Don't cajole

Source: The Kathmandu Post

The third-country resettlement of the Bhutanese refugees, which is supposedly underway, leaves a number of questions unanswered. Those interested in the third-country resettlement option are waiting for the call for interview. While the officials concerned allegedly reiterate that the interview is on “first-come-first” basis, those who have been expressing willingness since the beginning are yet to receive the call.

The concerned officials have remarked that those registered outside the camps do not fall under the “vulnerable category”. Well, being a refugee in itself is being vulnerable, isn't it? The mental, psychological or physical pressure those living outside the camp face in trying to make a living cannot be ignored. Some may have opted for staying outside the camps out of choice but I'm sure many have a logical reason to do so.

Does remaining in the shanty alone make one vulnerable? Fear of being out of job anytime, having to compromise with harassing situations at the work place, and trying to help the relatives financially for higher studies or health etc, among others, are but only a few problems those living outside the camps face. One may wonder why they continue to live outside if they have problems. Well, if they had opted for living in the camps, the educated refugees would have acquired several mental disorders. Let us not forget that those living outside the camps have been contributing to the humanity at large in various capacities.

Agreed that the refugees living in the camps are being given priority and it is appreciated. But isn't it important that those living outside, too, be considered refugees and equally vulnerable?

If the third-country resettlement is viewed as a durable solution, then wouldn't it be swift if those willing be given priority rather than cajoling those who are reluctant?

Totadri Sharma

Kathmandu

39 refugees likely to fly to US by January

Source: The Himalayan Times

The International Organisation of Migration (IOM) today has taken 39 Bhutanese refugees to Kathmandu, citing security reason. The refugees of Beldangi Camp are expected to fly to the US within the first week of January.

Earlier, they have been provided special security after an unknown group shot at Arjun Subba two weeks ago in Sangam Chock and their huts were destroyed. 10 family members of Chhabilal Thapa, 11 of Arjun Subba, and 13 of DB Moktan of the camp and five of Dilliram Gautam of Morang’s Shanischare camp have been taken to Kathmandu.

In a bid to resettle Bhutanese refugees in America, the IOM said it had interviewed refugees of the camps and resettlement processing of over 3,000 refugees is going on. Some other refugees have been submitting their applications for resettlement in America.

Refugees of pro-America resettlement plan have said some 72,000 refugees of Jhapa and Morang have applied for resettlement in America. Meanwhile, Bhu-tanese CPN-Maoist has been forcing refugees to reject the resettlement offer in the US, threatening of giving physical action against those who support opt the resettlement offer.

Bhutan party admits shooting of refugee

Source: The Rising Nepal

The Bhutanese Communist Party (Maoist) has taken responsibility of shooting Arjun Subba, a refugee at Beldangi I camp. The Bhutanese Maoist party chairman Surya in a statement Friday said Subba was shot as per the plan of the party.

He said the resettlement in America was a plan to obstruct the repatriation of the Bhutanese to their homeland. "This action (shooting) was carried to foil the resettlement," the statement said.

"Anyone supporting and advocating for the third country resettlement would face similar consequence, the statement read.

Subba was shot at Sangam Chowk of Damak December 13. Two others CL Thapa and DB Moktan who was with Subba had escaped the shooting. All three of them are supporters of resettlement in the United States. Subba is undergoing treatment at Lifeline hospital, Damak.

Police have arrested three persons on charge of shooting. After the incident most of the Maoist leaders and their supporters have left the camps.

Camp secys irked over resettlement, appeal GoN to help stop hut-to-hut campaign

Source: Apfanews.com

At a time when violence are erupting inside exiled Bhutanese camps, camp secretaries of all seven camps have appealed to Government of Nepal (GoN) to urge the UNHCR to stop motivation by hut-to-hut campaign for third country resettlement.

In an appeal issued to the prime minister of Nepal, camp secretaries have demanded for early repatriation to Bhutan.

“Government of Bhutan must not be allowed to withdraw from its own proposals of categorization and verification process as proposed by government of Bhutan and verification must be continued in the speedy manner”, reads the appeal.

The camp secretaries, however, have extended their gratitude to the UNHCR for providing humanitarian assistance to exiled Bhutanese community.

“But since last six years onwards we found that UNHCR is only working for third country resettlement though it always keeps on telling that repatriation is the best option. Before repatriation of verified Bhutanese and rest of the refugees to Bhutan, UNHCR brought the proposal of third country resettlement for Bhutanese refugees, which is unjust and illogical”, reads the appeal, adding that the UNHCR has instigated many NGOs to support for the third country resettlement of exiled Bhutanese.

The appeal has further accused the UNHCR of splitting the nuclear family in the name of third country resettlement.

The appeal has further stated that the Beldangi incident of May 26 and 27 was a worst conflict between divided people when third country supporting small group backed by the UNHCR and a big group supporting and opting for repatriation when Mr. Hari Bangaley started advocating for third country resettlement openly.

“The UNHCR is giving protection to Bangaley, who is the main culprit of the devastating incident. So far no action is taken against him and no hearing is given for those who lost lives by the concerned authorities”, the appeal reads, adding “UNHCR has intensified its campaign for third country resettlement by hut to hut visit accompanied by armed security forces of Nepal. It certainly reminds the Bhutanese refugees about their past when they were evicted by the government of Bhutan at the gun point”.

The camp secretaries have also made their stance clear that they would not object any individuals who opt for third country resettlement without any motivation.

Meanwhile, the appeal has also demanded GoN to help deliver justice to two innocent youths of Beldangi-II, who lost their lives in the struggle for justice and order for a thorough investigation. Further, it demanded GoN to direct the local authority and the security forces to stop all kinds of harassments, tortures, arrests, and detentions of the people in camps without valid proofs.

Communist Party of Bhutan (MLM) denies shooting

Source: Apfanews.com

Kathmandu, December 14: The Communist Party of Bhutan (MLM) has denied the charge that it shot Arun Subba of Beldani-I quoted Nepalese daily The Himalayan Times.

Subba over a telephone interview with Saranarthi Sarokar from hospital bed has claimed the involvement of CPB (MLM) in shooting. “The incident was the result of the warning that we received in last pamphlet” he told.

His condition is out of risk. Security chief of UNHCR, representatives of aid agencies and chief district officer, Jhapa have visited the LifeLine Hospital to inquire the condition of Subba.

The daily quoted that in a press statement today, in-charge of the party’s rehabilitation coordination committee Muna refuted the charge levelled against the party.

The release said that the incident was the “extreme injustice meted out by the Nepal government and UNHCR on the refugees.” The release alleged that the UNHCR was responsible for the worsening situation in the refugee camp. Regretting the shooting incident, Muna said the party was formed to wage a struggle in Bhutan.

Meanwhile, security has been beefed up in all three camps in Beldangi.

Pamphlets, claimed to be posted by the Communists Party of Bhutan (CPB-MLM)-affiliated All Bhutan Revolutionary Students Union and Bhutan Republican Youths Organisation in Beldangi-I camp in Novermber 'blacklisted' at least 12 individuals and carried warning to take people's action against them. Subba was one in the list.

The pamphlet had also issued ultimatum that the accused ones should either leave camps within 15 days or apologies before CPB-MLM.

Bhutanese refugee shot

Source: Kantiopuronline.com

DAMAK, Dec 13 - Unidentified individuals shot and injured a Bhutanese refugee in Damak Thursday. Arjun Subba, 31, of Hut no. 71 in sector D of Beldangi camp-1 sustained injuries to the stomach and right hand. He was rushed to Life Life Hospital in Damak, where doctors said he was out of danger.

According to area police office Damak, Subba was shot at Hawaldar Chowk some two kilometers from the refugee camp. According to Chabilal Thapa, another refugee, who witnessed

the shooting, two motorcyclists stalking Subba fired at him.

Thapa added that a woman shot at Subba from the motorbike which had no number plate.

Two of the shots misfired and Subba was injured by the third shot. Members of the Bhutanese Maoist party had spread pamphlets in the camp during Tihar festival, threatening to kill Subba and many other refugees for failing to vacate the camp within 15 days.

Opening All Options For Refugees

Source: Gorkhapatra.org.np

By T. P. Mishra

The United States' offer of third country resettlement for the Bhutanese refugees has finally gained height, engaging both people and the authorities concerned in hot debates. The offer is likely to put an 'end' to the 17-year-long stalemate following the formal announcement to the refugees to fill up the resettlement forms available in dozens of places, including the Armed Police Force (APF) office.

US commitment
A senior U.S. official has said that if all things proceed smoothly, the first planeload of Bhutanese refugees is likely to land on U.S. soil by late January 2008. Ellen Sauerbrey, the Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, during her recent visit to Nepal and, in particular, the refugee camps, has really geared up the resettlement process of the refugees.

Meanwhile, Sauerbrey has also stated that the U.S. government would recognise the desire of the refugees for repatriation to their original homeland even after their resettlement process. During her visit to two of the refugee camps, Sauerbrey assured the rights of the refugees to return to their home country.

Still a significant portion of the refugees want to be repatriated right now, they do not want third country resettlement. The obvious question at this hour is, what would be the future of those refugees who want to be repatriated under any circumstances? Will the Bhutanese who wish to get locally assimilated in the host country get that chance?

