Chinese Murder Refugees at Nangpa Pass

By Contact Staff / January 1, 2006;

Dharamsala – As the first survivors of the Nangpa Pass shooting arrive in Dharamsala Tibetans and their supporters have protested at China’s attack on the refugees and ongoing occupation of Tibet. Video footage shot by foreign mountaineers at Cho Oyo advance Everest Base Camp shows the Chinese border guards opening fire on a group of c. 70 Tibetans attempting to cross through the Nangpa Pass into Nepal on Sep. 30th. C. 2,000 protestors left the Main Temple in McLeodganj at 1pm to Kacheri and concluded with a candle light procession from McLeod Square at 5.30pm to the Main Temple.
It has been confirmed that at least two Tibetans were killed, including a young nun. At least nine children who were part of the group were captured by Chinese soldiers at gunpoint; their whereabouts remain unknown. More than forty of the original group are reported to have safely made it to Nepal and arrived in Dharamsala on Oct 24th. “Tibetans all over the world strongly condemn this brutal attack and killing of defenceless Tibetans” said Lobsang Yeshi, Vice President of the Tibetan Youth Congress. “These innocent victims were simply trying to escape from Chinese repression in Tibet”.
The foreign mountainers who witnessed the incident from nearby Cho Oyo described the soldiers taking careful aim and firing repeatedly at the defenceless Tibetans, even as they attempted to escape uphill through deep snow at 19,000 feet (5750m). One climber explained “I saw a line of Tibetans heading towards the start of the pass – a common sight. Then, without warning, shots rang out, over and over and over”. “This is not the first time that Chinese forces have brutally attacked and killed escaping Tibetan refugees,” said B. Tsering, President of Tibetan Women’s Association. “China maintains control in Tibet through continous violence against our people – its only because there were foreigners present at Nangpa Pass that the world is now witness to China’s complete disregard for Tibetan lives”.
“Thousands of Tibetans escape from Tibet every year seeking basic freedom and human rights”. said Ngawang Woeber, President of the Gu Chu Sum organization of former political prisoners. “Until Tibet is free from Chinese rule, Tibetans will never find true safety, security or prosperity in their own land”.
The shooting at Nangpa Pass is a critically important issue for Tibetan exiles in India, including the thousands of refugees who themselves escaped from Tibet in similar fashion. Dharamsala is home to thousands of exiles as well as the home of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the seat of Tibetan Government in Exile.