Nepalese PM urged to raise issue in SAARC summit (Appeal)

Kathmandu, July 30: The Human Rights Organization of Bhutan (HUROB) has appealed the Nepalese Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala to raise exiled Bhutanese issue with Bhutanese prime minister during the 15th SAARC summit scheduled from 2-3 August in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

In an appeal sent to the Nepalese PM, HUROB said that it was wrong on the part of the Nepal government to agree for resettlement without bilateral talks between Bhutan and Nepal being abandoned.

“The exiled Bhutanese feel that it is well timed meeting and very significant to apprise the festering problem in the summit as serious regional problem and as well as to the Bhutanese counterpart who in the light of the American offer of resettling about 60000 refugees and other core countries agreeing to take other few thousands is confident of resolving the problem by itself which the two countries despite 15 rounds of bilateral talk and even verification in Khudunabari camp.”, reads the appeal.

HUROB has also stated that the resettlement is against the majority of the exiled Bhutanese who still hold strong conviction on their rights to return to own homeland.

“We are also unhappy with the unilateral decision of the Nepal government to allow for resettlement even without consulting the Refugee leaders as the main stake holders and creating southern Bhutanese (Nepali speaking) diaspora.”, reads the appeal, adding- “The intention of the Nepal government would look good but besides scattering the Bhutanese, it has supported the ethnic cleansing policy of Bhutan and it further ready to evict about 80000 who are status less as being the relatives of the refugees in Nepal.”
 
HUROB has further urged the Nepalese to keep the exiled Bhutanese issue in fore front while in the summit. Bhutan News Service