Bhutanese refugee leaders have reiterated their request to the world community to stress on the right to return instead of resettlement to third countries, as the permanent solution of the refugee crisis.

Speaking at Reporters Club on Wednesday marking Bhutan’s national day, Bhutanese human rights leaders Tek Nath Rizal said repatriation is the best option that refugees have been looking for a permanent solution of the two-decade long crisis.

Rizal, who was released about a decade ago from Bhutanese jail, expressed commitments to continue struggling until ‘real democracy’ is established in Bhutan and called on international democracy fighters to extend support.

K. Rai, who arrived in Nepal last month after serving 17 years of jail term in Thimphu portrayed a worse picture of human rights violations prevalent in Bhutan despite the democratic changes this year.

The chairman of the National Front for Democracy repeated his usual comment that the Bhutanese king is mocking with the international community by saying democratic changes have been adopted in that country. He said excluding many citizens – living as refugees – from using their right to franchise would not bring real democracy.

He said Nepal must push ahead for repatriation of the refugees in their homeland. Since early this year, USA, Canada, Australia, Norway, Denmark, New Zealand and Netherlands have started taking refugees for resettlement. According to IOM, around 8,000 refugees have so far been resettled in these countries. nepalnews.com ia Dec 17 08