At least 15 women, who have been fighting for refugee status and other aid facilities as enjoyed by their fellow-countrymen, have started fast-unto-death from Tuesday in Beldangi-II camp.
Led by a women advocacy group formed from among asylum seekers, these women vowed to “sacrifice” their lives if their status remains unrecognized. Durga Devi Bista, Coordinator of the group, has been leading the hunger strike group.
They presented such remarks amidst a program organize to mark the start of the hunger strike yesterday.
Speaking at the program, human right activist associated with the Nepal Human Rights Organization, Dev Prasad Subedi, asked the government authority to meet the demands of all asylum seekers and others whose facilities have been denied on various grounds.
“Those, who are demanding refugee status are citizens from Bhutan. And, Nepal should respect their right to get refugee status,” said Subedi.
According to Subedi, the local authority failed to materialize last year’s commitment to grant refugee status to Bhutanese asylum seekers.
The government had agreed to meet the demands of asylum seekers last year following a hunger strike of 95 hours.
Meanwhile, Chairperson of the Bhutanese Refugee Representative Repatriation Committee, Dr Bhampa Rai, accused the Government of Nepal of ignoring the rights of over 37,00 asylum seekers.
“The government representative are even accusing that some of the asylum seekers are non-Bhutanese. We can play our constructive role to recognize all of them if both the government and UNHCR welcome us in the verification process,” said Dr Rai.
This is a terrible situation. The choice these women make to start this high risk action is difficult and honorable. I sincerely hope that the Nepalese government will listen to their rightful claims and grant them the status they should have. I hope and pray they will be safe and be embraced by the Bhutanese community globally.
Just today a hunger strike started in my city (The Hague, Netherlands) by Tibetan refugees. They get international intention and have been getting this for many years. To no avail I am afraid.
I hope that I am able to advocate the cause of these women from Bhutan and the rest of the Bhutanese community in exile. I hope and pray that the international community will give more attention to this situation. My heart is with the women in Beldangi. I hope that, when I arrive in Damak within a month, their status issue is resolved and I can meet them all alive and well.
I and the people I work with think of you and are with you in mind and soul.
Alice
.. the concerned authority should take immidiate step to solve this issue… what is the reason behind Nepal govt.for delaying … I and all the Bhutanese communiittee request nepal government to take immidiate set do solve the problem
The concerned authority should take immidiate step to solve this issue… what is the reason behind Nepal govt. for delaying? I and all the Bhutanese communiittee request Nepal government to take immidiate step do solve the problem.