1 TRANSLATION OF THE PROCEEDINGS AND ... - APFA News

and the agreement reached by Bhutan and Nepal that there are four categories of
people in the camps in Nepal. They pointed out that while people who flee a
country because of war may be considered to be refugees, those who leave a
country on their own free will after committing unforgivable crimes against the
people and the nation can never be called refugees, and the Government should
never consider allowing them to return.
The Chimis of Trashigang, Bumthang, Zhemgang, Trongsa and Thimphu
Dzongkhags recalled that despite a series of ministerial level meetings held
between Bhutan and Nepal, there had been no fruitful outcome. The main
reason for this was the frequent changes of government in Nepal which
prolonged discussions and hampered the two sides from reaching a decision on
the classification of people in the camps into the four agreed categories.
The Ngolops who had been unsuccessful in achieving their objective of
destabilizing Bhutan had left the country after committing crimes and violating
the human rights of innocent people. Although the actions of the people who
decided to leave the country with the Ngolops were most ungrateful, His
Majesty the King out of concern for their well being appealed to them to stay
back. These people refused to pay any heed and sold their land and property
right down to a single bamboo pole and left for Nepal saying that they were
returning to their homeland. Such people can never be classified as refugees.
The Chimis of Pema Gatshel and Mongar Dzongkhags pointed out that the
Ngolops who had turned against the country in 1990 had left for Nepal after
robbing and killing many innocent people and destroying service facilities and
infrastructure like schools, hospitals, health centres and roads. When other
people in southern Bhutan applied to emigrate, His Majesty appealed to them
not to leave the country and even exempted them from Goongda woola and all
rural taxes. As the hon’ble members are aware, they refused to listen and left
Bhutan. People who have left the country on their own free will should not be
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