NEPAL: CHINESE AMBASSADOR PRESSURES GON TO ARREST

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 000753

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SA/INS
LONDON FOR POL - GURNEY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/26/2013
TAGS: PHUM PREF NP CH
SUBJECT: NEPAL: CHINESE AMBASSADOR PRESSURES GON TO ARREST
TIBETANS

REF: KATHMANDU 715

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


1. (C) At an April 25 meeting with Home Secretary Tikka
Datta Niraula, Ambassador Malinowski raised the issue of
twenty-one Tibetans, including eleven minors, recently
arrested on immigration charges (reftel). The Ambassador
encouraged the Government of Nepal (GON) to release the
detainees into UNHCR custody, in accordance with prior
practice and the unwritten "gentleman's agreement" that has
governed GON treatment of transiting Tibetan refugees since

1990. In response, Niraula stated that the Chinese Ambassador
personally had made a high-level presentation to complain
about the group, and had accused members of the group of
being involved in unspecified criminal activities.


2. (U) UNHCR has confirmed that two of the youngest
children (ages six and nine) have been released from jail
without fine, and that a second six-year-old will be released
today. Eight minors remain in jail. (Note: Reftel reported
that the children being released were not accompanied by
parents. New information from UNHCR indicates that the
father of the second six-year old boy is in custody. End
note.) The Department of Immigration has offered no
explanation to UNHCR for the detention of the refugees.


3. (C) Comment: Information from the Home Secretary
confirms Post's suspicion that the Chinese Embassy has been
behind the recent crackdown on Tibetan refugees by the GON.
It is not clear if the Chinese pressure is the result of
directives from Beijing, or is a local initiative. Post will
continue to encourage the GON to work in cooperation with
UNHCR and to release the refugees from detention.
MALINOWSKI