Title: Tringyiphonya: Umwelt und Entwicklung in Tibet
Author: Adelheid
Last saved by: amin chlorid

Ms. Sujata Koirala,
The Hon'ble Deputy Prime Minister 
Office of the Prime Minister and 
Council of Ministers
Singha Durbar
Kathmandu / Nepal

Subject: Nepal: Stop Forcibly Repatriating Tibetan Refugees to Tibet

Respected Madam,
I am deeply concerned by reports that the Nepalese government forcibly repatriated several Tibetan refugees to Chinese border police since early June. I understand that two of the Tibetans who were returned have been imprisoned in Tibet.
As you are aware, the refoulement of Tibetan refugees from Nepal violates the well-established "Gentlemen's Agreement" between the Nepalese government and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and is in contravention of Nepal's obligations under international law.
I join people of conscience worldwide in urging your government to:
1) Respect its own agreement with the UNHCR and allow for the safe transit of Tibetan refugees to India;
2) Comply with the international principle of non-refoulement and honour its obligation under the UN Torture Convention to prevent the forcible return of anyone to a country where they are at risk of being subjected to torture.
As you know, many Tibetans flee Tibet each year, escaping harsh repression at the hands of the Chinese government, including suppression of freedom of speech, assembly, and religion. They face serious risk of torture and imprisonment if they return to Tibet. As a ratifying party to the UN Convention against Torture (CAT), Nepal has the legal obligation to ensure that no Tibetan refugee is repatriated to China where they face the risks of torture, inhumane and degrading treatment. Article 3(1) of the CAT prohibits expulsion, return ("refouler") or extradition of any person to any State where there are substantial grounds for believing that s/he would be in danger of being subjected to torture". 
According to the U.S. State Department's 2009 Country Report, "Tibetans repatriated from Nepal reportedly suffered torture, including electric shocks, exposure to cold and severe beatings, and were forced to perform heavy physical labour." As a democratic nation, Nepal's standing in the international community will be diminished if it continues to violate the basic rights of Tibetan refugees.
I understand that the Chinese government has intensified pressure on your government to stop Tibetans from fleeing state-sponsored repression in Tibet. The global community stands with Nepal in exercising its sovereign right to uphold international standards of human rights protection, including those of Tibetan refugees.
I urge your government to investigate these incidents with the UNHCR and immediately adopt measures to prevent any further occurrences of Tibetans being forcibly returned to Tibet, where they are at risk of imprisonment, torture, and even death. I will be monitoring this situation closely and alerting my country's Ambassador to Nepal of this distressing incident.
Yours faithfully,