With the U.S. offer for third country settlement, division and polarisation of opinion among the refugees have been distinctly noticed. The incident in Beldangi camp on May 27-28 regarding a 'controversial' interview of Hari Adhikari Bangale, the then camp secretary of Beldangi-II, is a bitter illustration of the division among the refugees.

Even two innocent youths from Beldangi camp were killed in police firing during the latter's attempt to bring the situation under control. This incident occurred simply because Bangale advocated for third country resettlement. In another incident in Beldangi-II extension camp, a few huts belonging to those in favour of third country resettlement were vandalised. Some of them were even manhandled by a mob. All of these incidents leave a clear message that opening only one option would further derail the process of ending the refugee imbroglio.

Polarised Ideology
The literate youths among the Bhutanese refugees are for third country resettlement. The elderly, illiterate groups want to get repatriated. Meanwhile, what cannot be ignored is that a portion of the youths are in favour of a 'revolt' under the banner of the Communists Party of Bhutan (CPB-MLM).
Not only this, a section of the people living inside the refugee camps have already obtained Nepalese citizenship identity cards. This figure has been hiked with the issuances of citizenship cards to four million people in Nepal prior to the Constituent Assembly polls. This ironically leaves a clear message that a portion of the refugees are even willing to get locally assimilated.

It is still a doubt whether those refugees, who have already obtained Nepalese citizenship, would be eligible for third country resettlement.

Majority of the so-called frontline leaders in exile, most of the political and a few apolitical organisations have been frequently opposing the offer of third country resettlement, claiming it would not do justice to the suppressed Bhutanese people. Since there is divided opinion among individuals, the question of driving everyone to a common consensus is difficult.

Thus, not only third country resettlement, the authorities concerned should work towards unlocking all possible options, including repatriation to their original homeland, Bhutan. The long-standing issue will get a safe landing only when all possible options are opened at a time.

It is equally necessary to note that any option, whatsoever it be, shouldn't be made a 'compulsory option' for the refugees. This will invite violence in the refugee camps.

Dignified Repatriation
It is true that options besides third country resettlement, such as dignified repatriation and local integration, are, with the flow of time, getting overshadowed. If the authorities concerned are truly committed to finding a durable solution to the Bhutanese refugee stalemate, then they should be working to promoting the refugee's sentiment by unlocking all options.

An individual's right to expression and, in particular, their right to choose any of the options should be promoted.

(Editor of Bhutan News Service, Mishra is also president of Third World Media Network, Bhutan Chapter)

Prospects Of Refugee Resettlement

Source: Nepalnews.com

By Indra Adhikari

At a time when Bhutanese refugees are busy expressing their interest and giving interviews to government representatives from the US and the Australia in Damak for resettlement to third countries, the country representative of the UNHCR for Nepal Abraham Abraham is wrapping up his five years of tenure in Kathmandu.

Abraham is leaving at a time when years of efforts for repatriation have failed, and the process for third country resettlement is beginning. He will be leaving Nepal for Canada - a month ahead of a section of Bhutanese refugees possibly leaving for western countries to start their new life.

In an interview with Nepalnews at the end of his tenure in Nepal, Abraham expressed hope that his dream of finding a lasting solution to the protracted Bhutanese refugee problem will come true in his absence as well.
Rizal's suggestion to resettle one member from a family was not taken into consideration.
Rizal's suggestion to resettle one member from a family was not taken into consideration.

On Sunday evening at Hotel Soaltee during his farewell party, Abraham in his most humble tone wished the top refugee human rights leader Tek Nath Rizal for early repatriation of Bhutanese refugees to their land.

The process of resettlement has moved ahead as planned by the UNHCR, to which the resettling countries have agreed and it has already been made public that family members would not be split when selected for resettlement.

To accelerate the resettlement process and to protect refugees willing to be resettled from being assaulted by the communist cadres, the Nepal government has deployed security personnel in all the camps at the request of the UNHCR. Alleging that the security personnel have been intimidating and harassing those refugees who advocate repatriation, Bhutan People's Party recently demanded removal of the security posts.

As usual, Abraham denied any straight comments on the demands but said that UNHCR is also mandated to find solution of the refugee crisis if host country and the country generating refugees fail to reach an agreement.

The UNHCR has already started distributing forms to refugees to express their willingness for resettlement. UNHCR office in Kathmandu and contact points in all the camps saw long queues of refugees filling the forms. But as interviews in Damak started, refugees looked confused on how the UNHCR selects people for interviews.

"It is first come first serve. We have no reason to discriminate any refugee," Abraham said.

The resettling countries interview refugees on the basis of the applications and family details forwarded by the UNHCR. The US government team has just completed its first round of interviews and the Australian team has started doing so from Sunday. Canada has informed the UN refugee agency that it will begin the process from 2009 while other countries who had earlier expressed interests to resettle the refugees like Denmark, Netherlands, New Zealand are yet to say anything about the number of refugees they are likely to resettle.

Despite this, Abraham's initiation also received a fair amount of criticism, especially from the refugee leadership. Getting support from the refugee community was difficult without getting permission from the Nepal government, yet his humility towards the government for finally accepting the UNHCR proposal of resettlement remains high.

The major concern of the refugee leaders is the future of those refugees who would not be resettled. There are hints from Indian leaders in recent months that Bhutan might agree on repatriation once the population of the refugee becomes smaller. These statements are in line with the statement of Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee in June this year saying repatriation of over 100,000 refugees to their homeland will cause 'demographic imbalance' in that tiny kingdom.

UNHCR's attempts of getting support from the Indian government for repatriation did not yield any result. And now, the refugee leaders have accelerated lobbying among Indian leaders. In November, a number of senior journalists and parliamentarians on India during a seminar in New Delhi said they will soon visit Thimphu to push Bhutanese authority for allowing the refugees to cast vote in the upcoming elections and their early repatriation to avoid violent future in north-east India.

Under these circumstances, resettlement debates have overshadowed the repatriation agenda.
Euroepan Union also took interest in the refugee issue. EU lawmaker from UK visited Nepal, Bhutan and India as part of EU initiatie in finding solution of the refugee crisis.
Euroepan Union also took interest in the refugee issue. EU lawmaker from UK visited Nepal, Bhutan and India as part of EU initiatie in finding solution of the refugee crisis.

But Abraham claims, prospects of repatriation to homeland will not perish even after resettlement. "Refugees are guaranteed the right to return once environment is conducive in their country. At this time, the conditions are not conducive neither for repatriation nor to stay in camps further," he adds.

The future repatriation of the resettled refugees will largely be determined by the future political developments in Bhutan. At least to this day, hints from inside Bhutan are not encouraging.

The rejection of Bhutan 's election commission to register a political party that has raised the issue of southern and eastern Bhutanese as its agenda for election has indicated that the Bhutanese regime continues to suppress the voices for equality from southern and eastern districts.

It remains to be seen if the resettlement will end the problem or will it lead to a situation where resettled refugees will help the cause of their fellow countrymen inside Bhutan, for instance by helping armed rebellions, about which some Indian leaders have already expressed fears. It can only be hoped that Abraham's departure will not disrupt the process initiated for finding the durable solution.

Refugees from Bhutan get first ID cards in Nepal's camps

Source: UNHCR

The government of Nepal and the UN refugee agency on Monday started a massive operation to distribute identity cards to the refugees from Bhutan living in seven camps in eastern Nepal, a move that will improve protection and assistance for some 108,000 registered refugees.

Issued by the Nepalese government, the photo ID cards are a follow up to the refugee population census that was conducted with UNHCR support in the camps from November 2006 to May 2007. All registered refugees aged 16 years and above will receive the free-of-charge cards.

The first cards were distributed on Monday in Sanischare camp in Morang district. A huge crowd of all ages gathered in the camp's playground to witness the watershed event.

"Although Nepal is not signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, it has been hosting refugees for decades on its soil," said Umesh Mainali, the home secretary of Nepal's Ministry of Home Affairs. "The government of Nepal will always work for the right of refugees and the first step in this is the issuance of identity cards to the refugees in the camps. To have an identity document is the right of the refugees."

Abraham Abraham, UNHCR's representative in Nepal, added: "ID cards are an important protection tool, because the most basic element of refugee protection is to prove one's identity in order to be able to readily access protection and assistance services. The cards would also ensure efficient and accountable distribution as well as better monitoring of assistance, in that it reaches the right person."

Gajman Gurung was one of the first refugees to get the ID card in Sanischare camp. "I am happy that at least now I have an identity, although it is as a refugee. It is going to assist in my protection as well as that of my family," he said.

"I know that the ID card will be very useful to me and my family," said Nar Bahadur Sarki, a father of two in the camp. "The good thing is that my wife and each of my children have their own identity card. It is particularly helpful for my son who goes to college outside the camp. The card will facilitate his movement in and out of the camp."

The ID cards will be issued on a camp-by-camp basis over the next few months. Registered refugees living outside the camps will receive their cards once the camp distribution is completed.

By Nini Gurung
In Sanischare camp, Nepal

Aussie team to interview refugees

Source: Kantipuronline

Australia which is part of the six-nation 'core group' for resettling Bhutanese refugees in their

lands is sending a team of officials this week to interview refugees for the purpose.

"A team is visiting this week to interview refugees," Graeme Lade, Australia's Ambassador to Nepal told the Post here on Sunday. "They will be heading to Damak for the interview."

