Core Group concern increasing violence

Kathmandu, June 06: The governments of Australia, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway and the United States, as members of the Core Working Group on exiled Bhutanese in Nepal, noted their deep concern about attacks and escalating threats against exiled Bhutanese seeking third country resettlement and the humanitarian workers who assist them.

In a joint statement issued Friday, cited statements from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and the World Food Programme (WFP) who noted in their May 22 statement that attacks against refugees and humanitarian staff endanger continued provision of aid to exiled Bhutanese in Nepal.

“Attacks by groups opposed to third-country resettlement reveal their fundamental disregard for the welfare of the people whose cause they claim to promote,” Core group said calling on the government of Nepal to bring to justice the perpetrators of these violent attacks.
 
The Core Group also noted that many exiled Bhutanese seeking resettlement are not swayed by these threats but continue to seek resettlement consideration.  “We recognize that resettlement to another country is not the first choice of most exiled Bhutanese, whose strongest desire is to go home. Third country resettlement should not bar exiled Bhutanese from returning to Bhutan in the future,” the statement reads adding that members of the Core Group continue to urge the government of Bhutan to accept the repatriation of its citizens.

“Violence does not facilitate these efforts,” the Core Group said.

Cadres of split CPB(MLM) carried demonstrations and threatened those willing to resettle in third countries in recent days. Bhutan News Service