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🇸🇬 Singapore /Culture & Society

Tibet conference in Nepal moved online amid government pressure concerns

From The Straits Times · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • An international academic conference on Tibet scheduled for Nepal in August has been moved online due to unspecified government pressure.
  • Organizers at Kathmandu University stated they were asked by the government not to host the event, while the government denied issuing any orders.
  • The conference, organized by the International Association for Tibetan Studies, is a scholarly event focused on Tibetan history, culture, religion, and society.

An international academic conference on Tibet, slated to be held in Nepal, has been abruptly moved online, sparking concern among organizers. The International Association for Tibetan Studies (IATS) announced the shift on August 8, calling it a "worrying development."

We are proceeding with the conference, but it will take place online.

— Francoise RobinIATS acting president Francoise Robin described the situation as a "very regrettable and worrying development."

Organizers at Kathmandu University, which was set to host the event from August 23 to 29, said they received a request from the government to withdraw. "The government told us that this is not an appropriate time to conduct this conference," said convener Sagar Raj Sharma. The conference aimed to bring together scholars to discuss Tibetan history, culture, religion, and society.

We had been planning this conference for a long time, but we received a request from the government not to hold it, so we are not doing it.

— Sagar Raj SharmaConference convener Sagar Raj Sharma, a professor at Kathmandu University, explained the reason for the change.

However, Nepal's government has denied ordering the change. Hem Raj Aryal, spokesperson for the prime minister's office, stated, "Nepal’s government has not given any instructions to cancel it... They postponed it on their own." This denial comes amid Nepal's delicate balancing act with its powerful northern neighbor, China, which views international activities concerning Tibet as a challenge to its sovereignty.

The government told us that this is not an appropriate time to conduct this conference.

— Sagar Raj SharmaSharma further elaborated on the government's request.

Beijing sent troops to Tibet in 1950 and considers the region an integral part of China. The IATS, established in 1979, asserts it has no political interests or affiliations. The incident highlights the sensitivity surrounding Tibet in Nepal, a country that hosts thousands of Tibetan refugees and shares cultural and religious ties with the Tibetan plateau.

Nepal’s government has not given any instructions to cancel it.

— Hem Raj AryalHem Raj Aryal, spokesperson at the prime minister’s office, denied government involvement.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Straits Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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