Demanding early repatriation of Bhutanese refugees and guarantee of human rights after repatriation, Bhutanese human rights activist Tek Nath Rijal went on an indefinite hunger strike from Tuesday morning.

Talking to reporters at Ratnapark where he is staying, Rijal said the idea of the indefinite hunger strike was the last-ditch effort to pressurize the governments of Nepal, Bhutan as well as the international community for the repatriation of 100,000-odd refugees languishing in seven camps in Eastern Nepal.

I hope the Nepali government and the international community will respond positively to the step I have taken,” he said. According to him, neighboring India must also play a role to convince Bhutan to accept its expelled citizens.

“Unless India plays a supportive role and the Bhutanese King himself does something, the refugee problem will not end,” he maintained. “If Nepal guarantees repatriation of refugees”, he continued, “I will withdraw the hunger strike”.

He has also demanded that United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) be involved in the repartition and resettlement process.

Senior political leaders including Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala, senior NC leaders Sushil Koirala, Ram Chandra Poudel and UML leader Amrit Bohora went to Ratnapark to express solidarity to the step taken by Rijal. Human rights activists and ordinary citizens were also present on the occasion.