The Druk National Congress –Democratic (DNC-D) on Friday asked the US Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs, Maria Otero, to take strong initiative to find a comprehensive and logical solution of the Bhutanese refugee problem and human rights issue.
Addressing an appeal to Otero , who has today reached Bhutan from India in his two-day visit, DNC-D said, ” Though we fully admire and appreciate the decision of the US Government to accept a large number of Bhutanese refugees for resettlement, we believe it is going to be only a temporary as the refugees, even after their resettlement, are aspiring for exercising their right to return to their homestead with honour and security.”
The party further mentioned that there are still a large number of refugees in Nepal under the UNHCR protection and eagerly looking forward for a conducive atmosphere to go back to Bhutan with dignity and honour.
Meanwhile, the appeal highlighted that over 80 thousand people were deprived from exercising their voting franchise during the first general election held in 2008 in Bhutan.
“Only the political parties who ensured full commitment to work in the interest of monarchy were given registration with the royal election commission to contest the election.”
The party said it has sent the appeal to the visiting US Under Secretary through US Ambassadors to Nepal and India.
