Tibetan refugee matter is human rights issue: US official

The United States urges Nepal to look into the issue of Tibetan refugees through both humanitarian and human rights perspectives.

Comments from the visiting Under Secretary for Civil, Democracy and Human Rights, Maria Otero, came a day after the government said that Nepal has been providing asylum to Tibetan refugees on humanitarian grounds alone and that the refugees would keep away from political activities.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha on Sunday told the US diplomat that Nepal had provided asylum to Tibetans on humanitarian grounds, but that "it cannot accept their involvement in political activities within Nepali territory".

In an interview with The Kathmandu Post before wrapping up her three-day visit yesterday, the US diplomat said the Tibetan issue "is also a human rights issue". Otero, who is the US government's Special Coordinator on Tibetan issues, met Tibetan youths here during her visit.

She also met Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai on Sunday and discussed the ongoing efforts being made by the government to end the political impasse. Otero urged the parties not to postpone the elections. The visiting diplomat stressed the importance of finalising the constitution at the earliest.