Kathmandu, June 8:

Bhutanese political and human rights leaders will discuss the third-country resettlement and repatriation of Bhutanese refugees with US ambassador to Nepal James F Moriarty on June 15, a Bhutanese leader said today.

“During the meeting (with Moriarty), we will lay emphasis on the repatriation of Bhutanese to their homeland,” Tek Nath Rizal said. “What we have been emphasising is repatriation,” Rizal said.

He, however, did not reject the option of third-country resettlement, saying that if resettlement is to happen, it should happen simultaneously. “Both repatriation and resettlement processes should proceed simultaneously.”

Besides Rizal, DP Kafle, Dr Bhumpa Rai, Thinley Penjore and Balaram Poudel will meet the US ambassador. However, the US Embassy is yet to officially confirm the meeting.