Persecution against Tibetan refugees increasing in Nepal
by Kalpit Parajuli
The government ordered the arrest of a Tibetan representative. Tibetan refugees now show great concern. Sources tell AsiaNews that Kathmandu wants to please China ahead of a visit by a top-level delegation.
Kathmandu (AsiaNews) – Following the arbitrary arrest of the Dalai Lama’s envoy to Kathmandu, Tibetan refugees in Nepal are increasingly concerned that local authorities will target them to please Beijing. Sources told AsiaNews that China and Nepal have struck a “deal” to restrict refugees’ rights.
Last Friday, Kathmandu police arrested Thinley Lama, a Nepali citizen and coordinator for the Tibetan Refugee Welfare Office in Nepal. After he held a press conference in which he called for greater respect for Nepal’s 20,000 Tibetan refugees, he was taken into custody and held for several hours without a reason given. He was released only after he pledged to coordinate his future public activities with policeUscita.
The head of the Kathmandu Metropolitan Police force said he followed “orders” and arrested and later released Thinley “as the government instructed us. [. . .] Other arrests are possible” in case of “any activities that encourage Tibetan refugees in Nepal,” he explained. Thinley “was released after he signed (a pledge) not to repeat such activities (press conference on refugees’ rights)” and “agreed to visit the police office when he is called for further investigation.”
“The arrest, three days before newly appointed political successor of Dalai Lama Lobsang Sangya took office, shows that no one is safe and free to speak about the human rights of Tibetan refugees in Nepal,” Tsering Tasi Lama, a Nepali citizen and a follower of Tibetan Buddhism, told AsiaNews.
“It is not only violation of refugee rights but also a serious violation of religious right. No one is safe anymore if one believes in Tibetan Buddhism. As a Nepali Tibetan Buddhist, I request that our new leader, Lobsang Sangya, call on Nepal to protect us," he added.
For Gangalal Tuladhar, Nepali Education minister and government spokesperson, “Tibetan refugees must respect Nepal's policy towards China. They are safe and have full rights when they lead normal lives but when they provoke anti-China activities, we take action against them,” he said. “Whether they are Tibetan refugees or Nepali citizens, all will be equally slapped. Therefore, I call on all Nepalis not to support free-Tibet activities”.
Over the past few years, Nepali authorities have stepped up their crackdown on Tibetan refugees to prevent them from engaging in any activity they deem anti-Chinese, even peaceful protests or prayer vigils commemorating the victims of Chinese persecution. However, persecution has been increased since the arrival of China’s new ambassador to Nepal, Yang Houlan.
Diplomatic sources, which requested anonymity, told AsiaNews that the crackdown against the refugees has intensified because of two factors, the recent appointment of the new head of the Tibetan government-in-exile and the arrival a week from today of a Chinese delegation in Kathmandu.
President Hu Jintao’s special envoy Zhou Yongkang will head the delegation. A member of the Standing committee of the Politburo of the Communist Party, Zhou heads the Central Political and Legislative Committee and is highest-ranking Chinese official to visit Nepal since Communists came to power in Nepal.
Last Friday, Kathmandu police arrested Thinley Lama, a Nepali citizen and coordinator for the Tibetan Refugee Welfare Office in Nepal. After he held a press conference in which he called for greater respect for Nepal’s 20,000 Tibetan refugees, he was taken into custody and held for several hours without a reason given. He was released only after he pledged to coordinate his future public activities with policeUscita.
The head of the Kathmandu Metropolitan Police force said he followed “orders” and arrested and later released Thinley “as the government instructed us. [. . .] Other arrests are possible” in case of “any activities that encourage Tibetan refugees in Nepal,” he explained. Thinley “was released after he signed (a pledge) not to repeat such activities (press conference on refugees’ rights)” and “agreed to visit the police office when he is called for further investigation.”
“The arrest, three days before newly appointed political successor of Dalai Lama Lobsang Sangya took office, shows that no one is safe and free to speak about the human rights of Tibetan refugees in Nepal,” Tsering Tasi Lama, a Nepali citizen and a follower of Tibetan Buddhism, told AsiaNews.
“It is not only violation of refugee rights but also a serious violation of religious right. No one is safe anymore if one believes in Tibetan Buddhism. As a Nepali Tibetan Buddhist, I request that our new leader, Lobsang Sangya, call on Nepal to protect us," he added.
For Gangalal Tuladhar, Nepali Education minister and government spokesperson, “Tibetan refugees must respect Nepal's policy towards China. They are safe and have full rights when they lead normal lives but when they provoke anti-China activities, we take action against them,” he said. “Whether they are Tibetan refugees or Nepali citizens, all will be equally slapped. Therefore, I call on all Nepalis not to support free-Tibet activities”.
Over the past few years, Nepali authorities have stepped up their crackdown on Tibetan refugees to prevent them from engaging in any activity they deem anti-Chinese, even peaceful protests or prayer vigils commemorating the victims of Chinese persecution. However, persecution has been increased since the arrival of China’s new ambassador to Nepal, Yang Houlan.
Diplomatic sources, which requested anonymity, told AsiaNews that the crackdown against the refugees has intensified because of two factors, the recent appointment of the new head of the Tibetan government-in-exile and the arrival a week from today of a Chinese delegation in Kathmandu.
President Hu Jintao’s special envoy Zhou Yongkang will head the delegation. A member of the Standing committee of the Politburo of the Communist Party, Zhou heads the Central Political and Legislative Committee and is highest-ranking Chinese official to visit Nepal since Communists came to power in Nepal.
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