Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KATHMANDU186
2009-03-09 09:55:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:
GOVERNMENT FOLLOWS THROUGH ON "PRE-EMPTIVE" ACTION
how-toP 090955Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9864 INFO AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY AMCONSUL CHENGDU PRIORITY AMCONSUL CHENNAI PRIORITY AMCONSUL KOLKATA PRIORITY USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 000186
DEPT FOR G, PRM, DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2019
TAGS: PREL PREF PHUM CH NP
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT FOLLOWS THROUGH ON "PRE-EMPTIVE" ACTION
AGAINST TIBETANS
REF: KATHMANDU 185
Classified By: Charge Randy Berry, Reason 1.5 b, d
Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 000186
DEPT FOR G, PRM, DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2019
TAGS: PREL PREF PHUM CH NP
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT FOLLOWS THROUGH ON "PRE-EMPTIVE" ACTION
AGAINST TIBETANS
REF: KATHMANDU 185
Classified By: Charge Randy Berry, Reason 1.5 b, d
Summary
--------------
1. (C) In the early hours of March 9, the Nepali Government
arrested and detained 12 apparently undocumented Tibetans.
The only woman was released, the others have not yet been
charged. Tibetan sources reported that others were
threatened and their documents and cell phones confiscated.
A Tibetan community leader reported that he had been told by
a government official that an arrest warrant had been issued
for 30 Tibetan community leaders. The Tibetan community
plans religious observances of the 50th anniversary of the
start of the Dalai Lama's exile from Tibet. End summary.
APF Launches Crackdown During Early Morning Hours
-------------- --------------
2. (C) On March 9 the Government of Nepal (GON) followed
through on PM Dahal's March 8 statement to the Charge that
the GON might have to take pre-emptive action to keep
Tibetans from using Nepal for "anti-China" activities
(reftel). According to several Tibetan sources and the
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human
Rights (OHCHR),very early in the morning of March 9, the
Armed Police Force (APF) forcibly removed from their homes
and detained twelve Tibetans -- 11 men and 1 woman -- from
the Boudha area of Kathmandu. The one woman in the group was
released by mid-afternoon on March 9. As of close of
business on March 9, the men remained in detention with no
charges filed against them. OHCHR reported further that all
twelve appear to be undocumented as refugees in Nepal,
meaning that they probably arrived after January 1, 1990. A
further, as yet undetermined, number of Tibetans received
similar "visits" from the APF in the early hours of the
morning, had their documents and cell phones confiscated, and
were told to report on their own to the Boudha-area police
station. At least one who contacted Post's Refcoord reported
that he did not intend to visit the police station but will,
instead, seek refuge with friends.
3. (C) Post was also informed by the head of the unofficial
Tibet Office in Kathmandu, Trinlay Gyatso (protect) that he
had been invited early on March 9 to the Kathmandu Chief
District Officer's (CDO) headquarters and told informally
that the GON had just issued an arrest warrant for thirty
Tibetan leaders, including Trinlay Gyatso himself, the four
members of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile, the Tibetan
settlement officers, and other leaders of the Tibetan
community. OHCHR staff attempted to verify this report with
the Boudha area police but did not receive confirmation.
They will also try to verify with the CDO's office directly.
Comment
--------------
4 (C) Comment: Interestingly, both Post's RSO and UN
Security issued alerts to their respective staffs on March 9
on a possible protest in the area of the Chinese Consulate.
OHCHR followed up in the area and found not only was there no
protest at that time but there had also been no sightings of
protesters. This is consistent with the other two actions in
that it almost appears that the Government may inadvertently
incite the protests it is trying to avoid. End comment.
The Next Few Days
--------------
5. (C) Planned religious observances by the Tibetan
community to commemorate the start of the Dalai Lama's flight
from Tibet are scheduled to begin on March 10 and extend at
least through March 28, the 50th anniversary of the Dalai
Lama's arrival in India. Post's contacts in the Tibetan
community all report that they plan no protests and are
encouraging everyone to strictly limit actions to commemorate
the 50th anniversary to religious observance. The Dalai
Lama's special envoy, Lodi Gyari, is also in Nepal at this
time and reportedly conveying the same message.
