A group of Bhutanese refugees resettled in various countries have appealed to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take up their issue with the Bhutanese government in a strong manner.

In a letter sent to Modi ahead of the latter’s two-day state visit to the Himalayan Kingdom Sunday, some 25 Bhutanese refugees from various countries drew the Indian prime minister’s attention towards the plight of the Bhutanese refugees.

“Mr PM, you are visiting a country that has expelled over 100,000 of its innocent citizens simply for raising their voices for democracy, human rights and equality in the kingdom. Unfortunately, these citizens have been rendered stateless for over 22 years as Bhutan is never in favor of accepting them back home,” said the refugees in their letter.

“Bhutanese refugees, their leaders and the international community strongly believe that the right to return home is completely vested on the Indian mercy. It is a matter of extreme sadness that none of the former governments of India paid attention towards this standoff.” The letter also appealed the Modi-led government to generously engage India’s “influential leadership in allowing all Bhutanese to fully exercise democracy and human rights, as Indian and global citizens do”, thereby pressing the Bhutanese side to accept dignified return of all willing citizens from exile.

Of the total 90,000 Bhutanese refugees who are resettled since the third country resettlement programme began seven years ago, over 75,000 have been resettled in the United States alone. Other resettlement countries include Canada, Australia, Denmark, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom.

Published on: 16 June 2014 | The Kathmandu Post