Ambassador Lade said about 225 refugees would be interviewed by Australian officials. The United States government has already begun the process of interviewing interested refugees.

Besides Australia, the United States, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Norway are members of the Core Working Group on Bhutanese Refugees in Nepal. Except Norway, the members of the group have expressed interest to resettle refugees over the years. The United States alone has said it would resettle tens of thousands of refugees. There are over 108,000 refugees in the seven camps in eastern Nepal, most living there since 1993 after allegedly being evicted by the Bhutanese government in the late 80s and early 90s.

‘175 refugees applying every day’

Meanwhile, outgoing Representative of UNHCR in Nepal, Abraham Abraham said on Monday about 175 refugees are applying for resettlement every day. In the past two weeks, 14,000 refugees have evinced interest in resettlement.

Abraham who is going to Canada as UNHCR Representative will be replaced by Daisy Dell. Dell is deputy director at

the Asia and the Pacific Bureau of the UN refugee agency. She is expected to arrive in Kathmandu next month.

30 people sentenced for planning seditious activities

Source: Kuenselonline

After five months of exhaustive court proceedings, 30 people, who had joined the Communist Party of Bhutan (Marxist-Leninist-Maoist) based in Nepal, were sentenced to prison terms ranging from five to nine years for conspiring to carry out subversive activities against Bhutan.

According to officials of the Samtse district court, the accused were sentenced in accordance with the provisions of the National Security Act of Bhutan, 1992, and the Penal Code of Bhutan, 2004. The court had found that, using a religious façade called the Srijana Sanskrit Sangathan, the group had held several meetings to discuss Maoist ideology and to collect money and food grain for the Communist Party of Bhutan. People who attended the meetings were made to fill up membership forms, a court official said.

Seditious meetings were conducted in Katarey and Ugyentse in Samtse, during which the participants planned to recruit local people, set up camps in the forest for the terrorists belonging to the Communist Party of Bhutan, and to train locals in the use of weapons and explosives to start an armed rebellion against the government.

Some of the accused, including two Class XII students, had gone to the refugee camps in eastern Nepal to attend briefing sessions on “Political and Ideology Training” conducted by the cadres of the Communist Party of Bhutan, the Nepal Maoist and Communist Party of Nepal, Bhutan Peoples’ Party, Druk National Congress, and Bhutan Gorkha National Liberation Front. The Communist comrades briefed them on the collection of arms.

According to the court statement, some of the defendants were found guilty of aiding and abetting the ngolops, and forming secret groups like Pragathisel Sanskriti Pariwars, Srijana Sanskriti Pariwars and Saipatri Sanskriti Pariwars to strengthen the Communist Party of Bhutan in its seditious activities against the Tsa-Wa-Sum.

Two women cadres from the camps in Nepal had met 13 of the accused at the Indian border town of Luksan in Jalpaiguri district, West Bengal, and instructed them to form a separate women’s group to start a door to door awareness campaign of Communist ideology, to recruit party workers at the community level and to be prepared to undertake training in arms and explosives.

The Royal Bhutan Police believe that their main aim was to nurture and expand the Communist Party cadre so that they could set up camps inside Bhutan in collusion with the Maoist cadres of Nepal and ultimately start an armed rebellion against the government.

The Communist party of Bhutan is closely associated with the Maoist Party of Nepal. The Bhutan Tiger Force, which is the militant wing of the Communist Party of Bhutan, was responsible for planting several explosive devices in Phuentsholing town this year.

All the convicts were apprehended by the Royal Bhutan Police in Samtse in May and June this year and the cases were forwarded to the dzongkhag court on June 29. Police recovered detonators and other materials used for making improvised explosive devices, membership forms of the Communist Party of Bhutan and All Bhutan Revolutionary Student Union, note-books containing revolutionary lyrics and coded membership lists, coded names and addresses of donors and five numbers of Nepali textbooks on Communist Party from the group.

According to the court, a few of the convicted are appealing against their sentences, while most have confessed to their crimes and are appealing for pardon.

Refugee camps to remain: Abraham

Source: Kantipuronline.com

Representative of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Nepal, Abraham Abraham, has said that UNHCR will not pull out of the Bhutanese refugee camps but will continue working for those not opting for third country resettlement.

"Refugees who don't want third country settlement will continue receiving assistance as long as we receive aid from donors," said Abraham talking to the Post on Friday.

"Every single refugee counts for the UNHCR. We are recommending third country settlement only because there is no (immediate and feasible) solution to the refugee problem," he said.

Expressing concern over misinformation in the refugee camps, Abraham said, "It absolutely depends on individual choice. You can even board the plane and come back out saying you now want to stay behind," he added.

Abraham also said that the resettlement may go on for six or seven years depending on the response from the refugees and it is up to the refugees themselves to choose if and when they want to go to third countries.

The UNHCR representative refuted allegations that the government's failure to issue exit permits for the refugees is delaying the resettlement process. "The matter has been discussed at higher levels. It is already an agreed matter," he said.

He further said there would be no discrimination against those suffering from communicable diseases. They will receive medical treatment first so

that they don't transmit

disease to others during the journey, he said. "HIV positives too are eligible for resettlement," he said.

On the fate of the refugees in the third country, Abraham said government officials and non-government agencies would receive them in the new country and they will get residence, education and all sorts of care, as well as help in finding jobs. "And you can also choose to go back to Bhutan any time when the situation there gets better," he said.

Abraham, among other things, also clarified that enough care has been taken not to split refugee families. "We want the families to be together. We won't split them."

He confirmed that the first batch of refugees would be resettled in the USA by the end of January.

There are over 100,000 Bhutanese refugees languishing in the seven UNHCR-run camps in Morang and Jhapa districts ever since they were evicted from Bhutan in the1980s and early 1990s. The UN body is currently working to resettle them in Australia, the United States and other Western countries.

Resettlement condom can explode

Source: Kathmandu Post

BY SOM N SUBEDY

One of the hottest topics among the Bhutanese refugees in the camps nowadays is the resettlement offer made by the United States and the core group countries. Much has been said and written in favor and against the proposal by various personalities. Being a second-generation Bhutanese refugee, I tried to analyze the much-hyped resettlement offer objectively. And to my surprise, I found it to be very similar to a condom—a much-advertised product for modern living which helps to keep unwanted misery away, but you have to be careful how you use it.

Condoms and the resettlement offer are both temporary things, but there is one vital difference between the two. The former is a use-and-throw item, while the latter, once taken (used), cannot be chucked away. The Bhutanese refugees need to be clear about the resettlement plan even though it comes in a very attractive and alluring package like a condom.

Inside the camps, condoms are distributed free of cost in places like health centers, the Youth Friendly Center, Bhutanese Refugee Women Forum and other outlets. In the same fashion, resettlement forms have been placed in the camps for free distribution to all.

Both are used for protection from angst—one from disease and unwanted pregnancy, and the other has been publicized as providing relief from the anguish of a refugee's life. UNHCR and the core group countries are working hard to convince the refugees to accept their offer by showing them a "dream garden" of Western nations. They make it sound like once the refugees reach the destination decided by these countries, the agony of living in the cramped camps will be over. But the poor refugees are not yet ready to accept their talk fully, because they see no guarantee of their unanswered questions being resolved. Will Jigme Singye Wangchuck be let off scot-free in spite of his inhumane action? If not, who will guarantee that he will be made to stand a fair trail? What will happen to our properties that we were compelled to abandon because of the draconian measures taken by the despotic regime? Will the core group countries guarantee that another exodus of refugees will not happen as a result of the motivation that the resettlement offer may provide to the tinpot despot?

Therefore, the refugees, particularly the senior citizens, are not very much convinced by the calisthenics of UNHCR and the core group countries—as condoms at times burst and put the users in trouble in spite of the guarantees made by their manufacturers.

The refugees are apprehensive that the resettlement condom may explode in the process. This would throw them into unprecedented chaos. This is the kind of unfortunate situation that they fear.

Although there are several parallels one can see between a condom and the resettlement offer, there is a conspicuous difference. The refugees are not told who pays whom and what amount. But all the accounts are debited in the name of the refugees who have been selected to relocate in third countries. This suggests that the ethnic cleansing carried out by the tyrannical regime of Jigme Singye Wangchuck is acceptable.

AMDA has been distributing both male and female condoms in the refugee camps. The US and UNHCR are distributing only one type of condom, that is, resettlement forms but no repatriation forms. Should it not be a priority concern for the core group countries and UNHCR that the refugees be repatriated to their birthplace under the principles of human rights and democracy which they talk so much about?

When condoms were introduced in the refugee camps in the early 1990s, the inmates refused to use the device because they were shy and also because it got in the way during intercourse. They waited for the health staff and educated refugees to use it first. In the present case too, the refugees are waiting for the educated and knowledgeable among them to sign up for resettlement first.

Another reason they are reluctant to fill up the forms is that there is no guarantee they will be leaving for another country. If their applications are rejected, they become vulnerable to reprisals from groups opposed to the resettlement plan.

Just as one uses condoms in private and refrains from showing them in public, UNHCR, the US and the IOM are treating the resettlement process like a secret operation. Nobody knows how many have applied, who they are, how many of them have been called for an interview, what the interview is like and why one is selected when another is not. There are a host of such questions that the refugees want answered, but everything has been kept under wraps in the name of security.

