Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KATHMANDU564
2009-06-26 09:30:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:  

TIBETAN PROTESTERS DETAINED IN KATHMANDU

Tags:  PREF PREL PHUM CH NP 
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VZCZCXRO9721
PP RUEHCI RUEHCN
DE RUEHKT #0564 1770930
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 260930Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0393
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 7016
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 3102
RUEHCN/AMCONSUL CHENGDU 0473
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 3047
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 4652
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 2350
C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 000564 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR G, PRM, SCA/INS, GENEVA FOR RMA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/25/2019
TAGS: PREF PREL PHUM CH NP
SUBJECT: TIBETAN PROTESTERS DETAINED IN KATHMANDU

Classified By: Ambassador Nancy J. Powell, reasons 1.5 b,d

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 000564

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR G, PRM, SCA/INS, GENEVA FOR RMA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/25/2019
TAGS: PREF PREL PHUM CH NP
SUBJECT: TIBETAN PROTESTERS DETAINED IN KATHMANDU

Classified By: Ambassador Nancy J. Powell, reasons 1.5 b,d


1. (SBU) In the first Tibetan political protest since March
2009, a group of 34 Tibetans took a bus from Kathmandu to the
Nepal-Tibet border early on June 26, reportedly to turn
themselves over to Chinese authorities and become martyrs for
the cause of a free Tibet. The group was intercepted and
detained by Nepali police about 15 miles south of the border
and subsequently returned to Kathmandu, where they were
handed over to Immigration authorities. There are
unconfirmed reports that some of the protesters were injured
during the arrest. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR) has learned that Nepali Immigration is holding the
protesters without charge at least until Sunday to consider
next steps. The GON is most likely to release the Tibetans
but could press charges either for violating immigration law
or, more seriously, for threating Nepal's safety by impuning
a neighboring state from Nepal's territory.


2. (SBU) The group's members are largely individuals without
formal refugee status in Nepal. Many of them had
participated in earlier protests in Kathmandu and are among a
group of 90 individuals turned over to UNHCR by the Nepali
Government in September 2008 following a series of protests
on behalf of Tibet.


Comment
--------------


3. (C) Both the Government of Nepal and UNHCR find
themselves in a quandary. This is the first protest to have
taken place under the new government and the first since the
government -- at least at the working level -- has expressed
willingness to take steps toward registration and ID card
issuance for those Tibetans clearly entitled to refugee
status. Government willingness to take this modest step was
predicated on the Tibetan refugee issue staying relatively
under China's radar. This latest protest, which has already
been reported in the regional press, may well cause the GON
to reconsider even this small step.


4. (C) UNHCR has also been warned by the GON that the
operation of the Transit Center in Kathmandu which provides
sanctuary for newly-arrived Tibetans and facilitates their
onward movement to India could be threatened by public
attention to the Tibetan refugee issue. UNHCR has been
acting as custodian for the members of this group since
September 2008 but is torn between its desire to protect
these individuals and its desire to maintain the ability to
protect newcomers from Tibet.


5. (C) The Ambassador plans to discuss the issue with UNHCR
Representative Daisy Dell on Monday, after Dell has returned
from a trip to the Bhutanese refugee camps. The Ambassador
has several farewell calls scheduled with key ministers and
will use this opportunity to engage the GON.


5. (U) If asked: Post plans to state that we have seen
press reports of the detention of a group of Tibetan refugees
approaching the border area and understand the refugees have
been returned to Kathmandu. We are still collecting
information about the incident but are relieved there are no
reports of serious injury at this time.
POWELL