UNHCR urges Nepal and Bhutan to resume talks

Kathmandu, June 3: The United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has urged the government of Nepal and Bhutan for speedy arrangement for repatriation of the exiled Bhutanese to Bhutan also allowing for third country settlement for those who are willing.

In a press release issued on Saturday by its Kathmandu office, the refugee agency said that its attention has been drawn by the sit-in programme started by the refugees in front of the UN House in Pulchok, Lalitpur beginning Friday.  

"We urge the two Governments in the bilateral process to make speedy arrangements for the repatriation of the refugees to Bhutan while also allowing third country resettlement, so that solutions can be implemented for all refugees allowing the closure of camps instead of keeping helpless refugees in camps forever," chief of UNHCR in Nepal Abraham has said.

"Although UNHCR has not been requested by the Government of Nepal and the Royal Government of Bhutan to participate in the bilateral process, the refugee agency has always advocated a comprehensive solution for the resolution of the problem and will continue to exercise its mandated responsibility for the protection of and assistance to all refugees until permanent solutions can be implemented," the press release reads.

Abraham has also warned that there would not be continued assistance from the UNHCR to refugees as the agency is run through voluntary contribution.

"A comprehensive solution would take into account voluntary repatriation for those who opt and can return to Bhutan and other alternatives such as third country resettlement for which offers are available from the resettlement recipient countries, and such resettlement opportunities are also not open indefinitely," said Abraham.

He further said, "The refugee agency stands ready to work closely with the two Governments as well as the international community to find satisfactory solutions for the Bhutanese refugees instead of continuing to keep them in camps like prisoners with uncertainty about their future."

Exiled Bhutanese have begun their indefinite sit-in protest in front on the UN House to draw attention of the international community from June 2, that marks the 34 th enthronement anniversary of the Druk regime. The programme is being coordinated by Bhutanese Refugees Representatives Repatriation Committee, of which human rights leader Tek Nath Rizal has taken the leadership recently. The refugees have said the sit-in programme would be continued unless government of Nepal and the UN take initiative to pressurize Bhutan for early repatriation.

Bhutanese government had shown willingness to resume talks on refugee issue during the meeting between Nepali Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister K. P. Oli in Malaysia on the sidelines of Non-Aligned Movement conference. Bhutan News Service