The formation of Bhutanese Refugees Repatriation Support Group (BRRSG) and its field visit to the Bhutanese refugee camps, meeting with UNHCR, Refugee Coordination Unit, Refugee representative on 30th September –2nd October 2002 seems to have exerted pressure on Bhutanese government to bring up a new topic to eyewash the international committee and divert the attention from refugee verification, declaration of the result of Khudunabari camp, repatriation and so on to the constitution of the country. The Bhutanese people are optimistic that the support group led by Mr. Shailendra Kumar Udaphyaya, the former chief Representative to UN and Foreign Minister, would be able to facilitate for an amicable solution to the Bhutanese Refugee crisis. The other members of BRRSG are:

Mr. Sailendra Kumar Upadhyaya - Coordinator (Former Chief Representative to UN and Foreign Minister),
Mr. Chakra Prasad Bastola - Member (Former Foreign Minister and Ambassador to India)
Mr. Hiranyalal Shrestha - Member (Former Chairperson of Parliamentary Committee of Human Rights and Foreign Relation)
Mr. Basudev Prasad Dhungana - Member (Former Minister and Ambassador)
Mr. Kedar Bhakta Shrestha - Member (Former Ambassador to Belgium)
Mr. Yadav Kant Silwal - Member (Former Secretary General, SAARC)
Mr. Harsha Narayan Dhaubhdel - Member (Former Ambassador to India)
Dr. Jaya Raj Acharya - Member (Former Chief Representative to UN)
Mr. Pramod Kaphley - Member Secretary and Prominent Human Rights Activist
The representative to BRRSG Mr. S.B.Subba (Chairperson of Bhutanese Refugee Representative Repatriation Committee- BRRRC)
Drafting of the Constitution


The Royal Government of Bhutan which claimed to be a constitutional Monarchy says "First draft of the Constitution will be ready within 2002"Kuensel 19th October 2002. The constitution of a country is a step to the right direction but it is difficult to expect true spirit of constitution as the Drafting Committee had Royal command, ‘It must draw on the wisdom of the existing system, the existing laws, and the lessons learned by other countries around the world." (The Kuensel December 1-7, 2001). The formulation and implementation of discriminatory policies and Acts like citizenship Act 1985, One Nation One People Policy, National Security Act, etc. are the existing systems as well as laws that created one hundred plus Bhutanese Refugees. What do we guess from the constitution that must be drawn on the wisdom and experiences of these systems and laws???


We have also witnessed the Democratic system of different countries and have participated in different forum for its promotion, protection and strengthening based on the aspiration of people. We are of the opinion that the priority of the Bhutanese government is to repatriate the Bhutanese refugees languishing in eastern Nepal for more than a decade.


The constitution of a nation must be circulated for the public debate in order to in calculate the people opinion.


The Bhutanese people (both inside and outside the country) do not have personal conflicts among them. We raise the voice for justice on behalf of all the Bhutanese.


We would like you to urge the king of Bhutan to repatriate the Bhutanese refugees and take the opportunity to reconcile the experiences and wisdom learnt by his Majesty’s citizens of the country to provide the constitution of the country, by the people, of the people and for the people.


We pray and hope that our hope of returning home will come true with your support and solidarity.

Thanking you,

Yours Sincerely,



D.P.Kafley,

General Secretary, PFHRB.

* Weekly updates about the Bhutanese Refugee Joint Verification Process is prepared by the PFHRB.