Third-country resettlement of Bhutanese refugees to increase

Source: IRIN

More than 1,400 Bhutanese refugees living in Nepal have been resettled in the USA and six other countries, with numbers expected to grow in the coming months, says the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

The Bhutanese refugees, who were initially against the idea of third-country resettlement, hoping instead to be repatriated to their homes - were expressing stronger interest to UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for third-country resettlement.

The two agencies have been facilitating their resettlement since 2007.

The first batch of 100 refugees left for Arizona in March 2008. By 25 June, a total of 1,255 refugees had departed for the USA, with 169 to Canada, The Netherlands, Denmark, Australia, New Zealand and Norway, UNHCR reported.

The refugees are Bhutanese citizens of Nepalese origin - known as “Lhotsampas” in Bhutan.

The Lhotsampas have been living in seven camps in eastern Nepal for the past 17 years since being evicted from their homes by the Bhutanese government, which introduced a law stripping them of their citizenship and civil rights because of their ancestry.

Pro-resettlement feeling growing
“It is expected that within a few months, some 2,000 refugees will be able to leave each month. The offers for resettlement have been made for a period covering some four to five years,” UNHCR Nepal representative, Daisy Dell, told IRIN.

More countries in Europe have shown interest in housing refugees from Bhutan but so far there has been no confirmation of additional offers, she added.

To date, more than 38,500 Bhutanese refugees have registered their desire for resettlement - nearly one-third of the total 107,000.

“Other families have still not decided what is best for them and may need additional information from those already resettled,” explained Dell.

“The numbers could grow immensely as they become aware of better lives [abroad] rather than the hardship of living in the camps,” refugee Ashok Gurung said.

Gurung, a member of the Nepal-based Refugee Rights Coordinating Committee, said the past 17 years of hardship had affected their lives so badly that mental health and depression problems were spreading among the population.

“We know the political reality. For how long can we refugees deal with this suffering?” Gurung asked.

However, while most experience culture shock when they move, they gradually adjust to “new and better lives”, according to relatives and friends of resettled refugees.

“They are treated with care and provided with good facilities. There is no more suspicion over refugees just dumped in some foreign country,” said Thakur Mishra, a Bhutanese journalist and editor of the online Bhutan News Service.

Security concerns
However, there remain security concerns due to constant threats by underground organisations run by some refugees who advocate for repatriation and against resettlement.

“One of them includes the Bhutan Communist Party-Marxist Leninist Maoist [BCP-MLM], which has often been blamed for intimidating refugees against applying for resettlement,” said one refugee activist who declined to be identified.

He added, however, that as more refugees declared their desire to leave openly, the threats had decreased.

In fact, several of those who supported the BCP-MLM had left the party and applied for third-country resettlement themselves, he explained.

“Refugees must be able to exercise their freedom of decision regarding durable solutions,” said UNHCR’s Dell, adding that the agency was working closely with local authorities and police to protect refugees from harassment, intimidation and the use of force.

Nepal’s Generosity To Refugees

Source: Rising Nepal

By Hira Bahadur Thapa

Although the Government of Nepal has not yet acceded to the 1951 UN Convention on Status of Refugees and its subsequent Protocol, it has been quite generous to the refugees from whichever country they are from. There are glaring examples to prove Nepal’s generous behaviour meted out to the refugees. The simple reason why Nepal treats the refugees so kindly is nothing but purely humanitarian. It knows that there is no legal obligation on its part to provide humanitarian care like food and shelter to refugees as it is not a party to the refugees-related international convention. Its position on the current convention on refugees is not a factor deciding the type of treatment the refugees should be given. This is why we have hosted not only refugees from China who entered Nepal a long time ago but also Bhutanese refugees who have been sheltered since the early Nineties after being expelled from Bhutan.

