Bhutanese in Exile to aware Indian President

Refugees to knock on India prez’s door



BY GOPAL KHANAL


NEW DELHI, Nov 11 - Bhutanese refugees languishing in camps in Nepal have warned they will be compelled to take up arms and destabilize north-eastern India if the Indian government continues to ignore them in their efforts for repatriation, a study report said here Friday.
The refugees also plan to present a memorandum to the president of India to seek his help in the repatriation process.

According to the report on the plight of refugees released here, the refugees will wage a movement against India if the latter doesn't respond positively to their demands. The refugees may even take up arms, said the report, adding, "If Bhutanese refugees take up arms, India's north-east will be the center of turmoil, and the Indian Ministry of External Affairs will be held responsible for this," said the report. "And, a problem like that in Palestine will emerge in South Asia."

The report - jointly commissioned by the Indian Social Action Forum (INSAF) and the Group for International Solidarity (GRINSO) and prepared by pro-democracy activists of Nepal, India and Bhutan - will be submitted to Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. "The situation of the refugees is too pitiful," it says.

"Now the Bhutanese refugees have started to see the Indian government as the real villain, they are becoming aggressive against India," said the report. "We found the refugees' situation deteriorating," said Dr Sunilam, Indian parliamentarian from Madhya Pradesh, who led the study team.