Local leaders of the major three parties of Nepal – UCPN (Maoist), CPN-UML and Nepali Congress (NC) – expressed that unity among exiled leaders is a must to take forward the protracted refugee issue, Wednesday.
They claimed, the exiled leaders have been divided even on the main agenda – struggle to return home with dignity and honour.
According to them, leaders in exile should create environment to forge unity among themselves and even bar refugees from opting the ongoing resettlement program.
Speaking at an interaction program organised by various non-governmental organisations (NGOs) at Damak of Jhapa, NC leader Sher Bahadur Bhattarai, UML leader Devendra Dahal and UCPN (Maoist) leader Durga Chapagain expressed such opinion.
“The third country resettlement process is undermining the struggle of Bhutanese refugees when the population of refugees in UN-monitored camps of Jhapa and Morang is reducing dramatically,” said Bhattarai.
According to his say, if refugee leaders really wanted their people to return to Bhutan they should be able to bar people from opting for resettlement.
While, UL leader Devendra Dahal said it is sad that the government side failed to give priority in exploring a permanent solution to the refugee issue.
Meanwhile, Maoist local leader Durga Chapagain opined that the whole resettlement scenario could take a u-turn if all refugee leaders and their organisations became ready to formulate programmes to pressurise the government of Bhutan to accept refugees back home.
They also expressed that they would try to influence their leadership in the respective party to extend all possible supports for the democratic struggle in Bhutan.
‘UNHCR ignoring repatriation issue’
Various exiled leaders and youths who presented their views at the program accused the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) of ignoring the refugees’ right to return home.
Chairman of the Bhutanese Refugee Representative Repatriation Committee Dr Bhampa Rai said, the UNHCR and resettlement
countries were simply motivating refugees for resettlement, neglecting the pains they suffered in Bhutan.
Druk Nation Congress –Democratic Chairman Thinley Penjore highlighted it was wrong to address the general refugee population as “Nepali-speaking Bhutanese” stating that exiled citizens like Sarchops have been excluded.
According to Penjore, some exiled Bhutanese from eastern Bhutan are not able to reach their stakeholders in Nepal due to language problem.
Woman activist Jasoda Budathoki and right activist DP Kafle also expressed that UN and resettlement countries should pressurize Bhutan to accept citizens back home.
Meanwhile, youth leader Chabi Kharel mentioned that resettlement has been going against the morale of democratic struggle in Bhutan. He said, Nepal should be a proper place for the exiled Bhutanese to fight for democracy in Bhutan.
UNHCR has been motivating refugees by showing videos on good aspects of life after the resettlement, said he.”There were cases of suicides and attacks on resettled people and several stories of hardship. Why is the UNHCR silent on these issues?”
