The Bhutanese Refugee Problem- Rajan Pokhrel

The Bhutanese Refugee Problem
After years of living in camps the displaced are longing for home
Rajan Pokhrel (rajanp)

Published 2006-09-22 16:35 (KST)

Since the late 1980s and early 1990s the royal government of Bhutan, in a calculated campaign, has revoked the citizenship and evicted more than 100,000 Bhutanese citizens. These citizens were driven from Bhutan and came into Nepal through India. For almost 16 years now they have been living as refugees in seven camps in eastern Nepal.

Bhutanese Refugees in Nepal
Population per camp
Timai 10,253

Beldangi (I) 18,200

Beldangi (II) 22,225

Beldangi (III) 11,142

K/bari 13,436

Goldhap 9,500

Sanischare 20,090

Total 104,846

Source: Bhutanese refugee human rights organizations

The issue of Bhutanese Refugees has now become a long story. Sixteen years have passed by and still there is no solution in sight that the Bhutanese refugees will ever go back to Bhutan. It is indeed a long period of time for the refugees to remain in the slum-like refugee camps and survive on begged alms and charity handouts. Sixteen years that have passed in bamboo huts in refugee camps in eastern Nepal is indeed a long period of time for the oppressed people who are equally tormented by frustration.Despite the 15 rounds of bilateral talks between the governments of Bhutan and Nepal; efforts from the refugees' side for repatriation and pressure from various international levels for the repatriation of Bhutanese refugees, the Bhutanese refugee problem is gearing up towards an even more grave situation.I talked to some of the Bhutanese refugees and other people whom I met, and telephoned them in Kathmandu and Jhapa over the past two weeks.Bhutanese refugee Nar Bahadur Karki has a dream to return Bhutan. "I always remember my small house and the cultivated land," Karki said, adding that bilateral talks between Nepal and Bhutan are needed for the early repatriation of the refugees. Another Yognath Dhungel, opposed the proposal for third country repatriation. "My motherland is more lovely than heaven. I want to be back at any cost," Dhungel said. According to him they are facing innumerable problems in the camps in Nepal.Netra Dahal accused India and Nepal of not pressurizing Bhutan's government to solve the problem. "It is an international issue but not only the problem of Nepal," Dahal said, adding that the international community must play its role in solving the problem. Rama Kharel, who is residing at a camp with her 7-member family, asked the concerned authorities to manage her (refugees) repatriation to Bhutan. "I want to die in my country," she reluctantly said.One of the Bhutanese refugees' leaders, Ram Chandra Sigdel, who had led the self-repatriation campaign in the past, said the refugees have high hopes from the newly formed democratic government of Nepal. He urged the government to take firm steps in solving the problem of refugees and said that international pressure is also required to solve the problem.Bhaktmaya Sharma, Durga Tamang, Gita Devi Pokhrel, Tilrupa Dulal and Baliraj Khadka are among the many refugees who dream of returning to their homeland. They asked the United Nations High Commissions for Refugees (UNHCR) to expedite necessary process for their repatriation.Bhutanese refugees have a right to return home, for which, India's mediation is necessary since it is not just Nepal's problem, said Pradip Pokharel, advisor of Amnesty International Nepal. "The government should form a refugee commission to look into the cases and problems of refugees," he said.The bilateral meeting between Nepal and Bhutan held in Oct. 2003 had agreed to begin repatriation of refugees at Khudunabari camp, but the whole process could not move forward after the refugees at the camp and Bhutanese officials had differences on Dec. 23 of the same year. The repatriation process as well as the government level talks couldn't be established until that date.Meanwhile, UNHCR has now come up with the response "Durable Solution" for the Bhutanese refugees' problem. UNHCR's response is an unambiguous answer to our voice, said Homnath Baral, a member of the Refugee Rights Coordinating Committee (RRCC).According to Baral, the Bhutanese issue needs a political solution. Baral welcomed the proposal of UNHCR to find out the durable solution of the problem.Bhutanese refugee Pingala Magar said they no longer want to live as refugees and their patience has run out. "We welcome the UNHCR's proposal for resettlement," she added.
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Leader of the U.S. Congressmen's delegation, Jim Kolbe, who visited Nepal recently, told Bhutan that America could absorb up to 70,000 Bhutanese refugees languishing in various camps in eastern Nepal. "The U.S. has agreed to take up to 50,000 or up to 70,000 of these people. Australia and Canada has also agreed to take in smaller numbers," Kolbe is quoted as saying in a report posted to Kuenselonline, the Bhutanese government's official website. Republican Congress member Kolbe, led a U.S. congressional delegation to Bhutan on a three-day visit from Aug. 28-31.

