Jhapa, April 2 -- Bhutan's decision to expel US-deported individuals under its protection has been condemned as a violation of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights by activists and political parties advocating for the rights of Bhutanese refugees.

In a joint statement issued on Tuesday, Bhutan People's Party Chairman Balaram Paudyal, Druk National Congress-Democratic President Rinzin Dorji, acting chair of the Bhutanese Refugee Repatriation Committee Tilak Rai, Bhutan Independent People's Forum Secretary-General DB Subba and National Reconciliation Committee Bhutan Coordinator Krishna Bir Tamang criticised Bhutan for undermining democracy and exposing its authoritarian nature.

They reiterated that third-country resettlement is...