Nepal Government mulls for TD issuance to refugee communities

Kathmandu May 24: The Nepal Government has decided to resume the issuing of travel documents to Tibetan and Bhutanese in exile on Tuesday.

Foreign affairs officials said they will issue the documents to them, allowing them to go abroad to attend meetings or for other necessary purposes. But they must receive recommendation from the home ministry.

The king-led government had decided to halt issuing travel documents and also exit permits for Tibetan people in transit to asylum in India in October last year stating the refugees began to settle in foreign countries with that document.

Since then, leaders have not been able to attend a number of international advocacy conferences. Since 2000, there have no direct talks held between the two government regarding repatriation of Bhutanese in exile.

Tibetan refugees have appealed to the Nepal Government to allow them to reopen the Tibetan Refugee Welfare Office (TRWO), which was closed by the government on January 21, 2005 on the charge of operating without registering with the government. There are less possibilities that this center will be allowed to reopen again. Bhutan News Service