Kathmandu, August 25 :

The Bhutanese refugee issue can be resolved only through a tripartite agreement between Nepal, India and Bhutan, said an Indian delegation team titled Bhutan Solidarity. It urged the government, the Seven-party Alliance (SPA) and Maoists to initiate the process to ‘facilitate’ the tripartite talks.

“This issue cannot be resolved through bilateral talks between Bhutan and Nepal alone. India must play a prominent role and tripartite talks must convene as soon as possible,” said Dr Suni Lam, president of Bhutan Solidarity and member of Legislative Assembly from Madhya Pradesh. The six-member-team headed by Lam visited Beldangi-2 and Khudnabari camps in Jhapa on August 20-23 and also met five camps’ secretaries, Bhutanese leaders and human rights groups.

Bhutan Solidarity is all set to launch a campaign in India for opening of Indian borders so that Bhutanese refugees can return to their homeland with “dignity and security.” A conference on Bhutan will also be organised in New Delhi during the Indian Social Forum scheduled to be held during November 9-13.

Bhutan Solidarity will press the political parties and India government to resolve the issue at the earliest, said Lam at a press meet here today.

Anand Swarup Verma, former president of Bhutan Solidarity and member of the delegation team, blamed India for failing to make efforts to resolve the Bhutanese refugee issue.

“Problems will not be resolved unless India wants to address the problems and tripartite talks are held,” Verma said alleging India of supporting the Bhutanese king.