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Bhutan News Service

Bhutan News Service

US Under Secy Otero meets Nepali PM Khanal; asks to resume bilateral talks

Posted: 14 Feb 2011 09:37 AM PST

US Under Secretary of State, Maria Otero

US Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Maria Otero on Monday called on Nepali Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal at the latter’s official residence, Baluwatar.

During the meeting the duo held discussion on various contemporary issues including the ongoing peace process and new statute writing in the country.

Meanwhile, the Under Secretary also asked the PM to resume the installed bilateral talks between Nepal and Bhutan.

According to spokesperson of the Government of Nepal, Gangalal Tuladhar, PM Khanal responded to Under Secretary Otero that the government was committed in resolving the issue at the earliest.

Leaders ask Nepali leaders to put pressure on govt to repatriate refugees

Posted: 14 Feb 2011 03:25 AM PST

Exiled leaders on Monday have asked their friends and well-wishers from Nepal to create pressure on the Government of Nepal to resume bilateral talks with Bhutan so that doors of repatriation would open.

Dr Bhampa Rai of the Bhutanese Refugee Representative Repatriation Committee and DP Kaphle of the People’s Forum for Human Rights in Bhutan made such a request to local leaders of different political parties and human rights organizations of Jhapa district amidst a program at Goldhap.

According to Dr Rai, refugees have been neglected by Nepali people since a few years. “Even the government is not serious towards our issue,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kaphle expressed sadness over the visiting US Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs Maria Otero for not paying a visit to camps. He said that she could have given audience to some of the exiled leaders to listen at their concerns in person.

The new Camp Management Committee of Goldhap organised the program where Nepali leaders of various political parties including the major three – UCPN (Maoist), CPN-UML and Nepali Congress – were present.

Nepali leaders who expressed their views at the program mentioned that they would extend all kinds of supports in the democratic struggle of the exiled Bhutanese.

However, most of them said it is the refugees who need to decide what kinds of programs are favourable to be launched.

Reported by Parsu Ram Niraula from Goldhap for BNS