Bhutan citizens to vote twice for new government-Dasho Kunzang Wangdi

Bhutan citizens to vote twice for new government

Thimphu, Sep 18:

Bhutanese citizens above 18 years will vote twice when elections for a new government are held in 2008, officials here said."The first vote will be during the primary round and the second during the general election," said Chief Election Commissioner Dasho Kunzang Wangdi.Explaining the procedures of the elections, Wangdi said the primary round would be open to all political parties registered with the commission who fulfil the conditions laid down by it.He said although any number of parties could be formed at the primary level all parties should have national representation."A party should have a charter depending on the ideology or principle that it is going to adopt. The charter has to be accepted by the Election Commission when it is being registered," Wangdi was quoted as saying by Bhutan's national newspaper Kuensel."A party will have to present its manifesto during the running and active members of a party who try to get a seat in parliament will be assigned the duty of running."According to the draft constitution of Bhutan, the two political parties with the highest number of votes in the primary election will be declared eligible to contest in the general election.The two parties would then have to nominate their candidates for seats in parliament with the one getting the maximum seats in parliament forming the government.Officials have said people could informally form parties and campaign as long as they do not go against the present laws.


--- IANS

US to Feed Bhutanese Exiles

U.S. provides assistance to feed Bhutanese Refugees in Nepal

The United States has provided $750,000 to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to help feed Bhutanese refugees in Nepal.
A press release issued by the American Centre in Kathmandu said “The U.S. State Department's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) provided the funds as part of a recent $11.5 million donation to theWFP.”
The statement quoted WFP Executive Director James Morris as saying, "Thanks to this timely and generous US contribution, there will now be sufficient funding for ninerefugee operations in Africa and a further three in Asia - until the end of this year."
Around 106,000 Bhutanese refugees are languishing in seven United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee (UNHCR) administered camps in eastern Nepal since the early 1990’s.
Fifteen rounds of bilateral negotiations between the Bhutanese and Nepalese governments have failed to resolve the refugee impasse.

nepalnews.com pb Sep 18 06

BHUTAN'S DEMOCRACY AND INDIA'S FEAR

Bhutan gets ready for democracy
September 13, 2006


One of the world's smallest nations is taking a giant step towards becoming a democracy. The Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, which shares borders with both India and China, will hold its first general election in 2008. The kingdom, with 2.2 million people, is now getting ready to make the shift from monarchy to parliamentary democracy. It is holding mock elections to create awareness among officials and citizens of the process. The mock polls include political campaigning, voting, counting of votes, and declaration of results. In December last year, King Jigme Singye Wangchuck announced his decision to abdicate in favor of his eldest son. This was a prelude to Bhutan adopting a constitution and electing a prime minister in 2008. 938Live's Tamal Mukherjee (TM) spoke to strategic affairs analyst Surya Gangadharan (SG) in New Delhi, to find out more about the winds of change in the Himalayan kingdom.

(SG): Yes, it must rank as one of the most freak experiments in the world, where a king who is fully in control, who has all the powers, is voluntarily giving them up to parliament and to his people. So, it is a very very unique experiment, especially when you compare it with what King Gyanendra tried to do in Nepal. This is really unique.

(TM): Right. But there are lots of questions about what will happen after they set up a democratic system?

(SG): Well, there will be a lot of uncertainties. For one, whether Bhutanese are mature enough to handle democracy when their politicians serve them well, and democracy also means a more open kind of system. So, you are opening the doors for all kinds of influences, whether it is geo-political, geo-strategic, economic and otherwise. You are opening the doors to corruption. All these things will come in. So, it is not very clear whether Bhutan's current gross national happiness will actually continue maybe ten years down the road.

(TM): How are people in New Delhi viewing this? Are they also a bit concerned about what will happen in future?

