Newly Sworn-In MP Tashi Dhundup Urges CTA to Formulate Policy on Nepal
By Tenzin Chokyi
DHARAMSALA, 8 June : Newly sworn-in Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile member Tashi Dhundup has urged the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) to establish a concrete policy toward Nepal, arguing that the challenges facing Tibetans in the country have persisted for decades and remain pressing today.
At an oath-taking ceremony held at the Tibetan Parliament Hall, Tashi Dhundup took the oath of office before Speaker Dolma Tsering in the presence of the Standing Committee of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile. Representing the Amdo constituency, his appointment fills the vacancy created by the appointment of MP Pema Tso as Kalon (Minister) of the Department of Education in the CTA.
Tashi, a veteran parliamentarian from the Tibetan exile community in Nepal who previously served three consecutive terms in the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, said Tibetans in Nepal continue to face “unimaginable” challenges due to the country’s sensitivity toward Tibet-related issues, arguing that the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) must establish a dedicated policy to address the situation.
Describing the Nepal issue as one that has persisted for decades, Tashi said that a closer examination of the prolonged delays in documentation and the wider challenges faced by Tibetans in Nepal reveals a level of hardship that is beyond imagination.
He recalled the backlash faced by the Tibetan community in Nepal following the events of September last year, saying the episode exposed the vulnerability of Tibetans in the country. He also pointed to the long-standing issue of identification documents for Tibetan refugees in Nepal, noting that many continue to face difficulties due to their unresolved legal status.
Tashi’s remarks on the September events referred to the controversy surrounding the TOB group during Nepal’s Gen Z-led anti-corruption protests in September 2025. The group came under online scrutiny after some members were seen wearing clothing bearing the words “Tibetan Original Blood” during the protests, which led to speculation about links to the Free Tibet movement and triggered disinformation, racialised narratives, and hate speech targeting Tibetans in Nepal, including death threats
Nepali police later investigated the allegations and concluded that the TOB group had no links to the Free Tibet movement or acts of vandalism during the protests. Police described TOB as a motorcycle group and stated that its members were not involved in arson or other violent activities related to the demonstrations.
Nepal has long maintained a cautious approach toward Tibet-related issues, shaped significantly by its adherence to the One China Policy and its broader diplomatic and economic relationship with China. Within this context, sensitivities surrounding Tibet-related identity and expression are often heightened, particularly during politically charged incidents. These broader considerations have, at times, informed the environment in which such episodes are interpreted and amplified, including the developments that unfolded during last September’s protests.
