EU to talk on repartition

Dadi Ram Antim,mnbnews(www.mnbconnection.com)
During a talk with delegation of  Bhutanese Advocacy Forum (BAF)-Europe,Mr.Jean Christian Remond Head of  Unit for India,Nepal and Bhutan at the European Commission assured EU will talk on regards of repartition with Bhutan scheduled for April this year.

The   five-member delegation of Bhutanese Advocacy Forum – Europe (BAF-Europe) headed by its coordinator Durga Giri held meetings with high level European Union officials at Brussels on January 25.
The delegates met with Jean-Christian Remond and Rensje Teerind, Head and deputy Head of Unit for India and Bhutan and Nepal at the European Commission respectively.

The meeting lasted for one hour during which detail issues concerning 1985 Citizenship Act, right to equal protection of culture, custom and tradition, language and script, religion, establishment of national human rights commission, ratification of UN conventions, inclusive democracy and governance, release of political prisoners, political dialogue for lasting peace, repatriation of Bhutanese in exile, EU Aid and human rights situation in Bhutan were discussed in detail with the EU leaders.
Submitting a memorandum to the officials, the forum delegates also appealed them to pressurize Bhutan to initiate repatriation of thousands of its citizens languishing in Nepalese camps,with full dignity.
According to Forum’s press statement, they discussed issues concerning 1985 Citizenship Act, Right to Equal protection of Culture,Costume and Tradition, Language and Script, Religion, Establishment of Human Rights Commission, Ratification of the UN Convention, Inclusive democracy and Governance, release of political prisoners,  dialogue and repatriation,EU Aid and Human Rights in Bhutan with the officials in the meeting.
On the occasion the delegates appealed the European commission to pressurize The Bhutan government to initiate the repartition of those exiled Bhutanese willing to get back to homeland with dignity and honor at the earliest.
The commission officials expressed their happiness on the formation of first ever advocacy forum of Bhutanese in Europe and assured possible assistance to help institutionalize the advocacy forum. It has also assured the delegates that the advocacy forum can act as a bridge between the Bhutanese human rights movement and European commission and its door will always be opened for future meetings.
Similarly another meeting was held at the European Parliament with Jean Lambert, Head of delegation for South Asia cum member of European parliament from London’s green party. Besides the issues raised with European commission the delegate also appraised that the crux of the problem is the implementation of ethnic cleansing policies like “one nation one people”, Citizenship Act of 1985  and other discriminatory policies in the late eighties.
During the meeting, the delegates appealed the EU to see the possibility of mediation with the RGOB for initiating political dialogue with the dissident groups to achieve the lasting solution to the crisis.
The delegation also paid a courtesy visit to Nepal’s Embassy in Brussels and held talks with Ambassador Pramesh Kumar Hamal and Minister counselor Mr. Deepak Dhital. The issues of Bhutanese refugees and their resettlement issues were discussed on the occasion.