Chairman of the Bhutanese Refugee Representative Repatriation Committee, Dr Bhampa Rai, informed the south Asian delegates for the need to find the durable resolution to Bhutanese refugee issues. He opined that the third country resettlement was not solution. He rather termed it, “dignified human trafficking”.
In same breathe, he stressed on the right to return of all Bhutanese who had opted for third country resettlement because they were offered a Hobson choice.
The Bhutanese citizen’s right to repartition is paramount and international community must pressure the Bhutanese regime to initiate repatriation, according to him.
He was co-chair in one of the thematic sessions during the Regional Conference on Challenges and Way Forward for Democracy and Peace in South Asia organised by South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPE) held on 1-2 July, 2011 in Kathmandu.
Nepali Deputy Prime Minister Mohan Adhikari inaugurated the conference. The other dignitaries present during the conference were Mani Shanker Aiyar, Member of Rajya Sabha, India, Bam Dev Gautam – Vice President – CPN-UML , Prof. Selvy Thiruchandran, Sri Lanka, Hridayash Tripathi – Vice President -TMDP, Ms Chitra Lekha Yadab – Treasurer – NC, C.P. Gajurel – Secretary – UCPN-M.
Karma Duptho, secretary of Druk National Congress was other Bhutanese delegate present during the conference.
Dr.Sahab, you are right. The third country resettlement is not the durable solution. It is simply a temporary solution. Repatriation with safety and in dignity is the best and ultimate solution of the Bhutanese refugee problem and hence exhorting adequate diplomatic and moral pressure on Bhutan from the international community bears paramount important. However, without true, vibrant and inclusive democracy, there cannot be sustainable change and development, which is to ensure the protection of human rights, human values and social justice of diverse ethnic community. I hope third country resettlement program would give us an opportunity to work globally towards garnering international support and solidarity so that together we all could work for materializing a comprehensive solution to the Bhutanese problem.
DIGNIFIED HUMAN TRAFFICKING!!!!.poor vision…………….this is the only reason why the majority of the people ignore our leaders.my relatives were refugee before.but now they are in the USA.they said their life is far more better than that of the refugee camp.they are happy to be there.they are enjoying their rights too.
Dr. Saheb’s stress for repatriation with international pressure has a logic and Narad Ji’s contention to build up a conducive atmosphere in Bhutan so as to help create better conditions for a comprehensive solution of the Bhutanese problem is yet another important mileage the people in totality needs to think about. Given the positive advantages created as an opportunity by the 3rd country resettlement program, it is time that parents and children aiming at long term solution of the problem should not miss this opportunity that has since long knocked at the doorsteps of the refugees. Taking note of what Bhutan’s Prime Minister Jigme Y Thinley repeatedly deny having any Bhutanese in the camps and at the same time thanking international community for taking refugees for resettlement and on the other hand expressing willingness to renew bilateral talks with Nepal is totally ridiculous.
I appreciate Dr. Saheb showing his serious concern, but at the same time, without personally representing the people in the open international platform, living in the refugee camps in Nepal, your dream could fail to be fulfilled. So, let us all rethink and look at the future of our people from a different direction.
I found Narad Adhikari’s comment stronger than Dr. Rai’s opinion. Person like Mr Rai should not say resettlement process as ”dignified human trafficking”. It is something that an uneducated person says.
Meaning of durable solution does not apply the same every where and to every body.Small Refugee population has been locally assimilated, they do not think of going back to Bhutan nor do they think of resettlement.This is durable solution for them.Most of the refugees are resettled,from this,most do not like to go back to Bhutan.It will be blunder durable solution is perceived hypothetically.This is stranded thinking in our leadership. But to keep Bhutanese issue intact and a subject to unending discussion ,we need agenda like DR.Bhampa’s argument.However,Dr.Rai is an argumentative and selfless Bhutanese senior.
Let me wish Narad Adhikari taking first step to put his line of thinking into system.Every mother promises golden moon to crying baby but non in the hand.lets not do that again.I mean, I take his idea more advisory than execution.