(SG): As of now, India is guiding Bhutan in its foreign policy and it is one of the biggest contributors to Bhutan's economic development. The moment a representative government comes there, you are going to meet up with a different set of challenges. How do you persuade MPs and others who have been popularly elected, who have a vision of where they are, who they are, will they take kindly to India telling them this is how it is, this is how things should be done? It won't. There's the other factor that Bhutan is strategically crucial for us. It borders China. And we are aware that Bhutan and China have been having some kind of an unofficial dialogue on their border. Bhutan wants to settle the border, China wants a mission in Bhutan which we don’t favour. So, all these little games are going on. And once a representative government comes in, you could have a Bhutanese government independently taking decisions without consulting Delhi. That's where the problems could arise.

(TM): Yes. A similar situation has happened in Nepal, where democracy was introduced, but it is now going through the initial teething problems?

(SG): I think Nepal in a sense -- the last democracy revolution of 1991 was left unfinished. It wasn't taken to the logical conclusions. So, that was blunder on the part of the Nepalese themselves. So, they had to go down the road again this time in order to complete the task. But to say that India's relations with Nepal are going to be easy, but with the Maoists coming in, things aren't going to be easy, they are going to be even more difficult. So, I would see a lot of parallels in Nepal and Bhutan, in the way developments are going on.

(TM): But it seems the king in Bhutan has decided to go down this road, and they are now getting ready to introduce full-fledged democracy and hold elections in 2008?

(SG): The king seems very certain about what he is doing. And in a sense what he is doing is laudable because he is trying to, he has a vision for Bhutan beyond him. And it's better he tries and does it now because he is still young and his son is younger, and he can be there to serve as a kind of stabilizing force to keep people together. So, obviously he is looking very very far ahead, and one should in a sense congratulate him for his vision. Whether this vision will work or how it will work is something in the realm of uncertainty. --------

That was strategic affairs analyst Surya Gangadharan in New Delhi, talking to
Tamal Mukherjee.

CLICK TO LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW. http://www.rsi.sg/english_loadaudio.php?

audio=mms://202.172.226.198/radiorsi/rsi_English/rsi_e_wed2005.asf
IT TAKES TIME TO OPEN

Bhutanese RefugeesNew Refugee Policy - Uttam Maharjan

Bhutanese RefugeesNew Refugee Policy [ 2006-9-13 ]

