Kathmandu: United States has suggested a two-step mechanism for the verification of the Bhutanese refugees. Speaking at a press conference today, Ms. Julia Taft, Assistant Secretary of the US Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, said the suggestion consists of a Bhutanese team to work with Nepal and the UNHCR to validate each nuclear family before the verification team decides the eligibility of the refugees.
Ms. Taft arrived in Nepal Thursday in an effort to engage the parties in finalising the repatriation of the refugees. She will be going to Bhutan on Monday with the suggestion.
“This two-step mechanism will address Bhutan’s concern of knowing who their people are,” she told The Rising Nepal.
She said the refugee issue has been there for a decade and there has been every effort to conclude the issue mainly from the Nepalese side. The suggestion has come when Nepal and Bhutan are bracing for the 10th round of talks on the problem in December. She also said Nepal has given a gesture of support to the suggestion.
Talking about US position, US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs, Karl Inderfurth said they are not taking sides but only want to see this problem resolved. The US Assistant Secretary of State said this is one of the unfinished businesses of the Clinton administration in South Asia and they would like to resolve the problem before the new administration takes over in America.
He also said the Bhutanese refugee problem has attracted international attention and United States is concerned about problem. “Because US provides 25 per cent of the cost related to refugee issue worldwide.”
The Bhutanese refugee problem was also one of the topics of discussion between Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and the two US officials during their talks today.
The US Assistant Secretary for Population, Refugees and Migration said US has also proposed about a transit programme for those crossing over from the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China to Nepal. Ms. Taft also accepted that there are procedures in place to make passage safe for them.