Refugee camp security beefed up

Source: Kantipuronline.com

Citing increasing insecurity inside the Beldangi Bhutanese refugee camp during nighttime, the local administration in Damak has prohibited mobility to and from the camp after 7 p.m. every day, starting Saturday.

Earlier this month, a joint meeting held between the camp management committee, the refugee coordination committee unit and the police administration had decided to tighten up camp security.

"The prohibitory orders have been imposed after taking account of the present situation," Raj Kumar Lamichhane, District Superintendent of Police of Armed Police Force Beldangi base camp, told the Post. "We will take action against any refugees trying to exit the camp or remaining outside it after 7 in the evening," Lamichhane added.

However, the administration has not clarified the total time stretch of the prohibitory order. "The prohibitory order is effective until the break of dawn," security personnel at the base camp said. Security in the camp was beefed up after increasing incidents recently of political pamphlets being stuck up and hooliganism.

Meanwhile, refugees at Beldangi-1 found a stray pamphlet inside the camp Friday night claiming that the Nepal Government and UNHCR (United Nations High Commission for Refugees) were providing security to "unimportant persons." The pamphlet also accuses Chabilal Thapa, former secretary of Beldangi-1 refugee camp, of committing "severe crimes" in Bhutan and inside the camp, and claims that "the Bhutanese people would not forgive Thapa no matter what."

Right since some countries, chief among them the United States, announced they were to resettle the refugees, extremist youths have been threatening refugees not to opt for third country resettlement. The government, after facing a lot of flak, has set up bases for the Armed Police Force in each of the camps.

Refugees get death threats

Source: The Himalayan Times

Sixty-two Bhutanese refugees living in Beldangi-1 camp in Jhapa district have appealed to the police to protect them after they received death threats from the underground Bhutanese Republican Youth Union and the All Bhutan Revolutionary Students’ Union.
Chhabilal Thapa, Moti-khar Gurung, Arjun Subba, Dilip Kumar Dahal, Ram Rai, Bhim Subedi, Kiran Subba, Lok Nath Adhikari, Buddhiman Gurung, Sakun Subba and NP Koirala are among those who have made the appeals to the officials of the camp supervision post, Armed Police Force and the OHCHR. All of them are in favour of settling in the US and they received the threat on that account.

The two organisations close to the Bhutan Communist Party have also threatened the refugees to leave the camp within 15 days, failing which they will be eliminated physically or abducted. The two groups have also told the refugees that they will be forgiven and allowed to remain in peace if they recant from their pro-US settlement stance.

DSP of APF Raj Kumar Lamichhane said a probe has been initiated and that a search has been launched for those issuing the threats.

Government Of Nepal is responsible for security, says Abraham

Source: Apfanews.com

Kathmandu, September 20: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) country representative in Nepal Abraham Abraham has said that the UNHCR was seriously working with the government of Nepal for making security arrangements inside exiled Bhutanese camps.

In response to queries of T. P. Mishra of Bhutan News Service (BNS), Abraham on Thursday said the UNHCR has already taken initiative to create 'fearless' atmosphere for exiled Bhutanese following escalating violence inside the camps.

Abraham's response, regarding security in camps, comes at a time when an innocent refugee in Beldangi-I camp was killed by an unidentified armed gang on September 18.

Lok Nath Katel (47) of Beldangi-I camp under Sector D/1, Hut number 13/14 was killed by the gang at mid-night while he was trying to rescue neighbors from the gang's attack.

Informing that the security posts would be built by September 25 in Morang-based Sanischare camp, and by October 5 in all remaining six camps, Abraham, however said that security of exiled Bhutanese depended on government of the host country, Nepal.

He also informed that the UNHCR has already dealt the issue of security with what he termed 'high level' in government of Nepal. “UNHCR is hopeful that Nepal government will deploy security forces in camps soon after the construction of security posts”, said Abraham, adding the UNHCR has urged the government of Nepal to arrange 24 hours security vigilance in camps to ensure that people feel safe.

Indicating on the recent killing of an innocent people in Beldangi-I camp, Abraham also expressed the UNHCR's condolence, sympathy and grief to the bereaved family.

"This level of violence is senseless", said Abraham, adding that the UNHCR was committed towards bringing the perpetrator before the legal action of the host country. He also said that the UNHCR would leave no stones ‘unturned’ to bring such perpetrator before the court of justice.

Meanwhile, Abraham also urged all refugees to try to exercise a sense of mutual understanding for finding an outlet to the problem. He also informed that the UNHCR was seriously dealing with Nepal government in publicizing the report of Beldangi-II incident that claimed lives of two youths.

Confirming that a handwritten ‘pamphlet’ was also left in the name of ‘Cobra Group’ on September 18 that has threatened nine more people including the camp secretary of Beldangi-I D. P. Pradhan among others, Abraham said the UNHCR has already dealt with the government of Nepal concerning their security.

When asked if escalating ideological divergences within people was occurring in camps with the offer of third country resettlement, Abraham said “Indeed, it is increasing violence that has divided people in camps but not the offer of third country resettlement.”

Abraham also stressed on the UNHCR’s parallel concern on all three options viz repatriation, local assimilation and third country resettlement. “But the latest offer of third country resettlement has come up as a feasible solution lying on the table”, added Abraham.