December 10th, 2006 marks the 58th International Human Rights Day, a day when Tibetans and their supporters around the world speak out for an end to human rights abuses in Tibet. This year, the global event falls just 2 months after Chinese border guards brutally fired at Tibetan refugees attempting to cross the Nangpa Pass into Nepal. As the global community watched televised images of Chinese soldiers firing shot after shot at the line of Tibetans, many of them children, we were reminded yet again of the stark reality of life for Tibetans inside Chinese occupied Tibet.

Please send the letter below to Louise Arbour, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, asking her to advocate for the release of those Tibetans detained at Nangpa Pass. Click here to find out how you can take further action.

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I am appalled to learn that on September 30th, 2006, Chinese border patrol troops opened fire on a group of approximately 75 Tibetans attempting to cross the Nangpa Pass into Nepal. Kelsang Namtso, a 17 year old nun was killed and several others are feared dead in the incident. Although 43 Tibetans successfully reached Nepal, the whereabouts of 32 members of the group remain unknown. Foreign mountaineers who witnessed the shootings reported that Chinese soldiers captured a group of children, who were marched through the nearby Cho Oyu advanced Everest base camp.

Despite appeals from foreign governments and human rights agencies around the world, Chinese authorities have yet to investigate the incident and prosecute those responsible for this crime. Furthermore, no information on the whereabouts and safety of those detained or missing has been released. It is believed they are being held by Chinese authorities in violation of Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees, and most notably the Convention on the Rights of the Child to which China is a signatory.

The following are the names of some of the individuals known to be missing: Tenwang, age 7 Lhakpa Tsering, age 8 Dhondup Lhamo, age 9 Dechen Dolma, age 10 Wangchen, age 11 Tsedon, age 12 Sonam Wangdue, age 12 Ming Shomo, age 13 Lodoe Nyima, age 15 Jamyang Tsetan, age 16 Karma Tsetan, age 16 Lodoe Namkha, age 16 Karma, age 19 Samten, age 19 Sonam Palzom, age 20 Dhondup Palden, age 21 Kusang, age 22 Lobsang Paljor, age 35

I am writing to request that you raise the cases of those individuals detained in the Nangpa Pass incident with the Chinese government and demand an independent investigation into this incident.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
December 08, 2006