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Tibetans Look for Better Deal from Democratic Nepal

Gopal Sharma writes from Kathmandu
*** Now that political pluralism has returned to Nepal, Tibetan refugees living there since 1959 hope the days of discrimination against them are over. Till now treatment of the Tibetans has aried according to the state of Nepalese relations with China. While the situation is more relaxaed, they still look forward to eventual return to their homeland. ***
THE hopes of 20,000 T1 betan refugees for "equal human rights" with the Nepalese were dashed when the Kathmandu government gave in to Chinese pressure and cancelled a religious discourse by their temporal leader, the Dalai Lama
A Nepalese religious organisation, had invited the Dalai Lama, who is Buddhism's highest pontiff, to address 200,000 Buddhists on February 28. The event would have seriously embarrassed Nepal's northern neighbour, China
Sun Zhengeal, of the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu, said: "The Dalal Lama is not an ordinary religious figure but a political exile who has been living abroad carrying out activities aimed at splitting the motherland.
"We resolutely oppose any foreign government or organisation instigating or supporting the Dalal Lama in whatever ways to conduct such political activities for undermining the national unity of China."
The Dalai lama fled to India with 110,000 supporters in 1959, when China Invaded Tibet. He formed a Tibetan government in exile at Dharmsala in India's northern state bordering Nepal. After India, the second highest number of Tibetan refugees live in Nepal.
The first arrived here in mid-1959 and confronted some harsh realities. Farming techniques were different, land was scarce and jobs almost nonexistent.
Special settlements were set up with help from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Refugees began woollen carpet weaving and took up other traditional Tibetan crafts to earn a living. The Swiss helped find markets for their products in Europe. Business boomed. Major Nepalese banks now finance the carpet Industry, which employs 100.000 people directly. Nepal earned 2,294.7 million rupees in foreign exchange from carpet exports last year.
While some Tibetans have their own businesses, most still live in 10 self-supporting cooperative settlements and community quarters scattered throughout Nepal. Carpet weaving is their principal occupation,
A few have started restau-
rants popularising Tibetan cuisine among tourists. Others practise traditional Tibetan medicine.
UNHCR now considers the Tibetans to have been assimilated into Nepalese society, facing no barriers to physical protection and enjoyment of basic human rights.
But Wangchuck Tsering, 52, who was among the first Tibetans to arrive in 1959, says that the refugees still have no legal status.
He adds: "We have to get married to local Nepalese In whose name our businesses run as we can't have our own industries. Our children who are In schools or colleges need work.
They can't apply for employment In the government as they have no identity cards as refugees nor the citizenship papers available to Nepalese."
In 1974 when Nepal undertook to disarm the Tibetan Khamba guerillas fighting the Chinese Red Army from northern districts bordering Tibet, refugees In Kathmandu or elsewhere were given Identity cards. These papers have to be renewed every year.
They were also given the option in 1980 to remain as refugees or become Nepalese citizens. Many were not aware of the decision.
They still want to return to Tibet If ft becomes possible. As China's relations improve with the West, the United States and India in particular, hopes of an independent Tibet arc
fading
Chinese policy towards Tibet gradually changed after the death of Mao Communist Party General Secretary Hu Yaobang pushed ahead a programme to develop Tibet's culture, language. art and literature.
But Tibetans, specially the young, are still fleeing Tibet In search of Buddhist knowledge. Two young monks recently ar rived 1n Nepal said that officially there was religious freedom In Tibet, but that Chinese policy is to cut the number of monks and nuns and abolish religious rites
They said family planning was compulsory. If there are three children in a family the third child does not get a ration card
The Dalal Lama's office In Kathmandu says that 1.000 2.000 young Tibetans who want to become monks arrive in Nepal each year. They move on to India where opportunities for pursuing Buddhist studies are better.
The restoration In Nepal last year of Western-style par Jlamentary democracy and the rule of law has raised hopes among Tibetans. They look forward to receiving equal rights with the Nepalese,
Wangchuck says : "We need economic opportunities also so that we can join the Nepalese mainstream, economically, politically and culturally.'
Eventually, Tibetans in Nepal, as elsewhere, hope China will have to take steps to make their homeland an inde pendent country or a part of China with a more self govern Ing rule, as proposed by the Dalal Lama. - GEMINI NEWS
(Exchange rates: 91 ■ 30 NR)
GOPAL SHARMA it a Nepalese Journalist based In Kathmandu He writes on national. international and development Issues