Himal South Asian denies journo’s presence in discussion

Kathmandu, July 4: Himal South Asian, which organized an interaction program on ‘exiled Bhutanese issue’ on July 03 in Kathmandu denied physical presence of one of the radio journalists associated with Bhutan News Service (BNS). 

The organizer, citing the meeting being highly confidential, denied Ichha Poudel’s presence in the program who had reached the meeting hall.

Kanak Mani Dixit, the organizer cum Editor of Himal South Asian, one of the popular magazines in South Asia, requested Poudel, who somehow managed to enter inside meeting place, to leave the hall despite his repeated appeal.

“I tried convincing Dixit since it was a program where my future is being discussed”, Poudel informed the BNS. “He told me not to attend the program citing it to be confidential”, Poudel added.

However, there were other exiled Bhutanese leaders namely Ratan Gazmere, Hari Bangaley Adhikari, Ashok Gurung, Pingala Dhital, N. B. Giri, S. B. Subba and Shanti Ram Nepal.

Nepalese Foreign Minister Sahana Pradhan, the UNHCR country representative in Nepal Abraham Abraham, Australian ambassador to Nepal, Secretary General of South Asian Forum for Human Rights (SAFHR), Tapan Boss among others attended the discussion.

One of the exiled Bhutanese delegates informed the BNS on condition of anonymity that the discussion was based on third country resettlement.

The delegate further said the office of International Organization of Migration (IOM) is already set-up in Damak. The delegate quoted Hari Bangaley Adhikari as having informed the discussion participants that every body in camps posses weapons. “I am against statements that there is lack of adequate information about resettlement in camps”, the delegate further quoted Bangaley as having said.

The delegate quoted FM Pradhan saying that the government of Nepal would formally distribute approval documents to set-up the office of Overseas Processing Entity (OPE) soon.

“No rights can be compromised in front of humanitarian ground”, the delegate quoted Boss as having said, adding that the SAFHR had already circulated adequate information about third country resettlement and there is no need of further information.

In a press statement issued on Wednesday, Association of Press Freedom Activists (APFA) – Bhutan has strongly condemned the organizer’s request to Bhutan News Service representaitive leave the meeting hall.

“We are deeply concerned about the way a renowned journalist, Dixit, requested another journalist not to attend the meeting citing its confidentiality”, the release reads, adding- “Why can’t Poudel  be allowed when some exiled Bhutanese were already there inside the discussion?”

The release has further sought the attention of authorities concerned to respect the right of a journalist to gather information.

Meanwhile, Bhutan Chapter of Third World Media Network (TWMN) has also shown deep concern over hassling a journalist. TWMN – Bhutan Chapter has appealed for the support of International Federation of Journalist (IFJ) to help create conducive atmosphere for Bhutanese journalists in exile to exercise their right to information. Bhutan News Service