Written Answers. - Southern Bhutanese Refugee Rights.
Eric J. Byrne
Ceist:
59
Mr. E. Byrne
asked the
Tánaiste
and Minister for Foreign Affairs, in view of the continuing problems faced by the Southern Bhutanese people, large numbers of whom are living in refugee camps in Nepal, whether his Department will demand that the EU and the UN work to improve the situation of these refugees and facilitate a return to their homes in Southern Bhutan accompanied by guaranteed protection of their human rights; and the steps, if any, he will take to convince the Bhutanese authorities to allow the refugees to return and to extend to them human rights guarantees.
[4743/95]
I am aware that at present there are 86,000 refugees or asylum seekers from Bhutan in refugee camps in south east Nepal. We support international efforts through the European Union and the United Nations to improve the situation and have also given some direct assistance.
Since 1992, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has managed an emergency relief programme for refugees and asylum seekers who have come from Britain to the camps in Nepal. In 1994, 1.5 million ECUs was provided by the European Union to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees for their relief programme in the refugee camps. Irish Government funding has been made available, via the Agency for Personal Service Overseas, to assist five Irish aid workers who are working with the UNHCR to provide primary education to the large number of refugee children in the camps. The UNHCR intends to expand its relief assistance to the refugees and is working to find more permanent solutions to the problems of shelter and sanitation in the camps.
Bilateral negotiations between Bhutan and Nepal regarding the refugees have been in progress since 1993 and a mechanism has been agreed whereby a joint vertication mission will categorise the refugees in the camps with a view to the eventual repatriation of certain categories.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Jose Ayala Lasso, visited Bhutan and Nepal in 1994 and the refugee issue was discussed during his visit. Mr. Lasso expressed his support for the bilateral negotiations taking place between Bhutan and Nepal.
The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention also visited Bhutan in 1994, to investigate, amongst other matters, the detention of people of Nepalese origin. The report of the Working Group noted the sincere efforts of the Bhutanese authorities to remedy the situation of those prosecuted under the National Security Act, 1992, which would include various persons of Nepalese origin.
The UNHCR has a key role to play in ensuring that the eventual repatriation meets the highest international standards and that the safety and dignity of all returning refugees are safeguarded.
The European Union is closely monitoring the negotiations between Bhutan and Nepal on the refugee issue and, whenever a suitable opportunity arises, will urge that the voluntary repatriation of refugees to Bhutan should soon begin.
