Dharamsala, June 18 – Sobho, 28, a Tibetan detainee in Nepal’s Central Bhadra Jail was released on 17 June 2003, after the Office of Tibet and Tibetan Refugee Reception Centre (TRRC) based in Kathmandu paid the bail amount of USD 107 to secure his release. He was placed in the custody of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and is currently under the care of TRRC.
There are also reports of attempted efforts to hinder release process of Sobho. According to Sobho, “On 17 June 2003 around 5 pm, I was released. While TRRC staff members were processing my release, one Tibetan and two Nepali men came to meet me twice in the prison. These people asked me many questions like what TRRC is doing for me and when I will be released etc. Above all, they asked me to sign a document, which I refused. I have a impression that these men have some ulterior motive behind interviewing me”.
TCHRD considers this release as a conciliatory gesture on the part of the Nepali authorities in the wake of international outcry over the recent deportation of the 18 Tibetans. Various governments and non-governmental organizations “deplored” and “condemned” His Majesty’s Government of Nepal over their compliance with the orders of the Chinese Embassy officials in Kathmandu.
Meanwhile confirmed source indicates that Nepali Immigration Department has not granted permission for the three kids (among 21 arrested, of which 18 deported) to leave for India. These three kids face risk of deportation if the Chinese Embassy exerts adequate pressure on Nepali Government. Currently, there are 10 Tibetan detainees in Nepali jails who are serving a sentence of 10 years each for lack of residential permits and visa.
Sobho expressed grave concern over the fate of the recent deportees in Tibet. He lamented, “ The deportation of 18 Tibetans is really shocking, I really empathize with their plight. It is a worst nightmare that any refugee could ever imagine. Now they face prospects of harsher treatment and torture. I appeal to the international community and to the concerned governments to stop deporting Tibetan refugees. The refugees managed to escape from the jaws of death and now they are pushed back to hell to suffer Chinese prosecution and persecution. ”
Sobho had earlier attempted to flee Tibet five years ago but was met with failure. He was detained in Nyari Detention Centre in Shigatse Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region (“TAR”) for several months. Although this time he managed to reach the Nepali soil, Sobho was arrested at Barabise checkpoint on 7 May 2003 and held in detention for six days before being handed over to Nepali Immigration Department. The Immigration Department registered a case to the effect and imposed a visa fee of USD 37.50 and a penalty of NRS 5000 (approx USD 70). Unable to pay the fines, Sobho received a default imprisonment sentence of ten months.
Sobho hails from Derge County, Karze Tibet Autonomous Prefecture (“TAP”), Sichuan Province. Originally a monk at Serthar Buddhist Institute for seven years since early 1995, Sobho was forced to leave when the Chinese authorities expelled approximately 8,000 religious practitioners and destroyed their living quarters in mid 2001. In order to pursue his religious studies, Sobho decided to seek monastic education in exile monasteries set up in south India. To seek an audience with the Dalai Lama is another reason behind his escape from Tibet.
Contact Person: Tenzin Norgay/Norzin Dolma
TCHRD, Phone no: +91 1892 223363/225874, E-mail: dsala@tchrd.org
