Bhutanese refugees in Nepal voiced anger and resentment Thursday as their remote Himalayan homeland basked in celebrations for the coronation of a new king.

After the Buddhist kingdom imposed compulsory national dress and banned the Nepalese language in the late 1980s, around 100,000 ethnic Nepalese were forced out, and have been living in United Nations refugee camps ever since.

`It is tragic even though we are Bhutanese, we are not able to be a part of this `gross national happiness,`` said Santa Bir Ghale, referring to the national philosophy developed by the new king`s father.

Bhutan`s government says the people who left were either illegal immigrants or went voluntarily.

Ghale, 68, said he hoped that the new king, Oxford-educated Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, would eventually allow the refugees back into Bhutan, where many still own land and property.

`One sixth of the population were forcefully evicted. If he does not deal with this situation properly, the future of his family will be in doubt,` said Ghale.

Bhutanese Maoists based in refugee camps in Nepal have vowed to wage war against the Wangchuck dynasty -- in an apparent effort to emulate the Maoist rebellion in Nepal that resulted in the abolition of the monarchy here last year.

After languishing in camps for nearly two decades, the refugees are now resettling abroad in large numbers after the United States offered to take at least 60,000 people.

Shiva Lal Adhikari is due to start a new life in the US, but is bitter about the lavish coronation celebrations in Thimpu from which he was excluded.

`We are enraged because we were forcefully evicted, and I hope that the new king understands what happened to one sixth of his population was a huge injustice,` said 40-year-old Adhikari.

`Even though I am going to America, I am still Bhutanese and I hope we will be allowed to go back someday,` said Adhikari.