COHRE Stresses Right to Return
Bhutan News Service
Geneva, June
Releasing three new publications on exiled Bhutanese, the Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE), international rights organization has stressed right to return to Bhutan or necessary compensation for their losses.
Issuing a press statement, COHRE based in Geneva said that it sent its two fact finding missions to Nepal and the Indo-Bhutan border this year.
The publications focus on the application of international human rights standards – namely the United Nations Principles on Housing and Property Restitution for Refugees and Displaced Persons known as Pinheiro Principles – to the situation of the more than 100,000 displaced Lhotshampas, people of ethnic Nepali origin in Bhutan.
Jean du Plessis, COHRE Deputy Director, said “Under international law, exiled Bhutanese have the right to return to their original homes and land. If returning home is factually impossible, or if people choose not to return home, they have the right to be compensated for their losses, or to receive alternative land and housing.”
COHRE claimed that the reports are timely, given that a process of third-country resettlement has started for many of the refugees.
The resettlement process does not affect the right to return, or to housing, land and property restitution, said the statement quoting du Plessis as saying "Third-country resettlement is only one part of the durable solution for the Bhutanese refugees – the right to return and to restitution should not be forgotten".
"The right to return is not limited by time or location. Even if they agree to third-country resettlement, their right to return to their original land and home in Bhutan and to claim restitution or compensation cannot be taken away", added Plessis.
COHRE also called on the Bhutanese government to give attention to the housing rights of those who have been displaced. It has also appealed the international community, and core-countries for third country resettlement to support efforts towards protecting the housing, land and property rights of exiled Bhutanese.
Geneva, June
Releasing three new publications on exiled Bhutanese, the Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE), international rights organization has stressed right to return to Bhutan or necessary compensation for their losses.
Issuing a press statement, COHRE based in Geneva said that it sent its two fact finding missions to Nepal and the Indo-Bhutan border this year.
The publications focus on the application of international human rights standards – namely the United Nations Principles on Housing and Property Restitution for Refugees and Displaced Persons known as Pinheiro Principles – to the situation of the more than 100,000 displaced Lhotshampas, people of ethnic Nepali origin in Bhutan.
Jean du Plessis, COHRE Deputy Director, said “Under international law, exiled Bhutanese have the right to return to their original homes and land. If returning home is factually impossible, or if people choose not to return home, they have the right to be compensated for their losses, or to receive alternative land and housing.”
COHRE claimed that the reports are timely, given that a process of third-country resettlement has started for many of the refugees.
The resettlement process does not affect the right to return, or to housing, land and property restitution, said the statement quoting du Plessis as saying "Third-country resettlement is only one part of the durable solution for the Bhutanese refugees – the right to return and to restitution should not be forgotten".
"The right to return is not limited by time or location. Even if they agree to third-country resettlement, their right to return to their original land and home in Bhutan and to claim restitution or compensation cannot be taken away", added Plessis.
COHRE also called on the Bhutanese government to give attention to the housing rights of those who have been displaced. It has also appealed the international community, and core-countries for third country resettlement to support efforts towards protecting the housing, land and property rights of exiled Bhutanese.
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