Grave injustice

T he 15th round of ministerial level talks between Nepal and Bhutan on the refugee issue has been deferred indefinitely. Bhutan apparently cited two reasons—ongoing session of the National Assembly, unicameral Legislature and absence of a Foreign Minister in Nepal—for the postponement of the talks. Although the government of Nepal is currently pre-occupied with the Herculean task of expediting the peace initiatives with the Maoists, the solution of Bhutanese refugee problem is no less important.

Nepali cabinet may not have a full-fledged Foreign Affairs Minister, but the ministry is being looked after by the Prime Minister himself. Any minister deputed by the Prime Minister, or representing the government of Nepal would be as good as a full-fledged Foreign Affairs Minister fully entitled to resuming the negotiation process with Bhutan. At a time, when the first batch of refugees was looking forward to going back home, technicality should not come in the way.

The international community and the Bhutanese refugees languishing in the refugee camps of eastern Nepal for more than a decade are upset and agitated with the list made public by the Joint Verification Team (JVT). Classification of the inmates at the Khudunabari camp—where a shameful instance of about 150 children born and brought up in the camp are listed as ‘criminals’—has come to light recently. This is gross injustice committed by the verification team, and this is something that should not be brushed aside by the groups concerned and the two governments involved in the verification process as a ‘simple error’. The least that can be done urgently is to make an unconditional apology from both the government and JVT on this lapse. Otherwise, the credibility of the present or any future verification process would be at stake.

In fact, the postponement of the 15th round of ministerial level meeting soon after the National Assembly debated the issue of the return of the refugees in a hostile note, would be seen as something done at the express will of the Druk King. The indefinite postponement of the meet will only infuriate the international community and trigger more suspicion against Bhutan. This will also create an impression that Bhutan, which appeared a bit moderate in facilitating the return of the Bhutanese refugees belonging to certain categories, has taken the hard line once again. Return to their homeland is an inalienable right of the Bhutanese. Exploring all avenues of growth in a secure atmosphere in their own country is the right of all Bhutanese children, including those listed as ‘criminals’ by JVT. A delay in rectifying this mistake will mean that the government of Bhutan is party to this injustice. Talks can wait for sometime, but the rectification warrants urgency.