By Tenzin Choephel
Phayul Correspondent
Kathmandu, February 24 – A 27 year-old Tibetan man was arrested by Nepal Police from the Tibetan Reception Center last night around 10.30PM. The man, identified as Tsering Dhondup, was from Bayan County, Amdo Region/Qinghai Province of Tibet. Nepal Police arrested Dhondup without any arrest warrant and without informing the Center, UNHCR and Lutherin World Foundation, the partners running the Center.
According to an eyewitness, at around 10 PM, about 50-60 soldiers from the Armed Police Force, District Police, Metropolitan Police and Swoyambu Ward Police came in six vehicles, surrounded the Tibetan Reception Center in Ichangu, Kathmandu and secured the area, several soldiers then questioned three boys right outside the Center, the boys later showed the Center and were allowed to walk away. Then, several soldiers barged into the Center and proceeded right to the bed of Tsering Dhondup in the Dormitory. The soldiers appeared to have exact information of his whereabouts. Dhondup was taken to the Hanuman Dhoka Police Post in Kathmandu City Center where he was detained for the night. This morning he was handed over to the Immigration Department at Bhrikuti Mandap.
Some officials at the Center requested the soldiers to give reason for the arrest but were told to find out from Hanuman Dhoka Police Post the next morning. Another eyewitness heard that the matter has some links with the Chinese Embassy here in Kathmandu. The eyewitness also said that some soldiers were carrying photo copied picture of Tsering Dhondup.
This morning, an official of the Tibetan Reception Center went to the Immigration Department to meet Tsering Dhondup and Nepali officials. The official recalled Tsering Dhondup saying that he had a fight with a Chinese man before leaving Tibet. He arrived at the Tibetan Reception Center on 4th February 2008. The official also said that the Director of Immigration was not available in his office for an explanation for the arrest. Tsering Dhondup might be deported/extradited back to Tibet if he were a fugitive. However, the exact reasons for his arrest is not clear. He is currently detained at the Immigration Center at Bhrikuti Mandap, Kathmandu.
