Refugee issue: The US concerns - I P Adhikari

Refugee issue: The US concerns
I. P. Adhikari


Four years ago I wrote in Nepal Samacharpatra daily that the two powerful democrats of the world – India and the US – would have given enough attention to the issue of Bhutanese refugees had there been armed rebellion in Bhutan.

It has come true.

In recent, both these countries have reached the internal agreement that the issue of Bhutanese refugees in Nepal should be settled before formal election in Bhutan could be held by end 2008. The issue has seen a sharp turn after the visit of northeast commander of Indian army to Bhutan and in return the visit of Bhutanese army chief Batoo Tshering to India to discuss the security situation.

On the eve of these security meetings, Indian papers highlighted that the militants of United Liberation Front Asom have resume their camps inside Bhutan. Certainly, this was a 'created news' to divert the attention of people concerning Bhutanese rebellion to the Indian militants.

The US has offered to resettle a section of the refugees and urged Bhutan to take some. Designed by the Indian political technocrats, the motive behind seems to shatter the efforts of Bhutanese Maoist actually getting stronger.
\n \nThere are some evidences to be sure of this rationale.\n \nThe Indian newspapers have begun publishing news of Bhutanese refugees only after the announcement that communist group has come up in Bhutan. Hopefully, the first most commented news by Indian leaders was the news of Bhutanese Maoists, editor of a Delhi based Indian daily told this writer a week back. The recent India visit of the Bhutanese king also rounded up with principle agreement to curb the growing influences of communists in Bhutan.\n\n \nThe Bhutan government has realised the success of Maoist war in Nepal from which the refugee youths have been influenced. It is after the formation of this rebel group that the Bhutan government has repeatedly blamed the Nepal for failing to sit for talks on refugee issue, which is contrary to the reaction of Bhutan in mid 1990s when the talks disrupted for more than three years.\n\n \nThis is not to sympathise on my behalf that it were the probable rebellions who have actually pressurised the international community to take up the issue seriously. But one can be sure of the fact that the initiative has been taken realising the reality that the government of Bhutan would not resist rebellion exigencies if it started.

There are some evidences to be sure of this rationale.

The Indian newspapers have begun publishing news of Bhutanese refugees only after the announcement that communist group has come up in Bhutan. Hopefully, the first most commented news by Indian leaders was the news of Bhutanese Maoists, editor of a Delhi based Indian daily told this writer a week back. The recent India visit of the Bhutanese king also rounded up with principle agreement to curb the growing influences of communists in Bhutan.

The Bhutan government has realised the success of Maoist war in Nepal from which the refugee youths have been influenced. It is after the formation of this rebel group that the Bhutan government has repeatedly blamed the Nepal for failing to sit for talks on refugee issue, which is contrary to the reaction of Bhutan in mid 1990s when the talks disrupted for more than three years.

This is not to sympathise on my behalf that it were the probable rebellions who have actually pressurised the international community to take up the issue seriously. But one can be sure of the fact that the initiative has been taken realising the reality that the government of Bhutan would not resist rebellion exigencies if it started.


Secondly, the settlement of Bhutanese people will build public pressure on Bhutan for radical democratisation. Increasing Bhutanese Diaspora will also end up with establishing diplomatic relation between the two countries and increase US influences in Bhutan.\n\n \nBut fear among the royal outfits in the country is otherwise. They fear the resettlement of refugees in western countries will have additional benefits for the rebellion in terms of getting financial assistance for their revolt. The repeated reports that the armed groups in Asia are fed and encouraged by the US authorities – financially, technically and intellectually – have further put the Druk regime to recognise the third country resettlement as bigger hurdle to maintain its grips in Bhutanese political sphere.\n\n \nThe rebellion in Bhutan would worsen the security situation in northern India further. It has already been reported by the Indian intelligence agencies that the Bhutanese communist group has maintained relations with the Indian insurgents including BODO, ULFA, Naxalities and KLO. The coalition among these insurgents would be a challenge not only for Bhutan but also for India. The regional closeness, similar principles and characteristics of these insurgents would help them grow together. The presence of dense forests in Bhutan and duars area, flat land in duars for training camps and easy access to underground market of the arms in India are other reasons that will enrich the insurgency in north-east region of Indian sub continent.]

The US has two interests. The first, shatter the efforts of communist group for armed rebellion in Bhutan by ending the refugee stalemate at the earliest. As most youths prefer, as is the tendency in any other Asian nations, to go to the US, certainly the communist efforts will get serious set back to organise a military gang.

Secondly, the settlement of Bhutanese people will build public pressure on Bhutan for radical democratisation. Increasing Bhutanese Diaspora will also end up with establishing diplomatic relation between the two countries and increase US influences in Bhutan.

But fear among the royal outfits in the country is otherwise. They fear the resettlement of refugees in western countries will have additional benefits for the rebellion in terms of getting financial assistance for their revolt. The repeated reports that the armed groups in Asia are fed and encouraged by the US authorities – financially, technically and intellectually – have further put the Druk regime to recognise the third country resettlement as bigger hurdle to maintain its grips in Bhutanese political sphere.

The rebellion in Bhutan would worsen the security situation in northern India further. It has already been reported by the Indian intelligence agencies that the Bhutanese communist group has maintained relations with the Indian insurgents including BODO, ULFA, Naxalities and KLO. The coalition among these insurgents would be a challenge not only for Bhutan but also for India. The regional closeness, similar principles and characteristics of these insurgents would help them grow together. The presence of dense forests in Bhutan and duars area, flat land in duars for training camps and easy access to underground market of the arms in India are other reasons that will enrich the insurgency in north-east region of Indian sub continent.

To sum up, the initiatives taken by the US and Indian government and the UNHCR that is assisting the refugees for the last 17 years has clearly given the message that armed rebellion is only the means to get justice; no avail what efforts you put get justice in peaceful manner. It would not be unwise to say, India has lost its Gandhian philosophy of non-violence.

To sum up, the initiatives taken by the US and Indian government and the UNHCR that is assisting the refugees for the last 17 years has clearly given the message that armed rebellion is only the means to get justice; no avail what efforts you put get justice in peaceful manner. It would not be unwise to say, India has lost its Gandhian philosophy of non-violence.

(President of Association of Press Freedom Activists-Bhutan, Adhikari is chief editor of www.apfanews.com)