Dahal doesn’t think FBI is involved in Bhutanese refugee scam investigation

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Saturday said he doesn’t think the Federal Bureau of Investigation is directly involved in the investigation of the fake Bhutanese refugee scam or trying to influence it. He however was quick to add that “they must have shown concern in this connection and I think they must be watching it in one way or the other”.

In a conversation with Kantipur, the Post’s sister publication, the prime minister said the US agency might be following it as the issue has an international aspect as well.

No foreign powers are involved in the investigation and this is an outcome of the initiative taken by the government and Nepal Police, said Dahal.

The prime minister said it is obvious for the international community including the United Nations to be curious about the issue as that has an international aspect as well. He added that it is not unusual for the United States to be concerned about the matter as the country has received and settled a large number of Bhutanese refugees there.

With no headway in repatriating the Bhutanese refugees to their home country, the stakeholders had explored the third-country resettlement option and Western countries started to receive them in 2007. Of the around 120,000 refugees staying in the camps in eastern parts of Nepal since the 1990s, nearly 111,000 refugees were settled in various Western countries in the decade-long process. The US alone received more than 90,000 of them. Around 8,500 Bhutanese refugees were estimated to have remained in the camps after the closure of the third-country resettlement process in 2016.

Dahal said he has repeatedly directed the Home Ministry and Nepal Police to take ahead the investigation process with confidence and determination and make sure that no accused is not spared and no innocent is dragged into the case.

“The issue is being looked at seriously by the international community as well. From the United Nations to various international organisations and foreign powers have also watched it seriously,” he said. “Therefore, I believe that no one can do any manipulation in the issue.”

Responding to a query about his upcoming India visit, the prime minister said he believes that the visit will add a new dimension to the Nepal-India relationship.

Perhaps this is a good opportunity for Nepal as well as for India to expand new areas of cooperation that will strengthen bilateral relationships, Dahal said.

“It is not appropriate for me to talk much now, but I am visiting India with the belief of creating a new history,” he added.

Dahal is all set to undertake a four-day official visit to the southern neighbour at the invitation of his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on May 31. He is expected to call on Indian President Droupadi Murmu and hold delegation-level talks with Modi on June 1 in New Delhi.