By Kalsang Rinchen
Dharamsala, July 21 – A Chinese delegation will arrive in Nepal to hold bilateral security talks with Nepal next week, reports cited Foreign Ministry sources as saying. The delegation will be headed by Chinese vice minister for Public Security, Chen Zhimin.
Nepalese delegation led by Home Secretary Govinda Kusum will discuss issues of border security, Tibetan refugees and security collaboration with the Chinese side on July 26.
Many Tibetans escape to India via Nepal, often undertaking risky journey across the harsh Himalayas every year. Statistics reveal that approximately a third are children who are sent to study in Tibetan schools in India. Several monks and nuns travel to India to seek religious education, which the Tibetans say, is made difficult in Tibet due to restrictions placed on monasteries and nunneries by the Chinese Communist government.
Past estimates suggest between 2,500 and 3,000 Tibetans escape Tibet and enter Nepal each year on their way here, the seat of Tibetan Government-in-Exile. The number has nosedived since 2008 after Nepal beefed up security along its border with Tibet following ‘Chinese pressure’.
Tibetans in Nepal carried out several protests and demonstrations against China between 2008 and 2009 during which Nepal also came under criticism from the international community for its brutal handling of the Tibetans.
Nepal has lately intensified its hold on the Tibetans to stop them from taking part in peaceful demonstrations.
China has been regularly sending flurry of high-level delegations to Nepal reminding the Nepalese authorities to curb “Free Tibet activities” and anti China activities on its soil.
Earlier this month, Nepal stopped the Tibetan refugees from celebrating their leader the Dalai Lama’s 75th birthday which was marked with festivities all over the world by Tibetans and supporters.
