download the report - International Campaign for Tibet

More documents

Recommendations

Info

TIBETANS RESIDING IN NEPALIn 2002, life for Tibetans in Nepal was increasingly difficult. The sameproblems that have put transiting refugees at increasing risk -- extremepolitical instability and significant Chinese influence -- have also had anegative impact on the long-time Tibetan community in Nepal. As a communitywhose legal rights were insecure to begin with, further erosionsin their security are deeply felt by Tibetans in Nepal.Tibetans residing in Nepal fall into four categories: registration card (RC)holders, illegal aliens, Nepalese citizens and Khatsar-wa (Tibetan-Nepalimixed ethnicity). A Government of Nepal census taken in 1997 counted15,400 Tibetans in Nepal. It is estimated that the population of legallyresident and documented Tibetan refugees is currently around 25,000. xiiiThe total number of Tibetans in Nepal, including illegal aliens who arrivedsince 1990 and undocumented but technically legal residents, isestimated to be thousands higher. The status and rights of Tibetans inNepal, vary accordingly from illegal with no rights to RC-holders with thelimited rights described below.Approximately 85% of the Tibetans in Nepal, as residents prior to 1990,are RC-holders. As previously mentioned, the Nepalese governmentended legal resettlement of Tibetan refugees in Nepal in 1989. However,hundreds of Tibetans who are legally resident in Nepal do not yetpossess an RC. The Nepalese government issued RCs to Tibetans in ahaphazard manner in 1974, in 1995, and for a week in 1999. Children ofRC holders, although eligible as such at age 16, are not routinely issueda RC and, consequently, many have no proof of their status.The RC gives Tibetan residents only minimal legal status -- the rightto remain and limited freedom of movement in Nepal; it does not giveTibetan residents the right to obtain work permits, establish businessesor attend public higher education institutions. The majority of Tibetansin Nepal cannot own property, including businesses or cars. The landon which most Tibetans have settled, including the refugee camps setup in the 1960s, are in trust of the Nepal Red Cross. Tibetans wishingto conduct business in Nepal almost always utilize a Nepalese citizenor Nepalese-owned business as a front, with substantial profit going tothe Nepalese. Movement out of Nepal, even to India, requires a separatetravel document, which is difficult to obtain.14
The Tibetan community has reciprocated Nepal’s initial generosity bycommitting itself to becoming a productive element of society. Tibetanscreated new industries in Nepal, including carpet weaving, and enhancedthe existing tourist trade through their colorful presence in Kathmanduand other areas. At the same time, Tibetans in Nepal remain fairly isolatedfrom Nepalese society. They cannot obtain citizenship and most live ineither refugee settlements or self-segregating communities. There isresentment of some Tibetans’ relative economic success, and Tibetanssometimes become scapegoats for the socioeconomic problems facingNepal. xiv Tibetan community leaders have cited incidents where resentmenthas been mobilized by the Maoists and led to violent outbreaks,such as the attacks on the Tibetan community in Pokhara in February2001. xv No such incidents were reported in 2002, but Tibetans, manybearing the psychological wounds of Mao Zedong’s political warfare,fear being targeted should the Maoists assume power in Nepal.Approximately 10% of the Tibetans in Nepal are believed to have nodocumentation. These include arrivals from Tibet after 1989 that havenot moved on to India, some Tibetans who have come from India, andmany of the children of RC-holding parents. While theoretically the lattergroup should be divided from the former, as they are not technicallyillegal aliens but merely unregistered but legal residents, their lack ofdocumentation puts them in the same risky legal situation as other illegalTibetans in Nepal.Approximately 5% of the Tibetans in Nepal have Nepalese citizenshipeither through marriage or ancestry. An additional small percentageof Tibetans in Nepal are Khatsar-wa, a generally derogatory term thatmeans something akin to “mule.” These Tibetans most commonly had aTibetan mother in the trading regions and a Nepalese father. In 1959, theChinese authorities in Lhasa gave these individuals the choice to leaveTibet for Nepal, which many did, or to become Chinese citizens.15
Page 1 and 2: dangerous crossingConditions Impact
Page 3 and 4: International Campaign for TibetMay
Page 5 and 6: An ICT human rights monitor travels
Page 7 and 8: Once Tibetan refugees successfully
Page 9 and 10: Most Tibetan refugees are so obviou
Page 11 and 12: Nepal is not a party to internation
Page 13 and 14: Dili Bazaar prison, Kathmandu’sma
Page 15: Left: A Tibetan human rights monito
Page 19 and 20: not only detrimental to China,” c
Page 21 and 22: July 25A press conference called by
Page 23 and 24: In the 2001 report, Dangerous Cross
Page 25 and 26: 10. Provide an identification card
Page 28: 1825 K Street, NWSuite 520Washingto

download the report - International Campaign for Tibet

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?