Protracted negotiation
No other negotiations have been more protracted than that of the Bhutanese refugees who were compelled to leave their homeland by their government. About 100,000 of them have been in Nepal since 1991. The host government’s tireless efforts to repatriate them to their place of origin have borne no fruit. In the course of the last almost 18 years, Nepal has been engaged with all sincerity in finding a negotiated and durable solution to the vexed issue of the refugees from Bhutan. Unless there is reciprocal flexibility from the other side, it is near impossible to bring about an acceptable solution to the problem of refugees. While Nepal could have prevented the inflow of the Bhutanese refugees once they started to cross into our territory, the then government decided to let them enter only on the grounds of humanitarian concerns.

The reluctance of the country of origin of the Bhutanese refugees to be serious in taking their citizens back was clearly visible in the approach of the concerned government to the many rounds of negotiations held so far. There were as many as 15 rounds of ministerial level negotiations between Nepal and Bhutan. At each stage of the negotiations, the Bhutanese side hardly presented a flexible position, which very much obstructed the progress, especially in the repatriation of the refugees. As talks seemed no where to a satisfactory conclusion, members of the international community floated the idea of resettlement of the Bhutanese refugees in some of the western countries, including Australia. This option of third country resettlement is undoubtedly less than a comprehensive solution to the refugee problem. The most durable solution of the problem lies in the repatriation of the refugees to their own country.

The growing frustration among the Bhutanese refugees for having been forced to stay in the country of asylum for long years and not seeing any rays of hope to go back to their motherland must have led them to voluntarily accept the option of third country settlement. The host government is too heavily burdened with the sheltering of now more than 100,000 Bhutanese refugees. They have been staying in camps in eastern Nepal for more than a decade-and-a-half. Under such unavoidable circumstances, the Nepal government, once approached by all the members of the donor community for giving consent to the solution of the refugee problem through third country settlement, gave its nod in view of the welfare of the refugees.

Nepal has accepted this temporary solution not because it does not believe in repatriation as the only comprehensive resolution of the refugee problem. It has on the other hand agreed to the call of the international community and of those bilateral donors, in particular, with the conviction that resettlement may ease the burden on Nepal while the refugees also have a better quality of life if settled outside the country of asylum. The key point here is the voluntary decision of the refugees themselves to seek a better future in the developed countries of the west which are willing to get them resettled.

The United States of America has agreed to take the highest number of Bhutanese refugees. There are other countries like Norway, Denmark and Australia showing willingness to accept the Bhutanese refugees in their territories. The US has declared it will resettle as many as 60,000 of the Bhutanese refugees in the country. The process of resettlement has begun, and so far a few hundred refugees have already left the refugee camps for the US. Some other countries are also preparing to take them. The US government is to complete the resettlement of 60,000 refugees in the next five years.

The option of third country resettlement can never be a durable solution to the complex problem of refugees. Despite this, the Nepal government, as a host, did not object to this with the understanding that members of the international community will continue exerting due pressure on the Bhutanese government to agree to take back its citizens.

The refugees in volunteering to go to a third country for resettlement in no way forfeit their right to repatriation. Nothing bars them from being repatriated to their country of origin even when they have been resettled. It behooves on the part of the countries resettling the refugees to impress upon the country of origin that it should not in any way get encouraged to force its citizens to flee their own country. To ensure this, the country that expelled its countrymen must be made to follow repatriation.

Urban refugees
What concerns a country like Nepal at the moment is that the government’s generosity to the refugees is being misused by some. One of the irrevocable evidences of this is the undesirable tendency on the part of some foreigners to use Nepal’s territory as a jumping ground to seek third country resettlement in the west. It is believed that there are some foreign nationals trying to be listed as urban refugees in Nepal who seem to take advantage of the liberal immigration policy of the government. There is no denying the fact that the concept of so-called urban refugees is completely unacceptable to the government of Nepal.

Certainly in the name of giving humanitarian consideration to the plight of genuine refugees, Nepal cannot afford to turn a deaf ear to such a problem. Against this background, the government should also be serious enough in dealing with the refugees who try to misuse their shelter by participating in political demonstrations, which unfortunately has attracted the attention of the western press.

