US congressmen stress repatriation

Beldangi, August 28: The US Congressmen team led by Jim Kolbe has urged the Bhutan government to take back its people, who have been living a miserable life in eastern Nepal under the protection of UNHCR, on Sunday.
 
"After 15-years of suffering, you should be hopeful for new life," Kolbe told the exiled Bhutanese in Beldangi at the end of his visit to the camp.
 
He also informed that his team would travel to Thimpu on Monday and hold talks to the Durk regime in detail.
 
He further said the US government has been looking for an alternative way to resolve the issue since there is no guarantee that all people would be repatriated. He said all possible alternatives should be kept open to find permanent solution of the crisis.
 
He ensured that the US can provide shelter and civil rights if any exiled Bhutanese was voluntarily interested to go there. However, he did not mention how many would be settle in the US.
 
US Ambassador to Nepal James F. Moriarty on the occasion said that although most Bhutanese in exile are interested to go back, it was impossible to say, as there was no American presence in Bhutan.
 
"Since there is no ground to convince the Bhutanese government, the concerned authorities are bound to look for alternative ways," he said further adding, "We can provide unconditional resettlement in the US to those who are interested."
 
He said his country is ready to work together with other co-partner countries once the government of Nepal agrees for third country resettlement.

While the US leaders were addressing representatives of the people inside the program hall, thousands of others demonstrated outside with placards demanding immediate repatriation not protesting third country settlement.

The team also visited the Sanischare camp in Morang district on the same day afternoon and talks to people. Bhutan News Service