August 6, 2011
Authorities in Nepal arrested on Friday the Dalai Lama's new representative in the Himalayan territory after he held a news conference calling for protection of Tibetan refugee rights, sources said.
The arrest of Thinley Lama, volunteer coordinator of the Tibetan Refugee Welfare Office, came amid persistent pressure from Beijing urging the Nepalese government to stop “anti-China activities” by Tibetan refugees.
He was taken away and interrogated by police after he held a press conference asking the Nepal government to ensure the rights of the country’s 20,000 Tibetan refugees under Nepal’s new constitution.
The press conference, held at a Kathmandu hotel, was Thinley Lama’s first since his June appointment. (Full transcript translated into English provided below.)
Thinley Lama, a Nepali citizen, was expected to be released after signing specific "commitments," a source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
“They want him to shackle himself in future press conferences,” the source said.
PERSECUTION
Rights groups criticized the Nepali government and called for strong action from the international community and an end to what they called "persecution" of Tibetan refugees in Nepal.
"I think this gesture—arresting this representative of the Tibetan government in exile—brings us to a new low," Sophie Richardson, Human Rights Watch's Asia advocacy director, told RFA.
"We have not seen behavior this specific, this aggressive, and frankly this baseless, in quite some time, and it is a very alarming development that requires a fairly vociferous response from the international community to make sure that the government of Nepal is upholding its obligations to Tibetans," she said.
China has been more aggressive in urging Nepal to take action against Tibetan refugees since last month when the new Chinese ambassador to Nepal, Yang Houlan, assumed office, news reports said.
Yang had reminded the Nepali government and political parties in the country against allowing any “anti-China activity” by Tibetans living in Nepal, the reports said.
Tibetan refugees living in Nepal are under pressure to avoid asserting their national identity as their host country moves closer to its powerful northern neighbor China, analysts say.
Even religious ceremonies and community gatherings by Tibetans are increasingly viewed with suspicion by authorities in Nepal. They were also prevented from celebrating the birthday of the Dalai Lama last month.
Many of the refugees arrived in Nepal following a failed 1959 Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule in which thousands fled south across the Himalayas.
Many still flee Tibet each year, hoping to transit Nepal to India, home of Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and seat of the Tibetan government-in-exile.
At the press conference on Friday, Thinley referred to four treaties signed between Nepal and Tibet as two "sovereign countries" in 1645, 1789, 1792 and 1856, the Times of India reported.
He noted that on the basis of amicable relations with Tibet, earlier Nepali governments had given sanctuary to Tibetans forced to leave their countries as "political refugees," the report said. China says there are no Tibetan “refugees,” only illegal immigrants.
"I guess the thing that really ‘got their goat’ was that he referenced old treaties between Nepal and Tibet," said Mikel Dunham, an American writer and blogger on Nepal’s politics who frequently travels to the country."That would not have gone down well, particularly with the new Chinese ambassador in Nepal, Yang Houlan, who seems to be the feistiest of all the [Chinese] ambassadors so far."
Sophie Robinson said the Nepali government has stepped up action against Tibetan refugees since regionwide riots in Tibet in March 2008. The refugees had sympathized with their countrymen facing repression in Tibetan regions of China, she said.
"We’ve seen the Nepali government take a number of steps to either restrict the activities of Tibetans or to actively persecute them," Richardson said.
"We’ve certainly documented that in the treatment of Tibetans following the March 2008 protests that took place in Tibetan areas. People were protesting in sympathy in Kathmandu, and we documented some fairly horrific treatment at the hands of the Nepali authorities of people who were exercising their right to freedom of expression."
She also cited a controversial Chinese project aimed at transforming Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha in the foothills of the Himalayas in Nepal.
"In that marvelously hypocritical way that the Chinese government has, even as Beijing is encouraging the locking up of Tibetans in Nepal, the Chinese government itself is in the middle of a $3 billion project to make Lumbini—which is the birthplace of the Buddha, and therefore one of the most sacred sites for Buddhists—a “mecca for Buddhists,” Robinson said.
Dunham said Beijing is using tourism to extend its increasing political influence in Nepal.
"It’s clear that China is intent on positioning itself in Nepal as the main supporter for tourism," he said.
"They’ve got people in China now willing to spend money, and they’re willing to ship them to Nepal to see the Buddhist sites and all of that, and Nepal could use the kind of economic boom that offers," Dunham said.
"But in order for that to be all nice and tidy for the Chinese, of course people like Thinley cannot be around raising dust in the background."
