US embassy cable - 02KATHMANDU466

S E C R E T KATHMANDU 000466 
 
SIPDIS 
 
GENEVA FOR RMA 
LONDON FOR POL/RIEDEL 
BEIJING PASS CHENGDU 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/04/2012 
TAGS: PREF, PTER, PHUM, PREL, NP 
SUBJECT: UIGHURS IN NEPAL 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Michael E. Malinowski.  Reasons 1.5 (b),(d). 
 
1. (C) At least 15 Chinese Uighurs have entered Nepal in the 
last three months, according to a UNHCR protection officer 
(strongly protect).  Six were taken into custody by Nepali 
officials in late December, 2001.  Of these, four requested, 
and received, UNHCR protection.  Three of the four were 
subsequently handed over to China.  The fourth remains in 
custody along with two who did not request refugee status. 
The protection officer knows of approximately nine other 
Uighurs currently at large in Nepal and seeking UNHCR 
assistance.  UNHCR maintains regular contact with these 
individuals. 
 
2. (C) Some of the Uighurs interviewed by UNHCR were able to 
converse in Urdu.  One group claimed to have engaged the 
services of a guide in China who smuggled them across the 
Chinese border into Nepal at Kodari, a route commonly used by 
undocumented Tibetans.  Of the Uighurs who made refugee 
applications, all claimed to have been persecuted for their 
political beliefs by the Chinese government. 
 
3. (S) At a diplomatic reception March 1, the UNHCR 
Representative to Nepal (protect) asked the Ambassador if he 
"knew about the Uighurs."  UNHCR was aware of where these 
individuals had come from, the Rep acknowledged elliptically. 
 Comment:  Post has heard rumblings about Uighurs from China 
entering Nepal, but UNHCR's remarks were the first public 
confirmation of this phenomenon.  Given the Rep's demeanor 
and the fact that some could speak Urdu, we have strong 
suspicions that some of these Uighurs may have spent some 
time in Pakistan and/or Afghanistan.  End Comment. 
MALINOWSKI