Skip to main content

Nepal: Human Rights

Volume 482: debated on Wednesday 12 November 2008

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise with the Nepalese authorities the treatment of ethnic Tibetans involved in recent demonstrations in Nepal. (234210)

Through our embassy in Kathmandu, we have monitored the situation of Tibetan refugees in Nepal closely since protests began earlier this year. On 23 June, our ambassador to Nepal joined a démarche on the Nepalese Foreign Secretary to raise concerns of the international community about the arrest of three prominent Tibetans in Kathmandu and the use of arbitrary detention under the Public Security Act. Staff from our embassy in Kathmandu have also accompanied officials from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights when they observed police action against protests by Tibetan refugees. We have encouraged the Nepal police to ensure that all officers act with restraint when handling protest groups and urged that action is taken against any officers accused of using excessive force. Together with our EU and other international partners, we will continue to monitor the situation in Nepal closely.