British envoy to Nepal requested to initiate repatriation

The Senior Citizens Repatriation Committee of the Bhutanese exiles on Monday sent a letter to British Ambassador to Nepal, Andrew James Sparkes, urging him to take initiatives for their return back home. The letter bears signatures of 127 refugees including Coordinator of the Committee, Harka Jung Subba.

In a joint letter, the exiled Bhutanese living at Beldangi Camp near Damak in Jhapa district of Nepal apprised the envoy of their plight and requested him to act in their favour.

The letter states that the fundamental rights of the refugees, hoping to return home but languishing in the refugee camp for the past 21 years, have been shattered.

Spokesperson of the Committee, Santabir Ghale, said that they have approached various international organisations and diplomatic missions to take initiative to guarantee their right to return to their homeland, Bhutan.

In a very recent statement, the British diplomat had mentioned Indian government is being engaged in talks for repatriation of the Bhutanese in exile willing to go back to their country. There hasn’t been any official statement from Indian government on the issue.