By Uttam Maharjan

The fate of over 100,000 Bhutanese refugees has been in the air for a decade and a half. These Bhutanese refugees have been sheltering in seven camps in Jhapa and Morang districts in eastern Nepal since they first arrived in December 1990. The Government of Nepal and the Royal Government of Bhutan have held umpteen rounds of talks to solve the refugee crisis. The Nepal-Bhutan Joint Ministerial Committee was formed in 1993, and the first round of talks was held in that year. Despite so many rounds of talks, there is no sign of the refugee crisis getting solved. Who is to blame for this sorry state of affairs? It is largely Bhutan itself. Trilateral issueBhutan has been avoiding solving the refugee crisis by making one alibi or the other. Whenever international pressure seems to pile up on it, the Dragon Kingdom shows willingness to solve the refugee crisis by holding talks with Nepal. But the point to ponder is that although the Bhutanese refugee crisis is trilateral in nature, involving Nepal, Bhutan and India, Bhutan insists that it is a bilateral issue. That is why, although Nepal wants India to get involved in the refugee talks, the country has not been able to notch up success in this direction. Without Indian support and cooperation, the problem cannot be easily solved.Under international pressure, Bhutan agreed to take back its refugees in 2003 after verification of the refugees dwelling in the Khudunabari camp. Preparations were being made for the repatriation of the first batch of refugees and verification of refugees in other camps when an untoward incident took place on December 22 in that year. The refugees assaulted the Bhutanese officials of the Joint Verification Team. In fact, the incident occurred due to the provocative behaviour on the part of the Bhutanese officials. After the incident, the Bhutanese officials went back to Bhutan without so much as informing their Nepalese counterpart. Since then, the refugee issue has remained unsolved despite Nepal's repeated requests for solving the problem. During the intervening time since the incident, some developments have cropped up. At one time, some Bhutanese refugees, being despondent over their problem remaining unaddressed for a long time, marched on their own to their homeland, only to be repelled by the Indian authorities. There were protest programmes by the Bhutanese refugees in the capital city of Kathmandu to mount pressure on the government to take concrete measures to arrange for their repatriation to their homeland. The point of nationalising and assimilating the refugees in Nepal was also mooted. In yet another recent development, resettlement of the refugees in third countries has held the limelight. But the refugees are against this scheme, which has reportedly been hatched by the international community. What they want is nothing less than dignified repatriation to their homeland without, of course, any strings attached.A new era of people's democracy, popularly called loktantra, has been ushered in Nepal since the success of People's Movement II. The loktrantic government has taken the initiative of solving the refugee imbroglio by formulating a new refugee policy. Accordingly, a five-member team has been constituted. The team has been surveying the status of the refugees since August 31, 2006. The members of the team have been holding direct talks with the refugees to know their feelings. The team has flatly denied that the refugees will be resettled in third countries, clarifying that it is just a scuttlebutt. The team, following in the footsteps of the past governments of Nepal, believes that Indian support is essential to solving the refugee crisis. The team has, therefore, mulled over winning India over to the positive thinking that the refugee crisis is a trilateral issue and not just a bilateral one. The team has also accused Bhutan of escaping solving the refugee problem by making one excuse or the other.Given the long time the refugee crisis has remained unresolved, it is high time Nepal took drastic steps to solve the crisis. The best way to solve the crisis is dignified, unconditional repatriation of the refugees to their homeland, which can be engineered through the tripartite efforts of Nepal, Bhutan and India. Otherwise, there will be no option left for Nepal other than to internationalise the issue. Package of solutionsTill now, the refugees have been living off the assistance being given by various international organisations. It is reported that these organizations are gradually cutting back on their assistance, making the lives of the refugees more and more miserable. It is obvious that the refugees cannot be supported forever in Nepal. Nor is it possible for Nepal to assimilate all the refugees. What must be understood by Bhutan and the international community is that Nepal has sheltered the refugees on humanitarian grounds. The refugee crisis must be solved, otherwise the refugees will turn stateless people, a crime in the eyes of international law. Let's hope that the newly formed government team will come up with a package of solutions beneficial to both Nepal and Bhutan and not a Pandora's box that will further exacerbate the refugee crisis.

Rongthong Kuenley Dorji to be the first democratic PM

Refugee leader hopes to take part in 2008 election in Bhutan

One of the Bhutanese political parties operating in exile has claimed that it would take part in the national election of Bhutan slated for 2008.
In an interview with the www.apfanews.com, a news portal run by the refugees, president of Druk National Congress (DNC) Rongthong Kuenley Dorji said his party has been making preparations for the election that the Bhutanese king announced to hold for the first time in Bhutanese history in 2008.
Dorji, who was arrested in 1997, jailed for one year and released on condition that he would not leave New Delhi, said that his party ' accepts the elections to be held in 2008 because it has already welcomed the draft constitution prepared by the government'.
While most political leaders in exile have criticize the draft constitution unveiled last year, Dorji said it was positive step towards democratisation of Bhutan and has addressed most of the demands raised by the political parties. "It certainly doesn't encompass all the democratic demands," he said. "Changes need to seep slowly so that foundations of democratic institution in Bhutan become firm and strong to withstand future challenges," Dorji added.
Dorji has criticized the suggestions forwarded by other political parties to the king regarding the drafted constitution. The suggestions to the draft constitution were prepared in the initiation of a faction of his party, which split four years ago. Thinley Penjor leads the split group and claims to be the original DNC.
Dorji also welcomed the offer of UNHCR and the US for third country resettlement of refugees who do not want or cannot return to Bhutan.
He also emphasized the role of international community, especially of India, in finding solution of the refugee crisis and political changes in Bhutan.
Bhutanese king Jigme Singye had announced to hold first parliamentary election in 2008 and handover the democratic Bhutan to his son thence. Refugee leaders had criticised the move of the king stating that his intention is to just to hinder the refugee repatriation by pretending political transformation in Bhutan. nepalnews.com ia Sep 13 06

More about Bhutanese in Exile

Link here: http://123bharath.com/search/extremesearch.php?search=bhutanese+refugees

WILL MYANMAR GO BHUTAN WAY FROM TODAY?

