Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, January 31:

Close on the heels of adverse reactions from Bhutanese king Jigme Singye Wangchuck, leading human rights campaigners and representatives of political parties in Nepal have stressed the need to internalise the refugee imbroglio. The Druk monarch was quoted by Indian media as saying that most of the Bhutanese refugees in Nepal were foreigners.

“The issue needs to be internalised. More so, since bilateralism has failed,” said NC leader Dr Ram Sharan Mahat while speaking at the Reporters Club Nepal today. He flayed Bhutan for resenting the facilitatory role which could have come from the UNHCR.

Describing King Jigme’s remark as “highly unfortunate” since members of the Druk regime had verified nearly all the refugees to be Bhutanese people, he accused the Druk regime of trying to set up a monoculturist system by chasing out other communities from Bhutan. Rights campaigners Hiranya Lal Shrestha and Shailendra Kumar Upadhayay called for internalisation of the issue.