BRDSCC seeks resettlement

Kathmandu, July 5: At the time when exiled Bhutanese have been continuing sit-in protest in front of UN House and SAARC secretariat seeking help for repatriation, the Bhutanese Refugee Durable Solution Coordination Committee (BRDSCC) has sought for unlocking all possible options for solution to refugee crisis on July 4.
 
In an interaction program organized at Hotel Himalaya, Lalitpur by BRDSCC, spokesperson Hari Adhikari Bangaley said there are many people in camps who do not like to be repatriated. He, however, did mention what number of people falls in this category. He also said BRDSCC has not seen possibility of getting repatriated through only efforts of futile bilateral talks between Nepal and Bhutan. “We have seen some countries that are willing to share our burden. It’s late and if we still linger in repatriation, it may complicate the issue and further deteriorate our future” he added.
 
Coordinator of Association of Human Rights Activists (AHURA-Bhutan), Ratan Gajmer said he saw no other ways than opting resettlement. Gajmer claimed repatriation was impossible. Emphasizing that establishing democracy in Bhutan would not be feasible staying in Nepal, he said “frontline leaders should understand the ground reality as all people in camps are not willing to repatriate.”

Tek Bir Chhetri strongly supported BRDSCC package and stressed for combined work of BRDSCC with other Bhutanese leaders and organizations. General Secretary of Association of Press Freedom Activists (APFA) Bhutan, Vidhyapati Mishra sought attention of BRDSCC towards making public aware of the consequences of resettlement. He said “Bhutanese Movement Steering Committee (BMSC), which stresses repatriation, should also clarify about possible challenges after repatriation”.
On the occasion, camp secretaries briefed the frustrating developments in camps about the repatriation and depleting future. They said they were warned by some groups not to participate the programme.  
 
Head of National Unit for Coordination of Refugee Affairs (NUCRA) Kabi Raj Khanal, Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) representative Kedar Babu Dhungana, Human Rights Organization of Nepal (HURON) member Abi Keshar Oli, former member of National Human Rights Commission of Nepal Pro Kapil Shrestha and representative of South Asian forum for Human Rights (SAFHR) addressed the programme.
 
Pro Shrestha supported the concept of resettlement and assured BRDSCC that Nepalese civil society would help to bring other Bhutanese organizations and BRDSCC into common framework on this agenda. Dhungana stressed on applying diversified approaches for comprehensive solution to the impasse. He pointed out the necessity of forming a common forum to negotiate among individual Bhutanese, parties and leaders.
 
Tek Nath Rizal did not participate.
 
Few weeks ago, UNHCR country representative in Nepal Abraham Abraham talking to media persons in Reporter’s Club of Nepal had requested the Nepal government to open all options including third country resettlement and local integration. He had said UNHCR can help for resettlement but not for repatriation. Bhutan News Service/Desvakta Mishra