Everest 2008: International Criticism for Nepal’s Tibetan Treatment
April 1, 2008
Amnesty International and International Rights Watch have become the first International organizations to lay down an official protest with Nepal’s government concerning the recent treatment of Tibetan refugees in their country over the last month.
With much emphasis being placed on China for cracking down on Tibetan protests across Tibet leading in to the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the planned Olympic Torch run up Mt. Everest, not much has been heard regarding other nations and how they are handling the area surrounding Tibet.
It is known that Nepal has been complying with Chinese authorities in regards to breaking up protests and arresting those held liable for the uprisings.
From Amnesty International:
“Nepal police have arbitrarily arrested and detained over 1,500 people
both during and since the demonstrations and in order to restrict
expression and movement.“Police have provided no legal justification for the arrests and
detentions either to detainees or to national and international human
rights organisations.
These comments were sent in a letter to the Prime Minister of Nepal, Girija Prasad Koirala, in an effort to launch an official protest of the Nepal Government.
Amensty International along with International Rights Watch co-wrote the letter to Nepal’s Prime Minister.
“We are particularly concerned by increasing evidence of police use of
sexual and other forms of assault, including of minors, during arrests,
violating the right to physical integrity,’ said Catherine Baber,
acting Asia director of Amnesty and Sophie Richardson, Asia advocacy
director at HRW.
The letter then goes on to state that Nepal must comply with International laws relating to the treatment of the Tibetan refugees.
“As a party to the ICCPR (International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights) and the Convention Against Torture, Nepal must uphold Article
3, which prohibits the deportation of individuals to countries where
they may face torture. Customary international law also prohibits
refoulement to such situation
Amnesty International and International Rights Watch suggest that Nepal imediately restore rights of freedom to assemble, expression, and move as they choose without the threat of arrest or deportation.
This comes just nine days before a general election scheduled for Nepal, that has many factions trying to battle it out for top leadership rights, is scheduled to take place.
Nepal. who has recently changed their stance a bit concerning their bigger neighbor China has stated that they will follow with China’s One China Policy, which does not support Tibet as being a seperate entity from China, itself, and not allow any anti-china protests on it’s soil.
It was recently noted that 3 days before officials were to make a decision regarding China’s recent attempt to get Nepal to follow along with a climbing ban on Mt. Everest, that the Chinese government made an offer of $120 million in hard loans to the struggling nation. Nepal has since said that all climbing would go on as planned. Rather than enact a strict ban as China as originally suggested, climbers will be allowed to climb with no restrictions up to May 1st. From May 1st to the 10th, Nepal will comply with China in restricting climbers from the higher reaches of the world’s tallest mountain, allowing them only as high as basecamp. After May 10th, the Expeditions can continue as planned.
This attempt at cooperating with China concerns China’s push for a successful Everest summit with the 2008 Beijing Olympic Torch.
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Written by Jason A. Hendricks · Filed Under 2008 Beijing Olympics, Everest 2008, Nepal |
