nepal – TCHRD

21/12/2023 Campaign / News

Signature Petition: Safeguard Tibetan refugee rights in Nepal

The situation of Tibetan refugees in Nepal has worsened over the years. Since 1995, escalating Chinese pressure has hindered Nepal from issuing documentation to Tibetan refugees, depriving them of fundamental human rights, including travel, employment, and education rights. Referred to by many Tibetans as the “second Tibet,” Nepal now faces a level of repression second only to Tibet under Chinese occupation. Chinese-directed surveillance and espionage carried out in collaboration with Nepali authorities further restrict Tibetans’ freedom of expression and association, hindering cultural and religious practices.

10/12/2023 News / reports / Thematic Reports

New Report on Tibetan Refugees in Nepal Reveals Alarming Expansion of Chinese Influence

The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), in conjunction with the Seoul-based Asian Dignity Initiative (ADI), released a special report on the Tibetan human rights situation in Nepal titled, ‘Languishing in Limbo: Tibetan Refugees in Nepal.’ The special report highlights the pronounced influence of China in Nepal, prompting Tibetan refugees to label it as a “Second Tibet,” alluding to the fact that the degree of restrictions faced by Tibetans in Nepal is second only to Tibet.

23/07/2019 resources-centre / special-procedure

Working Group on Arbitrary Detention

Working Group on Arbitrary Detention Relevant Adopted Opinion 80th session (20-20 Nov 2017): Opinion No. 69/201 Tashi Wangchuk Mr. Wangchuk is a 31-year-old Tibetan shopkeeper from Jyekundo County in Kham, Eastern Tibet (Yushu, Qinghai Province). Mr. Wangchuk publicly advocated for greater Tibetan language education in local schools in Tibetan populated areas.* *Ages mentioned were at the time of the adopted…

11/07/2016 News

TCHRD condemns detention of Buddhist Believers for celebrating Dalai Lama’s birthday in Nepal

The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) condemns the detention of Tibetan Buddhist believers and disruption of the 81^st birthday celebration of the Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama on 6 July 2016 at Srongtsen Bhrikuti Tibetan School located at Boudhanath area in Kathmandu, Nepal.

The Kathmandu-based NGO Human Rights Organisation Nepal (HURON) informed TCHRD that the local police detained 30 people including 28 Tibetans on the morning of 6 July for participating in the religious event to celebrate His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s birthday. Nine Tibetans were arrested around 11 am at Srongtsen School and an additional 19 were arrested outside the school, and then taken to Mahindra Police Club. Around 5 pm, the 30 detainees were released and handed over to HURON.

27/08/2014 News

TCHRD hosts seminar on Nepal, China and Tibet at JNU

Mr Jayadeva Ranade speaking at the seminar flanked by Dr Rajesh Kharat, John Gaudette and Tsering Tsomo

On 22 and 23 August, the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), working with the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Tibetan Students Forum, hosted a seminar on the Nepal-Tibet Relations and the Sino-Tibet Conflict. The two-day seminar gave the 100 attendees an opportunity to hear from and discuss with Indian and Tibetan government officials, academics, and students.

According to Tsering Tsomo, the executive director of TCHRD, the idea behind this seminar was to bring together students, academics, and practitioners to draw attention to some of the important, but frequently overlooked, issues regarding the Tibetan community. “The aim for the two-day seminar was to better understand and improve the situation for Tibetans in Nepal as well as to hear from emerging Tibetan scholars and their perspectives on the Sino-Tibetan conflict.”

18/02/2013 News

Eyewitness account of Tibetan self-immolation in Nepal

TCHRD has received an eyewitness account of self-immolation protest staged by Drubtse on the third day of Tibetan New Year, 13 February, in Boudanath, Kathmandu, Nepal.

The eyewitness, a foreign tourist, who wants to remain anonymous, on account of the sensitivity of the issue, had a chance encounter with Drubtse moments before he self-immolated in protest against Chinese rule in Tibet.

“We arrived at galleria café in Boudanath around 8. 15 am. We were to have our breakfast, when a young Tibetan guy, probably between 20-25 years old, came forward to speak to us. He then spoke about Tibet and said that it is a beautiful land and he loved it so much,” said the eyewitness.

22/09/2011 News

Urgent Appeal to Nepal Govt, Hand over Tibetans to UNHCR

On 11 September 2011, 20 Tibetan refugees were arrested by Nepal police for illegally entering Nepal. The 20 Tibetan escapees included 15 boys and 5 girls, mostly teenagers. They were arrested for illegally trying to enter Delhi via Bajura-Kathmandu route and were held in Bajura, at the district police office. They had reached there after 17 days walk. Few days later, around 13 September, three more Tibetans were arrested. All of them have been turned over to Nepal’s Department of Immigration (DOI) in Kathmandu, Nepal.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) had sent a letter to the Nepalese Administration requesting them to hand the Tibetans over to them which is accordance with the ‘Gentlemen’s Agreement’ between the UNHCR and Nepal. Even the HURON (Human Rights Organization of Nepal) approached the Immigrant Chief and Home Secretary with concerns for the arrested Tibetans and said that decision will be taken in accordance with the law by Sunday. However, the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu, in a letter, termed the incident as a case of Human Trafficking and so has asked the Nepal Government to repatriate the Tibetans back to them, promising not to take legal action against the youngsters but instead will educate them. This Chinese interference has delayed transit clearance of the 23 Tibetan refugees who remains in Nepal custody for the last 10-12 days.