Kathmandu, July 28: The US Committee for Refugees has proposed third country resettlement of Bhutanese refugee problem if the repatriation of the refugees was not possible
through bilateral negotiations.
Besides local integration "international community
including US, India and European Union should also provide
resettlement opportunities" to resolve the refugee crisis, a
report in the Kathmandu Post, quoting communication director
of the USCR, Hiram A Ruiz, said.
"USCR emphasises the refugees' right to return to their
homeland in safe and dignified manner," Ruiz said addressing a
press meet in Kathmandu yesterday.
He is currently in Kathmandu after a three-day visit to
four refugees camps in eastern Nepal.
When asked about possible US sanction against Bhutan, he
said "we cannot advocate any action against Bhutan, but
considering the fact that Druk regime deliberately delayed
the solution for over 13 year we may lend our support to such
a recommendation."
He said the refugee verification of some 12,000 refugees
at the Khudunabari refugees camp was unjustified. Bhutan
agreed to repatriate only a few hundred refugees back from the
Khudunabari camp.
Over one lakh refugees continue to languish in refugee
camps across the border of Nepal. The main issue is that of
repatriation of these Bhutanese refugees, who have been in
exile here for over a decade.
Bureau Report
