The government is preparing to declare the body of Drupchen Tsering, a Tibetan monk who set himself ablaze at boudhanath stupa premises in protest of the Chinese rule over Tibet, saying that no one approached them to claim.
Drupchen Tsering, a Tibetan refugee who recently escaped from Tibet and entered Nepal as a refugee seeking transit for India naturally has no kin in Nepal. What he has is a HOPE, a hope that the United Nation will help him travel to a third country where he could practice his religion freely. It is this very simple and the modest purpose for which he risked his life crossing the dangerous Himalayan border to reach Nepal.
It seems that he has reached here some 20 days before the incident and it is to my belief that he has gradually started to lose that HOPE in the UN as his travel to the third country (INDIA) is yet not arranged which aroused grievances and frustration. Had he been sent to India a little earlier, this may not have happened.
Drupchen Tsering, seems to be a registered case of a refugee at the UNHCR in Kathmandu and I wonder why the UN agency is not considered a kin though they can claim as one legally or is it that the UN agency simply did not want to.
If the Tibetans are not of concern to the UNHCR, I wonder why the costly branch office is located in Kathmandu rather than somewhere in Jhapa or Damak so that more populated Bhutanese refugees could be taken better care of or is it simply for the handful of urban case ?
It also coincides with the arrival of UN under secretary general Jeffrey D Feltman. Is it that Mr.Feltman is invited to witness the body of drupchen being handed over to a medical college or simply buried with no any rituals performed.
Although drupchen lost is HOPE, but many HOPEs are still alive in the hearts of the refugees and It is now the time to see if the rays of the HOPE are getting brighter or dim as usual.
Mr.Feltman, whether knowingly or unknowingly, intentionally or unintentionally, your visit this time coincided with a judgment on the fate of a body that you too have something to touch for and that could affect the hearts of the millions of refugees and their HOPE in the UN.
Mr.Feltman, considering the high profile that you enjoy in the hierarchy of the UN, I sincerely HOPE that you will feel it important at least if not the most urgent to look into the matters and status of the refugee communities in Nepal.
Thank you.
