Bhutanese committed to continue sit-in despite illness

Katmandu, June 12: There are few sick people yet wishing to continue indefinite sit-in protest in front of UN office in Lalitpur and have expressed their readiness for further struggle to expedite repatriation process despite illness they are caught with.    
 
Presently, half of the participants are caught with diseases, some being serious.
 
Tilchand Timshina, 57, from Sanischare and Tek Bahadur Dhaurali, 60, from Beldangi- II camps are undergoing medical check-up with physicians from AMDA-Nepal at Women Training Center where they have been staying since June 1. Timshina is caught by severe stomach ache since three days while Dhaurali have stern chest, throat and heart paining.    

Some 20 other elderly including at least three women, including those tortured in Bhutan, were caught by diarrhea, fever, back pain, chest pain, stomach ache and headache. Similarly, the common disease ringworm has spread to many who have been staying together in a congested room.
 
Majority of these victims showed their willingness to continue sit-in protest until a written assurance for earliest repatriation despite sickness. Most of them talking to Bhutan News Service informed they were earlier sentenced to imprisonment and were physically tortured by security forces in peaceful demonstrations during 1990 in Bhutan. They also lamented the side effect of sitting for the whole day in air polluted area; lack of pure water and proper toilet management problems. Sources from Bhutanese Refugee Repatriation Representative Committee (BRRRC) claimed it is taking the issue seriously and has asked medical doctors from AMDA-Nepal to take care of their health.

Meanwhile, the day time sit-in protest has been expanded. Protestors have started sitting under a 'tent-like hut' erected by Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) for whole day and night from June 11. BRRRC Chairman Tek Nath Rizal had earlier issued memorandum to Kofi Anan seeking attention towards expedition of repatriation process via UN country Representative, Nepal. Yet no any responses have been received. Bhutan News Service/Desvakta Mishra