The Nepalese authorities in the eastern district of Solukhumbu’s Namchi Bazar area have issued a notice in which the Tibetans without legal paper staying in that area must go back to Tibet within a stipulated time set by the authorities. The notice was issued by the Village Development committee (VDC) of Namchi in the beginning of March and the last date set for their return is 27th March.
The local authorities say to the people that the decision to this effect came from higher authorities but it is not known yet whether it’s the decision from the central government in Kathmandu. The local authorities have found 13 Tibetan youngsters who came from Tibet and working in Nepali sherpa families in Namchi bazaar doing housechores and trivial jobs, and the Nepalis authority’s focus seems to be on those 13 youngsters, but the Tibetans there are very much in fear of its backlash for other Tibetan refugees there who are yet to obtain refugee papers. In the notice issued by the local authority of Namchi bazaar it is stated “Illegal workers and others without legal paper”. Namchi is the closest Nepalis border to Tibet and there are around twenty Tibetan families staying at Namchi bazaar, who are under the supervision of the Tibetan settlement officer of “Jasak Tibetan Settlement” which is four days walk down into the heart of Solokhumbu There are more than six hundred Tibetans refugees currently staying in the Solokhumbu district.
According to an unnamed source the UN refugee office in Nepal is informed about the matter.
