United Nations, Geneva, November 30 - As the UN Human Rights Council began its third session, 16 NGOs in a joint statement questioned the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on the steps taken concerning the 30 September killings of Tibetans on the Nangpa Pass. A Chinese delegate made a statement which contradicted China’s earlier statement on the Nangpa Pass incident.

The NGO statement delivered by Mr. Gianfranco Fattorini (Movement Against Racism and Friendship Among All Peoples) said: “With respect to the work of the High Commissioner’s Office in Kathmandu (Nepal), this Joint NGO Statement relates to the 30 September shooting on more than 70 Tibetans on the Nangpa Pass at 18,753 ft in the Himalayas while they were trying to cross the Pass to reach Nepal…. In view of the many appeals to the High Commissioner for Human Rights to intervene publicly in the case of the 30 September killings of Tibetans in the Himalayas, we wish to know of the steps taken by the High Commissioner, including her Office in Kathmandu, regarding this grave matter.”

The NGOs statement was made in reaction to the oral update report from Ms. Louise Arbour, the High Commissioner on Human Rights, to the Human Rights Council, in which she addressed the situation in Nepal, Sri Lanka, Iraq and Darfur.   However, the High Commissioner did not respond to question posed on the Nangpa Pass killings.

As expected a representative of China reacted to Joint NGO statement.  The UN note on “Meeting Coverage” bulletin quoted the Chinese response made by Ms. Li Nana as stating “...this afternoon a non-governmental organization (NGO) said that China had allegedly shot Tibetans in the Himalayas. China had decided not to make use of its right of point of order. Nevertheless, this NGO's statement was not appropriate, and China expressed disappointment at the violation of proper procedures.”  Without elaborating Ms. Li ended the statement saying that China was carrying out its investigation.

This was the second time that the Nangpa Pass killings has been raised in UN meetings related to human rights.  On 30 October, the case was raised in the Third Committee of the current UN General Assembly when Canada’s Ambassador Henri-Paul Normandin in a statement said: “We note China’s recognition of the importance of the rule of law, and its efforts to address social and economic inequalities associated with rapid economic development. However, we have concerns with respect to continuing violations of civil and political rights – including freedom of expression, association and spiritual belief, due process of law, arbitrary detention and incidence of torture.  The apparent crackdown on many prominent human rights defenders is worrisome. In addition, the shooting of unarmed Tibetans attempting to cross the China-Nepal border reinforces preoccupations relating to the treatment of ethnic minorities. China’s lack of adherence to international standards of free and informed consent in the context of organ transplants is also of concern.”

The NGO Statement concerning the Nangpa Pass killings to the Councilyesterday afternoon was co-signed by the following organizations: Mouvement contre le racisme et pour l’amitié entre les peuples (MRAP), Asian Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Network, Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), Society  for Threatened Peoples, International Fellowship of Reconciliation, Interfaith International, Organisation mondiale contre la torture (OMCT), Pax Romana, International Educational Development, International Federation for the Protection of the Rights of Ethnic, Religious, Linguistic and other Minorities, France Libertés – Fondation Danielle Mitterrand, Habitat International Coalition, Saami Council,  Fédération internationale des mouvements d’adultes ruraux, catholiques (FIMARC),  Rights and Democracy and Transnational Radical Party. 

Two other organizations, Nonviolence International and Norwegian Helsinki Committee also supported this statement.

The Full Text of the NGO Statement is available here