Another side of the resettlement plan is that it may be extended to Tibetan refugees too and thus bring great embarrassment to China. If China does not reproach US Assistant Secretary of State Ellen Sauerbrey's statement, it would appear that China supports the hidden interest of the US to resettle Tibetan refugees in the US. Nobody knows how the Government of Nepal will take that.

The way Hari Bangaley, former member of Bhutan's National Assembly, used the resettlement condom in the refugee camps for his and UNHCR's interest is widely viewed as one of the reasons behind the opposition to resettlement. He tried to blow the resettlement condom out of proportion and showed it to the refugees, blaming all those who would not agree with him. But Bangaley's condom exploded with a big bang with the loss of the lives of two innocent refugee youths.

Today, he is not in a position to say sorry for his disastrous act. All those who want to use the resettlement condom must pause and think that it cannot be thrown away after use. After you use it you are stuck to it and no one knows what the future holds in store.

(The writer is a Bhutanese refugee.)

Resettlement Will Help in Repatriation: IOM Official

Source: TheHimalayanTimes.com

A high-ranking official of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has said that the resettlement of Bhutanese refugees to the United States will also pave the way for their repatriation to Bhutan.

"The resettlement of Bhutanese refugees to the United States of America will open all doors of repatriation to their homeland", David Derthick, manager at the Damak-based office of the IOM, said on Wednesday.

"Resettlement is not good for all, but it has become imminent for some," Derthick said, adding that the process of resettlement was initiated after the Bhutanese refugee issue persisted for a long time. He said, "All refugees are free to choose the option of resettlement and no one is under pressure."

Derthick claimed that the Bhutanese refugees will be in a better position to launch pressure from the United States of America for repatriation to homeland than what they could do from Nepal. "Once they resettle in the US, the new generation will have the opportunity for best education. They can create international pressure and Bhutan will have no choice but to accept its citizens back." He said that Bhutan, after driving its citizens away from home, has not won the game, but found itself in an awkward position.

Derthick said, "Bhutan has lost its important and good citizens."
He said that the number of Bhutanese refugees that will be taken to the US for resettlement cannot be confirmed at this time. Saying that the resettlement process will help the new generation especially, he said that repatriation to Bhutan after resettlement in the US cannot be ruled out.

"There are many instances in which many refugees have returned to their homeland after resettlement in third countries."
The United Nations High Commission for Refugees has recommended a name list of 3,000 Bhutanese refugees to the IOM for resettlement in the US, he said, adding the process of interviewing them has begun. "It's up to us to decide who will go to which country. It is under jurisdiction of the UNHCR or the host country," Derthick said. "However, certain criteria are there for selection. We will handle them."

Refuting rumours that the IOM was intimidated; he said that the security situation at the camps is excellent. "The cooperation we received from the Nepal government is excellent." He said that the refugees in Nepal were treated in a better way than their counterparts in Africa and other nations. The people here have also cooperated a lot, he said.

IOM Begins Interviewing Bhutanese Refugees

Source: TheHimalayanTimes.com

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) began interviewing the Bhutanese refugees opting for third country resettlement in the US in Damak on Tuesday.
Three high-ranking officials of the Department of US Homeland Security -- William Lowe, Keirn Van and David Radel -- began interviewing the refugees on their intention and opinion on resettlement, said Laxmankumar Hamal, assistant Chief District Officer and joint director of the Refugee Coordination Unit under the Home Ministry. He said the team will be in Damak till December 13.

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has already submitted the applications of refugees having security concerns to the IOM.

It is said that interview in Morang's Shanischare and Damak's Beldangi camp has been completed in the first phase. However, the number of interviewees has not been revealed.
Jas Bahadur Subba, a refugee living in the Shanischare camp, said all the members of his family have been interviewed. Another refugee Homnath Baral said that he has been called for a health check up along with all family members by December.

The UNHCR has been continuing to inquiry about the refugees who have opted for third country resettlement. It is said said that 50,000 refugees of 10,000 families have applied for third country resettlement; the IOM has not disclosed the number of applications it has received.

The Divided Bhutanese Refugee

Here is two contradiction news that were published in two different leading publication of Nepal

Source: TheHimalayanTimes.com
BPP wants cops kept out of refugee camps

The Bhutan People’s Party (BPP) has demanded that the Armed Police Force (APF) post that has been established inside the camp be shifted to somewhere outside the camp.
In a press release issued today, BPP chairman Balaram Poudel alleged that the post was set up to suppress the refugees and create division among them to implement the non-transparent plan of third country resettlement of refugees.
“It is against the norms of the UN to deploy armed security men in the camp,” the statement said, adding: “Nepal should stop it and make a provision of providing security in the camps from outside the camps.”
The non-transparent US plan of resettling Bhutanese refugees in third countries is merely a long-term project aimed at foiling the Bhutanese people’s movement for democracy and serving the ill intentions of the Bhutanese king, the statement said. However, it said the BPP neither stands for nor against the proposal.
“If we want to go a third country, it will make us slav-es. We have to be repatriated if we want of be the master of our own.”
The party demanded the authorities concern-ed to immediately issue ID cards to the refugees and not to begin any process for resettlement before doing it.
The party also welcomed the recent concerns shown by the Indian government and political parties about the repatriation of refugees and the decision of an all-party meeting held in New Delhi on November 22 to send a team of MPs to the refugee camps and raise the issue with Bhutan.

US team in Damak
BHADRAPUR: A three-member team of the Department of Homeland Security of the USA arrived in Damak on Monday in course of resettling the Bhutanese refugees to the US. The team will remain in Damak until December 13 and select the Bhutanese refugees willing to go to the US, Assistant CDO Laxman Kumar Hamal said.

Source: Kantipuronline.com
Refugees demand security to opt for third-country program

Bhutanese youths in the refugee camps in Jhapa district have demanded that the government provide a secure and fearless environment for refugees aspiring to opt for third-country resettlement.

The refugees have voiced such a demand at a time when various underground groups active inside the refugee camps have been issuing series of threats against those in favor of the third-country resettlement option.

United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the American government have offered to take as much as 60,000 Bhutanese refugees to America as per the third-country resolution program. However, owing to threats, many of the interested refugees have shown reluctance to participate in the UNHCR selection process.

Refugees from all seven camps in the district participated in the mass gathering organized here on Sunday to express willingness to opt for third-country resettlement.

"We have eventually found an option to escape from our inhuman lives inside the camps after 17 years of hardship," said Motikhar Gurung, a refugee, adding, "But we feel conspiracies are being hatched to deny us the solution." Gurung also said many of the refugees including his family were hounded out of the camp for showing interests in the third-country resettlement program. Two weeks ago, some 12 refugee families were displaced from Beldangi refugee camp after unidentified men stuck posters near their huts threatening to take physical action against them for participating in the selection program.


Youths at the program also said nothing could be done for a free and democratic Bhutan by sitting idly inside the refugee camps. "But we can stage a sit-in in front of UN office in New York and draw the world's attention toward a democratic Bhutan," Manoj Rai, former secretary of Khudunabari refugee camp said.

Leaders demand to stop 'campaign' for resettlement

Source: Apfannews.com

Exiled Bhutanese leaders have accused that the US offer for third country resettlement has divided people in camps.

At an interaction program organized in Birtamode on Saturday, leaders also claimed that conspiracies were underway to make exiled Bhutanese homeless for ever.

Leaders also demanded to halt 'campaign' that has been going on inside camps to apply for third country resettlement. They also stated that there was Nepal's diplomatic failure in resolving the stalemate. They also accused that people in camps were trying to become slaves by opting for the option of third country resettlement.

President of Bhutan People's Party Balaram Poudel, General Secretary of People's Forum for Human Rights in Bhutan D.P. Kafle including Dr. Bhampa Rai and Jagirman lama were present on the occasion.

Meeting in India to discuss refugee repatriation issue

Source: Nepalnews.com

Even as the process of third-country resettlement of Bhutanese refugees has started, some leaders of the refugees are meeting with Indian parties and rights activists in New Delhi, Thursday, to discuss the issue of repatriation.

Refugee leaders Rongthong Kinley, Dr. DNS Dhakal and Jagirman Lama will take part in the meeting organised by Bhutanese Solidarity Group, reports Nepal Samacharpatra daily.

The meeting will focus on highlighting the issue of repatriation of Bhutanese refugees and applying international pressure on Bhutan government in this regard.

According to Balram Poudel, chairman of Bhutan People's Party, Indian political leaders including Sitaram Yechury of CPM, D Raja of CPI, DP Tripathy of National Congress and Devdut Bishwas of Forward Bloc will participate in the meeting.

Refugee camp security beefed up

Source: Kantipuronline.com

Citing increasing insecurity inside the Beldangi Bhutanese refugee camp during nighttime, the local administration in Damak has prohibited mobility to and from the camp after 7 p.m. every day, starting Saturday.

Earlier this month, a joint meeting held between the camp management committee, the refugee coordination committee unit and the police administration had decided to tighten up camp security.

"The prohibitory orders have been imposed after taking account of the present situation," Raj Kumar Lamichhane, District Superintendent of Police of Armed Police Force Beldangi base camp, told the Post. "We will take action against any refugees trying to exit the camp or remaining outside it after 7 in the evening," Lamichhane added.

