The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has urged the Nepal government and the Bhutanese government for speedy arrangement for repatriation of the Bhutanese refugees to Bhutan and also consider for third-country settlement for those who are willing for it.
“We urge the two Governments in the bilateral process to make speedy arrangements for the repatriation of the refugees to Bhutan while also allowing third country resettlement, so that solutions can be implemented for all refugees allowing the closure of camps instead of keeping helpless refugees in camps forever,” a press release issued by the UNHCR’s Kathmandu office quoted UNHCR Nepal chief, Abraham Abraham as saying.
The global refugee agency further said its attention had been drawn by the sit-in programme started by the refugees in front of the UN House in Pulchok, Lalitpur, beginning Friday.
“Although UNHCR has not been requested by the Government of Nepal and the Royal Government of Bhutan to participate in the bilateral process, the refugee agency has always advocated a comprehensive solution for the resolution of the problem and will continue to exercise its mandated responsibility for the protection of and assistance to all refugees until permanent solutions can be implemented,” the press release read.
Abraham also warned that there would not be continued assistance from the UNHCR to refugees as the agency operates with voluntary contribution.
“A comprehensive solution would take into account voluntary repatriation for those who opt and can return to Bhutan and other alternatives such as third country resettlement for which offers are available from the resettlement recipient countries, and such resettlement opportunities are also not open indefinitely,” said Abraham.
He said the UNHCR was ready to work closely with the two governments as well as the international community to find satisfactory solutions for the Bhutanese refugees instead of continuing to keep them in camps like prisoners with uncertainty about their future.
The UNHCR statement comes after Bhutanese refugees begun their indefinite sit-in protest in front on the UN House to draw attention of the international community from June 2 marking the 34 th anniversary of Bhutanese King’s ascent to throne. The programme is being coordinated by Bhutanese Refugees Representatives Repatriation Committee, of which Bhutanese human rights leader Tek Nath Rizal has taken the leadership recently.
The refugees have said the sit-in programme will continue unless the Nepal government and the UN take initiative to pressurize Bhutan for early repatriation.
Deputy Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli met with Bhutanese Foreign Minister on the sidelines of the conference of the Non-Aligned Movement in Malaysia last week. Oli said the Bhutanese side “did not take negatively” Nepal’s concern over the repatriation of the refugees. However nothing has been finalized for bilateral meeting on the refugee problem.
Meanwhile, Bhutanese refugees organised sit-in at the Mechi Bridge on the Nepal-India border near Jhapa yesterday, demanding immediate repatriation. Organised by the Human Rights Organisation of Bhutan (HUROB) and Bhutan Gorkha National Liberation Front (BGNLF), the protest programme was participated by thousands of refugees from seven camps in Jhapa and Morang districts. Vehicular traffic had come to a halt for more than two hours due to the protest.