In an interaction program Thursday, Bhutanese refugees have once again raised a neglected-but-crucial issue of “direct dialogue” between the refugees and the Bhutanese government to end the decade old imbroglio.
“We want such talks,” refugee activist RB Subba told Nepalnews Thursday. “Since the last decade, we have been echoing this demand,” Subba told Nepalnews in a sideline meeting of an interaction program in Kathmandu . “But, Bhutan did not heed to us.”
Subba said he and refugee organizations sent several letters to Bhutan as well as the Nepal government. “We did not get any reply, he stated.”
Dialogue between the refugee representatives and Bhutan government is a must to end the problem peacefully and permanently, according to Subba. He is chairman of Bhutanese Refugee Representative Repatriation Committee (BRRRC).
Subba, in a work paper presented in the interaction program, said, “The origin of the Bhutanese refugee problem is a well planned action of the Bhutan government to depopulate the one ethnic majority of Nepali speaking southern Bhutanese.”
Refugee leaders present in the program said the coming 15th round of bilateral talks to be held in Thimpu in August is very crucial and sensitive.
“This talk is expectedly going to finalize all the procedures for repatriation,” they said. “If Bhutan still maintains its position which is likely looking at the on-going decision of the national assembly of Bhutan , Nepal should decide on its part what is best and should not linger anymore.”
On the international community role, they said the community should convince Bhutan to allow United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ role in repatriation and rehabilitation process.
Other demands of the refugees were citizenship, homestead, safety and security, and social welfare in Bhutan .
Politicians and diplomats such as Chakra Prasad Bastola, Shailendra Kumar Upadhyay, CP Mainali and Lila Mani Pokhrel, among others, took part in the interaction titled “Solution to Bhutanese Refugee Problem and Need of Common Policy”.
Refugee leaders urged Nepali politicians to form a common viewpoint on the issue.