Bhutanese exiled women, who have been fighting for refugee status since long time and even staged 12-day-fasting to death in last November, have begun another hunger strike from today.
- Strikers display their demands (Picture : Vidhyapati Mishra)
A group of six women led by Durga Devi Bista kick-started the fasting to death from Tuesday morning accusing the government of Nepal of turning deaf ears to their demands – registration and refugee status.
Other strikers included Ira Maya Khatri, Chandra Maya Khadka, Renuka Mongar, Tulasha Dhakal and Parbati Chouhan, informed coordinator Bista.
Meanwhile, Armed Police Force (APF) squad seized banner and placards used by the women earlier today.
“We have been instructed by the district authority to confiscate those stuffs since they can not do such a protest inside the camp premises,” APF Inspector Bijesh Regmi informed Bhutan.
- APF constable carries the seized banner as striker women stage their fasting-onto-death protest in Beldangi
He further said that the APF was strictly vigilant in barring the refugees from construction of shed for night stay for the women.
The district authority of Jhapa in last November assured in written that it would resume the stalled registration process within April 20. However, no progress has been made at any level regarding this.
