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Pro-resettlement refugees getting 'threats of physical attack'

A section of Bhutanese refugees, who are in favour of third country resettlement, have complained of threats of physical attack from the members of Bhutanese Republican Youth Association and Bhutanese Revolutionary Students Association.

Reports quoting refugees said the two organisations have publicised names of 12 persons for physical action for speaking in favour of resettlement of refugees in the United States.

The two organisations that have been saying that resettlement would not resolve the crisis have blacklisted 50 persons for supporting the US offer. They have also asked the blacklisted persons to leave the camps within 15 days or face ‘physical action’, reports added.

While the US government has already started process for resettlement in Jhapa, the refugee community remains divided over the issue of third country resettlement. There are refugees who see repatriation as the only solution to this protracted crisis.

Resettlement process to the US is overseen by the Overseas Processing Entity (OPE), the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The IOM will process resettlement of refugees on the basis of referrals made by UNHCR, and only where expressions of interest for resettlement have been made known to UNHCR.

During her recent visit to Nepal, US Assistant Secretary of Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, Ellen Sauerbrey, had said that the first batch of Bhutanese refugees would land in the US as early as January next year.

The US government has said it is prepared to take in some 65,000 refugees while Australia, Denmark and Canada have also expressed readiness to resettle the refugees. nepalnews.com mk Nov 14 07