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Cho Oyu breaking news: ABC swarmed by Chinese Army - Tibetans shot at
Nanga La?
MountEverest.net
Oct 02, 2006
A reliable source close to ExplorersWeb who wishes to be undisclosed until
he gets out of China, reported alarming news this morning in the middle of
the Cho Oyu massive summit push.
A group of Tibetans were allegedly shot on their way to Langpa La pass, at
Nepal's borderline; some climbers chose to evacuate ABC when it was swarmed
by Chinese army after the shootout. "There is a story that happened here on
the 30th and the 1st that is not being told," writes the climber. "It is
tragic, it is haunting, and it is apparently all too real for Tibetans."
Below the full report:
Shooting at Nangpa La
"Early morning of September 30th, I walked out of our dining tent to gaze
over towards the Nangpa La pass. "I saw a line of Tibetans heading towards
the start of the pass - a common sight, as the trade routes are open this
time of year."
"Then, without warning, shots rang out. Over, and over and over. Then the
line of people started to run uphill - they were at 19,000ft. Apparently the
Chinese army was tipped off about their attempted escape, and had showed up
with guns."
"2 people were down, and they weren't getting up"
"Watching the line snake off through the snow, as the shots rang out, we saw
two shapes fall. The binoculars confirmed it: 2 people were down, and they
weren't getting up. Then more Chinese army swarmed through ABC."
According to the climber, Tibetans on the mountain later said that up to
seven people might have been shot dead, their bodies then shoved into a
crevasse not far from Cho Oyu BC.
A traders, trekkers and refuges route
The wide Nangpa La pass, located between Tibet and Nepal, has been a common
traders' route for centuries. In fact, many among The Sherpa people reached
Nepal 400 years ago across this col.
Since the Chinese invasion of Tibet, a large number of refugees added to the
yak caravans. Whilst many Tibetans cross the pass in order to sell their
traditional craft and Chinese goods in Namche Bazaar's Saturday market and
then come back, some seek refuge in Nepal or India. The Nangpa La is also
open to foreign trekkers.
The fact is, caravans across the Nangpa La are often seen by climbers in Cho
Oyu's ABC, located close by. Tibetan traders cross the pass not only in
winter (when no one is watching), but also during the climbing season.
Not the first time
These unregistered travelers have rarely raised attention from the Chinese
troops in BC, neither from the Liason Officer always present in ABC. Some
climbing teams through the years have however reported on hearing shots. But
this is the first time we have first-hand reports of a westerner witnessing
people being shot on the way to Nepal's border.
Nevertheless, it is not the first time such a fact hit the news. Canada's
Tibet Committee reported on a similar incident on December 4, 2003.
"Last year, there were separate eyewitness reports by Western mountain
climbers of Chinese border police firing upon Tibetan refugees as well as
pursuing refugees across Nangpa la into Nepal territory," the NGO's
reported. "In mid October of this year, a group of 34 Tibetan refugees were
fired upon by Chinese border security while attempting to cross into Nepal
over Nangpa La."
"When the machine gun fire started we ran in all directions
According to the report, one of the refugees who finally made it to Nepal
spoke with CTC in Kathmandu: "When the machine gun fire started hitting
around us, we ran in all directions," the 25 year old survivor said. "We ran
back where we came from just trying to avoid the army. After hiding from the
gun blasts for many hours, we climbed over Nangpa La in the middle of the
night and walked the entire day on the Nepal side as we were so scared."
Approximately 2,500 Tibetans annually escape from Tibetan enroute to India,
according to the Canada Tibet Committee. Approximately a third of those
refugees are children under 18 years who are seeking a Tibetan language
education unavailable to them under Chinese rule. Approximately one quarter
of the refugees who successfully escape Tibet are monks and nuns who flee
due to Chinese repression of religious beliefs and practices.
Nangpa La is situated only a few kilometres west of Cho Oyu
(5,716m/18,753ft). The wide, glaciated pass serves as the main trading route
between the Tibetans and the Sherpas of Khumbu.
The Nangpa La has also been used by "illegal" climbers who would start from
Nepal and then cross the border in order to summit Cho Chu without obtaining
a climbing permit. Trespassing mostly happened during off season climbs and
in past decades, when Chinese patrols were scarce in the area.
Articles in this Issue:
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World Tibet Network NewsPublished by the Canada Tibet CommitteeMonday, October 2, 2006 |
1. Cho Oyu breaking news: ABC swarmed by Chinese Army - Tibetans shot at Nanga La?
MountEverest.net
Oct 02, 2006
A reliable source close to ExplorersWeb who wishes to be undisclosed until
he gets out of China, reported alarming news this morning in the middle of
the Cho Oyu massive summit push.
