Posted: Oct 24, 2006 07:40 am EDT
(MountEverest.net) 41 among the 75 Tibetan refugees who were shot at on Nangpa La col by Chinese troops finally managed to reach India. Yesterday some of them held a press conference at the Press Club of India (PCI), New Delhi. Local and international media flocked to the conference, organized by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD).

The Conference began with the screening of the video by the Romanian climber which showed Tibetans being shot by Chinese border patrol, reported Phayul.com. Then Thupten Tsering, (a 23 years old Tibetan monk), Dolma Palkyi (a 16 years old girl) and Lobsang Choeden (26) talked about their escape.

No warning – bullets whizzing past

“There was no warning of any kind. The bullets were so close I could hear them whizzing past,” Thupten Tsering told journalists. “We scattered and ran.”

When asked about their reason to escape, Ven. Thupten Tsering replied that he wants to see His Holiness the Dalai Lama and receive his blessings.

Lobsang Choeden recalled how he was rescued by foreign mountaineers who helped him hide in their tent and gave him food. He assured his wait in the tent was the most appalling and dreadful time of his life. “Even if he wishes to go back to Tibet, he cannot do that because his photographs have been splashed all over Tibet and one sight of him can cost his life,” Phayul reports.
(Ed. Note: The Romanian climbers who provided the video footage reported on having helped a Tibetan refugee who hid in the team’s toilet tent.)

Chinese confirm second death - how about the rest?

Also yesterday, Chinese officials confirmed the killing of a second Tibetan during the incident. First confirmed casualty was Kelsang Nortso, a 25-year-old Buddhist nun. Teenager Dolma Palkyi, also attending at the conference confirmed Kelsang, whom she considered a good friend, died on the spot. “Her absence makes me feel shattered,” said Dolma, who also intends to become a nun and pursue Buddhist studies in India.

”The whereabouts of the (other) 32 refugees is unknown,” declared the TCHRD in a press release. “Fourteen of these were children, the youngest is eight years old. Of the refugees who were not injured or arrested, some are missing, whilst 41 (27 minors below eighteen years) managed to reach Kathmandu, Nepal, where they were kept under the protection of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees. The group is now in Delhi enroute to Dharamsala, the seat of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.”

From TCHRD’s official press release: “The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) condemns the Chinese People’s Armed Police (PAP) firing live ammunitions on a group of Tibetan refugees on 30 September 2006. The shooting, which resulted in at least two known deaths, happened as 75 refugees were preparing to cross the glaciated Nangpa La, an 18,753 ft. pass close to Everest base camp. Several other reports say up to seven Tibetans may have been killed after the group was fired upon by the Chinese troops.”

"Eyewitness accounts of nearby Everest mountaineers testify that the refugees were running uphill, away from the shooting. They also claim that at least one refugee was killed by gunfire. According to mountaineering website, MountEverest.net, an American climber reported, 'Without warning, shots rang out. Over, and over and over. The line of people started to run uphill – they were at 19,000ft. 2 people were down, and they weren't getting up.' There are no reports of any Tibetans carrying weapons. A British climber reported that climbers 'could see Chinese soldiers quite close to Advance Base Camp kneeling, taking aim and shooting, again and again, at the group, who were completely defenseless.' while Romanian climber Sergiu Matei, reported, “The Chinese militias were hunting Tibetans onto the glacier... shooting them like rats, dogs, rabbits – you name it.”

”The actions of the PAP violate a number of international and national laws. Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights provides 'everyone the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution'. The 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees also accords legitimate refugees with the same human rights as those enjoyed by nationals.”

”The Chinese Foreign Ministry's claim of self-defense is also illegitimate under international law. Whilst Article 51 of the UN Charter does enshrine a right to self-defense, this right can only be legitimately exercised if a national is under armed attack. The refugees testimony corroborated by foreign national eyewitnesses confirm that the refugees were not armed. The 27 July 2006 'Prevention of human rights violations committed with small arms and light weapons' report, submitted by the UN Special Rapporteur Barbara Frey, further clarifies the rights of states in self defense: 'Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations applies to States acting in self-defense against armed attacks against their State sovereignty. It does not apply to situations of self-defense for individual persons.' She adds that '[s]tate officials must refrain from violations [of human rights] with small arms'.”

”TCHRD calls upon the UN High Commission for Human Rights and the Human Rights Council to seek justice for the Tibetan refugees shot in the Nangpa La incident, and to ensure that the Tibetans now in custody of the Chinese police are freed immediately and without harm.”

 EMAIL   PRINT   SHARE   TEXT