As you have probably seen in the news, the Kingdom of Nepal has been thrown into major political turmoil. What you may not know is that, as a result, a crisis looms for thousands of Tibetan refugees.
Iwant to ask you to consider giving a donation today to make sure we have the resources to continue to protect these refugees.
On February 1, the Nepalese King seized total control of the government and placed most government ministers under house arrest. He declared an indefinite state of emergency and the suspension of all civil liberties.
The week preceding the King's coup, the Nepalese government had issued notice to the Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Refugee Welfare Office in Kathmandu ordering both offices to close immediately allegedly because they were not legally registered.
The notice was unexpected as the Office of the Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been operating in Nepal since 1960, when it first rallied international support and coordinated emergency care for thousands of Tibetan refugees who fled in the immediate aftermath of China's invasion and occupation.
In recent years, we have documented an increase of Chinese government influence in Nepal and our monitors suggest that China's pressure provoked the Nepalese government to close the offices. Indeed, the Chinese Foreign Ministry commended the closures as a legitimate expression of Nepal's sovereignty.
While the closure of the Representative's office is likely a political gesture to China, the closure of the Tibetan Refugee Welfare Office raises immediate humanitarian concerns because it serves as the implementing partner of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees --providing rescue, shelter and other assistance to Tibetan refugees in Nepal.
This is the season when most Tibetans make their dangerous crossing over the Himalayas to the Transit Center in Kathmandu run by the Tibetan Refugee Welfare Office. Approximately 1,000 Tibetan refugees are there now. Their future is now in question.
Our human rights monitors are keeping close watch on events unfolding in Nepal. Our staffs in Washington and Europe are working quietly and deliberately through government channels to avert further action against the Tibetans and to create conditions for a swift resolution.
However, in the coming weeks, quiet diplomacy may reach its limits. At that time, we hope we can count on you to help increase pressure on the Nepalese King so that the Tibetan Refugee Welfare Office can continue its vital protection work.
In 2004, His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan exile government asked ICT to do whatever is possible to assist Tibetan refugees. This is a crucial time for our work and our members like you.
Please donate today to help ensure that ICT resources remain sufficient for information gathering and analysis, governmental work, and many other ways we support the Tibetan refugees.
China is making serious efforts to convince Nepal that its age-old cultural and religious ties with the Tibetans are counter to Nepal's national interests as a friend of China. We must always be ready to match their efforts and defend the fundamental human rights of the Tibetan people.
Sincerely,
John Ackerly,
President
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Campaign for Tibet
1825 Jefferson Place NW
Washington, DC 20036
United States of America
Phone: 202.785.1515
Fax: 202.785.4343
info@savetibet.org
ICT Europe
P.O. Box 3337
1001 AC Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Phone: 31 (0)20 3308265
Fax: 31 (0)20 3308266
icteurope@savetibet.org
ICT Deutschland e.V.
Marienstr. 30
10117 Berlin
Germany
Phone: 49 (0)30 27879086
Fax: 49 (0)30 27879087
info@savetibet.de
Iwant to ask you to consider giving a donation today to make sure we have the resources to continue to protect these refugees.
On February 1, the Nepalese King seized total control of the government and placed most government ministers under house arrest. He declared an indefinite state of emergency and the suspension of all civil liberties.
The week preceding the King's coup, the Nepalese government had issued notice to the Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Refugee Welfare Office in Kathmandu ordering both offices to close immediately allegedly because they were not legally registered.
The notice was unexpected as the Office of the Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been operating in Nepal since 1960, when it first rallied international support and coordinated emergency care for thousands of Tibetan refugees who fled in the immediate aftermath of China's invasion and occupation.
In recent years, we have documented an increase of Chinese government influence in Nepal and our monitors suggest that China's pressure provoked the Nepalese government to close the offices. Indeed, the Chinese Foreign Ministry commended the closures as a legitimate expression of Nepal's sovereignty.
While the closure of the Representative's office is likely a political gesture to China, the closure of the Tibetan Refugee Welfare Office raises immediate humanitarian concerns because it serves as the implementing partner of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees --providing rescue, shelter and other assistance to Tibetan refugees in Nepal.
This is the season when most Tibetans make their dangerous crossing over the Himalayas to the Transit Center in Kathmandu run by the Tibetan Refugee Welfare Office. Approximately 1,000 Tibetan refugees are there now. Their future is now in question.
Our human rights monitors are keeping close watch on events unfolding in Nepal. Our staffs in Washington and Europe are working quietly and deliberately through government channels to avert further action against the Tibetans and to create conditions for a swift resolution.
However, in the coming weeks, quiet diplomacy may reach its limits. At that time, we hope we can count on you to help increase pressure on the Nepalese King so that the Tibetan Refugee Welfare Office can continue its vital protection work.
In 2004, His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan exile government asked ICT to do whatever is possible to assist Tibetan refugees. This is a crucial time for our work and our members like you.
Please donate today to help ensure that ICT resources remain sufficient for information gathering and analysis, governmental work, and many other ways we support the Tibetan refugees.
China is making serious efforts to convince Nepal that its age-old cultural and religious ties with the Tibetans are counter to Nepal's national interests as a friend of China. We must always be ready to match their efforts and defend the fundamental human rights of the Tibetan people.
Sincerely,
John Ackerly,
President
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Campaign for Tibet
1825 Jefferson Place NW
Washington, DC 20036
United States of America
Phone: 202.785.1515
Fax: 202.785.4343
info@savetibet.org
ICT Europe
P.O. Box 3337
1001 AC Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Phone: 31 (0)20 3308265
Fax: 31 (0)20 3308266
icteurope@savetibet.org
ICT Deutschland e.V.
Marienstr. 30
10117 Berlin
Germany
Phone: 49 (0)30 27879086
Fax: 49 (0)30 27879087
info@savetibet.de
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