Reported by Richard Finney and Parameswaran Ponnudurai for Radio Free Asia
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Statement by Thinlay Lama made at a press conference at Hotel Ambassador, Kathmandu, August 5, 2011
Transcript provided by International Campaign for Tibet
As we know, in the last few days we have seen reports in the media about Tibetans who sought refuge in Nepal. In order to clarify some issues and also to tell the media world about the problems faced by the Tibetan refugees, I have invited you for this conference.
We all know very well that historically Nepal and Tibet, which is currently ruled by China, enjoyed a close relation economically, diplomatically and culturally from the ancient period. As two sovereign nations in history, Nepal and Tibet had signed numerous agreements. During the modern period, three major Nepal – Tibet treaties were signed in 1789, 1792 and 1856, which is a fact of history. In fact the marriage of Nepalese Princess Bhrikuti of Patan to King Songtsen Gampo of Tibet sealed our relationship further, not only as neighbor, but our ‘Samdi’ marriage relationship.
After China and India signed the Panchsheel Treaty in 1954, Nepal not only recognized Tibet as an autonomous region of China, but also abrogated all the privileges and rights enjoyed by Nepal in Tibet. These facts are engraved in history and nobody can change the according to their will.
Based on the close historical relationship, Tibetans who had to leave their country were given political refuge by the then government of Nepal, which allowed them to settle here. In spite of our country being landlocked and with limited resources, we supported the Tibetan refugees and this gesture is internationally appreciated even today. During this critical time in the history of our nation and for half a century since, we provided the exile community with emotional support for which they are always grateful to the government and people of Nepal.
After coming into exile, the Tibetan Welfare Office was established as a non-political, non-profit social organization, actively working to help the Tibetan refugees’ voices be heard by the government of Nepal. The Tibetan Welfare Office’s aim was not against any individual, society, or any country. It only aimed to be a coordinator between the Tibetan refugees and Nepal government and to acquaint the Tibetan refugees with the law of the land and also provide various protections guaranteed by the international organizations for refugees.
The Nepal government used to issue refugee identity cards (RC) to refugees, but this practice was discontinued and the last RC was issued in 1998. Children who have since become adults and would now be eligible, as well as many children who were born and brought up in Nepal are now unable get an RC, with the result being that these people have no means to become part of Nepalese society and cannot get driver’s licenses, travel documents and all other basic documentation of one’s livelihood. Therefore, we appeal to the Nepal government to continue granting RC’s to the genuine refugees.
There is a large number of Tibetans born and brought up in Nepal. An RC helps them to stay in Nepal legally. Beyond that, they are not allowed to engage in legal business, seek higher education opportunities, or any other legal rights. It is a fact that such rules not only stop them from making any economic and social contributions to the community and the country, but they are a waste of precious human resources.
We appeal to the Nepal government to allow RC holders to do business, open industries, give opportunities for employment and allow them to establish non-political, non-profit social organizations. We request that the government drafts the necessary law addressing the problems faced by Tibetan refugees for inclusion in the new constitution of Nepal.
For the last several days the Nepalese national media have reported that Tibetans have acquired fake Nepalese passports and that the Tibetan Refugee Welfare Office issued birth certificates signed by Trinlay Gyatso to Tenzing(15 yrs) and Chering Lhamu (12 yrs) vide certificate number OT/KM/11/7100 on Feb 8, 2011. Newspapers also reported that the Tibetan Refugee Office in Boudha also gave necessary recommendation letters. The two persons were arrested at Tribhuvan International Airport while trying to travel abroad.
It is a fact that normally this office issues birth certificates, marriage certificates and necessary recommendation letters to bona fide Tibetan refugees of Nepal after ascertaining facts from the Tibetan Refugee Transit Center and all other concerned offices.
Accordingly, this office enquired about the two persons in question with the Tibetan Refugee Transit Center, the Refugee Office at Boudha and found no record of such certificates being issued. We conducted a further inquiry with the Central Tibetan Administration in Dharamsala and found no record. Therefore, we want to inform you that the documents produced by them are fake and Mr. Tenzing and Miss Chering Lhamu are not Tibetan refugees.
We are serious and alert on the issue of non-Tibetan refugees obtaining documents meant for the Tibetan refugees. This is the only official organization that looks after the welfare of the Tibetan refugees in Nepal and we request all those concerned to inform us in the future if anybody is making such fake documents.
This episode has surely harmed the image of Tibetans who are living with dignity in Nepal and scattered all over the world living their lives peacefully and preserving their religion and culture. Hence, we strongly wish to state that the current media reporting is baseless and we request all Nepalese media to tell the truth and only the truth.
We are always ready to cooperate with all those concerned with the welfare of Tibetan refugees in Nepal. We expect the same cooperation from the government of Nepal, international organizations, human rights groups, intellectuals and all communities of people in Nepal.
Thank you,
Thinlay Lama, Chief Coordinator
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