NEPAL RELEASES NINETEEN TIBETANS TO UNHCR

UNCLAS KATHMANDU 001219

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR SA/INS, PRM/RMACKLER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PREL CH NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL RELEASES NINETEEN TIBETANS TO UNHCR

REF: KATHMANDU 1214


1. (SBU) IN A UNHCR BRIEFING TO THE DONOR COMMUNITY IN
KATHMANDU ON JUNE 30, EMBASSY WAS INFORMED THAT THE 19
TIBETANS ARRESTED ON JUNE 24 (REFTEL) HAVE BEEN TURNED
OVER TO THE UNHCR FOR PROCESSING AND TRANSIT TO INDIA.


2. (SBU) ON JUNE 29, A UNHCR TEAM ARRIVED IN KAILALI
DISTRICT IN WESTERN NEPAL, IMMEDIATELY ENGAGED IN
DISCUSSIONS WITH LOCAL IMMIGRATION AND POLICE OFFICIALS
AND SECURED THE RELEASE OF THE 19 TIBETAN TRAVELERS. THE
UNHCR TEAM THEN ARRANGED FOR A BUS TO TRANSPORT THE
TIBETANS, DEPARTING ON JUNE 30 FOR THE 674-KILOMETER TRIP
TO KATHMANDU. UNHCR EXPECTS THE BUS TO ARRIVE AT THE
UNHCR RECEPTION CENTER ON JULY 1.


3. (SBU) COMMENT. POST BELIEVES THE RELEASE OF THE 19
TIBETANS TO UNHCR IS CONFIRMATION OF PRIME MINISTER
THAPA'S ASSURANCES THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF NEPAL HAS NOT
CHANGED ITS POLICY TOWARD TIBETAN REFUGEES. THAT SAID,
POST WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR CLOSELY THE GON'S TREATMENT
OF TIBETAN REFUGEES. END COMMENT.

MALINOWSKI