Security in refugee camps improving

Damak, November 18:

The acts of threatening of Bhutanese refugees staying in the UNHCR-administered camps in Jhapa and Morang districts by underground organisations have gone down in recent days.

Earlier, refugees who were pro-resettlement in the third countries used to get such threats.

“With the increase in the number of refugees going to third countries for resettlement and the rise in the number of their supporters, the threats are decreasing,” said Bikash Chhetri, a young refugee at the Beldangi camp.

Pamphlets with threats against those standing for resettlement used to be scattered around the huts, he said. Chhetri added that refugees for resettlement and repatriation numbered almost the same.

Chhetri is of the opinion that a durable solution to the refugee problem should be worked out by meeting UNHCR standards.

“Issuing threats is now passe,” Tika Chhetri, a refugee at Pathari camp said, adding that the refugees had been enjoying their rights.

Nine different underground groups, including Bhutan Communist Party (Maoist), Bhutan Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist-Maoist), Bhutan Cobra Party, Bhutan Tigers Force and Bhutan Army had terrorised refugees last year, following the announcement of the resettlement plan.