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Wednesday, January 10, 2007
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Tibetans in Nepal 2006
By Tenzin Choephel, Phayul Online
The impending resettlement of Tibetans from Nepal to USA was one of the major issues for Tibetans in Nepal in 2006. There were so many rumors about the selection process, who will be listed, who would be given preferences, etc. In Boudha, Mr. Dhondup Tsering La, the head of Boudha and Jorpati area publicly read out names of those who are listed without any consultation or order from the Kashag and it created lots of confusion among Tibetans, many Tibetans then gathered at the old Tibetan Welfare Office to voice their grievances and try to get listed on the ground of livelihood standard or not holding Nepali RC. However, so far there has been no information from the Tibetan Kashag or the USA Government as to when would the actual process start and who would be considered for selection. The beginning of the year saw a new initiative by a group of young Tibetans ‘Dream Factory’ to bring together Tibetans for Losar/New year celebration with ‘Losar Grand Fiesta’ designed to entertain people of all age with fun, food, music and kids entertainment.
In December, Kathmandu saw two of the most extravagant events of Tibetans in Nepal, first was an extraordinary fashion show titled ‘fashion from roof of the world’ organized by Drokpo Team and Ancient Culture Protection Center that showcased different exotic traditional Tibetan costumes and also displayed creative Tibetan style couture by upcoming young Tibetan designer Tenzin Tsetan; second best was the first ever Miss Dotö 2006 competition, a gala evening at the Hyatt Regency where a young Tibetan lady Kunsang Chodon was crowned, there was mix reaction to the competition but all in all it was also aimed at promotion of Tibetan culture. A good thing about these events was that it definitely enticed more young Tibetans to participate and thereby get chance to learn and see the exotic colors of Tibetan culture.
In October, a group of 41 Tibetan refugees including 2 guides arrived safely at the Tibetan Refugee Transit Center in Kathmandu after escaping shooting by Chinese Border Security soldiers on the morning of 30th September 2006 at Nangpa La Pass of Nepal Tibet border where a young nun was killed, one was shot on leg and many children were arrested. This was the biggest news of Tibetans in 2006, there was protest worldwide and Tibetans in Nepal offered prayer and candle light vigils. In August, Yarlung United, a non-governmental Tibetan organization of Kathmandu on their 2nd founding day organized a solo song contest for school students at the Everest Hotel in Kathmandu and Rinzin Pasang from Namgyal Higher Secondary School won the first prize of 10,000 Rupees. Yarlung also organized the Yarlung United 1st Open Badminton Tournament 2006 (Double) in November at Bull’s Club Kathmandu that was won by Tsultrim Dorji and Tenzin Chosang of Yarlung United Team 'A'.
The then Nepal Government shut down the office of Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Nepal in 2005 due to its unregistered status, there has been news that Tibetan authorities in Nepal have been trying to register the office under some other name but so far they have been unsuccessful and the office remains closed till date. The Tibetan Government in Exile instead opened a new Tibetan ‘City and Swoyambu Chief’s Office’ to look after welfare of Tibetans living in city and Swoyambu area of Kathmandu . The then Nepal Government also stopped issuing ‘Exit Permit’ for Tibetan refugees and Travel Document for Tibetans living in Nepal in October 2005 that was a ‘political’ decision. After the change of government in Nepal, the new Government of Nepal in June 2006 agreed to issue ‘Exit Permit’ for newly arrived Tibetan refugees and ‘Travel Document’ for Tibetans living in Nepal with legal papers and who wish to travel abroad. The decision might have been affected by concern and support from the Government of United States and UNHCR. For whatever reason it might be, it has become easier for Tibetans to travel to third countries from Nepal . In July, the Department of Immigration, Nepal arrested and then deported eight Tibetans to India for traveling in Nepal without any valid travel document. On 20th October 2006, a young Tibetan man from Boudha area was punished with 17,000 Nepali Rupees by the Immigration Department of Nepal for staying illegally in Nepal without passport or any valid official residential permit but since he could not pay that money, he was sent to prison and currently he is serving his prison term, that is Nepali Rupees 25 per day, literally he has to serve 680 days of prison term unless he is able to pay the fine. Many Tibetans travel between India and Nepal without any valid travel document, they usually pay some money at border and travel, this has been a regular problem of Tibetans for over 40 years now and it still remains same. In November, the Nepal police arrested over 17 newly arrived Tibetans but the Immigration Department of Nepal facilitated swift transit to India for these Tibetan refugees. This facility might indicate that the new Nepal Government would adopt a more tolerant approach to newly arriving Tibetan refugee asylum seekers and Tibetans living in Nepal and Tibetan refugees might get support to pending Tibetan issues in Nepal like registration of the Tibetan Welfare Office, child birth registration, travel document etc.
