The head of the UN sponsored Tibet Refugee Centre in Katmandu, Loudhup Dorjee, has confirmed earlier reports that at least two Tibetans were killed when the Chinese army opened fire on defenceless Tibetan refugees on the Tibet Nepal border on Saturday 30 September.

Free Tibet Campaign contacted the office of António Guterres, High Commissioner for Refugees, in Geneva on 3 October on hearing the earlier reports. "We have already called for an urgent investigation to be conducted by the Nepal and China offices of the UNHCR into reports of these killings" said Matt Whitticase of Free Tibet Campaign. "These reports have now been confirmed by a UNHCR official. It is now vital that UN agencies and the wider international community both take immediate steps to ensure the safety of Tibetan refugees fleeing into Nepal and launch an independent and transparent investigation into the killings."

Dorjee reported that a caravan of seventy Tibetans, including women and children, were shot upon at the Nangpa la pass and that forty were able to escape into Nepal. They are now making their way to the UNHCR office in Katmandu where further details will emerge.

This latest incident confirms the Chinese policy of targeting Tibetan refugees. Past reports have remained uninvestigated and uncorroborated.


Contact:020 7324 4605 , Matt Whitticase (07904 063746) Ya'el Weisz-Rind
(07733 393773)

Free Tibet Campaign
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