Timeline of Important Dates in the China Tibet Inspection Panel Claim

• June 18, 1999 International Campaign for Tibet files claim to Inspection Panel on behalf of locally affected people.
• June 24, 1999 Board of Executive Directors approves project but withholds funding for the Qinghai component until after the Inspection Panel had completed its review.
• June 25, 1999 Students for a Free Tibet hang protest banner: "World Bank approves China’s genocide in Tibet." The climbers and other concerned NGOs are invited inside for a meeting with senior Bank management, including President Wolfensohn. Assurances are given regarding access to the site and access to project information.
• August 15, 1999. Daja Meston, Gabriel Lafitte and Tsering Dorjee are detained in the project area and held and interrogated without consular access. Meston and Lafitte are independent researchers who went to the project area based on public assurances of access.
• August 18, 1999. While under the control of Chinese security forces, Daja Meston falls from a third-floor window and suffers life-threatening injuries including a broken back.
• August 21, 1999. Gabriel Lafitte deported to Australia.
• August 24, 1999. Inspection Panel recommends to the Board of Executive Directors that there be a full investigation into the project, based on its preliminary evaluation of the evidence.
• August 25, 1999. Daja Wangchuk Meston medically evacuated. Click here for information about the Daja Meston fund, created to help cover his medical expenses.
• August 30, 1999. Hundreds of people rally in front of the World Bank, calling attention to the broken promises relating to access and transparency, calling for the Bank to approve the Panel’s recommendation for an investigation, and expressing concern about the fate of Tsering Dorjee.
• Tsering Dorjee was reportedly detained for one month before being released.
• September 9, 1999. Board of Executive Directors authorizes the Panel to investigate the project.
• October 2-21, 1999. Inspection Panel travels to project area to conduct its investigation.
• ??? April 2000. Inspection Panel report expected.
  

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