25 October 2005
Four Tibetans arrested; Nepal stops issuing travel documents
(VOT) Four Tibetan men were fined over 10,000 Nepalese Rupees (UK£80; US$143; EU€118) each by the Nepalese immigration office, according to the Voice of Tibet radio service. Nepalese police at the border town of Rasowa arrested the Tibetans on 13 October. They were named as Wangdue, Ngawang Yonten, Dawa and Tsekyi. Tsekyi is from Kham Drayab while the other three are from Shigatse. The four were charged with illegally entering Nepal and travelling without documents. If they fail to pay the fine on time, they may face two years imprisonment. On payment of the penalty, the accused will be handed over the United Nations High Commission for Refugees. In a separate development, the Nepalese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stopped issuing travel documents to all refugees in Nepal. The move is likely to pose serious difficulties for refugees living in Nepal planning to travel on to third countries, while it is also likely to raise international concerns. Travel documents issued by the host nation for refugees are regarded as a passport for onward journeys. The new ruling will affect both Tibetan and Bhutanese refugees currently residing in different parts of Nepal