Dharamshala — The Chinese government has imposed a series of repressive measures since 2008 to restrict the flow of Tibetans going abroad and those who intend to visit Tibet. The number of Tibetans going abroad from outside the so-called "Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR)" has steadily increased since 2013.
The Tibetan administration media said that Tibetans flying back to Chengdu from Kathmandu are forced to de-board at Gongkar Airport near Lhasa, and are required to get their baggage rechecked at the airport.
The level of restriction in Tibetan areas outside "TAR" has been relatively less as compared to the ongoing repressive policies in "TAR". The Chinese government believes that the overall situation in "TAR" has been stable since 2008 as a result of their hard-hitting campaign against what they call "splittist movements".
The decision to allow foreign delegations and also the easing of restrictions on foreign tourists visiting Tibet since last year is an indication of the Chinese government's growing confidence of its policies in "TAR".
As a result, sources report that the Chinese government is keen to replicate the same repressive policies in other Tibetan areas from the year 2016. The Chinese government's decision to include other Tibetan areas in the Fifth and Sixth Work Forum on Tibet is definitely seen as an indication of Party's intention to impose a centrally unified policy in all the Tibetan areas.
Confirmed reports also suggest that it is extremely difficult to obtain passports for Tibetans residing in "TAR". Few Tibetans who were able to obtain passports and visit Nepal have been stringently warned by authorities to avoid visiting India or face severe penalties. They must report their arrival and return the passport to the authorities.
Number of Tibetans escaping from Tibet has dramatically dropped from an average of 2500 per year before 2008 to only 74 in 2015. It substantiates the Tibetan people's claim of Chinese government's unprecedented regulation on movement of Tibetans within Tibet and their strict control along the Nepalese border.