The 71st birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama was celebrated at Community Ground of Jwalakhel Tibetan Refugee Camp in Lalitpur District of Kathmandu Valley amidst a crowd of over 5000 Tibetans living in the Valley. July also saw two major Tibetan concerts for the first time by famous Tibetan singer Techung and JJI Exile Brother’s band. The 21st birthday of His Holiness the 17th Karmapa Urgen Drodrul Trinley Dorji was celebrated grandly at Dasang Rinpoche Monastery in Boudha, Kathmandu amidst a crowd of over 2000 people including Tibetans and Himalayan region ethnic people like Sherpas, Tamangs, Gurungs, Nyeshangs, Yolmos etc. Nuns Welfare Foundation of Nepal presented the 7th annual fund raising concert by famous mantra singer Ani Choying Dolma called ‘Inner Peace with Ani Choying Dolma’ at Nepal Academy Hall, Kathmandu . His Eminence Sakya Trizin Rinpoche visited Kathmandu in July to attend the coronation ceremony of the 7th Tharig Rinpoche, Jamyang Kunga Trinley Pelbar in Boudha; Pewar Rinpoche from Tibet also attended the ceremony.
In June, over 70 Tibetan street vendors doing petty business during morning and evening around the holy Boudanath Stupa were not allowed doing business. It is ironical to see that Tibetans have successfully contributed and renovated the holy Stupa in November with an estimated budget over 5 million rupees and they were felicitated for the same by Nepali organizations who were responsible for the restriction of Tibetan vendors. In September, an Association of Elderly Tibetans called locals to celebrate the US Congressional gold medal award and granting of honorary Canadian citizenship to His Holiness the Dalai Lama by offering ‘sangsol’ and hoisting prayer flags for long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Tibetan Women Association organized an aids and hepatitis awareness program where Dr. Kundu Yangzom and Dr. Choekyi gave lectures on the diseases respectively. Three Tibetan feature films, Dreaming Lhasa, Pun Anu Thanu and Karma and one documentary on education in exile were screened in Kathmandu . All these films were screened by different Tibetan organizations but except for Karma, all were technically not up standard as they were shown with dvd equipments in big halls.
Kesang Tseten La, one of the best Tibetan filmmaker in Nepal has produced a Nepali documentary called ‘We Corner People’; it was chosen as the best Nepali documentary in this year's Kathmandu International Film Festival. Public burning of animal skins used for decorating costumes was a big hit in Amdo Region of Tibet after His Holiness the Dalai Lama urged Tibetans not to use animal furs, accordingly the Domey Welfare Association also called Tibetans in Kathmandu to destroy animal skins publicly and skins worth millions of rupees were burned. Namgyal Middle Boarding School , a semi residential Tibetan middle school located in Ichangu, Kathmandu celebrated its silver jubilee anniversary in a grand manner.
Tibetans in Nepal remembered 10th March Tibetan uprising day at Samtenling Monastery, after the official function was over some Tibetans shouted slogans walking around Boudanath Stupa, right after they disappeared police arrived and searched for the protestors but to no avail, Mr. Dhondup Tsering La, the Tibetan chief of Boudha area was taken for interrogation but was released after couple of hours.
Tibetans in Nepal are not allowed to hold any kind of demonstration or protest or anti-China activities on Nepal soil by the Nepali Government and Tibetans in Nepal humbly follow the regulation and no one dares to organize even peaceful form of protest against China . The Nepali leaders have time and again assured China that no anti China activity would be allowed on Nepali soil. A delegation of European Parliament led by Nina Gill visited the Tibetan Refugee Reception Center in July and assured their continued support to Tibetans and a group of US congressmen also visited in August and did same. An intensive workshop on grassroot democracy for strengthening Local Tibetan Assemblies was given by Mr. Penpa Tsering La of the Tibetan Parliamentary and Policy Research Center in August. He also gave political lectures at various locations in Nepal to educate school students and general public about grassroot democracy, Tibetan Parliament and its proceedings, budget and financial situation of the Tibetan Government etc.
Even though there has been no change in the political status of Tibetans in Nepal , we saw some new things happening like open song competition, sport competition, beauty contest, Tibetan fashion show etc. that has definitely helped Tibetans to mingle together and promote Tibetan culture. However, all these activities were carried out by different Tibetan organizations, the official Tibetan authorities were mostly busy with regular celebration like the 6th July or 10th December and there were no new campaigns to improve social, economic and political situation of Tibetans in Nepal . Tibetans in Nepal would like to see continuation of many events and probably some new events in 2007; however, the most exciting would be the beginning of the US Resettlement project that would definitely change the socio, economic and political status of Tibetans in Nepal .
