On the day of mock polls by Bhutanese government, on Saturday, as dress rehearsal for next year’s scheduled elections – first in that country – Bhutanese refugees languishing in camps in eastern Nepal have demanded that they also be involved in the Himalayan country’s tentative steps towards democracy.

Groups of refugees led by National Front for Democracy (NFD) – an umbrella association of different parties led by refugees – marched to Mechi bridge in Indo-Nepal border on Saturday demanding that Bhutanese government repatriate them respectfully and involve them in the democratic exercise.

However, in the middle of the bridge, Indian security personnel intervened and refused to let in the refugees. In 1990, Bhutanese refugees evicted by their government had entered into Nepal from that same point.

The refugees have also sent a memorandum to Bhutanese King Jigme Keshar Namgyal listing their demands, which also include release of political prisoners.

In Kakarbhitta, Bhutanese refugee leader Tek Nath Rijal accused Bhutanese government of not demonstrating honesty as they were shutting out the refugees even in the ‘so-called democratic exercise.’