Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, March 29:

Bhuatanese human rights leader, Tek Nath Rizal, will go on an indefinite hunger strike at Ratna Park from tomorrow to draw the attention of the international community to the protracted Bhutanese refugee issue.Rizal has forwarded a charter of eight demands to the Bhutanese government and two demands to the government of Nepal.

The Bhuatanese human rights leader has demanded that international bodies not cut off assistance they are providing to the refugees.

The Bhuatanese human rights leader has also pleaded for continuation of the help rendered

by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in management of the refugee camps.Rizal has demanded that international organisations keep a watch on the human rights situation in Bhutan and create an “impartial judicial unit” to allow refugees to seek a review.

The Bhuatanese human rights leader has also demanded that the Bhutanese government return refugees’ land and properties after their repatriation.

Security of repatriated refugees, end of ethnic cleansing, restoration of democracy and human rights, release of political prisoners, restoration of citizenship rights of all Bhutanese and compensation to the families of those killed are Rizal’s other demands to the government of Bhutan.The human rights leader has also demanded that the government of Nepal involve the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and the Human Rights Council of Bhutan in verification and repatriation of the refugees. He has also made an appeal to internationalise the problems faced by the Bhutanese refugees.