Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02KATHMANDU976
2002-05-20 11:36:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:  

UPDATE ON TIBETAN REFUGEES

Tags:  PREF PHUM PREL NP 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 000976 

SIPDIS

GENEVA FOR RMA
LONDON FOR POL/RIEDEL
BEIJING PASS CHENGDU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/19/2012
TAGS: PREF PHUM PREL NP
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON TIBETAN REFUGEES

REF: KATHMANDU 497

Classified By: Ambassador Michael E. Malinowski, Reasons 1.5 (b),(d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 000976

SIPDIS

GENEVA FOR RMA
LONDON FOR POL/RIEDEL
BEIJING PASS CHENGDU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/19/2012
TAGS: PREF PHUM PREL NEPAL'>NP
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON TIBETAN REFUGEES

REF: KATHMANDU 497

Classified By: Ambassador Michael E. Malinowski, Reasons 1.5 (b),(d).


1. (C) Summary. The Tibet border is "very quiet" and most
newly arrived refugees have not faced problems, according to
UNHCR and the Office of Tibet. NEPALi police garnered praise
for their efforts to escort a large group of Tibetans from
the Nangpa region to Kathmandu, an operation which UNHCR
hopes marks a return to "normal procedures." News of the
troubling security situation in NEPAL could be a factor in
the decline of refugee arrivals, UNHCR believes. Lawyers
from a leading human rights organization plan to litigate the
case of eleven Tibetan refugees from India jailed on
immigration violations. End Summary.

Return to "Normal Procedures" as Police Escort 29
-------------- --------------


2. (C) The refugee situation on the Tibet border is "very
quiet," according to both a UNHCR protection officer and the
Office of Tibet representative. Most new arrivals have not
faced any problems. During the week of May 12, police
escorted a group of 29 refugees from the Amdo region of Tibet
to Kathmandu without incident, UNHCR confirmed. The group
had crossed into NEPAL at Nangpa Pass. The Office of Tibet
was "pleasantly surprised" to learn that the police treated
the group very well and even provided them with food and
water. UNHCR noted that recently there have been few
instances of police escorting Tibetan refugees to the
capital. UNHCR hoped that last week's incident marked a
return to the "normal procedures" previously in effect.


3. (C) The Tibet Office noted that in the previous week a
small group of five or six crossing at Nangpa Pass had been
robbed of all their money. Even so, this group was able to
reach Kathmandu for onward processing.


4. (C) The number of new arrivals at the Tibetan Reception
Center in Kathamndu continues to be off compared to previous
years. UNHCR Kathmandu commented May 20 that explanations
for the decline vary, but it could be that people in Tibet
have heard news of the troubling security situation in NEPAL.

Still No Prospects for Eleven Jailed Tibetans
--------------


5. (C) There has been no change in the status of eleven
Tibetan refugees from India jailed by NEPAL on immigration
charges (Reftel). Lawyers from the Human Rights Organization
of NEPAL (HURON) see litigation as the only possible solution
and plan to take the case to court.
MALINOWSKI