DANGEROUS CROSSING: - International Campaign for Tibet

DANGEROUS CROSSINGS: CONDITIONS IMPACTING THE FLIGHT OF TIBETAN REFUGEES, 2011
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“It took me more than 40 days to get the Nepali travel document”
explains Tenzin Phuntsok 199 “I didn’t have any trouble getting the letter
from my local police office as I gave them 2,000NPR (US $23). But
in the CDO office, it is impossible to get their approval unless you give
them 10,000NPR (US $112). They always try to find some problem with
the invitation letter, bank statements and other documents in order to
get more money from me. I had to CDO office more than ten times to
get letter. I then also had to bribe the Central Passport Office in Kathmandu
10,000 NPR (US$ 112) so that they would produce my travel
document before it expired. My total bribe of 22,000NPR (US $248)
wasn’t actually bad compared to other applicants – some people end
up paying 35,000 – 40,000 rupees.”
Nepal police are now making travel documents contingent on having a
clean slate – not just a clean criminal record, but also no involvement in
political protest. “An officer at the CDO asked me if I had been involved
in any anti-Chinese protest since 2008, because if so they would not
give me the letters [of recommendation required for the travel document].
They said to me they would check with all the police stations in
Kathmandu and if they found my name then my chance to get a travel
document would be over. I was so worried about it because I had been
detained four times in 2008, but luckily they did not find my name in
their records.” 200
4) Movement within Nepal
The year 2008 saw a peak in restrictions on Tibetan movements in Nepal
when Tibetan refugees protested repeatedly in response to the uprising
and violent crackdown across Tibet, the Olympic torch relay, and
the Beijing Olympics. The behavior of Nepali police and politicians that
year, in part provoked by Chinese demands, set the standard for how
freedom of movement has been restricted ever since. As stated in the
RC, Tibetans who are not resident in settlements in certain restricted
areas are not allowed to travel there. Following March 2008, the Nepal-
Tibet border was virtually sealed, and Tibetans were prohibited from
moving in the border area on the Nepal side. While Tibetans with RCs
can fly to Pokhara and the Indian border, ICT has heard that most travel
agencies in Kathmandu appear to be following orders and will not sell
Tibetans air tickets to fly north to such places as Namche, Jiri or Jomsom,
despite the fact that, although fairly close to the Tibetan border,
none of these places are in restricted areas.