Camps turn into open jails

Beldangi, August 02: The local administration in Jhapa district has restricted exiled Bhutanese from venturing out of their camps effective from Tuesday.

Bhutanese had been launching agitation and protest programs in and around the camps demanding early repatriation and plans of the UNHCR to resettle them in the third country.

Following the requests from the civil society leader of Nepal and in agreement with the UNHCR, the local authority decided to ban Bhutanese from going out of their camps. A clash that occurred between Bhutanese and locals during protest programs also prompted the administration to take such a step.

The District Administration Office on Tuesday sent a circular to the Refugee Coordination Unit in all the camps directing it that people do not come out of the camps. Following the orders, movement of people in camps has been closely observed.

Though there is provision of 'out pass' for them if they want to go out of camps for the past two years, the people rarely take the passes.
 
The unit is expected to impose the provision of out pass strictly after this incident.

The administration has also asked the exiled Bhutanese to limit their demonstrations within the camp premises. Bhutan News Service