Refugees from Bhutan begin arriving in Everett

Source: HeraldNet

There are so few people of Bhutanese descent in the United States that the federal Census doesn't offer them a category.

The landlocked Asian nation of Bhutan has fewer than 1 million residents. Over the past 20 years, more than 100,000 Bhutanese have fled to neighboring Nepal to escape persecution based on their Nepalese ancestry.

The U.S. agreed to resettle up to 60,000 of those refugees late last year.

Last week, one Bhutanese family of five arrived in Everett, said Jan Stephens, director of this region's resettlement program for Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service.

By Wednesday, the fledgling group is expected to double, to 10 people. Stephens' organization is expected to pick up another family of five from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

"After that there could be another 10 people, for a total of 20 over the next couple of months," Stephens said.

That's more certainty than Stephens has had about the refugees coming to the Puget Sound region in some time. Resettlement restrictions that emerged after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks have stalled the flow of refugees. Federal officials are so cautious about blocking entry points for potential terrorists that other groups have suffered, Stephens said.

The Bhutanese are the largest group the U.S. has agreed to accept in recent memory. Still, the arrival of the refugees is a trickle compared with the waves of other groups such as Vietnamese refugees in the 1970s and 1980s, and refugees from the former Soviet Union in the 1990s.

Everett isn't a major resettlement city for Bhutanese refugees, but it's never clear where later groups will end up, Stephens said.

The city has large Iraqi, Russian and Ukrainian refugee communities, as well as growing communities of African refugees.

In one major way, the Bhutanese refugees don't fit the stereotype of third-world arrivals: most speak English.

That will make a big difference in their immediate success here, Stephens said.

The family, which could not be reached for comment, is living in northeast Everett. They have been given $450 per person to pay for their first month at a nonsubsidized apartment, Stephens said. The only other assistance they'll receive is whatever they can get through public social programs, which are available to all families that meet state requirements.

The father already has enrolled in a welding training program at Everett Community College, said Van Dinh Kuno, director of the Snohomish County Refugee and Immigrant Forum, which helps families enroll in classes and find jobs. The father began classes on Monday.

"They are so eager to learn," Kuno said. "They're willing to do anything."


Reporter Krista J. Kapralos: 425-339-3422 or kkapralos@heraldnet.com.

Refugees come home

Source: Manawatu Standard

Twenty seven refugees from Bhutan arrived in Palmerston North yesterday, several of them friends or relatives of a group of 17 who settled in the city in April this year.


There were cries of delight, hugs and in one or two cases a few tears as many years of being displaced persons came to an end. Some had spent 15 years or more in refugee camps in southern Nepal.

For children born and raised in the camps, Palmerston North represents a chance to move into a home of their own for the first time in their lives.

"They are fresh from six weeks at the Mangere Reception Centre where they received orientation," said RMS Refugee Resettlement volunteer programme co-ordinator Lorna Johnson.

"Volunteers will spend the evening with their [assigned] families, have dinner with them and help them settle in and catch up with families from the other intake.

"We have quite a mixture this time. Some are highly educated and others have trade skills."

Appropriately, yesterday was World Refugee Day.

Many earlier refugees were waiting at Palmerston North International Airport to greet the arrivals.

"What's it like to be on the other side of the line this time?" one was asked.

"It is good, very good," he said.

Tonight the latest refugees will be guests of honour at a welcome dinner organised by earlier Bhutanese, Burmese and Congolese settlers.

Mrs Johnson said it could be two months before RMS Refugee Resettlement hears if any more refugees are likely to be directed to Palmerston North.

Question Of Refugee Repatriation

Source: The Rising Nepal

By: T P Mishra

Human beings are social ani-mals who are po- litically influenced, and they are certain to get involved in political demonstrations aimed at raising voices for the stablishment of their rights. Though it is one of the fundamental rights, Bhutanese refugees in Nepal are barred from staging a peaceful campaign or other programmes for the return to their original homeland.

