Damak, May 2 :

Activists of the Bhutan Communist Party (Marxists-Leninists-Maoists) (BCP-MLM ) have prevented the UNHCR representatives from holding consultations with the Bhutanese refugees. The UNHCR officials had come here in Beldangi camp to hold consultations with the Bhutanese refugees on resettlement plan, but they returned after the BCP-MLM members disrupted their meeting.

Resettlement and International Protection Director Vincent Cochepal and Sustainable Solutions Officer Berna Dette visited the refugee camp.

The communist cadres told the UNHCR representatives that they did not want their resettlement in the third countries but repatriation to their homeland.

The UNHCR office in Geneva had assigned them to Nepal to brief the refugees about its resettlement plan in the third countries. They had held consultations with secretary, under-secretary and women refugee representatives of the camps yesterday.

Meanwhile, the communist party members severely beat up one Sita Dhungel, who argued for resettlement in the third countries, at the Beldangi Expanded Camp. She has been admitted to AMDA Hospital for treatment, said camp secretary Hari Bagale.

‘Don’t let Bhutan evict more citizens’

Kathmandu: With the United States and other countries agreeing to initiate resettlement process of the Bhutanese refugees, the Bhutanese Refugee Representative Repatriation Committee (BRRRC) has decided to request those countries to devise a strong mechanism that will discourage Bhutan to evict its people in future.

The BRRRC has also appealed to the refugees to consider individual freedom and fundamental rights while choosing any option for them.

It has requested the government of Nepal and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to carefully monitor the resettlement process. — HNS