However, the administration has not clarified the total time stretch of the prohibitory order. "The prohibitory order is effective until the break of dawn," security personnel at the base camp said. Security in the camp was beefed up after increasing incidents recently of political pamphlets being stuck up and hooliganism.

Meanwhile, refugees at Beldangi-1 found a stray pamphlet inside the camp Friday night claiming that the Nepal Government and UNHCR (United Nations High Commission for Refugees) were providing security to "unimportant persons." The pamphlet also accuses Chabilal Thapa, former secretary of Beldangi-1 refugee camp, of committing "severe crimes" in Bhutan and inside the camp, and claims that "the Bhutanese people would not forgive Thapa no matter what."

Right since some countries, chief among them the United States, announced they were to resettle the refugees, extremist youths have been threatening refugees not to opt for third country resettlement. The government, after facing a lot of flak, has set up bases for the Armed Police Force in each of the camps.

UNHCR distributes resettlement forms from Kathmandu office

Source: Apfanews.com

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has begun distributing forms for exiled Bhutanese who wish to apply for third country resettlement from its Kathmandu office as well.

Hundreds of exiled Bhutanese residing in Kathmandu for jobs or studies lined up in the UNHCR office from Wednesday asking the forms.

The UNHCR stated in the form that it was for expressing interest of those willing to be resettled.

The form can be obtained from the UNHCR office. Those reaching the refuge agency office to fill the forms said UNHCR instructed them to fill even the names of all their family members.

When the Bhutan News Service correspondent reached the UNHCR office to get reaction from the exiled Bhutanese registering their filled out forms, a few opposing the resettlement program had gathered on the way.

Two banners, that said UNHCR was acting against its mandates and principles, were hanged along the way that leads to UNHCR office.

Yet the number of exiled Bhutanese reaching the UNHCR office to register their willingness for resettlement seemed not decreasing. More than 10,000 exiled Bhutanese live in Kathmandu for job of studies.

UNHCR begins mass campaign, resettlement forms distributed

Source: Apfanews.com

UNHCR has formally begun mass campaign programs among the exiled Bhutanese for third country resettlement expected to begin early next year.

UNHCR officials launched campaign programs in Jhapa-based Goldhap and Khudunabari camp on Tuesday while similar programs are being launched in Beldangi camps on Wednesday.

It is reportedly learnt that the UNHCR has kept the forms, to be filled by the exiled Bhutanese to apply for resettlement in third country, at the health posts inside camps, Refugee Coordination Unit offices, Bhutanese Refugee Women Forum office, Disability Centers among few other proposed places.

It is also learnt that individuals above 18 years have to sign the form.

Refugees get death threats

Source: The Himalayan Times

Sixty-two Bhutanese refugees living in Beldangi-1 camp in Jhapa district have appealed to the police to protect them after they received death threats from the underground Bhutanese Republican Youth Union and the All Bhutan Revolutionary Students’ Union.
Chhabilal Thapa, Moti-khar Gurung, Arjun Subba, Dilip Kumar Dahal, Ram Rai, Bhim Subedi, Kiran Subba, Lok Nath Adhikari, Buddhiman Gurung, Sakun Subba and NP Koirala are among those who have made the appeals to the officials of the camp supervision post, Armed Police Force and the OHCHR. All of them are in favour of settling in the US and they received the threat on that account.

The two organisations close to the Bhutan Communist Party have also threatened the refugees to leave the camp within 15 days, failing which they will be eliminated physically or abducted. The two groups have also told the refugees that they will be forgiven and allowed to remain in peace if they recant from their pro-US settlement stance.

DSP of APF Raj Kumar Lamichhane said a probe has been initiated and that a search has been launched for those issuing the threats.

65 huts gutted in fire in Belgandi refugee camp

Source: Nepalnews.com

Sixty five shanties housing the Bhutanese refugees were gutted in fire in Bengandi camp, Jhapa district, Friday evening.

The fire spread from the kitchen of one of the shanties at around 7:00 pm, reports said. With the help of fire brigade vehicles from Damak and Kakarbhitta, the locals and the police had managed to put out the fire after three hours.

Nearly 500 refugees have been displaced due to the fire breakout.

Refugees in Eastern Nepal to be resettled in the United States

Source: Kuenselonline.com

The United States government, the government of Nepal, UNHCR, and other agencies have formally begun the process of resettling refugees from the seven camps in eastern Nepal, with the first refugees expected to leave for the U.S. in January, 2008.

Ms Sauerbrey and the U.S. delegation with Lyonpo Kinzang Dorji and Foreign Secretary Yeshey Dorji

In a press conference with Bhutanese newspaper, radio and television reporters yesterday in Thimphu, the U.S. government’s Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration, Ms Ellen R Sauerbrey, said that she had announced a year ago that the U.S. was interested in resettling 60,000 of the refugees over five years, but there was no limit and no quota to the U.S. offer.

“…there is no cap if more than 60,000 people are interested in being resettled and are referred to our programme by UNHCR,” she said. “We will take those who come forward and qualify. Most will qualify unless someone has a record of violence against citizens, major threats and intimidations involving violence in the camps. We are not cherry picking. We do not take these people on the basis that they are highly skilled or the best educated or the healthiest or the youngest, we will take them across the board and on their own interest to come to the U.S.”

Mrs Sauerbrey, who visited Kathmandu and the refugee camps before coming to Bhutan, said that the process was formally launched after Nepalese officials went to the camps with her delegation and announced publicly the Nepalese government’s support of the resettlement programmes.

She said that UNHCR, in the meantime, had already received, informally, applications from 3,000 people who desired to be resettled. “We have an overseas processing entity set up to do the resettlement work,” she explained. “In this case it is the international organization of migration. They have built a very significant complex where the interviews, medical examinations, and cultural orientation are done. It is functioning now and the first interviews are going on.”

“Our goal this year is to interview about 15,000 and, in the next few years, we are expecting 20,000 to 25,000 per year, based on the refugees having an interest themselves,” she added. “It is purely voluntary.”

The Assistant Secretary of State said that, for the U.S. government, which was very focused on helping to resolve protracted refugee situations, it was a humanitarian issue. “I have been in many refugee camps around the world and they are certainly not nice places to live no matter how nicely they are run,” she said. “We also know that refugees who see no hope or future are easily radicalized and we think this is really a critical time and this issue of this population needs to be resolved quickly before it becomes more fermenting in the region.”

Mrs Sauerbrey was accompanied on her four-day visit to Bhutan by the Overseas Program Officer of the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, Ms Lisa L Meyer, a State Department specialist on South Asia, Mr Jonathan Daniell, and the Political Officer at the U.S. embassy in India, Ms Reva Gupta.

The delegation held discussions with His Majesty the fourth Druk Gyalpo, the Prime Minister, Lyonpo Kinzang Dorji, the Chief Justice, Lyonpo Sonam Tobgye, the Chief Election Commissioner, Dasho Kunzang Wangdi, the leaders of the Druk Phuensum Tshogpa and the People’s Democratic Party, former ministers Jigmi Thinley and Sangay Ngedup, and the Resident Coordinator for the UN System, Mr Nicholas Rosellini.

Mrs Sauerbrey said that resettlement could resolve a major part of the problem but there were people in the camps who were genuinely Bhutanese citizens and would very much like to come home. “The US and many other international communities do believe that Bhutan has a moral obligation with people who are genuinely Bhutanese citizens, to let them come home,” she said.

She told the Bhutanese media that it had been a good opportunity to discuss with His Majesty and government officials on how the process could move forward. “His Majesty was very generous to give his time and it was a very good opportunity to talk through the difficulties of the people in the camps and how Bhutan can move forward when there is a government in place after the elections and when Nepal has a government in place to get this process back on track.”

Mrs Sauerbrey said that the visit to Bhutan had also been a good opportunity to get a better understanding of the movement to develop democratic institutions in Bhutan. “As a former elected person in my own country, I was very interested in how the whole political process is developing, how campaigns would be structured, and the perception of the people,” she said. “I have to say that I am extremely impressed with His Majesty. This is an historic event when a Monarch, a person who hold such powers, is willing to give it up and understands that there can be good Kings and bad Kings and the people may be happy with this King and there could be a future King who is a tyrant and will oppress people.”

The U.S. was a country built on strong democratic traditions and cherished the right of the people to self-determination, she said. “So it is a huge step that has been taken. We are very excited and supportive to see democracy blooming. I think Bhutan has the potential of being a model in this region where there is so much turmoil. In terms of how the process is shaping up, we certainly recognize that there are going to be a lot of pains that people have to be educated about what democracy is, political party has to be formed, they have to understand their role, have to develop a reason for existence.”

Mrs Sauerbrey told the media that His Majesty the fourth Druk Gyalpo was most gracious in thanking the United States for taking this major step in trying to solve an the issue that had been a stalemate for a long period of time. She said that His Majesty was interested in seeing more development and opportunities for people in the rural areas in Bhutan but was absolutely determined that he was not going to be involved in the political process.

Bhutan’s Caretaker Prime Minister, Lyonpo Kinzang Dorji, told Kuensel that the government commended the humanitarian efforts of the U.S. government to solve a problem that was very complex with serious implications for the South Asian region.

“The government of Bhutan is fully committed to the agreement we have already signed with the government of Nepal,” he said. “Our new government will be in place early next year and I sincerely hope that the two governments will be able to move ahead with the bilateral process on this protracted issue. We welcome the initiative taken by the U.S. government and it is our collective responsibility to ensure a comprehensive and permanent solution to the problem.”

