Source: Apfanews.com
New Delhi, October 28: President of the Druk National Congress (DNC) R. K. Dorji has said that the US proposal to take in 60,000 exiled Bhutanese was welcome.

"We welcome the US view on exiled Bhutanese," he said. "We thank the Nepal government for its humanitarian support to us," he added.

"Though the Bhutanese king has said he will establish democracy in Bhutan by 2008, there is no truth behind his statement," Dorji commneted, adding, "If democracy is established, it would be like what there is in Pakistan."

Dorji had arrived here to attend a programme organised by South Asian Civil Initiatives to mark the centenary of the satyagraha launched by Mahatma Gandhi.

BRRRC suspends camp secretaries

Source: Apfanews.com
Damak, October 10: The dispute in Bhutanese Refugees Representatives Repatriation Committee (BRRRC) has reached the apex on Tuesday, when its meeting dismissed the six camp secretaries as central committee members of the organization.

A meeting of the BRRRC held in Damak on Tuesday in presence of its chairman Tek Nath Rizal decided to suspend the six camp secretaries immediately.

In a programme on Monday, the six secretaries of camps in Jhapa district had said they support the US offer to resettle over 60,000 exiled Bhutanese in the US, which is the best alternative to resolve the crisis prolonged for more than 17 years.

Rizal said the six persons have been suspended, as they were involved in bringing division in the Bhutanese community in exile and working against the interest of the Bhutanese people.

The suspended secretaries are Manoj Rai of the Khudunabari camp, Hari Bangale Adhikari of Beldangi - II, D P Pradhan of Beldangi - I camp, Manorath Khanal of Beldangi - II extension camp, Parshuram Nepal of Timai camp and Ram Chandra Sapkota of Goldhap camp.

The young people and students in the camps have already started campaign not to allow the secretaries to enter into their offices. Within the next one week, they would not be allowed to work in the same position. The sector heads and unit heads have also criticized the expression of the secretaries and demanded they be suspended from the position of camp secretaries as well.

US government has expressed its willingness to settle up to 60,000 of the 107,000 exiled Bhutanese in the next 3-4 years. Leaders have strongly objected the offer saying it would encourage the Druk regime for further eviction of Nepali speaking people from Bhutan.

Census in camps to update population statistics

Source: Apfanews.com
Biratnagar, September 28: UN resident representative in Nepal Mathew Kahane has said census to count the exiled Bhutanese staying in eastern Nepal would start immediately after the Hindu festivals ends.
The documentation of the population figure is being undertaken for updating information on the latest health, education and other status of the exiled Bhutanese in the camps including children, women and disabled.

Talking to media persons in Biratnagar on Wednesday, Kahane said he discussed the matter with the officers of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Damak on the possibilities to carry out counting working after Tihar.

"The UNHCR is doing preparatory works for that," Kahane said.
Opining that there should not be only one option for solving the crisis, he emphasized seeking different solutions as per the circumstances, aspirations and needs of the concerned people.

He denied commenting on the role of India in finding solution of the one-and-half-decade long crisis.

Vulnerables to get TD, Registration process to begin

Source: Apfanews.com
Kathmandu, September 1: After the completion of verification, Nepalese Foreign Ministry has agreed to exit Travel Document (TD) to 16 most vulnerable exiled Bhutanese categorized by UNHCR.

According to sources, the verified includes a man, one mother along with a baby and 14 young girls involved in rape cases. Among them, one of the girls is reported to have been missing.

Canada, Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, Newzealand, Australia and America, which are willing to accept refugees, have formed a core group. According to Foreign Secretary, the group has been waiting the additional process of resettlement from Nepalese side.

Earlier, addressing the Bhutanese leaders at his residence in Biratnagar, PM Girija Prasad Koirala has said he was unaware about the government decision to resettle.

Majority of the refugees and their organization have already opposed the decision. Series of demonstrations were launched inside and outside camps as well.

Meanwhile, the Nepalese government and UNHCR have decided to start authentic registration process from October 8. Tribhuvan University students will be extending their support and participation in the process. As per Assistant Secretary at Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the registration takes at least one month to complete. This would help to find the total figure including their age and real situation in camps.