal are anxious that the already tense situation there is not further exacerbated and have therefore asked for polite letters to be sent to the Nepalese Government, with copies sent to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.
1. Write to/email the Nepalese Government:
Address: Minister of Home Affairs
Kathmandu
Nepal
Email: homehmg@wlink.com.np
Salutation: Dear Minister
2. Send copies of your letter to UNHCR:
Address: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Cas Postale 2500
CH 1211 Geneve 2 Depot
Switzerland
Salutation: Dear High Commissioner
To contact UNHCR electronically go to www.unhcr.org and click on Contact Us in the top bar.
(Please note: The current High Commissioner, Ruud Lubbers, has resigned. However he has stated that he will continue his work until a successor is appointed.)
Please send copies of any responses you receive to Free Tibet Campaign, as this helps us to monitor the situation.
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