INDIA EXPECTS ALL HER NEIGHBOURS TO BE HER FRIEND LIKE BHUTAN. WILL BURMA NOD BEFORE HER IN THE BHUTANESE WAY.

India-Myanmar home secretary-level talks from today

New Delhi, Sep 11:

Steps needed to curb smuggling of arms and ammunition and illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances will come up for discussion at the forthcoming Home Secretary level India-Myanmar talks.The meeting, to be held here from September 13 to 16, will also review the progress of various cross-border projects over which the two countries have agreed to cooperate, an official release said today.The meeting, held annually to discuss various issues related to maintenance of peace and tranquility along the border, is likely to discuss action against Indian Insurgent Groups (IIGs) present in Myanmar territory and effective border management.With reports of northeast insurgent groups operating from Myanmar, India will press for measures to flush them out like Bhutan's crackdown on the ULFA in 2003, MHA sources said.There are reports on the activities of insurgent groups in Myanmar and their whereabouts and New Delhi will utilise the four-day talks to make the demand for flushing them out, besides raising issues like drug trafficking and smuggling.They said some insurgent groups from Manipur and Nagaland were operating from Myanmar and cited instance of killing of some Assam Rifles personnel by insurgents a few months back.Though Bhutan launched 'Operation All Clear' to flush out ULFA militants nearly three years ago, Myanmar has not so far agreed to similar action against IIGs.The northeastern states have been voicing concern over this issue, pointing out the importance of Myanmar as the gateway to East Asian countries from the strategic point of view. Border management and fencing are among the issues expected to be discussed at the talks. They are likely to be taken up in the light of recent reports indicating the smuggling of Chinese grenades and counterfeit Indian currency through the Myanmar border.While the Indian side will be led by Union Home Secretary V K Duggal, Deputy Minister Birg Gen Phone Swe will lead the Myanmar side.Sources said during the last meeting, held at Yangon in October last year, issues related to security, drug trafficking, border trade, border management and proposed infrastructure projects in Myanmar were discussed.Both sides had agreed to further strengthen cooperation in tackling the activities of insurgents, arms smugglers, drug peddlers and other hostile elements along the India-Myanmar border.The status of various infrastructure projects in Myanmar, particularly in the road and power sectors, for which the two countries have agreed to cooperate, was reviewed at the last meeting and a follow up is expected this time.India and Myanmar had signed an agreement for maintenance of peace and tranquility in the border areas in 1994, under which Home Secretaries of both countries are to meet once a year while Joint Secretaries are to hold sectoral meetings every six months. The last sectoral meeting was held in Kolkata in July last year.
--- PTI

Bhutan, India and America- Hari Prasad Adhikari

Bhutan, India and America
By Hari Prasad Adhikari
Sept 10 -

On August 30, 2006 a team of 14 member delegation led by Jim Kolbe from United States of America arrived at the Bhutanese capital. The delegation then met King Jigme Singye Wangchuk at Tashi chho dzong, Thimphu in which only the key members of the delegation were present. Prior to this, the delegates met Prime Minister Sangye Nidup, Chief Justice Sonam Tobgye and Foreign Minister Khandu Wangchuk.

A couple of days ago, the same team had visited two of the refugee camps namely, Beldangi and Sanischare in eastern Nepal. They had assured the refugees that they would raise the issue of repatriation with dignity and honor very strongly with the Druk dictator on their visit to Thimphu.

Although the actual information of the discourse regarding the political settlement and repatriation of Bhutanese refugees is yet to be disclosed but it is clear that the visiting delegation met the prominent sycophants in the king's coterie for the last eight years.
These flatterers have the privilege to talk in advance with the visiting guests so that they can summarize their views jointly or separately to brief the king. They even scrutinize any proposal of the visiting party or individual and add their own comment prior to grant the audience to the visitors by the king.

Such procedure is not compulsory to personalities from the Indian government.
In addition, Sangye Nidup, a close representative of the present royal family, is looked upon as a significant figure to gauge the pros and cons of the political decision and dimension made in the kingdom. Also, he has remained the guardian of business empires owned by the king's relatives since the 1980s.

