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For the government of Nepal:5. Continue to abide by the “gentlemen’s agreement,” which providessafe passage to all Tibetan refugees transiting through Nepal to Indiaand voluntarily repatriating to Tibet.Deterioration: There were additional arrests of transiting refugees in2002, and the Nepalese Department of Immigration did not turn theseindividuals over to UNHCR or work with the UNHCR to facilitate theirsafe passage to India.6. With the UNHCR, formalize the “gentlemen’s agreement” through anexchange of notes.No Improvement: Nepalese officials seem uninterested in formalizingthe arrangement. ICT is unaware of efforts by the UNHCR to get theNepalese to do so.7. Allow border visits upon request by the UNHCR.No Improvement: The UNHCR was not permitted to travel to theborder regions during 2002 for either monitoring or training.For the UNHCR:8. Proactively find ways to overcome obstacles that currently exist tothe safe transit of Tibetan refugees through Nepal, including seeking toformalize the “gentlemen’s agreement” with the Nepalese government.No Improvement: The UNHCR office in Kathmandu was primarilyfocused on damage control from the Bhutanese camp sex scandal thaterupted in 2002. The acting director who was brought in at the end ofthe year seemed intent on being proactive in response to the Tibetanrefugee situation, but his short term mandate limits the realistic potentialfor this to happen under his watch.9. Dedicate a protection officer with appropriate language skills (Nepaleseand Tibetan) to be present in the Tibet/Nepal border regions.No Improvement: Not only was this not done, but the only protectionofficer at the UNHCR office in Kathmandu with a background of workingon Tibetan refugees was taken off the Tibet program and promoted towork on the Bhutanese refugee program.22
10. Provide an identification card to Tibetan refugees with their arrivaland exit date from Nepal and which certifies them as “of concern” to theUNHCR.Improved: Although the UNHCR did not allow its imprimatur to be usedon identification cards issued by the Tibetan Refugee Transit Center,the card does state that its possessor is “of concern” to the UNHCR.Tibetan officials and the UNHCR acknowledge that the cards haveoffered some protection in some cases. The UNHCR should thereforeabandon its discomfort and officially issue the cards to maximize anybenefit of protection.11. Look for greater opportunities to provide human rights trainings withborder police, especially at the peak flight season, and with police inKathmandu.No Improvement: The UNHCR was not permitted to travel to the borderregions during 2002 for either monitoring or training.New recommendations for 2002-2003:1. The UNHCR should be encouraged to complete its Tibetanrefugees’ policy review, to pursue vigorously a formal Memorandumof Understanding (MOU) with the Department of Immigration andHome Ministry reflecting the “gentlemen’s agreement” for safe transitof Tibetan refugees through Nepal and allowing for regular trainings ofNepalese border police.2. Interested foreign embassies should expand their use of diplomaticand economic leverage to ensure that the government of Nepal providesbasic human rights to Tibetans resident in Nepal and affords Tibetanrefugees transiting Nepal the full protection of the UNHCR.23
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 and 16: Left: A Tibetan human rights monito
Page 17 and 18: The Tibetan community has reciproca
Page 19 and 20: not only detrimental to China,” c
Page 21 and 22: July 25A press conference called by
Page 23: In the 2001 report, Dangerous Cross
Page 28: 1825 K Street, NWSuite 520Washingto

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