Restrictions
In fact, it is unfair and unjustifiable to restrict the refugees from holding peaceful demonstrations in the name of controlling crime-related activities inside the refugee camps. Undoubtedly, there has been a rise in crimes and unruly activities inside these camps, most of them said to be instigated by the underground revolutionary outfits. Perpetrators should not allowed to go scot free, but it is not wise on the part of the local authorities to restrict innocent peaceful demonstrators from raising their voice for repatriation.

Following the option of Third Country Resettlement (TCR), other options, in particular the repatriation process of Bhutanese refugees, is getting overshadowed. In recent times, the different media in Nepal have been reporting that the local authorities in Jhapa and Morang districts are clamping restrictions on peaceful demonstrations and protests in favour of repatriation inside the refugee camps.

Nepal’s frequent claim that it supports and gives priority to the repatriation process sounds contradictory. Actually, the Government of Nepal has failed to convince Thimphu to accelerate the repatriation process while the local authorities are opting measures to restrict the refugees from holding peaceful demonstrations inside the UNHCR-administered camps.
In the last week of May last year, thousands of refugees who staged peaceful protests were stranded at the Indo-Bhutan border on the Mechi Bridge by the Indian security forces while demanding passage to Bhutan. The Indian police intervened to stop the demonstrators, and in the scuffle, an innocent refugee youth Shah Bahadur Dewan was shot dead. Not only this, hundreds of those who sustained injuries are still undergoing medical treatment.
The local authority’s decision to restrict peaceful demonstrations inside the refugee camps clearly shows its intention to suppress the refugees’ sentiments to return to their home, Bhutan. This sort of behaviour from the local authorities at a time when Nepal has already become a republic with a pledge to enter a ‘New Nepal’ leaves a number of unanswered queries.
Bhutanese refugees being of Nepali ethnic origin are certainly close to Nepal. Moreover, the refugees have high hopes that their issue will be solved with the efforts and support from the Government of Nepal. Nepal should, thus, become ‘liberal’ and allow the refugees to at least demonstrate their feelings and demands through peaceful means.

However, it is equally necessary to maintain good vigilance by the Armed Police Force (APF), deployed in each of the seven camps, to see that there is no infiltration by untoward elements in such demonstrations. The refugees should also ensure that they abide by the law of the host country while staging such peaceful protests. Any violent attempts from refugees to raise their voice - be it for repatriation, resettlement or local assimilation - would certainly be a criminal acts. Only in such cases should the local authorities try to disband the refugees’ protests. Or else it is unfair not to allow peaceful protest programmes.

Meanwhile, those refugees and groups favouring the option of repatriation should not obstruct the resettlement process as there is increasing number of people from the same community wishing to opt for it. A sense of mutual cooperation and understanding between the divided opinions among the refugees is a must to ensure that all possible options are unlocked.

Initiatives
Now-a-days the efforts to press the Druk regime to accelerate the repatriation process are limited to ‘issuing media statements’. None of the concerned authorities, including the Government of Nepal, are opting for practical measures to bring Bhutan to the negotiating table. As a result, those refugees who wish to return to Bhutan have started making efforts on their own, particularly through peaceful protests inside the refugee camps.
It should be clearly understood that suppressing such efforts of the refugees by no means will discourage them from raising their voice for repatriation. Rather it will only add fuel to the refugee problem. The authorities concerned should take urgent and necessary initiatives to address the demands of the refugees.


(Editor of BNS, Mishra is also president of the Bhutan Chapter of Third World Media Network and can be reached at: mishratp@gmail.com)

Non-Bhutanese resettled in US: APFA Bhutan

Source: Nepalnews.com

Association of Press Freedom Activists (APFA) Bhutan has said a non-Bhutanese refugee has been resettled in United States, using fake identity as a Bhutanese refugee from Beldangi 2 camp in Jhapa district.

According to a statement by the association, a non-Bhutanese has been sent to US after completing resettlement process at the International Organization of Migration (IOM) in the name of Padam Lal Poudel, 52, from Beldangi 2, Sector D/2 Hut No 24.

