Teenagers have spent months in Shigatse detention center
Four Tibetan youngsters handed over to the Chinese authorities by Nepal after crossing the border illegally have remained in a detention center in the Tibetan town of Shigatse since their arrival in August, RFA's Tibetan service reports.
The boys, one of whom has been confirmed as 15 years old, were "put in aChinese vehicle and sent to Shigatse," according to a reliable source whodeclined to be identified for fear of reprisals. "They are still detained atthe detention center in Shigatse."
The four youths were arrested after crossing the border into Nepal atTatopani and handed back to Chinese authorities at Dram between Aug. 1 and4.
The Nepalese government routinely deports Tibetans crossing its borderswithout documentation, in spite of assurances to the U.S. Congress to thecontrary.
In a letter dated Aug. 18, the Director of the Tibetan Reception Center inKathmandu confirmed that: "The Nepalese police personnel and the immigrationoffice at Tatopani border jointly deported four Tibetan refugee children toTibet."
In addition, RFA has learned that a witness, Tashi Dolma, the cousin of 15year-old Norbu Tsering who was among the four deportees, testified at theReception Center about the deportation of her cousin along with three otherTibetan youths.
Local residents have also confirmed to RFA that they witnessed thedeportation of Tibetan children in early August.
Several groups of Tibetans have been arrested for entering Nepal illegally.They are often on their way to the northern Indian town of Dharamsala, wherethe Tibetan exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, lives with the rest ofthe Tibetan government-in-exile.
In May, Nepal expelled a group of 18 Tibetans, returning them to China inthe face of widespread criticism and appeals from the European Union, theUNHCR, and the Tibetan government-in-exile.
Earlier this month, the authorities in Nepal arrested a group of 11Tibetans, including three children and a woman, for illegally entering thecountry. The Tibetans crossed the border in the northwestern district ofJumla earlier in the week without travel permits. They had intended totravel to the birthplace of Buddha in Lumbini, in the southwest of Nepal, apolice spokesman said.
The UNHCR, which is investigating the case of the 11 detainees, has helpedother groups travel on to India. Between 15,000 and 20,000 Tibetan refugeeshave settled in Nepal, but the kingdom is careful not to anger Beijing andhas refused tolet the Dalai Lama visit.