Aug 30, 2006

Tibet: US Congressmen Reconfirms Resettlement of Tibetans in the US


The US delegation headed by Jim Kolbe (R-Arizona) reconfirmed that the US will resettle about 5000 Tibetans from Nepal in the USA, in a press conference before wrapping up his four-day visit
The US delegation headed by Jim Kolbe (R-Arizona) reconfirmed that the US will resettle about 5000 Tibetans from Nepal in the USA, in a press conference before wrapping up his four-day visit. "We have indicated a willingness and desire to take 5000 additional Tibetan refugees to the United States. Over the last two decades many Tibetans were settled in the US, so we are continuing to resettlement. We want to continue to be helpful in that process," he said. However, he did not mention when would actual resettlement process start or the selection procedures.

The delegation came to assess the situation in Nepal and they were very happy with the Nepalese hospitality. They said that the Maoist should lay down their arms before joining an interim government and further expressed concern over continued extortion, intimidation, killings and kidnappings by Maoist. The future of King, they think, will depend on the people of Nepal.
There has been speculation among Tibetans in Nepal that the actual US Resettlement process would start by mid-2007. But the exact date have not been declared so far either by the US Government or the Tibetan Government in Exile as the Nepalese authorities have not yet decided issue exit permit to those who will move to the USA. Mr. Brian Baird (D-Washington) who is on a four-day visit to Nepal to assess the latest political developments, visited the Tibetan Refugee Transit Center in Kathmandu today.Mr. Lhoudup Dorji, the Director of the Center, welcomed the Congressmen with traditional Tibetan scarf and briefed them about the Center and problems faced by those arriving newly from Tibetans. There are currently about 80 new arrivals at the Center who want to go to India to seek an audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

The Tibetan Refugee Transit Center is supported by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and administered by Lutherin World Foundation, an American NGO and is staffed by Tibetans. The UNHCR Nepal chief Abraham Abraham and Associate Protection Officer Douglas DeSalvo were also present.

The other visiting members are Ander Crenshaw (R-Florida), Fred Upton (R-Michigan) and Brian Baird (D-Washington). The delegation however declined to talk to Tibetan Media alone, since there is a general press conference on Monday. It is not yet known whether the visiting Congress delegation talked to authorities in Nepal about two issues i.e. re-opening of the Tibetan Welfare Office in Nepal and resettlement of Tibetan Refugees from Nepal in the USA.