HRW concerns exiled Bhutanese crisis
Kathmandu, November 28: Human Rights Watch (HRW) has shown serious concern over the unimproved camp lives of exiled Bhutanese.
In an interaction program with the Bhutanese Refugee Durable Solution Coordinating Committee (BRDSCC), one of the members of the HRW, Katinka Ridderbos said that the situation is getting deteriorated. She also stressed on the necessity of coordination between the UNHCR and the Bhutanese community.
Ridderbos, who spent eight days in camps, said no individuals undeclared as ‘refugees’, now scattered in different parts of Nepal, should be barred from re-registering with the UNHCR. "However, those who have already acquired the Nepalese citizenship should be discouraged" she added. She said that it would be too early to comment on the weaknesses of the UNHRC unless it completes interviewing people of Beldangi-I and some individuals are left to be addressed.
She also urged Bhutanese community to keep vigilance if any cases will be left for registering from Beldangi-I camp.
Ridderbos said that during the interaction with people in camps most of them wished for on repatriation as the best solution. "But when I interacted with individuals, they sought for possible durable solution" she said.
She also said some of the groups are found to have been selling the forms meant to apply for third country resettlement. "This is just exploitation" she added.
She further said neither any Bhutanese Maoists nor those who support them interact with her. "It is difficult to judge their strength at present," she added.
Ridderbos, who has also met the Nepalese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister K. P. Sharma Oli on Tuesday, said that Oli was in favor of durable solution. She said Oli was clear of one of the options of durable solution lying on the table.
BRDSCC handed over an appeal urging HRW to help find durable solution at the earliest. ‘These exiled Bhutanese do not wish to spend another decade with the hope of getting repatriated’, reads the appeal.
Meanwhile, BRDSCC has strongly condemned the acts of the Bhutanese Maoists to forcibly collect donations from people. Bhutan News Service/T. P. Mishra