UCS 31/05/03: 18 Tibetans arrested

Update to Urgent Campaigns:
30 May 2003 - Tibetan Refugees Under Threat of Imminent Deportation
29 April 2003 - 18 Tibetans held in Nepal

(Please contact Free Tibet Campaign if acting after 30 August 2003)


In the early hours of Saturday morning (31 May) Free Tibet Campaign received news that the 18 Tibetan refugees, previously detained in Kathmandu, had been handed over to Chinese officials and deported back to Tibet.

At approximately 7.30am (1:45am GMT) on Saturday the 18 Tibetans were forcibly removed from Hanuman Dhoka jail in Kathmandu by Nepalese and Chinese police and officials. They were then driven to the main checkpoint between Tibet and Nepal, the Friendship Bridge, and back into Tibet. Reports indicate that several Tibetans who are ill were denied medical treatment and UNHCR officials were refused access whilst the Tibetans remained in Nepalese custody.

Click here for a special report detailing the events surrounding the deportation.

Free Tibet Campaign will continue to monitor the situation and keep our supporters informed.

IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ: For the safety of the 9 Tibetan refugees remaining in prison in Nepal (Urgent Campaign 29 April 2003), given the recent developments Free Tibet Campaign asks that you DO NOT mention them in your letters/emails to Nepalese or Chinese officials. Also as the situation with the deported Tibetans is still very delicate we are NOT yet asking for letters to be written on their behalf to Chinese officials. Once we believe letter writing actions to Chinese officials are appropriate we will let you know.

Finally, the three young Tibetan refugees, two 6 year olds and a 9 year old, who were released into custody of the UNHCR when the other 18 were sentenced, are reported to be safe and are being looked after by Tibetan exiles.

 

Action

Please write to those listed below:

 

  •  Express your dismay and outrage to the Nepalese authorities listed below, that Tibetan refugees have been deported back to Tibet.

     

  •  Express your concern that Tibetans deported back to Tibet are at risk of persecution, further imprisonment and torture.

     

  •  Ask that future refugees are safeguarded and handed over to the custody of the UNHCR.

    Note that Nepal is currently in a state of political upheaval; the Nepalese Prime Minister has resigned, new ministers are being appointed and Nepal's Ambassador in the UK is being replaced.


    1. Nepalese Home Office
    Address: Minister of Home Affairs
    Ministry of Home Affairs
    Singha Durbar
    Kathmandu
    Nepal
    Email: homehmg@wlink.com.np
    Fax: + 977 14 225 156
    Salutation: Your Excellency

    2. Nepalese Department of Immigration
    Name:Director General Subarna Lal Shrestha
    Address: Department of Immigration
    Baneswar
    Kathmandu
    Nepal
    Email: deptimi@ntc.net.np
    Fax: + 977 14 223 127
    Salutation: Dear Director General

    3. Royal Nepalese Embassy
    Address: Minister Counsellor
    12A Kensington Palace Gardens
    London W8 4QU
    Email: info@nepembassy.org.uk
    Fax: 020 7792 9861
    Saluation: Dear Minister

    Also: Please write to the UK Minister with responsibilty for Nepal, asking for the British Government to express its concern to the Nepalese Government over recent developments with respect to the deportation of Tibetan refugees back to Tibet and to obtain assurances that future refugees will be safeguarded and handed over to the custody of the UNHCR.

    4. UK Minister with responsibility for Nepal
    Name: Mike O'Brien MP
    Address: Foreign & Commonwealth Office
    King Charles Street
    London SW1A 2AH
    Fax: 020 7219 2704
    Email: mulhollandj@parliament.uk
    Salutation: Dear Mr O'Brien

    (Please note it can be difficult to get through to Nepalese fax numbers and emails. If you do not succeed initially please try again later. Please send copies of any responses to Free Tibet Campaign; this helps us to monitor the situation.)


    If you have an email address and would like to receive urgent campaigns by email,please email us at mail@freetibet.org asking to be put on the urgent campaign email list.

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