Meaningful dialogue to resolve Bhutanese refugee issue stressed

Source: Rising Nepal

JHAPA, Sept.10: Political leaders of Nepal and Bhutan Wednesday underscored multilateral dialogues to address the protracted Bhutanese refugee problem. 

Speaking at an interaction between the leaders of Nepal and Bhutan here in Birtamod, they demanded meaningful dialogue among Nepal, Bhutan, India and refugee representatives.

Jhapa-in-charge of the CPN-Maoist Sandesh said that his party was against third country resettlement of the Bhunese refugees.

"We are against the Indian interest of sending the Bhutanese refugees to the third country and we are ready to support their mission of repatriation."

Chhabilal Kharel of Bhutanese Communist Party (MLM) said that the refugee problem should be taken as a class struggle of Bhutan because the problem is directly linked with the liberation of the working class.

It was time to hold dialogue among Nepal, Bhutan, India and Bhutanese refugees to repatriate them to their home country, he added.

Badri Bhattarai of CPN-UML, Jyoti Singh Darlami of Janamorcha Nepal and Bhutanese activist DP Kafle expressed their views at the programme.

Bhutan-Nepal talks to resume

Source: Kuenselonline

After meeting Nepal’s prime minister, Mr Girija Prasad Koirala, on the sidelines of the 15th SAARC summit in Colombo, Lyonchhen Jigmi Y Thinley said that the two governments had agreed to continue the stalled talks on the people in the camps in Nepal.

Lyonchhen Jigmi Y Thinley said that he had told the Nepalese prime minister that the Bhutanese government was looking forward to continue the discussion so that the problem could be resolved as quickly as possible.

“I’ve reminded the prime minister that we have been frustrated by the lack of a stable government in Nepal to continue the talks,” he said.

The talks between the two governments were stalled after the Bhutanese members of the joint verification team (JVT) were attacked and injured in Jhapa on December 22 2003.

Lyonchhen Jigmi Y Thinley said that the bilateral meetings created opportunities for leaders to get together and promote regional understanding. “It creates an opportunity to clear misunderstandings and misperceptions, doubts and suspicions, both in the formal settings as well as informally on the margins of the SAARC summits,” he said.

After the summit, the Nepalese media suggested that the bilateral meeting between the two prime ministers was successful and that Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala expected full cooperation from democratic Bhutan to discuss the issue.

It was also reported that the new government of Nepal would work closely with Bhutan to solve the refugee issue as soon as possible.

Sauerbrey hold closed door meetings, government and media mum

Source: Apfanews.com

Since her arrival in Thimphu on Sunday evening, US Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration Ellen Sauerbrey has busied herself in meeting leaders, government ministers, bureaucrats and policy makers.

However, the government has not given any details of her visit and the issues of discussion held with various persons.

During her five-day visit to this Himalayan country, she was scheduled to discuss the issues of Bhutanese citizens evicted by the Bhutanese regime some 18 years ago and other issues of bilateral interest.

While she left Kathmandu for Thimphu, Ellen had assured to put pressure on Bhutan and Indian government for respectful return of those who do not wish to resettle in foreign land as the offered made by the US and some European and American countries.

Like the government, media remain mum since publication of any materials related to exiled Bhutanese, even if it is discussed at the government level, will term the publications or the media house as anti-national leading to cancellation of the license.

The government strictly avoids giving details of the discussion. Media here expect nothing more than usual and redundant statement from both the sides that they were committed to end the two-decade long crisis.

Nepalese Foreign Minister to raise issues of Bhutanese refugee problem in UN

Foreign Minister Sahana Pradhan is leaving for New York to attend the 62nd general assembly of the United Nations.

Nepal is preparing to raise issues such as the ongoing peace process, preparation for election, problems faced by Least Developed Countries (LDCs) as well as Bhutanese refugee problem at the assembly.

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