Refugee population at a glance
Camps 7: Beldangi I, Beldangi II, Beld.II-Ext., Sanischare
Morang, Khudunabri, Goldhap, Timai
Male :51473
Female: 49581
Total Jhapa: 1,01,054
Present Situation
Mr. Madhav Kumar Nepal, General Secretary of CPN-UML and the leader of main opposition party at the House of Representatives left for four days visit to Bhutan on 22nd April, 2002 leading a six member delegation. The Rising Nepal, April 23, 2002 states “ that his visit to Bhutan would focus on seeking on amicable solution to the long festering Bhutanese Refugee problem as early as possible and thrashing out bilateral issues for mutual benefit”.
The Kathmandu Post April 26, 2002 states that the “Opposition leader returns with new questions over refugee stalemate”. The Bhutanese government seems to have used the same strategy that has been implemented on the visit of the then Chairperson of UNHCR, Madame Sadako Ogata in May. Mr. Nepal seems to be on the impression that the Bhutanese government is ready for talks but “the refugee impasse cannot be resolved unless there is an atmosphere of trust between the governments of Nepal and Bhutan and between the latter and the refugees” Contradicting to Mr. Nepal’s impression, Bhutanese officials “told the delegation that they were still processing and reconciling the findings of the verification of the refugees in the Khudunabari camp where over 12000 refugees have already been verified” The Bhutanese government also blamed the refugee leaders for “ cajoling, threatening and driving out the common Lhotshampas for their own vested interest”. The refugee leaders have never left
Bhutan as leaders but have taken up the leadership as a moral responsibility to guide and help the innocent victims of ethnic cleansing.
Bhutan is afraid of India’s mediation, the largest and the oldest democratic nation. Mr. Panday, one of the delegates revealed “ They are open to Indian mediation but they want honest and impartial arbitration” (Kathmandu Post, April 26, 2002). Kuensel, the only news paper and the mouth piece of the Royal government of Bhutan, April 27, 2002 states that the “Bhutan- Nepal relations must go beyond refugee problem”. Mr. Nepal proposed to expand the relation” at people to people, institution to institution, organization to organization levels, at the intellectual and the boarder political levels”. Bhutan is a country in which the Human Right activists are termed as antinational or terrorist and does not have a constitution. There are no democratic organizations Trade Unions etc. that carry the aspiration of people of all levels. The intellectuals, leaders etc. are all based on the person’s ability to be the stooges of the persons in the authority. There are no democratically elected personalities leading the country.
The Bhutanese government has said they have initiated the talks at the levels i.e with the Ex.-foreign minister of Nepal, Mr. Chakra Prasad Bastolla and with the delegation lead by Mr. Madhav Kumar Nepal. I would like to draw the attention of the government of Bhutan to initiate the same process by creating an atmosphere for the dialogue with the dissident leaders, lead by Mr. T. N. Rizal, to reach an amicable solution to the crisis so that we live peacefully forever.
updates about the Bhutanese Refugee Joint Verification Process are prepared by the PFHRB. Any comments or questions should be emailed to
rizal_pfhrb@jhapa.info.com.np or Tele: - 00977-23-40824. Update about the Bhutanese Refugee Crisis prepared by the PFHRB. Any comments or questions should be emailed to
rizal_pfhrb@jhapa.info.com.np or Tele: - 00977-23-40824. Though we named it as weekly update but due to break in Verification process we prepare it on the issue basic till the new camp for verification will be started.
Thanks,
D.P.Kafley,
General Secretary, PFHRB.
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