Refugees ask UNHCR to provide security

Damak, March 19:

Bhutanese refugees living in refugee camps in Jhapa and Morang have called the United Nations’ High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) to provide them security following an increase in activities of the Bhutanese Communist Party-Maoist (BCP-M) inside the camps for the past one month. Claiming to be activists of the BCP-M, some youths have reportedly attacked the refugees in the camps.

The refugees’ call came after BCP-M activists thrashed eight refugees, including teachers Bhim Lal Subedi and Shiva Prasad Banstola, at the Beldangi camp in Damak on Saturday. Seeking protection, the refugees sent a letter to the Damak-based office of the UNHCR today.

The Bhutanese Maoists are attacking those refugees who are in favour of resettlement in the USA, teacher Subedi said. “The officials in the Damak office of the UNHCR have assured to provide security to the refugees,” Subedi said.

The BCP-M activists have also intensified the donation collection drive inside the camps, the refugees said, adding that they were also pasting pamphlets and posters.

A refugee youth in Beldangi camp claimed that the Bhutanese Maoists have also threatened to kill the refugees favouring resettlement in the USA. He added that they were also collecting donations “in order to wage an armed rebellion in Bhutan.”

“It has become difficult for us to stay in the camps. Some youths are collecting donations using receipts of the BCP-M.” A group of Bhutanese Maoists also vandalised the office of Yuva Maitri Kendra at the Beldangi camp on Saturday.

General secretary of Bhutan Human Rights’ Organisation Kishor Rai expressed concern about the increasing anarchic activities being carried out in the refugee camps in the name of the Maoists.

“Those who want to launch an agitation can go to Bhutan and do so. Harassing refugees in the camps is a violation of human rights,” he said. Secretary of the Beldangi-2 camp, Manorath Khanal, also said the increasing activities of the Maoists in the camp was not positive.