RI-OSI mission to assess Bhutanese refugee plight

Refugees International (RI) and Open Society Institute (OSI) will be visiting Bhutanese refugee camps and refugee leaders in Kathmandu and Jhapa from the end of the month to conduct an assessment mission focusing on the plight of Bhutanese refugee.

According to refugee run news portal apfanews.com, the mission will be here for ten days in late September and early October.

The joint RI-OSI mission will involve discussions with international organisations, local non-governmental organisations and refugee rights activists in Kathmandu and Jhapa. The focus of the mission will be on developing new, practical ways to overcome the obstacles to a solution for the long-suffering refugee crisis.

While the primary focus of the follow-up advocacy will be in the region, the team will share potential solutions with the US refugee bureau and UNHCR.

Of late, western countries have shown interest in negotiating for a durable solution of the protracted crisis. 15 rounds of Nepal-Bhutan bilateral talks failed find a solution. Nepal's effort to involve India in the process has also failed.

The US has offered to resettle some 60,000 refugees. Canada, Australia and some European countries have also extended hands for resettlement. However, the refugee leaders are divided over the resettlement plans some saying it would hamper the democratisation process in Bhutan. nepalnews.com ia Sep 26 07