03 September 2005
Report documents pressure on Tibetans in Nepal
A new report, Dangerous Crossing, published by the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT), argues that China has taken advantage of Nepal 's political turmoil. The report claims that recent Tibetan escapee's and longstanding Tibetan residents in Nepal face increasing personal risk since the seizure of power by King Gyanendra in February 2005. Since this time, the Office of the Dalai Lama, and the Tibetan Refugees Welfare Office in Kathmandu have been shut down, significantly contributing to the increase in refoulement incidents of Tibetans between 2004-5. The number of complaints by Tibetans arriving in Nepal, of abuse, theft, beatings and harassment by Nepalese police and armed forces has risen. The report claims that some Tibetans are by-passing the Tibetan Refugee Reception Center in Kathmandu, due to fears over their safety at the centre.