Bhutan again blames refugees for bomb blast

February 5, 2008
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Bhutanese authorities have blamed the Communist Party of Bhutan, reportedly based in Nepal, for having hand in the second blast that took place in south-west Bhutan on the night of February 3.

The communist party is alleged to have been formed by Bhutanese refugees who have been denied repatriation to their homeland for the last 18 years.

Bhutan government’s mouthpiece Kuelsel’s online version quoted a press release by the Royal Bhutan Police as stating a second blast in Samtse exploded behind the Renewal Natural Resources (RNR) office in Ghmauney area after midnight.

The police investigation team also found two unexploded bombs, one behind the RNR office and another behind the gup’s (village headman) office in the same compound.

On the other hand, apfanews.com, a refugee run website said the Communist Party of Bhutan (Marxist Leninist Maoist) has declared its hand in the blast.

The party had denied its hand in four blasts two weeks ago, including one in the kingdom’s capital Thimphu. The United Revolutionary Front of Bhutan (URFB) had claimed the responsibility for those blasts.

Reuters from Gauhati reported that the second blast has also been owned up by URFB. The rebel group warned of more attacks unless the March 24 elections were cancelled.

Bhutan plans for lower house elections on March 24. nepalnews.com ia Feb
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