As mentioned above, the American delegates met chief justice Sonam Tobgay and the chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constitution, in which the citizenship rights of the inhabitants of southern Bhutan, who are the true descendents of centuries-old ancestors, is denied by the document. Not only this, the constitution has legitimized the government's forceful acquisition of private properties owned by the citizens in southern Bhutan. Such barbaric action may invite unending disturbance in Bhutan in the near future. Also, its outcome may impede the repatriation of refugees and convulse the future politics of Bhutan.

There was a posh royal banquet hosted by the caravan of queens for the visiting delegates in Dechhen chholing palace. Definitely, there was ample of opportunity for free exchange of views in the area of mutual interest along with the win -win solution of the ongoing ethnic cleansing because all the queens and royal children are able to understand existing global politics and are competent to speak and read English decently. This would have given greater opportunity for Bhutan but the autocratic system of the governance may not have allowed them to express real and free opinion.

Interestingly, this meeting of American representatives with the designers of racist royal government is a remarkable moment for all. The Americans represented Abraham Lincoln's thought "for the people, by the people and of the people", while the Bhutanese represented the thought of "for the king, by the king and of the king".

In this regard the king's quotation is relevant to refer as he said, "... In a nutshell, they (Bhutanese refugees) want two things: democracy and separate Identity" which shows that he does not want to recognize democracy and cultural identities of the kingdom other than dictated by him.

Furthermore, to encounter the demand of democracy and cultural identity the king played the card of Driglam Namza and said, " One nation, one people concept is essential for the survival of Bhutan because it is very small to accommodate all."

Consequently, the thought of the monarch has created an obstacle to find a genuine solution to the plight of Bhutanese refugee crises for long.

In an attempt to solve this human and political tragedy of Bhutan, the caucus of American senators wrote a letter to the king in 1992-1993 to nip in the bud the problem created by ethnic cleansing. The State Department of human rights of America has catalogued many inhuman problems including the racist National Security Act 1992 of Bhutan. Thereafter, almost all assistant secretaries for South Asian affairs of America and Ambassadors in Nepal have led diplomatic delegation to the refugee camps and Bhutan.

In this duration, hundreds of scholars and great writers from the United States have witnessed the slums of refugee camps and collected the real information with full evidence which proves that the refugees are genuine Bhutanese. These scholars managed to snap the photographs of the houses and land in Bhutan from Sibsoo to Daifam which clearly portray illegal occupation of private property by the government during the period of mass eviction from southern and eastern Bhutan.

Not only this, President Bill Clinton wrote a letter to the king showing American concern to the ethnic cleansing of Bhutan.

But instead of looking into the matter with sincerity and honesty, the Druk government kept giving false assurances of political settlement of the Bhutanese refugees for the last decade. Harassed and exhausted America has now brought the concept of third country settlement. But this concept shows door to two dangerous direction; 1. It indicates reward to the racist government and 2. Dishonor the right of the self-determination.

On top of this, there is high chance of very strong affection of homesickness amongst the resettled refugees which could ignite the revolutionary actions against the troublemakers of Bhutan with greater energy and enthusiasm because the movement
then will be having better financial position than today.

In this regard, the champion of democracy and the largest democracy of the world needs to ponder about the future consequences in the boiling pan of Northeast India as well as South Asian region and provide prudent action and suggestion to Bhutan for the resolution of the Bhutanese refugee problem. The genuine solution is not other than early repatriation of all Bhutanese with dignity and honor.

The allegation of non-Bhutanese in the camps is absolutely baseless otherwise Bhutanese regime wouldn't flee from the verification exercise.

(The writer is former National Assembly member of Bhutan)

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)

Bhutanese Leaders Look India ways

भुटानी नेताहरुको भारतीय नेतासँग आग्रह
नेपाल जापान डट् कम् सम्वाददाताकाठमाण्डौ
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सेप्टेम्बर, ७

भुटानी राजनीतिक तथा अधिकारवादी नेताहरुले आफ्नो आन्दोलनमा समर्थन गर्न र भारत सरकारलाई त्यसबारे दबाव दिन भारतीय नेताहरुलाई आग्रह गरेका छन् । भारतीय सहर कोलकात्ता पुगेका भुटानी नेताहरुले त्यहाँका राजनीतिक नेता तथा अधिकारीवादी लगायत संस्थाका प्रतिनिधिहरुलाई सो आग्रह गरेका हुन् । कोलकात्ता पुगेर फर्केका भुटान पिपुल्स पार्टीका अध्यक्ष बलराम पौडेलले आफूहरुको आन्दोलनमा समर्थन गर्न र त्यसका लागि केन्द्रीय सरकारलाई दबाव दिन आग्रह गरेको बताए । छलफलका अवसरमा भारतीय नेताहरुले भुटानी आन्दोलनमा समर्थन र सहयोग गर्ने बताएका थिए ।

