US to accept Bhutanese refugees, Rizal criticizes
Kathmandu, August 15: The U.S. Senator Arlen Specter, who was on two days visit in Nepal, has said on August 14 the US is willing to accept many of the Bhutanese refugees.
Specter said he will soon write to Nepalese PM Girija Prasad Koirala including Deputy PM and Foreign Minister KP Sharma Oli to take strong initiatives to let refugees for resettlement.
Specter who is also scheduled to visit Bhutan said “I intend to raise the issue with the Bhutanese high officials including the King.”
It is reportedly known that this year the US is accepting up to 75,000 from various parts of the world.
According to the U.S. embassy’s website the senator's visit to Nepal is part of a fact-finding trip to various countries including Nepal, China, Bhutan, Israel and Libya.
Meanwhile, Bhutanese leaders and organizations in Exile have commented upon his statement through Bhutan News Service in differently ways.
Human rights leader Tek Nath Rizal has sharply criticized the move. Talking to BNS he claimed Bhutan has been deceiving the whole world since 16 years. “The US move to resettle refugees doesn’t give entire justice to refugee stalemate and the Bhutanese problem” he said, adding- the country like the US should not coin such controversial package before confirming the repatriation process.
General Secretary of Druk National Congress (DNC) Narad Adhikari also criticizes the US move. He said the democratic countries like the US should not violate the fundamental rights of suppressed people. “The concept and process of resettlement will just support the absolutism,” he added.
Similarly, District- 8 under Region number- 5 committee member ‘Aviskar’ of Communist Party of Bhutan (CPB-MLM) who telephoned BNS from an unknown place, has claimed that such moves would definitely greet further cleansing of Nepali speaking Bhutanese from southern belt. He also said it depends upon individual refugees to decide but CPB-MLM criticizes such moves.
Meanwhile, Bhutanese Refugee Durable Solution Coordination Committee (BRDSCC) has welcomed the senator’s statement. Its Executive Committee member Hom Nath Baral Said “we have found that those who wish to accept resettlement would preferably select the US, as is unknown what exact number will be accepted, it should be made clearer.”
Similarly, Coordinator of the Voice for Change (VFC)-women and family group Ganga Neopane talking to BNS said VFC accepts the statement heartily. “As this is a crucial phase such moves are hospitable, however much needy information are lacking on his statement” she added.
Earlier, when UNHCR decided to relocate 16 most vulnerable refugees in Canada and the US, people in camps had demonstrated against such decision. Bhutan News Service/T.P.Mishra