By Phurbu Thinley
Dharamsala, June 29: A visiting delegation of Human rights activists from Nepal have vowed to continue working for the betterment of Tibetan refugees living in the country.
The delegation consists of members representing Sambad Nepal, an NGO based in Pokhara in Western Nepal that actively works in promoting human rights, and Human Rights Organisation of Nepal (HURON).
The group said they were in Dharamsala, the seat of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile, as part of their effort to study the situation of Tibetan refugees and to have first-hand information on issues facing Tibet.
The ten-member delegation, which includes writers, journalists, lecturing professors and social activists, met the exiled Tibetan leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the latter’s residence this morning to hear his message.
The group also met with the speaker of the Tibetan Parliament Mr Penpa Tsering and Mrs Kesang Y. Takla, Minister for Department of Information and International Relations of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile, and other officials.
The group also took part in an interactive discussion with Tibetan exiles here yesterday and screened a documentary film by Sambad Nepal that was made to educate Nepali people about Tibet and the issues facing Tibetan refugees in Nepal.
The group today issued a press statement in which they pledged to work for improving the rights of Tibetan refugees living in Nepal.
“We have considered ours visit with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and other officials of the exile government as a historical importance,” said Mr Nilkantha, Chairman of Sambad Nepal, in the statement.
“When we go back to our country we will pressure Nepal government …. and raise public support to speak against the Human rights violation (taking place) in Tibet,” Mr Nilkantha said.
He said his organization would push Nepal government to sign the 1951 UN Refugee Convention that could in a way help improve situation for Tibetans living in Nepal.
“As human rights activists, we are very much concerned that human rights of any person must not be violated in the world. And the same applies equally to Tibetan refugees in Nepal,” Nilkantha, who is also a central member of HURON, said at a press conference here.
“Following the March unrest in Tibet last year, we as human rights activists declared our solidarity for the protection of human rights of Tibetan refugees,” he said.
Mr Sonam Sangpo, Vice President of the Local Assembly of Tashi Ling Tibetan settlement in Pokhara, who coordinated the delegation’s visit, described the visiting activists as friends and supporters of Tibetans in Nepal. According to him, Sambad Nepal has, since it establishment five years ago, took zealous role in supporting the rights of Tibetan refugees in Pokhara and other parts of Nepal.
“Sambad Nepal has organized various forums to discuss Tibetan refugee problems and policies taken by Nepal government and has made efforts in creating awareness about Tibetan issues among Nepalese people,” Sangpo said.
“We understand problems faced by Tibetan exiles,” Nilkantha said, comparing the difficulties faced by Tibetans to similar situation being faced by Nepalese over the years in their own crisis-stricken country.
“After meeting with the Dalai Lama, we received lots of courage and inspiration to be an honest defender of human rights and democracy, and act against autocratic governments in the world,” Nilkantha said.
“We now feel more equipped and inspired by His Holiness the Dalai Lama to work more devotedly in the humanitarian issues, and be more actively involved in the establishment of world peace and promotion of human values,” he added.
An estimated 156,000 Tibetans live in exile, a majority of them in India and Nepal. According to statistics, Nepal has more than 20,000 Tibetans refugees concentrated mainly in the Kathmandu valley and Pokhara.