FACADE BEHIND GROSS NATIONAL HAPPINESS

Poverty: a rural story

Posted on Monday, September 04, 2006, @ 03:09:52 EDT

4 September 2006- Every four in five Bhutanese poor live in the rural areas according to the Bhutan Common Country Assessment 2006 report published by the Bhutan UN office.The report identifies the main causes of poverty as limited access to markets, limited arable land, few rural finance schemes, limited programmes focused for the poor, heavy dependence on agriculture, and limited rural based planning.

According to the Bhutan living standard survey, 2003, about 32 percent of Bhutanese were living in “income poverty.” Poverty was predominant in the east with 49 percent of the poor living there.
Constrained by the distance from the market and the lack of infrastructure and a population of just over half a million, the consequent small domestic market limited the scope of specialisation and reaping the economies of scale, the report states.
Scarcity of labour compounded by illiteracy and unskilled labour in agriculture also dwindled agriculture productivity.
With only 7.8 percent arable land and small land holdings of almost 70 percent of farmers owning less than five acres of land, which was relatively infertile, made the land generally unproductive.
Limited rural finance schemes also limited the prospect of growth.
Today, only the Bhutan Development Finance Corporation Limited offered a few schemes but even those were skewed towards the better-off dzongkhags states the report.
The dependence on agriculture was high and rural communities lacked the skills to diversify to non-farm activities. “Bhutan is hampered by the lack of data for employment planning and a lack of capacity in the Ministry of Labour and Human Resources for liaising with employers to determine what skills are needed and where,” the report states.
In light of limited programmes focused for the poor, the report noted that the “government, both at the center and within the dzongkhags, has very limited experience in developing such focused programmes…” It recommends for a need to revisit Bhutan’s strategy for equitable development.
The government has, however, placed a special focus to poverty alleviation. In the ninth plan, nearly 25 percent of the total budget outlay was given to health and education combined making Bhutan one of the few developing countries that allocated more than 20 percent of its budget to the social sector.
Bhutan had also seen some achievements over the years with a move from a low to a medium human development category. The proportion of people living under the poverty line decreased from 36.3 percent in 2000 to 31.7 percent in 2003.
According to the report, the priorities for reducing poverty were to develop a skilled labour force and look into high-value low-volume business for export and tourism. Economic diversification and a need to develop the financial sector to boost private sector expansion were recommended with a focus on small and medium sized enterprises, particularly in rural areas.
Other challenges include access to micro finance in the rural areas, more arable land to increase production, differentiated programmes for the poor and women to information, market, health care education and other socio-economic opportunities.
The need to maintain and use poverty data in implementing national policies was also recommended.


By Tashi Dorji tashi_dorji@kuensel.com.bt

Germany contributes to UNHCR Nepal , NIBL contributes to UNHCR

Germany contributes to UNHCR Nepal


The Government of Federal Republic of Germany has contributed 100,000 Euros to UNHCR Nepal as part of Humanitarian Assistance and International Protection for the Bhutanese refugees in Nepal. In a statement on Monday, the refugee agency said this contribution was in response to a specific proposal submitted to the German government last month to continue its support for the protection and assistance to the refugees. Of the total contribution, 70,000 Euros will be used for shelter, food, water and sanitation and remaining 30,000 Euros for international protection, monitoring and coordination, the agency said. Germany is one of the regular contributors to UNHCR Nepal.
UNHCR provides assists to around 106,000 Bhutanese refugees in Nepal for the last 17 years.

nepalnews.com ia Sep 04 06

Additional hope was:


