Kathmandu, November 9:

Tired of “fruitless efforts” in resolving the protracted refugee crisis, over two dozen Bhutanese refugees belonging to the “mothers’ group” are set to stage a week-long sit-in at the gate of the UN building, Pulchowk, from Friday to attract the attention of the international community.

The beginning of the sit-in on Friday coincides with the birthday of Bhutanese King Jigme Singye Wangchuck and the coming SAARC summit.

Talking to journalists at his residence today, Bhutanese human rights leader Tek Nath Rizal said, “The international community must act now. If it doesn’t, it will be too late.”

Rizal hoped the sit-in in front of the UN building jointly organised by the Bhutanese Refugee Repatriation Representative Committee (BRRRC), Peoples’ Forum for Human Rights-Bhutan (PFHRB), Human Rights Council of Bhutan (HRCB), will energise the UN to “act” now to help resolve the protracted Bhutanese refugee issue.