NEPAL: GON RELEASES TIBETAN REFUGEE FROM

UNCLAS KATHMANDU 001132

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR SA/INS, PRM/RMACKLER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PREL CH NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: GON RELEASES TIBETAN REFUGEE FROM
DETENTION

REF: (A) KATHMANDU 1074 (B) KATHAMNDU 1044


1. (SBU) ON JUNE 17, NEPAL'S DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION
RELEASED A MALE TIBETAN REFUGEE INTO UNHCR'S CUSTODY
TWENTY-FOUR HOURS AFTER THE OFFICE OF TIBET PAID HIS FINE
OF 7,500 RUPEES (APPROXIMATELY 98 USD). THE DEPARTMENT OF
IMMIGRATION HAD DETAINED THE MAN IN LATE APRIL, SHORTLY
AFTER THE DETENTION OF THE 18 REFUGEES DEPORTED ON MAY 31
(REF A). THE OFFICE OF TIBET REPORTED THAT THE TIBETAN
MAN HAD SOMEHOW BEEN SEPARATED FROM THE LARGER GROUP IN
TRANSIT, AND SUBSEQUENTLY HAD NOT BEEN INCLUDED WITH THAT
GROUP DURING THE DEPORTATION. [NOTE. NINE TIBETAN REFUGEES
REMAIN IN DETENTION (DATING FROM JUNE 2000 TO MAY 2002)
WITH HEAVY FINES RANGING FROM USD 1,600 TO USD 10,000.
END NOTE.]


2. (SBU) UNHCR REPORTS THAT ON JUNE 19 IT WILL SUBMIT A
REQUEST TO THE DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION FOR EXIT PERMITS
FOR A NEW GROUP OF 40 TIBETAN REFUGEES. (ONE GROUP OF 40
TIBETANS WAS GRANTED EXIT PERMITS JUNE 13 AND DEPARTED THE
SAME DAY ON A BUS TO NEW DELHI.) UNHCR GENEVA REPORTEDLY
IS DELIBERATING ON WHETHER TO INCLUDE THE NAMES OF THE
THREE CHILDREN WHO WERE MEMBERS OF THE ORIGINAL GROUP OF
21 REFUGEES (REF B).


3. (SBU) COMMENT: THE GON IS ANXIOUS TO REESTABLISH ITS
CREDENTIALS WITH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SINCE THE MAY
31 DEPORTATION OF 18 TIBETAN REFUGEES. FOLLOWING GON
PROMISES THAT ITS POLICY TOWARD TIBETAN REFUGEES HAD NOT
CHANGED (REFTELS),THE JUNE 17 RELEASE OF THE TIBETAN
REFUGEE IS A PROMISING FIRST STEP TOWARDS DEMONSTRATING
THIS COMMITMENT. POST WILL CONTINUE TO TRACK THE STATUS
OF THE THREE REFUGEE CHILDREN AS FURTHER PROOF THAT GON
POLICY DOES NOT SUPPORT FURTHER DEPORTATIONS. END
COMMENT.

BOGGS