NIBL contributes to UNHCR


Nepal Investment Bank Limited (NIBL), a private sector bank, has contributed Rs 640,000 towards UNHCR's annual programme for Bhutanese refugees in eastern Nepal.
A statement by the refugee agency on Monday said this was a landmark in private sector support to refugees in Nepal and a clear expression of the concern of NIBL to help a refugee population in need.
"This contribution will be used to fund primary educational needs of the refugee students in the camps," said country representative of the refugee agency Abraham Abraham.
NIBL has expressed its interest to support UNHCR's noble cause of educating the refugees and this contribution was a part of the bank's corporate social responsibility.
The UN refugee agency provides protection and assistance to around 106,000 Bhutanese refugees who have been sheltering in seven camps in eastern Nepal since the early 1990's. Despite fifteen rounds of bilateral negotiations between the Bhutanese and Nepali governments, not a refugee has been allowed to return to Bhutan or avail of any other durable solutions.

nepalnews.com ia Aug 21 06

Kuensel on the Turn

US congressional delegation visits Bhutan
Posted on Saturday, September 02, 2006, @ 04:02:10


EDT 2 September 2006- The issue of the people in the camps in Nepal was one of the easier issues of the world today to resolve, said Republican Congress member Mr. Jim Kolbe who led a US congressional delegation to Bhutan on a three-day visit from August 28-31.

His Majesty the King with (from left) Mr. Brian Baird, Mr. Jim Kolbe and Mr. and Mrs. Crenshaw

“I realise that Bhutan questions the use of the word refugees and would argue that they are truly people who are from Nepal who came illegally to Bhutan and have now returned and don’t qualify to be refugees,” said Mr. Kolbe who is the Chairman of the Sub Committee on Foreign Operations. “Nonetheless, they are still in camps and some of them, may be many of them, are people who do qualify to come back to Bhutan because they are and were citizens of this country.”
Mr. Kolbe said that there needs to be some show of good faith on the part of the Bhutanese government to return or repatriate even a small number of those that they have agreed are citizens.
The rest, he said, could either be reintegrated into society in Nepal, India, or if they believe Bhutan is their homeland and they are not able to return, be resettled in third countries like the US.
The US, he said, has agreed to take up to 50,000 or up to 70,000 of these people. Australia and Canada has also agreed to take in smaller numbers.
“That would eliminate a vast majority of this problem and it remains a contentious issue between Nepal and Bhutan,” said Mr. Kolbe. “We hope that in the next few months, after 16 years, to be able to resolve this problem.”
The delegation, which received an audience with His Majesty the King on August 30, said they were privileged to be in Bhutan, which was at the birth of a democratic republic and impressed by how His Majesty had studied the state of the world, related it to the country and its future, involved the ministers and the people and decided on democratising the country.
“For a monarch to voluntarily have faith in his people, to vest power into them and place the future of the country in their hands was tremendously courageous and wise, not just to do it, but the manner in which it is being done,” said US House, Washington State Democrat, Mr. Brian Baird, a member of the delegation. “It is very deliberative, thoughtful, methodical and systematic way of preparing leadership and citizens for this important transition.”
The delegates said that although the US started a democratic form of government more than 200 years ago they had not been perfect. “We have made many changes and had enormous struggles,” said Mr. Baird. “But the wisdom of the people overtime moves forward and I think then it is incumbent on the people.”
“One of the things that we stressed with His Majesty and the ministers is that it is never easy, you never know how it’s going to turn out,” said Republican Congress member Andrew Crenshaw, who was part of the delegation. “But when you trust the people and give them the power then you can work through whatever conflicts or problems there are.”
“I hope that as history is being made in Bhutan, we can look back and see what the King and the people had done and say here is democracy and it is still going, had struggles but people still have the power,” said Mr. Crenshaw.
The challenge for the Bhutanese people, the delegates said, would be making decisions that were in best interest of the country as a whole when democracy moves forward, not just for today but for years to come.
Mr. Kolbe said that although there was very little US assistance in Bhutan, one area of cooperation the US hoped to continue was cultural and educational exchanges and opening opportunities for trade of crafts and other Bhutanese products in the US. “Bhutan is seeking membership of the WTO which will give it a voice in the process of trade negotiations,” he told Kuensel.
The delegates also expressed their admiration for the steps taken to preserve the environment, which was not only central to the Bhutanese way of life but a cherished paradise for all humanity.
“We are extraordinarily impressed by His Majesty and the government and their commitment to democracy in this country,” said Mr. Kolbe.

By Samten Wangchuksamme@kuensel.com.bt

From Kuensel