| The first step in the resettlement of tens of thousands | | | | Canada has agreed to re-settle 5,000 refugees, while |
| of refugees from Bhutan began in Nepal this week. | | | | Australia, Denmark, the |
| The International Organization for Migration is doing the | | | | Netherlands, New Zealand and Norway say they will |
| processing, which could see the refugees ending up in | | | | take others. |
| the United States and several other western countries. | | | | Bhutan says it expelled them because they were illegal |
| VOA correspondent Steve Herman reports from | | | | immigrants. There has been concern that more |
| New Delhi on the first serious progress in one of | | | | non-Bhutanese living in the tiny nation might also be |
| world's most intractable refugee situations. | | | | forced to leave. |
| The arrangement allowing the refugees to emigrate | | | | Sauerbrey says during her visit to the Bhutanese |
| comes nearly two decades after the first wave of | | | | capital this week, she held a rare two-hour meeting |
| ethnic Nepalese was forced out of the Himalayan | | | | with King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, who |
| Buddhist kingdom of Bhutan. | | | | promised no further expulsions. |
| The breakthrough came in recent days after the top | | | | "His Majesty the King assured us they have no |
| American diplomat concerned with the issue visited | | | | thought of expelling their Bhutanese citizens of ethnic |
| Nepal and Bhutan. | | | | Nepalese background," she said. |
| Ellen Sauerbrey, the assistant secretary of state for | | | | She was meeting here in New Delhi Thursday to ask |
| population, refugees and migration, said Thursday that | | | | India's help in solving the protracted refugee crisis, and |
| speed is essential to avoid problems. She said | | | | to clear the way for the refugees to transit through |
| communist activists from Bhutan and Nepal have been | | | | New Delhi. India, which has considerable influence in |
| attempting to stir up trouble in the refugee camps. | | | | both Bhutan and Nepal, has traditionally backed |
| "This is a very critical time where there is, certainly, a | | | | Bhutan's refusal to let the refugees return. |
| concerted effort on the part of the | | | | Sauerbrey on Friday heads for the Indian city of |
| Maoists to infiltrate and radicalize people in the camps," | | | | Dharamsala, the home of the Tibetan government in |
| she said. "And this is something that both Bhutan and | | | | exile, where she is due to meet the Dalai Lama. |
| India are concerned about, and rightfully so." | | | | The United States is also hoping to re-settle thousands |
| The communists are promoting the position of many | | | | of Tibetan refugees who are in Nepal and India. Every |
| of the refugees, that they should be allowed to return | | | | year several thousand Tibetans - including monks, nuns |
| to Bhutan. | | | | and children - escape from Tibet, traveling through |
| Thousands in the Nepalese camps attempted in May | | | | treacherous Nepalese terrain to reach India. |
| to trek back to Bhutan through India, but Indian border | | | | Nepal in the past has handed some of the fleeing |
| guards opened fire, killing at least one of the refugees | | | | refugees to Chinese authorities, prompting international |
| and injuring 20. | | | | condemnation. |
| The United States is committed to accepting at least | | | | U.S. officials say Nepal has also resisted allowing |
| 60,000 of the refugees, with between 30,000 and | | | | Tibetan refugees to re-settle in the United States, to |
| 40,000 expected to head there by the end of 2009. | | | | avoid upsetting Nepal's relations with China. |