About Comida

THE REFUGEE CRISIS

Refugee Problems

The problems for Nepal also lie well beyond its own boarders, they have an enormous

strain on their own land and economy as a result of conflicts concerning

neighbouring countries such as Tibet for example.

Figures suggest that there are over 125,000 refugees from Tibet and Bhutan

in Nepal, this figure continues to grow each day and with the situation in Kashmir

between India and Pakistan this could escalate into a disaster of mammoth proportions.

The Tibetan Situation

In 1949 China invaded Tibet with 35,000 troops; although an agreement was made in 1951

not to interfere with Tibetan government and lifestyle, it was never respected in eastern Tibet,

by 1959 such was the case all over the country. The push of Chinese into Tibet destabilized

the economy and forced agricultural modernisations which led to massive crop failure

and Tibet´s first recorded famine.

Chinese reports estimated that the elimination of 87,000 Tibetans took place because

of the 1959 National Uprisig which saw the Dalai Lama, Tibet´s spiritual and temporal

ruler, flea the country together with 100,000 followers.

Tibetan exiles claim, however, that 430,000 died during the uprising and the 15 years

of guerilla warfare which followed until US support withdrew.

260,000 were reported to have died in prisons and labour camps between 1950 and 1984.

Effect on Tibetan Culture

The effect that these actions have had on the Tibetan culture are devastating:

1. Religious practise was forcibly suppressed until 1979.

2. Up to 6,000 monasteries and shrines have been destroyed.

3. Chinese has replaced Tibetan as the official language.

4. Many Tibetans find it hard to get work in the state sector.

5. Secondary school children are taught all classes in Chinese and must forfeit study

of their own language if they want to learn English which is a

requirement for most university courses.

6. Many children are sent to China for education, cut off from their own cultural

heritage 810,000 children in China in 1992).

7. Chronic unemployment among Tibetans is the result of Chinese migrants and policies.

Tibetans are in minority in many areas.

8. Environmental problems such as deforestation have also come into light.

According to a tourist film shot in 1988 up to 60 trucks fully laden with timber

were leaving Tibet each hour, headed for China.

The Dangers Involved With Escape

Reports of unarmed demonstrators being shot, as many as 200 between 1987 and 1989,

detainees being executed and detailed accounts of torture campaigns

against Tibetan dissidents in prisson from March 1989 to May 1990, are reasons among others

why Tibetans face the extreme dangers of trekking over the Himalayas to flea

their native Tibet and live in Nepal or India.

Today thousands each year still brave the harsh weather conditions all year round,

dressed in clothes such as sneakers and thin jackets and surviving on wheat

granules and melted snow.

Almost 50% of these refugees are between 14 and 25 years of age. This gruelling journey

can last up to a year depending on where the individuals have started from

and where they end up.

Immunizations are almost non-existent which can be a fatal factor because

diseasessuch as tuberculosis and dysentery are easily contracted in such

poor conditions, while scabies, worms, typhoid and choleraare rampant

in the countries that lie up ahead. The dangers concerned with frostbite

will also effect almost every child and adult crossing the mountains.

Amputations of toes and fingers, even arms and legs, is a horror endured by most.

At their journey´s end they face the reality of severe physical pain and exhaustion,

being separated from family and friends and the risk of deportation back to Tibet

where they could be punished or put in prison for fleeing the country.

Between 1986 and 1992, 13,400 refugees safely reached reception centres,

since then another 15,000 have fled into exile, with 15% under 13 years of age.

Bhutan

In the 1800´s settlers from Tibet and Nepal made their home in the south of this

country and have been living in relative peace until recently. The occupation of Tibet

in 1949 caused political problems in Bhutan, among other reasons, because of the large

number of Tibetan descendents there.

New laws were made which suppressed and took citizens rights away;

this in turn caused demonstrations and lead to the government throwing

demonstrators and their families in jail, giving fines, sentencing to imprisonment with

hard labour and even torture. The government also refused others health care and education.

Tula-Ram, a refugee from Bhutan explained in an interview with Swedish magazine

"SydAsien" that soldiers were sent to "control the anti-nationalists" and in village areas

the people had to supply the soldiers with food and young girls, if they didn´t, they would be punished.

When refugees left Bhutan they were forced to sign papers that they could not understand,

the papers were to say that they left of their own free will which, because of