Rizal, Gazmere meet Sauerbrey

Kathmandu, October 31: Bhutanese human rights leader Tek Nath Rizal and Ratan Gazmere have separately met with the US Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration Ellen Sauerbrey at the US Ambassador to Nepal Nancy Powel’s residence in Kamaladi, Kathmandu Wednesday evening. Sauerbrey arrived Kathmandu on Tuesday evening.

Leader Rizal denied speaking on what the meeting was based on. However, another leader Gazmere informed the Bhutan News Service (BNS) that he heard about European Union’s wish with Rizal to support exiled Bhutanese for only another three years.

“I also heard that Rizal was told by the EU members that it would see if no any progress was made on resettlement process of exiled Bhutanese within the next three years”, said Gazmere.

Leader Gazmere also informed the BNS that his meeting with the Sauerbrey was almost based on hi-hello.

Gazmere further informed that the US was committed to begin the process of at least 1000 exiled Bhutanese for resettlement from January until February and then increase the number up to 1500 from March.

“Since few days Rizal has been saying that an individual must be allowed for resettlement rather than the whole family. This is against human rights norms and is a total crime”, added Gazmere.

Sauerbrey, who arrive on Nepal Tuesday evening, will travel to Nepal, Bhutan and India from October 29 to November 9.

While in Nepal, Sauerbrey will meet United Nations and Nepalese government officials working in projects assisting the exiled Bhutanese. She also plans to travel to camps in Jhapa and the newly established resettlement processing center there.

After Nepal, Sauerbrey will travel to Bhutan and India, where she will seek assistance from the Bhutanese and Indian governments in promoting durable solutions, including voluntary repatriation, for the exiled Bhutanese. Bhutan News Service