HUROB asks core-group to expedite repatriation
Damak, June 27: Human Rights Organization of Bhutan (HUROB) has urged the United States of America and members of core-group formed to resettle interested Bhutanese to expedite the process of repatriation of exiled Bhutanese.
The HUROB petition sent to the US Ambassador to Nepal, Nancy J. Powell read, "The lackadaisical stand of the core countries for Bhutanese refugees on repatriation has disappointed especially the youths and they have now resorted to violent activities in the camps and as well as inside Bhutan", adding "It is feared that any effort to try to suppress by using security force in both the place is more detrimental in existing peace and may escalate violence".
The rights organization has asked to create excessive pressure on Bhutanese regime to start the repatriation of exiled Bhutanese. Bhutan News Service
(The following is the full text of HUROB petition sent to the US Ambassador, Kathmandu Nepal)
Date: June 25, 2008
Her Excellency Nancy J. Powell,
Ambassador, United States of America,
Panipokhari Kathmandu, Nepal.
Subject; Appeal to expedite process of Repatriation of Bhutanese refugees.
Your Excellency,
We appreciate the effort of the core countries and particularly the US to find a comprehensive solution of the 17 years old protracted Bhutanese refugee problem in Eastern Nepal by offering to take a large number of about 60000 Bhutanese refugees for resettlement in United States of America. The process had begun and up till now about 1100 Bhutanese refugees have arrived in USA and few in Europe, New Zealand and in Australia. We would like to apprise that it was our understanding that other options of repatriation and local assimilation would also simultaneously start when initiating resettlement in order to find amicable and meaningful comprehensive solution. However, till today, we have not sense any effort on other two options and resettlement preceded the repatriation interestingly when the bilateral talk between the Government of Nepal and Bhutan is not closed giving Bhutan government relief of any responsibility of taking single refugee disillusioning the refugees willing to go back to own country. The lackadaisical stand of the core countries for Bhutanese refugees on repatriation has disappointed especially the youths and they have now resorted to violent activities in the camps and as well as inside Bhutan. And it is feared that any effort to try to suppress by using security force in both the place is more detrimental in existing peace and may escalate violence.
It is neither our desire nor the wish that the resettlement process should be disturbed for those voluntarily opting and is the right of individual. Albeit, at the same time is the expectation of the refugees that repatriation should also be expedited hand in hand with resettlement which is in the opinion of the refugees is being ignored. At this juncture, we would like to in addition to statement made by US ambassador to India Dr. David C. Mulford on April 18, 2007 and Assistant secretary Ms Sauerbrey on November 7, 2007 refer and recall the communiqué of the core working group on Bhutanese refugees in Nepal of May 16, 2007 which is self explanatory on the commitment of finding comprehensive solution and the item number 6 is explicit that the Bhutan government has stated its commitment but has not acted so far and the core group never emphasized and pressurized .
Taking into consideration the interest and aspirations of majority of the Bhutanese refugees despite offer of resettlement to go back to own country-Bhutan, the core group for Bhutanese refugees should without delay start dialogue with Bhutan government for repatriation and other stake holders especially India to facilitate the process.
We appreciate the concern of the core group on future out flux but at the same time would like to bring into record that as per the National census conducted in May 2007 which was funded by the International Agency; about 80000 were declared non-Bhutanese who are the relatives of the refugees. They are stateless and are deprived from all their rights including the voting right in the concluded ever parliamentary election in Bhutan on 24th March 2008. There is fear that they will be evicted any time or indirectly coerced to leave the country in time to come as they are people of no status in Bhutan once the camps in Nepal are dismantled if the International community, particularly the core group do not urge Bhutan government to reconsider the policy and re-instate their citizenship.
We profoundly hope that the core group instead of just resettlement would take up the other two options to give fair justice to all the refugees and do not compel to acquiesce only resettlement as Hobson’s choice. The Bhutan government should be urged to repatriate the eager Bhutanese to own homeland in tandem with resettlement. Therefore, we earnestly request the core group to immediately persuade Bhutan government to accept repatriation to find amicable comprehensive solution to the festering problem and avoid any unprecedented consequences of violence that surfacing as sphinx after 17 years of silence.
We thank Core Group for Bhutanese refugees for continuous effort to resolve the protracted problem and hope will continue to provide assistance till the final resolution and wherever, every Bhutanese have happy home and comfortable life.
Ours faithfully,
S.B.Subba
Chairman
Cc: Core Group for Bhutanese refugees, Kathmandu for kind action.