A group of Tibetans were allegedly shot on their way to Langpa La pass, at
Nepal's borderline; some climbers chose to evacuate ABC when it was swarmed
by Chinese army after the shootout. "There is a story that happened here on
the 30th and the 1st that is not being told," writes the climber. "It is
tragic, it is haunting, and it is apparently all too real for Tibetans."
Below the full report:
Shooting at Nangpa La
"Early morning of September 30th, I walked out of our dining tent to gaze
over towards the Nangpa La pass. "I saw a line of Tibetans heading towards
the start of the pass - a common sight, as the trade routes are open this
time of year."
"Then, without warning, shots rang out. Over, and over and over. Then the
line of people started to run uphill - they were at 19,000ft. Apparently the
Chinese army was tipped off about their attempted escape, and had showed up
with guns."
"2 people were down, and they weren't getting up"
"Watching the line snake off through the snow, as the shots rang out, we saw
two shapes fall. The binoculars confirmed it: 2 people were down, and they
weren't getting up. Then more Chinese army swarmed through ABC."
According to the climber, Tibetans on the mountain later said that up to
seven people might have been shot dead, their bodies then shoved into a
crevasse not far from Cho Oyu BC.
A traders, trekkers and refuges route
The wide Nangpa La pass, located between Tibet and Nepal, has been a common
traders' route for centuries. In fact, many among The Sherpa people reached
Nepal 400 years ago across this col.
Since the Chinese invasion of Tibet, a large number of refugees added to the
yak caravans. Whilst many Tibetans cross the pass in order to sell their
traditional craft and Chinese goods in Namche Bazaar's Saturday market and
then come back, some seek refuge in Nepal or India. The Nangpa La is also
open to foreign trekkers.
The fact is, caravans across the Nangpa La are often seen by climbers in Cho
Oyu's ABC, located close by. Tibetan traders cross the pass not only in
winter (when no one is watching), but also during the climbing season.
Not the first time
These unregistered travelers have rarely raised attention from the Chinese
troops in BC, neither from the Liason Officer always present in ABC. Some
climbing teams through the years have however reported on hearing shots. But
this is the first time we have first-hand reports of a westerner witnessing
people being shot on the way to Nepal's border.
Nevertheless, it is not the first time such a fact hit the news. Canada's
Tibet Committee reported on a similar incident on December 4, 2003.
"Last year, there were separate eyewitness reports by Western mountain
climbers of Chinese border police firing upon Tibetan refugees as well as
pursuing refugees across Nangpa la into Nepal territory," the NGO's
reported. "In mid October of this year, a group of 34 Tibetan refugees were
fired upon by Chinese border security while attempting to cross into Nepal
over Nangpa La."
"When the machine gun fire started we ran in all directions
According to the report, one of the refugees who finally made it to Nepal
spoke with CTC in Kathmandu: "When the machine gun fire started hitting
around us, we ran in all directions," the 25 year old survivor said. "We ran
back where we came from just trying to avoid the army. After hiding from the
gun blasts for many hours, we climbed over Nangpa La in the middle of the
night and walked the entire day on the Nepal side as we were so scared."
Approximately 2,500 Tibetans annually escape from Tibetan enroute to India,
according to the Canada Tibet Committee. Approximately a third of those
refugees are children under 18 years who are seeking a Tibetan language
education unavailable to them under Chinese rule. Approximately one quarter
of the refugees who successfully escape Tibet are monks and nuns who flee
due to Chinese repression of religious beliefs and practices.
Nangpa La is situated only a few kilometres west of Cho Oyu
(5,716m/18,753ft). The wide, glaciated pass serves as the main trading route
between the Tibetans and the Sherpas of Khumbu.
The Nangpa La has also been used by "illegal" climbers who would start from
Nepal and then cross the border in order to summit Cho Chu without obtaining
a climbing permit. Trespassing mostly happened during off season climbs and
in past decades, when Chinese patrols were scarce in the area.
Articles in this Issue:
- Cho Oyu breaking news: ABC swarmed by Chinese Army - Tibetans shot at Nanga La?
- China adds two more rail links to Tibet (AFP)
- Tsering Dorje, Tibet - Help from Afar
- The future of Tibet
- The real Tibet, without Tibetans (TST)
- China critised in Swiss Parliament
- Finnish religious leaders, intellectuals embrace His Holiness' message
- German delegation visits Dharamshala (TibetNet)
CTC National Office 300 Leo-Pariseau, Suite 2250, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2X 4B3
T: (514) 487-0665 F: (514) 487-7825 ctcoffice@tibet.ca
T: (514) 487-0665 F: (514) 487-7825 ctcoffice@tibet.ca
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