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European Parliament resolution on Bhutanese refugees in Nepal
Tabled "common motion for a resolution" by the
following EP Groups:
Common motion for a resolution by on behalf of the PPE/DE
Group"
by on behalf of the PSE Group
by on behalf of the ELDR Group
by on behalf of the GREEN/ALE Group
by on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group
by on behalf of the UEN Group
by on behalf of the EDD Group
by on behalf of the TDI Group
On Bhutanese refugees in Nepal"
The final text:
Human rights: Bhutanese refugees in Nepal
PE 293.778
European Parliament resolution on Bhutanese refugees in
Nepal
The European Parliament,
A. having regard to its resolution of 14 March 1996 on
the plight of Nepali-speaking refugees from Bhutan,
B. having regard to the visit to Nepal from 21 to 22
April 2000 by the European Parliamentís Delegation for relations with the
countries of South Asia and the SAARC, which incorporated an on-the-spot
assessment of the continuing plight of the almost 98 000 Bhutanese refugees who
are accommodated in seven refugee camps in eastern Nepal,
C. recalling that both Bhutan and Nepal have given assurances
to the European Parliament that bilateral negotiations would be speedily concluded
and that actual verification in the camps would begin by July 2000,
D. aware that the growth in the population of Bhutanese
refugees, which is a natural process, means a demand for resources including
additional huts and associated facilities in already cramped camps and that,
similarly, food and non-food supply is another area in which demand continues to
rise each year,
E. conscious of the vital role played by the World Food
Programme (WFP) and the UNHCR, who are assisting the refugees, and that the
European Union and other donors have provided funds for the two organisations,
and welcoming the fact that the EU has also been supporting the refugees and
refugee-affected areas through NGOs,
F. stressing that, while the EU remains one of the major
donors, both the UNHCR and the WPF are finding it increasingly difficult to
raise funds to run the camps and that in recent months the WFP has been facing
the real and very serious possibility of a future food
shortage, and expressing disquiet, furthermore, that donors are more and more
concerned at the lack of progress being made,
G. welcoming the talks on the problem of the Bhutanese
refugees held by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Mrs Sadako Ogata, with
the Bhutanese and Nepalese authorities during her visit to these countries at
the end of April and beginning of May 2000,
1. Reiterates its call to the Governments of Bhutan and Nepal,
in cooperation with all other parties involved, to reach an agreement which
will allow the early and voluntary repatriation of these
Bhutanese refugees to their country of origin;
2. Regrets the officially instituted and illegal occupation of
the homes and lands of those who have been driven out, as this complicates
possible future repatriation and makes a just settlement more difficult to
achieve;
3. Welcomes the latest round of bilateral talks between Nepal
and Bhutan in Thimphu in May this year; also welcomes the fact that Nepal has
accepted the UNHCR compromise on the crucial definition of the
"family" unit for verification purposes and calls on the Bhutanese
authorities to accept the UNHCR compromise so that the commitment to field
verification for the early and time-bound repatriation of the refugees can begin
immediately;
4. Welcomes the Bhutanese authoritiesí commitment, given to
the UNHCR High Commissioner for Refugees during her visit to Bhutan and Nepal,
to resolve the refugee issueİand to display the flexibility necessary for an
early solution to the problem of Bhutanese refugees in Nepal;
5. Considers that international donors should make sufficient
funds available to permit the running of the camps during the negotiation and
verification processİand greatly appreciates the direct support for the camps
which, so far, has cost USD 92 million, and calls on the donors, furthermore, to
insist that the Bhutanese Government facilitate a rapid repatriation of the
refugees;
6. Recognises the tremendous goodwill of Nepal in accepting
the refugees who are the victims of arbitrary deprivation of nationality and
forcible eviction and who came to Nepal through India, which consistently
refuses to help in resolving the repatriation issue by pretending that it is a
bilateral issue of concern only to Bhutan and Nepal;
7. Considers that the Indian authorities should take full
account of the humanitarian situation of the Bhutanese refugees in Nepal and
should take political initiatives in order to support the solution of the
problem, while noting that there are 25 000 Bhutanese refugees in
India;
8. Calls for and encourages all interests, including
international donors, to contribute to finding an early and permanent solution
bearing in mind that almost 98 000 people have been denied
their human rights for the last eight years;
9. Welcomes the releaseİof Mr Tek Nath Rizal and 200 other
prisoners as a positive indication of Bhutanese goodwill but at the same time
regrets the lack of progress in other areas;
10. Welcomes the positive steps in defining the database and
procedural aspects for the verification process and points to the important role
that can be played by the UNHCR in facilitating the practical implementation of
the process;
11. Notes with satisfaction that the Prime Ministers of Bhutan
and Nepal will meet very soon in New York and will also meet Mrs Ogata, High
Commissioner for Refugees; hopes that these meetings will produce a final
political settlement of this long-standing question; if not, calls on the
Council to initiate meaningful discussions and consider financial support aimed
at encouraging all parties involved to take the necessary political initiatives
which will result in a final and durable solution at the highest political
level;
12. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the
Council, the Commission, the governments of the Member States, the governments
of Bhutan, Nepal and India, the secretariat of the SAARC, the WFP and the UNHCR.
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