14 Bhutanese refugees arrested

July 21, 2006
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Nepal Police on Friday morning arrested 14 Bhutanese refugees staging sit-in protests in front of the secretariat of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) demanding early repatriation.

A press statement issued by the Association of Press Freedom Activists (APFA) Bhutan, an independent association fighting for press freedom and freedom of speech and expression in Bhutan said, police arrested them while they were trying to block the gate of the secretariat at around 10 a.m.

The statement said that the arrest is against the commitments of Nepal government to work for solution of the crisis.

“We draw attention of Nepalese leaders, our supporters, well wishers and international community to put pressure on Nepal government not to repeat such acts in future and immediately address the demands of the refugees,” the statement added demanding immediate release of the arrested refugees.

The incident took place at a time UNHCR vice chief Judy Cheng-Hopkins is in Nepal for a visit.