Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) of State for the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration Kelly Clements, who arrived Nepal on Sunday after completing four-day visit to Bhutan, has stressed both Nepal and Bhutan to find tangible solution of the long-standing Bhutanese refugee issue.
A statement issued by the US embassy in Kathmandu on Monday said that DAS Clements visited Bhutan from June 2 to 5 and met with government leaders to urge Bhutan to take tangible immediate steps to help resolve the protracted refugee situation in Nepal as a sign of Bhutan’s commitment to democratic values and human rights.
“Now DAS Clements is in Nepal from to discuss humanitarian protection and assistance issues for refugees and other vulnerable populations in the region,” said the statement.
It further said that during those fruitful discussions, the government of Bhutan reiterated its April 2011 offer to the government of Nepal to reengage in bilateral discussions as soon as possible on the modalities for the voluntary return and reintegration of refugees with legitimate citizenship claims to Bhutan.
“The government of Bhutan also agreed to examine other ways to resolve this humanitarian situation in a humane and expedient manner, especially for the most vulnerable.”
According the embassy, in Nepal, DAS Clements expressed the appreciation of the U.S. government to the Nepalese government for cooperation on resettlement and support for efforts to find durable solutions for all refugees in the camps.
“DAS Clements also highlighted the appreciation of the U.S. government for the government of Nepal’s commitment to ensure the safe transit of new arrivals to India and to respect the basic rights of Tibetans resident in Nepal,” added the statement.
However, no official statement has been made public so far regarding the US official’s visit. Even, the government’s mouthpiece has not covered news about this visit.
I wish RGOB take back its people with honor and dignity. DSA Clements is right to pressurize Bhutan to bring the agreeable solution to all the stake holders at the earliest.
I think the other core countries should not exonerated Bhutan for its bad records of Human Rights. I think Bhutan is no exception to the comity of Nations and should be able to be guided by the Universal declaration of Bills of Rights. And it should also abide by the international treaties and conventions to have equal say as the member of the UNO.
Thanks
Bhutanese Government has the sole responsibilities to think about the own citizens’ human Rights disaster which was purely understood by the international countries.
Now,Finally its a time to decide and bring Mr Jigme singye wangchuck and Mr Jigme Y Thinley in the International Court of Justice for Violating UN Declaration of Human Rights. This must be done Thoroughly and afterwards others innocent definitely gets Peace of Justice.
Bali Tal
Australia
The pioneer countries of Human Rights and democracy must delve in to the evolution of refugees from Bhutan the country of Gross National Happiness and from the propounder of this theory. Bhutanese settled all over the world being cornered for it only wish to stand on queue to see Mr. Jigme Singye Wangchuk and his coterie being tried in the novel International Court of Justice.
I hope the world leaders will realise the facts that prevailed in Bhutan due to its dictatorial conducts in and around 1990.
Cunningly, Bhutan is trying to hit the south Bhutanese by propagating false information against them through GNH, the so called Bhutan foundations and through its double standard policy such as its PM declaring in public that it does not need to have “formal”, diplomatic realtions with US.
In an age of networks, relations and inter relations between the countries big and small, rich and poor, extended upto the individual level, in all dimensions, Bhutan PM chooses cunningly, as up to the age when IT was still primitive, not to have formal relations. Is it not to avoid possibly an embarrasing situation for its misdeeds of late 80s and 90s?
All genuine Human Rights and Democracy advocates seriously need to research on this and many questions that can follow in line with this.
Hope a conducive environment is created for those who wish to go back home triumphantly with dignity and honour.
@Shyam Bista –If wishes were horses, beggars would certainly ride on it.~ Your idol Tek Nath needs to be tied in the International court. He is the one who instigated people to go against the government; destructed infrastructures, killed innocent people in association with Bhutan Peoples’ Party cadres, threatened innocent people of dire consequences if they don’t leave the country to support his so-called human rights movement. Now, where in heaven human rights can be delivered by Tek when he threatened people of “dire consequences” and asked people to leave their places to support his political ambition?
Formal diplomatic tie? Our PM knows exactly what he is talking about!
Yes, LF, you spoke a part. That was the movement, a clash of identity.
Bhutanese people are used from both the sides- more by government and a few by anti government group. But the side that went against the government either willingly or situational compulsion became non-Bhutanese which you term as illegal immigrants.
For your agony to Rizal, he was taken to custody and served for 13 long years. Your court proved him innocent and released him. I think he paid for his guilt. But why is your fourth monarch not hiding in the dark hole like Sadam or Laden? His crime for inhumanity is no lesser than Sadam and equivalent to Adolf Hitler. He needs to face a trail. We should not spare him for such human disaster just by saying that he was king. He is a person like you and me.
I think it is a very timely and responsible act on the part of the US government to take initiative in such an important matter. In today’s transparent world people should not play with human life and dignity. It is a shame that Bhutan proposing such useful concepts as GNH is not able to face with the facts and continuing to deny that what they call “people in the Camp” are genuine Bhutanese expelled systematically by the Bhutanese regime. The precepts of Buddhism encourage people to be honest and truthful to the fact and what Bhutan is trying to tell the world is full of fabricated information.
I wish that Nepal and Bhutan take some genuine efforts in resolving this protracted issue with the help of UN and India. It is also important for India to take some genuine humanitarian issues even if these people are Nepalese in origin and not sub-humans.