Repatriation campaign strengthens in Germany
Munich, June 29: Four member delegation of the National Front for Democracy (NFD) led by Durga Giri made an appeal to the European Parliament and European Commission in Brussels on the plights of the Bhutanese in exile for last seventeen years on Thursday.
The delegates separately met Robert Evans, member of the European Parliament for London and Chair of the South Asia Delegation, and Jean Chriatian Remond, head of Unit for India, Nepal and Bhutan issues.
Memorandums were submitted to them appealing for the amicable solution to the imbroglio and the establishment of democracy in Bhutan.
The delegation had long and separate discussions with both the dignitaries. The delegates found Evans much concerned to finding practical solution to the problem of the exiled Bhutanese. He expressed his willingness to put pressure on the Bhutan government for the true democratization process and persuade India for its involvement in the process to find solution.
During the meeting with Remond the delegates raised the issues concerning the Bhutanese in exile in Nepal and Bhutan’s democratization process. “Time has come for a political solution to the (refugee) problem,” Remond told the delegates.
The delegation also paid a good will visit to Nepalese embassy in Brussels and met with Durga Prasad Bhandari, the first secretary and Ambika Luitel, the acting ambassador. The delegates expressed gratitude towards Nepal government and the Nepalese citizens for their untiring support and solidarity to the Bhutanese democratic movement.
The delegates also sought international attention for the fair trial and safety of the political prisoners of Bhutan and informed the dignitaries that over 80,000 people have been excluded from the official records and declared non eligible to caste votes in the 2008 elections.
The other members of the Bhutanese delegation were Ram Bahadur Karki, Nandi Kishor Neupane and Tej Man Monger. The meetings with the European Commission and Nepalese Embassy were also attended by two other Bhutanese Jamuna Karki and Bhakta Man Subba. Bhutan News Service