The association quoted a family member of Poudel as saying, "The inquiry section of IOM confirmed that someone matching my father's information has
already got resettled in the US."

The matter came to light after Poudel's son inquired at the IOM to know why his father's resettlement process had been delayed while other families whose interviews began at IOM along his family already left Nepal.

He was informed by the people at IOM reception that there are many such cases.

There were media reports saying some non-Bhutanese have been making efforts to go US under disguise.

APFA said IOM offices in Damak and Kathmandu, UNHCR office in Kathmandu and UN embassy in Kathmandu denied talking on the issue.

The association demanded that original identity of the person being resettled be made public by the concerned agencies - date of his departure from Nepal, place where he has been resettled along with photo - and urged IOM, UNHCR and US embassy to take precautionary measures to ensure that non-Bhutanese are not be resettled.

US embassy says no non-Bhutanese has been resettled in US

Source: Nepalnews.com

The American Embassy has said no non-Bhutanese refugee has been resettled in the US and that recent news reports saying a few people have managed their way to the US, as refugees, are unfounded.

"There have been several reports published in Nepal that contain factually inaccurate information regarding refugee resettlement in the United States. UNHCR and the U.S. Embassy confirm that all refugees resettled so far have successfully gone through an exhaustive process and have been confirmed to be genuine candidates for resettlement.

The embassy further said, "Each refugee who is resettled goes through an extensive screening process, first by UNHCR, second by IOM, then by representatives of the resettlement country, in this case by officials of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security."

The identity of each refugee is checked several times against a data base containing the refugee's picture and finger prints, the embassy added.

IOM sends non-Bhutanese under resettlement to US

Source: Apfanews.com

Amidst reports that non Bhutanese are being processed for third country resettlement identifying themselves as Bhutanese, Bhutan News Service (BNS) has identified a case of that kind.

A non Bhutanese has been sent to US after completing resettlement process at the International Organization of Migration (IOM) in the name of Padam Lal Poudel, 52, from Beldangi II, Sector D/2 Hut No 24.

"Other families processing together have already left but we are still waiting for the DHS interview", said son of the victim who went to IOM, Damak office to know the reasons of delay Monday morning.

"The inquiry section of IOM confirmed that someone matching my father's information already got resettled in the US", he told BNS.

"I was just returned from the reception without letting to talk to senior officials" said he adding two persons at the reception in just said, "It is not only yours, there are several such cases''.

According to Poudel's son, his family has already got two special numbers assigned by IOM, and there are five members under his father's group. In April, IOM split his family into three groups for easy processing.

An IOM staff at Damak told BNS that no information through telephone is entertained to any media. She said, "Sorry I cannot help you", and added "Better talk to Kathmandu office".

When BNS contacted IOM office in Kathmandu, they simply directed to contact the US embassy for verification. However, the US Refugee Coordinator was out of reach, when BNS attempted to seek clarification.

On repeated calls to IOM Kathmandu office, one of the officials said "Media matters related to IOM are to be discussed with either United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) or the US embassy in Kathmandu".

UNHCR office in Kathmandu also denied providing information on status of the person being resettled as Bhutanese in US, citing reason of protection according to its policy.

New life begins in Australia, no Nepali speaking people in locality

Source: Apfanews.com

The first planeload of exiled Bhutanese who were flown to Australia under third country resettlement program stated they had started with new lives.

At least five families-- two from Beldangi, one from Khudunabari,, one from Sanishere and one from Goldhap reached Australia on May 13.

Bikram Adhikari, one amongst the resettled exiled Bhutanese, over telephone conversation with the BNS said that most of them were busy learning English-language classes. Bikram, a temporary resident of Beldangi-II extension, along with parents and two sisters had reached Australia under third country resettlement program.

Adult Migrant Education Program under Department of Immigration and Citizenship in Australia has been providing the 510-hour English-language classes free of any costs.

“This classes are mainly helpful for getting a better job here in Australia”, said Adhikari, adding that the exiled Bhutanese themselves have to bear the expenses if they wish to continue with the classes even after 510 hours.

