Tobgay in Australia; Australian-Bhutanese lobby for repatriation
Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay is starting his first four-day Australia tour on Monday. This is the first formal visit of the Bhutanese Prime Minister to Australia since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 2002.
Bhutanese living in Australia have requested the office of Australian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister to take this opportunity to put pressure on Bhutan to take back Bhutanese refugees who are still willing to be repatriated.
In a recent statement, Prime Minister Tobgay had resisted repatriating any refugees to their original homestead.
In a joint appeal, the Bhutanese resettled in Australia have said, ‘following the resettlement of the large chunk of the refugee population, we believe the international community has the obligation to put pressure on Bhutan to respect the right of the refugees to return. Bhutan must agree to take back the small number of refugees who are still hoping to get repatriated’.
They further said, ‘We the Bhutanese resettled in Australia request your good office to take this opportunity to put pressure on Bhutan to take back the small number of refugees who not only aspire but are determined to get repatriated’.
‘Australia must play role in making Bhutan realise that it must respect the right to return of its citizens. Else the democracy asserted by Bhutan can only be proved to be hypocrisy’.
‘Also, we keep hope that your office will engage in discussion with Bhutan to open doors for those Bhutanese resettled in Australia to travel to Bhutan and meet their relatives’.
Tobgay arrives Brisbane after completing this three-day tour to Thailand.
While in Australia, Tobgay is scheduled to address World Water Congress Tuesday in Brisbane, meet with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, Speaker of the House of Representative Tony Smith and Trade and Investment Minister Steven Ciabo on Wednesday and Thursday in Canberra.
ON Friday, Tobgay will travel to Sydney and meet with Premier of New South Wales Mike Baird.
On his way back from Australia, PM Tobgay will travel to Goa, India to attend BRICS-BIMSTEC Outreach Summit.