Tuesday May 6, 2008 By Jampa Tsering (by Email)

I went to Tatopani as a journalistic help for a group of journalists from Poland headed by Mr. Rafal with his cameraman Mr. Martin and Sound Engineer Mr. Philip on April 29 2008. We departed from Hotel Malla at lainchour, Kathmandu where the groups were staying at 8:30 am on the same day and reached Kodari at around 12.45 in the noon.

When we reached very close to the kodari bazaar, I asked all of the group to hide their Journalist Identity card which they were wearing around their neck and told them that they should show themselves as tourist only.

Photo: Mr.Martini of TVP of Poland who took the video shoots at Kodari, The China occupied Tibet’s border with Nepal

Soon on reaching the kodari bazaar, I noticed some young Chinese boys in civil dress whom I suspect as Chinese police informers hurried to pull out their mobile phones and rushed here and there while I was just watching a particular guy who was running towards the friendship bridge which I thought he was hurrying to inform his higher authority as we reached there with big and sophisticated cameras.

Photo: Jampa Tsering in interrogation with the Nepalese and Chinese police

As having a bit of information about the strict vigilance made by Chinese authority to ensure that no journalist arrive there with a specific purpose of shooting any pictures or covering any sort of news, I could feel that the purpose of Mr. Rafal’s group that was to shoot some pictures at and around the border could not be achieved thus I started walking ahead and let the group follow me. I climbed up the hill asking some locals the way to reach Liphing monastery up on the hill only to make the Chinese informers feel that we are heading towards the monastery. And we started our climb but mr. Rafall and Mr. Philip could not make it further after a bit climb and they told me that they can not climb anymore. So they stayed behind with my suggestion to show themselves as tourist and they are here to visit the monastery only.

Photo: Two Nepalese Police in uniform and a chinese in civil dress

Mr. Martin and I started to climb further. One of the Chinese followed us up the hill and when we reached on top, I was surprised to see another already reached there. We entered the monastery and the Chinese did not follow us inside. So I told Mr. Martin to shoot from there covering as many as he wants and I was busy looking around if anybody is keeping their eyes on us. After about 15 minutes, I asked Mr. Martin if he finished his job and I was told that he just need only few minutes to cover some more. Later after finishing we hurried out of the monastery only to see that there were two Nepalese police also with the Chinese waiting for us. I had a serious doubt that the Nepalese police were called there to enter the monastery and see what we were doing inside but we moved out before that. While climbing down the hill, the Nepalese police and the Chinese also accompanied us with questioning us at the same time. I was asked where Mr.martin is from and why we are here ? and also they asked me several times if they are journalists or not. I told them that Mr.Martin is one of group of a foreign society that looks after poor and deserted Himalayan region childrens and we visitied the monastery to see and get pictures of houses and roofs there to see if any repairs are needed. After climbing down completely to the Kodari bazzar, I was told by the Nepalese police that the Chinese has wanted to check our camera to which I have not resisted and instead insisted them to check it thoroughly to their wishes just to divert their suspicions which seemed worked out as the Chinese did not give much interest in looking at the pictures rather than giving more concentration to noting the names of the groups. I felt lucky to keep him busy in that by taking more time than necessary. The Chinese were speaking quite well in Nepalese and after giving him the names of the groups I asked him if he finished checking the film and also told him that we will not do anything that is not allowed. Finally we were allowed to move down to where our vehicle is parked with no police around.

Posted: 05|6|08 at 4:20 pm. Filed under: News.
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