The U.S. delegation will visit India from tomorrow to talk about India’s role in this effort to resolve the problem. The officials also discussed the Tibetan refugee problem in Nepal and India where the officials will visit Dharamsala.

Ms Ellen R Sauerbrey has been the Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration since January, 2006. She has served as U.S. Representative to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women and has spoken at numerous international women’s conferences. She represented the U.S. at the 2003 World Family Policy Forum in Provo, Utah, the International Congress on the Family in Mexico City and World Family Congress III. She also held conferences on family issues in Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador and Costa Rica, and led the U.S. delegation to the 2004 Ninth Annual Conference of Women in Latin America.

President Bush appointed Ms Sauerbrey to represent the United States at the March–April 2001 session of the UN Commission on Human Rights and to the U.S. delegations to the 2002 and 2003 substantive sessions of the Economic and Social Council and the UN General Assembly. During the 2003 session of the General Assembly, she led the negotiations that culminated in the successful adoption of the U.S.-proposed resolution on Women and Political Participation, with 110 co-sponsors.

Ms Sauerbrey has served as the Minority Leader of the Maryland House of Delegates and was the 1994 and 1998 Republican nominee for Governor of Maryland. A former teacher, she was elected to represent her northern Maryland district in the Maryland Legislature from 1978-1994, and served as Minority Leader from 1986-1994. An expert in economic, budget, and fiscal issues, she served on the Economic Matters, Ways and Means, and Appropriations Committees, among others.

Bhutan refugees are 'intimidated'

Source:BBC

By Subir Bhaumik
BBC News, Calcutta

Bhutanese refugees living in Nepal are facing "severe intimidation" ever since plans to resettle them in the West were announced, a senior US official says.

US Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration, Ellen Sauerbrey, says the refugee leaders in the camps are to blame.

Nepal is home to about 107,000 ethnic Nepalese expelled from Bhutan, which says they are illegal immigrants.

The US has said it will take 60,000 refugees, but says it can take more.

"There is no question that severe intimidation began in the camps when the US made the offer of resettlement," Ms Sauerbrey told the BBC.

'Intimidation'

She was stopping over in the city of Calcutta on way to Delhi after a tour of Nepal and Bhutan.

Ms Sauerbrey blamed the refugee leaders in the camps in Nepal for the "intimidation".

"For those who have spent 17 years trying to develop a programme to return to Bhutan, the idea that a large number of the refugees will come to the US reduces their political power," she said.

"The refugees have also been fed on false rumours consistently."

Leaders of these Bhutanese refugees have been trying to organise them for a long march back home through India.

But Delhi - which has very friendly relations with Thimphu - has deployed border guards and police to foil these marches.

Refugees in the Beldangi II Extension camp
The refugees have been living in Nepal since the 1990s

Ms Sauerbrey says the government of Nepal must provide "adequate security" in the refugee camps, so that the UNHCR can provide resettlement information to the refugees and enlist those who voluntarily come forward to accept the offer.

"If there's enough security in the camps, I am confident most of these refugees would take up the offer of resettlement in the US," Ms Sauerbrey said.

She said the US was interested in resettling 60,000 of the refugees over five years, but there was no limit and no quota to the US offer.

"If more than 60,000 people are interested in being resettled and are referred to our programme by UNHCR, we will take those who qualify.

"Most will qualify unless someone has a record of violence in the camp," she said.

Resettlement

"We do not take these people because they are highly skilled or educated, we will take them for humanitarian considerations."

Ms Sauerbrey, who visited Kathmandu and the refugee camps in eastern Nepal before travelling to Bhutan, said the process was formally launched after Nepalese officials went to the camps with her delegation and announced publicly the Nepalese government's support of the resettlement programmes.

She said 3,000 refugees have already applied informally for resettlement in the US.

"Our goal this year is to interview about 15,000 and, in the next few years, we are expecting 20,000 to 25,000 per year, based on the interest generated amongst the refugees ," she added.

Bhutanese refugees living in Nepal try to enter the Indian state of West Bengal on May 29 2007
Bhutan says the refugees in Nepal are illegal immigrants

Ms Sauerbrey said the US government was keen to resolve the protracted refugee situation on humanitarian grounds.

"If you have been to refugee camps, they are not nice places and these people have been in the camps for 17 years. That is a long, long time," she said.

Ms Sauerbrey said the resettlement could resolve a major part of the problem but there were people in the camps who were genuinely Bhutanese citizens and would very much like to come home.

"The US and many other international communities do believe that Bhutan has a moral obligation with people who are genuinely Bhutanese citizens, to let them come home," she said.

Tens of thousand of Bhutanese of Nepali origin started fleeing the kingdom in the 1990s, complaining of persecution by the royal administration.

They found refuge in the camps in eastern Nepal, run by the UNHCR.

Several rounds of talks between Nepal and Bhutan have failed to resolve the issue.

But as Bhutan heads for its first national elections next year, the refugee leaders are pressing for the return of their people to the kingdom so that they can vote and regain their citizenship .

Process for third country resettlement of Bhutanese refugees begins

Source: Nepalnews.com

The process for large scale third country resettlement of Bhutanese refugees living in eastern Nepal has begun with the mass information campaign in all the camps, UNHCR today said.

The campaign is aimed at assisting the refugees to make an informed decision by providing them with accurate information, the UN refugee agency said.

This follows the decision of the Nepal government to allow those refugees who wish to opt for third country resettlement as an alternative solution to do so on the basis of an informed choice and acceptance by the resettlement country.

“UNHCR prefers to help refugees go back to their home countries when they can do so in safety and dignity, however, in this case, the only option currently available is that for resettlement in a third country for those refugees who wish to make this choice,” said Abraham ABRAHAM, UNHCR Representative in Nepal. He emphasised, “Resettlement to a third country does not in any way preclude the right of refugees to return to Bhutan.”

The UNHCR representative also urged the refugee leaders to respect the right of every individual to make informed choices and take decisions regarding his or her own future.

According to UNHCR, resettlement is the relocation of a refugees and their family from Nepal to a third country. This is done with the support and agreement of the resettlement countries as part of a burden sharing mechanism towards achieving a humanitarian solution so that refugees do not have to continue suffering in the camps.

On arrival in the resettlement country they will have legal permanent residence including the possibility for being citizens of that country in due course, if they so desire.

“The UN refugee agency together with the international community will continue its efforts to ensure that as many doors as possible are opened in terms of achieving lasting solutions to the plight of the refugees, including voluntary repatriation as and when return conditions permit,” the UNHCR release stated.

The United States has announced that it would resettle 60,000 refugees, and even more if required, while other members of the Core Group consisting of Australia, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Norway have also expressed their desire to take in refugees. Canada has already announced its plan to resettle 5,000 refugees.

“We are profoundly grateful to the Government of USA and to all the other resettlement recipient countries as well as to the Government of Nepal for supporting third country resettlement as a humanitarian solution," said Abraham.

Resettlement to the USA is organised by the US government, through its Overseas Processing Entity (OPE), the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The IOM will process resettlement of refugees on the basis of referrals made by UNHCR, and only where expressions of interest for resettlement have been made known to UNHCR.

During her recent visit to Nepal, US Assistant Secretary of Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, Ellen Sauerbrey, had said that the first batch of Bhutanese refugees would land in the US by January 2008.

Sauerbrey hold closed door meetings, government and media mum

Source: Apfanews.com

Since her arrival in Thimphu on Sunday evening, US Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration Ellen Sauerbrey has busied herself in meeting leaders, government ministers, bureaucrats and policy makers.

However, the government has not given any details of her visit and the issues of discussion held with various persons.

During her five-day visit to this Himalayan country, she was scheduled to discuss the issues of Bhutanese citizens evicted by the Bhutanese regime some 18 years ago and other issues of bilateral interest.

While she left Kathmandu for Thimphu, Ellen had assured to put pressure on Bhutan and Indian government for respectful return of those who do not wish to resettle in foreign land as the offered made by the US and some European and American countries.

Like the government, media remain mum since publication of any materials related to exiled Bhutanese, even if it is discussed at the government level, will term the publications or the media house as anti-national leading to cancellation of the license.

The government strictly avoids giving details of the discussion. Media here expect nothing more than usual and redundant statement from both the sides that they were committed to end the two-decade long crisis.

What a shame on national media

I am surprised to see this news on kuenselonline.com, bhutan's national web news portal.
Today every media in the world is stating that Ms Eilen R Sauerbrey is in Bhutan to discuss the refugee issues.
But I see not a single information about this in the news.
Just fooling its people as it have been doing for long time.
What a shame on national media.

Here is the news
US Assistant Secretary of State visit
3 November, 2007 - The US Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration, Ms Eilen R Sauerbrey, will be in the kingdom on a four-day official visit from November 4 – 7.

Ms Sauerbrey will be accompanied by officials from the State Department and the U.S Embassy in New Delhi.

Ms Sauerbrey will call on the prime minister and other senior government officials to discuss matters on mutual interest during her stay in the country.

Ms Sauerbrey became Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration in January 2006, Ms Sauerbrey’s visit will further contribute towards strengthening of cordial and friendly relations between Bhutan and the United States, a foreign ministry official said.

