HSA admits it asked BNS representative to leave the discussion

Kathmandu, July 07: Himal South Asian said representative of the Bhutan News Service (BNS) to one of its discussion programs was asked to leave and informed that the event was by invitation only.

In response to the news item titled "Himal South Asian denies journo's presence in discussion" posted on the apfanews.com on July 5, editor of the magazine Himal South Asian Kanak Dixit said, “This was not a media event organized by our magazine. Instead, it was a meeting to substantively discuss outside of media spotlight the 'right of return', repatriation and humanitarian issues in the particular context of the resettlement offer made to the exiled Bhutanese by the United States.”

Dixit further said, “Participation was by invitation, and included about 20 individuals, including representatives of the government of Nepal (foreign and home ministries), UNHCR and the 'Core Group' countries, as well as journalist-analysts, rights workers and – most importantly – Bhutanese leaders and activists in exile.”

He said some invited Bhutanese leaders in exile sent their regrets.

However, Dixit did not mention who all denied attending the discussion program. Bhutan News Service asked a few leaders opposing resettlement if they were invited, but none of them said they were.

“An un-invited gentleman not previously known to us joined the meeting, stating that he was there not as a journalist but as an interested exiled Bhutanese. We nevertheless did ask him to leave, and he did so graciously with a promise to contact us later. Which is why we were surprised to see the said news item,” Dixit added. Bhutan News Service