Resettlement proposal divides refugees- Rinjin Dorjee

Resettlement proposal divides refugees

The proposal of their resettlement made by the United States government is rapidly dividing the Bhutanese refugees languishing in Nepalese camps.
Following the proposal of resettling around 60,000 Bhutanese refugees to the US, the debate has intensified even among members of a family with some wanting to go to the US, some wanting to return to Bhutan, some wanting to stay back in Nepal and some wanting to engage in agitation.
According to news report by Nepal Samacharpatra daily, this debate is taking intense form at seven refugee camps in Jhapa and Morang. A group of refugees who want to be resettled in the US or the third developed country, has launched signature campaign in refuges camps of Beldangi, Gooldhap, Timai and Pathari. They have even floated organizations to intensify the campaign.
Rinjin Dorjee, general secretary of Druk National Congress – Bhutan, has accused that a conspiracy is being hatched to split the refugees by compelling them to open up various parties, committees and organization in the pretext of resettling them to the US.
"Situation is such that, there could even be a bloodshed. When we said that repatriation is the ultimate alternative and the only sustainable solution of this impasse, threats were made to our lives," said D.B. Rana Sampang, chairman of Bhutan Gorkha Liberation Front.
D.P. Kafle, general secretary of Human Rights of Bhutan, urged all concerned to be cautious about the likelihood of clashes. "If we are not cautious in time, there could be unimagined consequences (of this resettlement proposal)," he said.
Narad Adhikari, general secretary of Bhutan People's Party, urged Nepal government to come up with responsible reply soon in order to avert disaster. nepalnews.com sd Oct 08 06
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