Refugee resettlement starts next week (Kantipuronline.com)

The United States will start the resettlement process for Bhutanese refugees next week, according to visiting US Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration Ellen Sauerbrey.

"Department of Homeland Security officers will come next week to take interviews," Sauerbrey said at a press meet organized Saturday at the American Embassy here. She had returned to the capital after visiting a couple of refugee camps.

Sauerbrey said that if everything moves ahead smoothly, the first plane load of Bhutanese refugees would land on American soil in January 2008.

"We have no limit on the number of refugees we will accept," she said. There are about 108,000 Bhutanese refugees in the seven camps in Nepal.

According to Sauerbrey, some 3,000 Bhutanese refugees have already expressed interest in resettlement. Once the US resettlement program begins, it will operate for at least five years, depending on how many Bhutanese refugees express interest.

'PM made strong request'

Sauerbrey said that Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala made a "strong request" to pressure Bhutan to take her people back during their meeting Saturday morning.

She added that after reaching Bhutan on Sunday, she would talk to Bhutanese officials about the possibility of repatriation.

"The first goal of any refugee is to go home. However, after 17 years of effort, the US felt that the refugees should be given an alternative," she said.

But the US will continue to press Bhutan for repatriation, she said.

Referring to queries by refugees during her visit to the camps about the possibility of the US coercing Bhutan to take back the refugees, she said, "Bhutan is a sovereign country. We can't force them."

Responding to a query whether resettling the Bhutanese refugees would encourage the Druk regime to drive out more people, she said that since the Bhutanese have to travel through India to reach Nepal, India has to be very cognizant that such an incident does not take place.

Efforts on to resettle Tibetan refugees

Sauerbrey also said that the US would continue its effort to resettle 5,000 Tibetan refugees in the US. For resettling refugees, the host country, Nepal, has to cooperate, she said.

The issue of resettling Tibetan refugees was raised during her meeting with the prime minister. However, the prime minister said that since a major project is underway in the form of resettlement of Bhutanese refugees, the issue of Tibetan refugees could be discussed later, according to Sauerbrey.

After Bhutan, Sauerbrey will visit India. There she will pay a visit to Dharmashala to get in touch with the Tibetan community.

‘No political motives behind resettlement of Bhutanese, Tibetan refugees in America’ (Kantipuronline.com)

US Assistant Secretary for Population, Refugees and Migration Ellen Sauerbrey Saturday dismissed speculations that there were political motives behind the resettlement of Bhutanese or Tibetan refugees in America.

Speaking at a press conference on the last day of her four-day stay in the country today, the US official stated that the Bhutanese refugees are being taken to American to give them new future than that of the environment of the camps and free life.

She also said that there were humanitarian reasons for trying to resettle Tibetans in America.

“We have already been cleared for the US resettlement. We hope that we might see the first plane load arriving around the later part of January if, again, all continuous to move along smoothly,” she said.

She also informed that an office set up for the purpose in Damak, Jhapa would begin taking interviews and carry other activities related to the resettlement of the refugees starting next week.

Although, the US is ready to resettle 60,000 refugees in the country, that was not the limit, the US official informed.

Admitting that the refugees from Bhutan to Nepal require traveling to India, she said, “India has to be very confident of the fact that they’ve the responsibility to ensure that this doesn’t happen again.”

Replying to a question, she said that the US could only urge Bhutan to repatriate the refugees but not force it to do since Bhutan as an independent country.

Stating that she found the Bhutanese refugees still have respect for the Druk monarch, she said that she would inform the Bhutanese officials about this during her visit to the Himalayan kingdom.

Similarly, speaking on Tibetan refugees, she said that the US government was aware that it was a very sensitive matter to Nepal to allow Tibetan refugees to resettle in America.

The government is yet to grant permission to the US government regarding the resettlement of the Tibetan refugees in the US.

However, she said that the US would continue its efforts to convince Nepal to resettle 5,000 Tibetan refugees in America in future.

Sauerbrey, who is on a 12-day visit in the South Asia, is scheduled to go to Bhutan on Sunday and then to India, where she will seek assistance from the Bhutanese and Indian governments in promoting durable solutions, including voluntary repatriation, for the Bhutanese refugees.

3,000 Bhutan refugees accept US resettlement (Indiaenews.com)

About 3,000 Bhutanese, languishing in refugee camps in Nepal for nearly two decades, have become the first to accept the US government's offer to resettle in American cities and villages, defying pressure by a group that is seeking to return to Bhutan.

This was stated here Saturday by Ellen Sauerbrey, the US Assistant Secretary of State for population, refugees and migration, at the end of her four-day visit to Nepal to oversee the resettlement process that kicks off next week.

'About 3,000 Bhutanese refugees have already indicated their desire for resettlement,' Saurbrey said, adding that some applicants have already been cleared.

'We expect to see the first plane-load of refugees in the US by the latter part of Janaury,' she said.

The official said that in the next 12 months, Washington hopes to interview about 15,000 refugees willing to accept the resettlement offer, following which up to 20,000 people would be making their way to the US each year.

After being evicted by the Bhutan government, Bhutanese of Nepali origin began a frantic exodus to Nepal in the 70s.

Now there are almost 108,000 refugees living in misery in seven camps in eastern Nepal, under the supervision of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

Though Nepal granted them asylum, they are not allowed to work or run businesses and remain abjectly dependant on donor countries.

Pressured by the west, Bhutan began reluctant repatriation talks with Nepal but abandoned them after 15 rounds.

With donors becoming weary and food and fuel supplies to the camps dwindling, the US, one of the major donors, stepped in with the resettlement offer.

Sauerbrey, who met about 5,000 refugees during her visit, said she was touched to see that many refugee children were still taught to offer a special prayer in the morning for the health of the king of Bhutan.

'The great majority (of refugees still) love their country and king and would go home and live happily and peacefully for the rest of their lives, given an opportunity,' the official said.

Sauerbrey said that she would take this message with her to Bhutan, where she begins her three-day visit from Sunday.

On Wednesday, she would head for New Delhi to hold discussions with officials from the ministry of external affairs.

Though India has refused to be drawn into the repatriation negotiations, saying it is a bilateral matter between Nepal and Bhutan, other governments, including Nepal, say that India has a very important role.

India is Bhutan's foreign affairs advisor and biggest trade partner.

Also, when the refugees fled their homes following an ethnic crackdown by the Druk government and crossed into India, Indian security forces herded them to Nepal.

However, when the refugees tried to return to Bhutan the same way, they were stopped.

Earlier this year, Indian border forces fired on unarmed refugees trying to return home, who included a large number of women. Two refugees were killed triggering international concern.

Sauerbrey emphasized that the international community was concerned that Bhutan could try to expel more Bhutanese of Nepali origin.

At a time Bhutan was trying to show the world that it was becoming democratic by holding the first general election, such a step, she said, would tarnish the government's image in the eyes of the world.

India also had a special responsibility to prevent that, Sauerbrey said.

'India has to be cognizant of the fact they have a responsibility that this doesn't happen again,' she said.

First planeload of Bhutanese refugees will travel to the US by January, 2008: US official (Nepalnews.com)

A senior US official has said that if all things proceed smoothly, the first planeload of Bhutanese refugees will reach the United States by late January.

Ellen Sauerbrey, the Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, told a news conference, Saturday, in Kathmandu, that officials of Overseas Processing Entity (the International Organisation of Migration in this case) will arrive in Nepal next week to start interviewing the willing refugees.

“At this point, we have around 3000 refugees who have shown interest for resettlement,” she said, adding that the US hopes to process 15,000 refugees for resettlement in the first year and around 20,000 each year from next year.

Although, the US government has said it will resettle around 60,000 Bhutanese refugees, Sauerbrey said there is no limit for the number of refugees who want to choose this option.

Stating that the US government recognises the desire of refugees for repatriation, she added that “the US government has, and will, continue to press the Bhutanese government to allow the repatriation of refugees.”

Sauerbrey who is traveling to Bhutan and India from Nepal said that the international community is keeping a close eye in terms of any efforts by Bhutan to expel any additional people. She said that as a democratising nation, the image of Bhutan will be tarnished if they attempt to expel any further people.

On the issue of security situation in the refugee camps, the US official, who also visited two camps in Beldangi and Goldhap said, “We are pleased to see the level of security in the camps.”

Terming the US initiative to resettle Bhutanese refugees as a humanitarian one, she said that since the problem had been protracted for too many years, the US concluded it was time to offer alternative of resettlement to willing refugees so that they can have educational opportunities, jobs and free life.

She also spoke about the Tibetan refugees. She said the US wants to resettle 5000 Tibetan refugees but understands the sensitivity of Nepal government, which has not agreed with this proposal. “We hope that the day will come when we are able to do that,” she said.
Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, US Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration, Ellen Sauerbrey, US Ambassador Nancy Powell (extreme left) pose for a photograph after the meeting at the PMs residential office in Baluwatar, Saturday, Nov 03, 07. nepalnews.com/NPA
Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, US Assistant Secretary of State for...

Sauerbrey met with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, on Saturday morning to discuss about the refugee resettlement issue. “The Prime Minister made a strong request to the US to continue to press Bhutan for repatriation,” she said, adding that it was no accident that she would be traveling to Bhutan from Nepal.

She said she raised issues like camp security and issue of expediting exit permit for the refugees during her talks with the PM.

