Take Action for Missing Tibetans!
On September 30, a group of over 70 Tibetans were attempting to cross the Nangpa Pass into Nepal from Tibet when they were fired upon by China's People's Armed Police. Eyewitness reports confirm the death of Kelsang Namtso, a 17 year old Tibetan nun who was shot in the back. Video footage of the shooting shows that at least two other Tibetans were shot during the incident, but the injuries do not appear to have been fatal.
While 43 Tibetans from the group made it to Nepal, the 
whereabouts of the others remains unknown, including at least 10 children aged 6 to 10 who were taken into custody at the site of the shooting by Chinese police.
whereabouts of the others remains unknown, including at least 10 children aged 6 to 10 who were taken into custody at the site of the shooting by Chinese police.You can voice your concern for the missing by signing this online petition to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, calling on her to investigate and confirm the status and well being of the missing Tibetan children and adults.
Children and other Tibetans captured by the PAP
after the shooting are led away from advance base
camp.
Dangerous Crossing
Teams of international climbers witnessed the incident, occurring near Mount Cho Oyu on the Tibet-Nepal border. Photos and eyewitness accounts confirm that at least three Tibetans were shot and an unknown number taken into custody, including at least 10 children as young as six.
One of the climbers, British police officer Steve Lawes, was among a group of climbers and Sherpas at Cho Oyu's base camp who witnessed both the shooting and the subsequent capture of the Tibetan children who were marched into advance base camp by three soldiers with assault rifles. Mr Lawes said: "The children were in single file, about six feet away from me. They didn't see us - they weren't looking around the way kids normally would, they were too frightened. By that time, advance base camp was crawling with soldiers. They had pretty much taken over, and the atmosphere was very intimidating. We were doing our best not to do anything that might spark off more violence."
China's False Claims
Last month, China's state-run Xinhua news agency reported that a group of Tibetan "stowaways" ignored requests to turn around and "attacked the soldiers", who were then "forced to defend themselves". The statement also claimed that only one Tibetan died, resulting from "altitude sickness."
Despite eyewitness accounts and photographic evidence, the Chinese Government has refused to acknowledge what really happened at Nangpa La, leaving the missing Tibetans in serious danger if their situation is not raised by the international community. Therefore, ICT calls upon the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to open an investigation leading to the confirmation of the whereabouts and wellbeing of the Tibetans who are missing or have been detained as a result of the Nangpa La shooting.
Take Action!
Join ICT in supporting the missing Nangpa La refugees by signing this online petition calling on the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Louise Arbour, to confirm the whereabouts and wellbeing of the missing Tibetans.
In solidarity,
International Campaign for Tibet
International Campaign for Tibet 1825 Jefferson Place NW Washington, DC 20036 United States of America
International Campaign for Tibet 1825 Jefferson Place NW Washington, DC 20036 United States of America
Phone: (202) 785-1515 Fax: (202) 785-4343 info@savetibet.org
ICT Europe Vijzelstraat 77 1017HG Amsterdam The Netherlands
Phone: +31 (0)20 3308265 Fax: +31 (0)20 3308266 icteurope@savetibet.org
ICT Deutschland e.V. Marienstr. 30 10117 Berlin Germany
Phone: +49 (0)30 27879086 Fax: +49 (0)30 27879087 ict-d@savetibet.org
