[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 80 (Tuesday, June 3, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1108]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        CONDEMNING NEPAL'S FORCED EXPULSION OF TIBETANS TO CHINA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES A. LEACH

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 3, 2003

  Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, on May 31st in Kathmandu the Government of 
Nepal turned over to senior diplomatic representatives of the People's 
Republic of China 18 Tibetan asylum seekers, including several minors, 
to be forcibly repatriated to China. In so doing, the Nepalese 
authorities flouted both international law and repeated strong 
representations by the United States and other concerned parties. This 
action also reversed long-standing Nepalese tolerance toward Tibetan 
asylum seekers, which in the past has allowed access to ``persons of 
concern'' by local officials of the United Nations High Commissioner 
for Refugees.
  According to the Department of State, our Embassy in Kathmandu has 
informed the Nepalese Government at the highest levels about this 
specific incident. The status of Tibetan refugees in Nepal is a long-
standing issue of concern to both the Executive Branch and Congress, 
and is often raised by American officials in Kathmandu. In addition, 
senior U.S. officials recently met with Nepalese and Chinese officials 
to raise our strong concerns about this issue.
  The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has stated that the 
forcible return of the 18 Tibetans to China without a status 
determination constituted refoulement (forced return), which is in 
fundamental contravention of well-accepted international norms. 
Congress joins with the Executive Branch in condemning the behavior of 
the Government of Nepal and senior Chinese diplomats for their role in 
forcibly returning the asylum seekers to China. In the strongest terms, 
we urge Nepal to cease this inhumane conduct and return to its previous 
long-term practice of allowing Tibetans to seek protection in Nepal for 
onward resettlement.

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