She also met with Home Minister, Foreign Minister, government officials and refugee representatives during her stay in Nepal.

Repatriation and resettlement should begin together: PM (Nepalnews.com)

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has urged the US government to ensure that resettlement and repatriation of the Bhutanese refugee begin at a time.

Koirala told visiting US Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration Ellen Saurbrey, during a meeting Saturday morning at Balutwar, that third-country resettlement was not a permanent solution of the refugee crisis.

According to a Baluwatar source, PM Koirala informed the US minister that Nepal was not, however, against the resettlement process but expressed concern regarding the future of those who do not want to go to the US.

Koirala also urged the US official to put pressure on Indian and Bhutanese governments for repatriation of Bhutanese refugees.

In response, Saurbrey assured to raise the issue with Bhutanese and Indian governments. She said her government would officially ask the two governments to take initiative for a solution of the protracted refugee crisis. Saurbrey had visited Bhutanese refugee camps in Jhapa.

She will fly to Thimphu on Sunday to discuss the refugee issue with the Bhutanese government. After that she will visit Delhi seeking India's role in solving the refugee crisis.

During her interaction with refugees in Jhapa camps on Friday, Saurbrey had assured to put pressure on Bhutan and Indian for early solution of the issue.

US official officially seeks application for resettlement

Source: Apfanews.com

The US assistant secretary Ellen Sauerbrey in her visit to camps in Jhapa, where the exiled Bhutanese have been living for the last 17 years, has officially urged the exiled Bhutanese to apply for resettlement in the US.

BNS manager Vidhyapati Mishra, who reached Beldangi and Goldhap camp along with the team of UNHCR and the US official team quoted US official as saying that the process for resettlement would begin in the next two weeks.

Stressing that the resettlement was a temporary measure of finding a lasting solution of the two-decade long crisis, Ellen assured the right to return to homeland one the situation normalizes.

Allen further told the exiled Bhutanese would not have to live as refugee in the US rather can enjoy all facilities that US citizens have been. She urged the exiled Bhutanese to tap this opportunity since it will end their hard life in Nepal camps.

She also informed that at least 15,000 exiled Bhutanese will be flown to the US within next one year and the process would further accelerate in coming years.

Ellen also mentioned that the US government would continue putting pressures on the Bhutanese and Indian governments for guaranteeing the repatriation of those not willing to resettle or those who want to return Bhutan even after resettlement.

In his last visit to camps before leaving Nepal completing his tenure here, country representative of the UNHCR for Nepal Abraham Abraham urged the exiled Bhutanese to file application at the office of the International Organization of Migration (IOM) established at Damak.

Chief of the IOM for Nepal David has also reached the camps and was answering the questions raised by the exiled Bhutanese regarding resettlement while this report was filed.

Chief district officer of Jhapa said the Nepal government has formally decided to allow the resettlement of the exiled Bhutanese to western countries.

Ellen and the team also visited the Beldangi camp earlier where she received appeal from the camp secretaries who requested the US official to seek early solution of the crisis.

Sauerbrey is in 12-day tour to Nepal, India and Bhutan in an effort to begin the resettlement of over 60,000 exiled Bhutanese in the US over the next few years.

Sauerbrey visits Jhapa to assess preparation for resettlement of Bhutanese refugees

Source: Nepalnews.com

The US Assistant Secretary for Population, Refugees and Migration, Ellen Sauerbrey, who is currently on her 12-day visit to Nepal, Bhutan and India, visited Jhapa district on Thursday.

During her visit, she held meetings with security officers and chief district officer of Jhapa to assess arrangement made for security in the Bhutanese refugee camps before the third country settlement of the refugees could begin.

She also visited the resettlement processing center in Damak where the International Organisation of Migration (IOM), chosen as Overseas Processing Entity (OPE) by the US government to facilitate the settlement of Bhutanese refugee, will be selecting the refugees for resettlement. She is scheduled to visit the refugee camps as well.

She said the resettlement would begin after her return to US. The US government plans to begin the resettlement process by early next year.

The US has expressed its willingness to resettle at least 60,000 Bhutanese refugees in America over the next few years.
After Nepal she will travel to India and Bhutan to talk with Bhutanese and Indian governments, seeking their support for the resettlement process.

Rizal, Gazmere meet Sauerbrey

Source: Apfanews.com

Bhutanese human rights leader Tek Nath Rizal and Ratan Gazmere have separately met with the US Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration Ellen Sauerbrey at the US Ambassador to Nepal Nancy Powel’s residence in Kamaladi, Kathmandu Wednesday evening. Sauerbrey arrived Kathmandu on Tuesday evening.

Leader Rizal denied speaking on what the meeting was based on. However, another leader Gazmere informed the Bhutan News Service (BNS) that he heard about European Union’s wish with Rizal to support exiled Bhutanese for only another three years.

“I also heard that Rizal was told by the EU members that it would see if no any progress was made on resettlement process of exiled Bhutanese within the next three years”, said Gazmere.

Leader Gazmere also informed the BNS that his meeting with the Sauerbrey was almost based on hi-hello.

Gazmere further informed that the US was committed to begin the process of at least 1000 exiled Bhutanese for resettlement from January until February and then increase the number up to 1500 from March.

“Since few days Rizal has been saying that an individual must be allowed for resettlement rather than the whole family. This is against human rights norms and is a total crime”, added Gazmere.

Sauerbrey, who arrive on Nepal Tuesday evening, will travel to Nepal, Bhutan and India from October 29 to November 9.

While in Nepal, Sauerbrey will meet United Nations and Nepalese government officials working in projects assisting the exiled Bhutanese. She also plans to travel to camps in Jhapa and the newly established resettlement processing center there.

After Nepal, Sauerbrey will travel to Bhutan and India, where she will seek assistance from the Bhutanese and Indian governments in promoting durable solutions, including voluntary repatriation, for the exiled Bhutanese.

Rizal tells US to talk to Nepal, Bhutan and India before resettlement

Source: Apfanews.com

Chairman of Bhutanese Movement Steering Committee (BMSC) Tek Nath Rizal urged the United States to hold talks with Nepal, India and Bhutan jointly before beginning the third country settlement of the exiled Bhutanese on Wednesday.

Speaking to journalists in the Nepalese capital Rizal said resettlement merely would not give solution of the two-decade long crisis. “Most of us want to return to our country and if the US government is indeed serious regarding resolving the crisis, joint meeting is absolutely necessary as all three countries are involved in the crisis.”

Rizal also promised that he will continue struggling for the respectful return of exiled Bhutanese to Bhutan.

He further said the exiled Bhutanese should be repatriated before the general elections take place in Bhutan so they participate in the election next year.

On Sunday, Nepalese Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala had said he favors return of the exiled Bhutanese for their elections to guarantee their franchise rights.

Thinley Penjore, vice president of BMSC, said that resettlement offier is only a short term solution.

Expressing gratitude towards the US government for its willingness to resettle some exiled Bhutanese, Penjore said, “We will not stop those who want to be resettled in the third country but selection procedures should be transparent.

Nepali human rights Dr Gopal Krishna Siwakoti said resettlement would provide opportunity for the exiled Bhutanese to begin a new life but that would tarnish the democratic struggle in Bhutan. He said wherever they are taken, their national identity must the guaranteed.

Dhruva Joshi of Friends of Bhutan said third country settlement would not help protect the rights of the southern Bhutanese.

UNHCR starts providing info on resettlement

Source: Apfanews.com

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has begun providing information to the exiled Bhutanese on matters relating to third country resettlement, quoted Nepal's national news agency Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS).

RSS has further stated that people in Camps are being invited to the UNHCR Office where they are briefed about the issue.

Everyday more than 20 individuals are being provided such information, according to the UNHCR sources, further quoted the RSS.

The Refugee Coordination Unit under the Home Ministry has also said that it would expedite the work of rehabilitation to the third country immediately after Tihar festival.

The Unit is preparing to provide the necessary form to the interested people in the camps itself.

Art exhibition of exiled Bhutanese children kicks off in Nepal's capital city

Source: Apfanews.com

Kathmandu, October 29: Bhutanese Refugee Children Forum (BRCF) has begun three-day art exhibition at Nepal Art Council in the capital city of Nepal from October 29 targeted at giving a comprehensive overview of the situation prevailing in exiled Bhutanese camps.

Speaking on the inaugural session, UNHCR country representative in Nepal Abraham Abraham said that the voice of refugee children was unheard. He also stressed on the significance that the voice of the children should be always heard.

Abraham also termed that the BRCF was playing significant role in the career building and organizational development of exiled Bhutanese children.

The exhibition displays the most recent art, photography, writing, music and handicrafts of the BRCF.

On the inauguration session, 'Voices in Exile’, a small book of photographs and writing by the BRCF, published by PhotoVoice, which gives a unique insight into the camp situation has been released.

Meanwhile, the website i.e. www.bhutaneserefugees.com has also been launched.

Photo Voice, in partnership with the LWF, has been BRCF, a participatory Arts program in the exiled Bhutanese camps, for the past four years. Involving the young population, the project focuses on photography, art and journalism with the aims of providing vocational training in these areas, encouraging and supporting the creativity of the participants and building confidence by empowering them to play a positive role in the lives of their family and community.

An estimated 37,000 of one hundred seven thousands exiled Bhutanese are children languishing under the UNHCR-sponsored camps in Nepal for the last 17 years.