Kathmandu: Tibetans are facing challenges and difficulties in settling in Nepal due to the discrimination they face from the state. The Tibetan refugees in Nepal are stuck between the border of China and Nepal state, which is determined to stop them from crossing the borders, per the report of EPardafas.
As per the reports, there are also implications for the refugees wanting to enter India. “There has been a notable drop in the arrivals of Tibetan refugees to Nepal; the number dropped to 200 from 2000 annually till 2008”, said reports.
As per the sources, an estimated 4000 to 9000 refugees from Tibet in Nepal, up to 75 per cent of the total population, lack identification cards.
Due to this, Tibetans are not allowed to apply for professional jobs or travel freely due to a lack of proper documentation. “The condition leaves the already vulnerable Tibetan refugees even more susceptible to exploitation”, reports EPardafas.
Furthermore, the Tibetan Refugees are people with no state, as if they do not exist legally, which is clearly what China wants. China’s relationship with Nepal is only focused on taking full control of the Tibetan refugee community, as Nepal holds the largest community of Tibetan refugees in the world after India.
On his part, Amish Raj Mulmi said in his recently published book ‘All Roads Lead North’ that in 2002, Nepal began to face pressure from the Chinese authorities regarding the Tibetans, and the celebrations of the Dalai Lama’s birthday were cancelled for the first time.
Moreover, the covid-19 pandemic has made the life of Tibetan refugees much more difficult due to the outbreak of Covid-19 along with harsh policies imposed by the Chinese government, which led to unjustified measures with serious impacts on the lives of the Tibetan People.
As per the reports, the pandemic in Tibet started on August 7, 2022, followed by the sudden lockdown, which affected the overall situation of Tibetans. In the end, Chinese authorities in Tibet prohibit taking photos or videos at the cemeteries to keep news of death rising from Covid-19 in the region from reaching outside the world, as per Tibet Press.