The Alliance For Democracy and Human Rights in Nepal, an organisation of the Nepalis based in the US, has condemned Nepal government’s decision to “shout down the Tibetan Refugee Welfare Office (TRWO) in Kathmandu” and urged the government to allow reopening it.
In a statement issued in New York on Saturday, the Alliance said, “TRWO has become a critical safety net for the Tibetan refugees who fled from Tibet due to persecution of the Chinese Communist government on account of their race, religion, ethnic and political opinion.”
“Nepal is not a signatory to the Refugee Convention of 1951 but in practice it has been maintaining its norms by allowing to operate TRWO’s office that offers the humanitarian services to the Tibetan refugees. However, present authoritarian regime ordered to shout down TRWO in order to please Chinese government and to seek favor to continue its authoritarian regime,” said the statement signed by Binod Roka, President and Khagendra G. C., board chairman of the ADHRN, USA.
ADHRN believes that the Nepalese government’s order to shout down the TRWO is against the norms of international humanitarian law and spirit of Nepalese constitution. Therefore, ADHRN urge the Nepalese government to allow reopening TRWO and continuing to offer its humanitarian service to the Tibetan refugees, the statement said.
The government ordered to shut down the office of the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama in Kathmandu, and TRWO on January 21 saying that “they were not registered with the local authorities.”
Tibetan refugee officials say they can’t register their organisation as per Nepal’s law and that the latest decision would hamper their welfare activities to nearly 20,000 strong refugee community in the country.
Following is the statement
Alliance For Democracy and Humana Rights in Nepal, (ADHRN), USA
ADHRN condemns the Nepalese government’s authoritarian and inhuman act that ordered to shout down the Tibetan Refugee Welfare Office (TRWO) in Kathmandu, Nepal.
As the facts show that the TRWO have been providing its humanitarian service by coordinating with the international community to Tibetan refugees after the Chinese Communist evaded Tibet in 1959. Since then, TRWO has become a critical safety net for the Tibetans refugees who fled from Tibet due to persecution of the Chinese Communist government on account of their race, religion, ethnic and political opinion.
Nepal is not a signatory to the Refugee Convention of 1951 but in practice it has been maintaining its norms by allowing to operate TRWO’s office that offers the humanitarian services to the Tibetan refugees. However, present authoritarian regime ordered to shout down TRWO in order to please Chinese Communist government and to seek favor to continue its authoritarian regime.
ADHRN believes that the Nepalese government’s order to shout down the TRWO is against the norms of international humanitarian law and spirit of Nepalese constitution. Therefore, ADHRN urge the Nepalese government to allow reopening TRWO and continuing to offer its humanitarian service to the Tibetan refugees.
Dated: New York, New York
January 29, 2005
Binod Roka,
President
Khagendra G.C.,Board
Chairman
ADHRN, USA, New York