6. (C) Post will be monitoring the situation closely as
events develop and plans to proceed with interventions as
necessary. Charge Berry also spoke to the UK Ambassador, who
was planning on consulting with his EU colleagues to gain a
sense of where they stood on this issue. Post will remain in
close contact with these and other diplomatic colleagues
regarding possible joint actions.
BERRY
DEPT FOR G, PRM, DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2019
TAGS: PREL PREF PHUM CH NP
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT FOLLOWS THROUGH ON "PRE-EMPTIVE" ACTION
AGAINST TIBETANS
REF: KATHMANDU 185
Classified By: Charge Randy Berry, Reason 1.5 b, d
Summary
--------------
1. (C) In the early hours of March 9, the Nepali Government
arrested and detained 12 apparently undocumented Tibetans.
The only woman was released, the others have not yet been
charged. Tibetan sources reported that others were
threatened and their documents and cell phones confiscated.
A Tibetan community leader reported that he had been told by
a government official that an arrest warrant had been issued
for 30 Tibetan community leaders. The Tibetan community
plans religious observances of the 50th anniversary of the
start of the Dalai Lama's exile from Tibet. End summary.
APF Launches Crackdown During Early Morning Hours
-------------- --------------
2. (C) On March 9 the Government of Nepal (GON) followed
through on PM Dahal's March 8 statement to the Charge that
the GON might have to take pre-emptive action to keep
Tibetans from using Nepal for "anti-China" activities
(reftel). According to several Tibetan sources and the
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human
Rights (OHCHR),very early in the morning of March 9, the
Armed Police Force (APF) forcibly removed from their homes
and detained twelve Tibetans -- 11 men and 1 woman -- from
the Boudha area of Kathmandu. The one woman in the group was
released by mid-afternoon on March 9. As of close of
business on March 9, the men remained in detention with no
charges filed against them. OHCHR reported further that all
twelve appear to be undocumented as refugees in Nepal,
meaning that they probably arrived after January 1, 1990. A
further, as yet undetermined, number of Tibetans received
similar "visits" from the APF in the early hours of the
morning, had their documents and cell phones confiscated, and
were told to report on their own to the Boudha-area police
station. At least one who contacted Post's Refcoord reported
that he did not intend to visit the police station but will,
instead, seek refuge with friends.
3. (C) Post was also informed by the head of the unofficial
Tibet Office in Kathmandu, Trinlay Gyatso (protect) that he
had been invited early on March 9 to the Kathmandu Chief
District Officer's (CDO) headquarters and told informally
that the GON had just issued an arrest warrant for thirty
Tibetan leaders, including Trinlay Gyatso himself, the four
members of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile, the Tibetan
settlement officers, and other leaders of the Tibetan
community. OHCHR staff attempted to verify this report with
the Boudha area police but did not receive confirmation.
They will also try to verify with the CDO's office directly.
Comment
--------------
4 (C) Comment: Interestingly, both Post's RSO and UN
Security issued alerts to their respective staffs on March 9
on a possible protest in the area of the Chinese Consulate.
OHCHR followed up in the area and found not only was there no
protest at that time but there had also been no sightings of
protesters. This is consistent with the other two actions in
that it almost appears that the Government may inadvertently
incite the protests it is trying to avoid. End comment.
The Next Few Days
--------------
5. (C) Planned religious observances by the Tibetan
community to commemorate the start of the Dalai Lama's flight
from Tibet are scheduled to begin on March 10 and extend at
least through March 28, the 50th anniversary of the Dalai
Lama's arrival in India. Post's contacts in the Tibetan
community all report that they plan no protests and are
encouraging everyone to strictly limit actions to commemorate
the 50th anniversary to religious observance. The Dalai
Lama's special envoy, Lodi Gyari, is also in Nepal at this
time and reportedly conveying the same message.
6. (C) Post will be monitoring the situation closely as
events develop and plans to proceed with interventions as
necessary. Charge Berry also spoke to the UK Ambassador, who
was planning on consulting with his EU colleagues to gain a
sense of where they stood on this issue. Post will remain in
close contact with these and other diplomatic colleagues
regarding possible joint actions.
BERRY