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Bhutan News Service

Bhutan News Service

DNC-D, HUROB seek support from GoN

Posted: 01 Sep 2011 04:00 AM PDT

In separate media statements received by BNS, the Druk National Congress (Democratic) and Human Rights Organization of Bhutan (HUROB) have extended their warm felicitations to Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, newly elected Prime Minister of Nepal.

"Although resettlement is not the conclusion in the crusade for repatriation, failure to convince Bhutan despite all diplomatic persuasion has perhaps compelled Bhutanese enmasse to embrace the choice of third country resettlement.  Obviously, that is also an opportunity to empower them through experiences given required exposure and educational prospects," reads the Statement of DNC-D.

The HUROB Chairmain, SB Subba, meanwhile, has said that since 1991, the Bhutanese refugees have seen 34 prime ministers coming and going. According to his statement, in their tenure, some tried to resolve the festering problem through bilateral talk between two governments of Nepal and Bhutan, while a few made blunders and a few even never spoke of the problem.

"More outrageous is that now the core countries have opened the option of third country resettlement and options of repatriation, which of course is the priority and local assimilation are completely sidelined," added Subba's statement, which further sought support from Bhattarai-led government for repatriation.

The President of DNC-D, Thinley Penjore, added that his party wished to apprise the newly elected Prime Minister and further appeal his government to give priority to the two decade long suffering of the unfortunate people discriminated by the Bhutanese regime.

HUROB has further said that on the part of Nepal government, it also demonstrates the failure of the diplomatic efficiency to deal appropriately with the intransigent Bhutan government and not reciprocating to Nepal government flexibility and thus not allowing single Bhutanese refugee to repatriate despite verification and proving at the least 75% Bhutanese even with the strictest scrutiny by the Bhutan government.

Single women, exiled journos honored amidst Teej celebration

Posted: 01 Sep 2011 03:22 AM PDT

The Bhutanese Refugees Association of Intellectual Novas (BRAIN) honored at least six most vulnerable women of three Beldangi camps amidst grand celebration of this year’s Teej festival, Wednesday.

Eastern Coordinator of Maiti Nepal Govinda Ghimirey honors single women (Picture : Monarath Pokhrel)

Over 200 single women of the three camps gathered at Beldangi-II to celebrate the Teej together, according to BRAIN Coordinator Basudev Khanal.

The program, which was sponsored by the Punya Foundation, marked a variety of stage performances, including group dance and drama from the women group.

Representatives of various aid agencies, security personnel, Maiti Nepal and Happy Nepal, among others were also present during the function.

Meanwhile, the BRAIN also honored half a dozen of exiled journalists during the program.

Speaking at the program, Manager of Bhutan News Service, Vidhyapati Mishra, expressed his gratitude towards the organizer and community for recognizing the contribution made by the exiled media.

Executive Director of Punya Foundation, Dr Lakshmi Prasad Dhakal from the Netherlands said, the foundation sponsored the program as it aims to work for empowerment of vulnerable people under the slogan of ‘justice seeking through education and empowerment’.

Thaga Maya Dhakal and Puskar Poudel from Australia, Ramesh Gautam from Norway and Shantiram Poudel from America contributed for the program through the foundation, according to Dhakal.

“On behalf of Punya Foundation, I would like to thank BRAIN team and all the volunteers who have given time and energy to remember those women still in the refugee camps who are living under harsh conditions.”

I also thank those individuals who from the countries of their resettlement extended their helping hands to make the empowerment program a success, added he.