Adhikari further informed the BNS that the resettled families are provided with one house each. He added that the government would pay rental charge of the house until one becomes able to stand on his/her own feet.

According to Adhikari, the government also provides them with the amount in cash to mange basic expenses for food stuffs among other necessities. “The amount we get from the government is enough for basic expenses”, added Adhikari.

Adhikari informed that he along with two younger sisters would join the University within a couple of months to pursue higher education.

“It is not sure when we would exactly begin a job but Job Network, an organization under the Australian government, will assist us to find suitable job after the completion of the language classes”, said Adhikari.

Adhikari also informed that most of the resettled Bhutanese were finding tough to pass the time due to absence of Nepali-ethnic people dwelling near the areas where they are resettled.

“At least we are hopeful that soon our relatives from the camps would be resettled near the place we reside”, said Adhikari, adding that the government has assured them of speeding-up the process for re-unions.

Attack on pro-resettlement refugees continues

Source: Nepalnews.com

Despite concerns expressed by the Core Group working on resettlement of the Bhutanese refugees in Nepal, attack on those willing be resettled is increasing.

According to apfanews.com, a news portal run by Bhutanese refugee journalists, an unidentified gang physically assaulted a family of Hari Kafle in Beldangi-I refugee camp, Sector C/2-126 Wednesday night.

The gang attacked the family at around 11 p.m. saying the family has chosen for third country resettlement.

Hari's family was called by the UNHCR on April 2 to proceed with the resettlement to third country.

The website quoted Krishna Maya, wife of Hari, saying that the gang initially inquired the reasons behind showing their interest towards resettlement.

Recently, the resettling countries had expressed serious concern over the increasing violence against those refugees giving interviews at UNHCR and IOM for resettlement and asked the government of Nepal for necessary security in the camps.

Core Group Flays Attacks against Refugees, Humanitarian Workers

Source: The Himalayan Times

The governments of Australia, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway and the United States, as members of the Core Working Group on Bhutanese Refugees in Nepal, have expressed deep concern over attacks and escalating threats against Bhutanese refugees seeking third country resettlement and the humanitarian workers who assist them, says a release from US Embassy in Kathmandu.

As the International Organization for Migration, the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and the World Food Programme noted in their May 22 statement, attacks against refugees and humanitarian staff endanger continued provision of aid to refugees in Nepal. Attacks by groups opposed to third-country resettlement reveal their fundamental disregard for the welfare of the people whose cause they claim to promote. We call on the Government of Nepal to bring to justice the perpetrators of these violent attacks, the release said.

" The Core Group notes that many refugees seeking resettlement are not swayed by these threats; refugees continue to seek resettlement consideration. We recognize that resettlement to another country is not the first choice of most refugees, whose strongest desire is to go home. Third country resettlement should not bar refugees from returning to Bhutan in the future. Members of the Core Group continue to urge the Government of Bhutan to accept the repatriation of its citizens. Violence does not facilitate these efforts."

The Core Group commends the courage of humanitarian workers who assist refugees despite threats of violence. We also greatly appreciate the daily efforts of district officials and police to protect refugees and humanitarian workers. We are committed to working with the Government of Nepal, the Royal Government of Bhutan, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees towards a comprehensive and sustainable solution for this refugee population that best meets the individual needs of the refugees."

Bhutanese Refugees Rally for Repatriation

Source: The Himalayan Times

Demanding an early repatriation, Bhutanese refugees staged demonstrations in their camps on Monday. They staged the demonstrations at the call of Street Struggle Committee, a newly-formed body of refugees.Refugees of Beldangi Camps No 2 and 3 urged the Indian government to help in the repatriation.The refugees took out rallies inside the camps after the Armed Police Force prevented them from coming out.Refugees of the camps at Sanischare also staged a protest rally on Monday.Meanwhile, security has been tightened in the camps. Entrance of private vehicles in the refugee camps has been banned.