Jhapa, October 9:

Secretaries at six Bhutanese refugees camps in Jhapa have welcomed the American proposal to accommodate the refugees on its soil.

Secretaries Maoj Rai of the Khudunabari camp, Hari Bangale Adhikari of Beldangi camp-1, DP Pradhan of Beldangi camp-2, Manorath Khanal of Beldangi camp-3, Parshuram Nepal of Timai camp and Ram Chandra Sapkota of Goldhap camp heartily welcomed the proposal at an interaction held in Birtamod today.

Saying that no good would come of the speeches of refugee-affiliated political organisations, they pointed out that pressure upon Bhutan could be brought to bear for repatriation even after going to the US.

Commenting on the views of the secretaries, chairperson of the Bhutan Peoples’ Party Balaram Poudel said the secretaries elected for the management of food for a year in the camps could not be considered representatives of the refugees.

“These secretaries are playing politics on behalf of Abraham Abraham,” said Poudel. All the refugees in the camps want to go their own country, said Poudel, adding that the US has not forwarded its proposal officially to the government. He described the US proposal as a conspiracy to create division among refugees.