Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, February 9

With Bhutan demanding, at a meet in Thailand, a thorough investigation into the December 22 Khudunabari incident, the already protracted refugee crisis seems surely destined to linger for some more time.

Bhutanese foreign minister Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuck in a meeting with Ambassador-at-large Dr Bhekh Bahadur Thapa in Phuket, Thailand, demanded a probe into the incident before implementing the 15th Ministerial Joint Committee (MJC) agreement.

The 15th MJC held in Thimphu had agreed to initiate the repatriation process of the Khudunabari refugees from February third week.

Dr Thapa, who arrived today after attending the BIMSTEC meet in Thailand, told reporters that Bhutan was firm on its demand for investigation of the incident. Outraged over the “distracted and misleading propagation” by Bhutanese officials, the refugees of the Khudunabari camp had on December 22 damaged vehicles and pelted stones at Bhutanese officials who had reached there to “take an appraisal of the terms and conditions” of repatriation.

“Bhutan remained rigid despite Nepal’s assurances of providing proper security and plea to forget past incidences,” Dr Thapa said, adding he would now consult with the security and the home ministry about the incident. He said he would even consult with the international community on the protracted refugee crisis.

Dr Thapa, however, hastened to add that Wangchuck expressed Bhutan’s seriousness on its commitment to the 15th MJC agreement, but only after an investigation into the December 22 incident.

Wangchuck was also quoted as saying that Nepal had failed to investigate the issue, though Nepal had agreed to a probe during a meeting on the sidelines of SAARC.

Bhutanese human rights activist Tek Nath Rizal told this daily that Bhutan’s stand on investigation was “unfortunate” and would further contribute to protracting the refugee crisis.

Dr Thapa was in Thailand to participate in the BIMSTEC meet during which Nepal was enrolled as a BIMSTEC member. Following the membership, Nepal was expected to gain significantly in terms of trade, investments, tourism and agriculture in the long run, Dr Thapa said.