Nepal: Mission to assess plight of Bhutanese refugees

Source: www.reliefweb.int

Refugees International is joining with the Open Society Institute to conduct an assessment mission focusing on the plight of Bhutanese refugees in Nepal for ten days in late September and early October. The refugees, who are of Nepali ethnicity and are known as Lhotshampas, fled persecution in the isolated kingdom of Bhutan in the early 1990s. They number approximately 107,000 and live in camps in eastern Nepal.

Over the years there have been several attempts by interested donor governments, including the United States, and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to negotiate a solution to this protracted problem. At one point the governments of Nepal and Bhutan appeared to reach an agreement that would have allowed some refugees to return, but this agreement was never implemented after an initial effort to categorize the refugees and their reasons for leaving. In recent months the focus has been on the possibility of resettling large numbers of refugees in third countries, with the U.S. taking the lead in offering 60,000 potential resettlement slots over a four-year period. But Bhutanese political parties in the camps are insisting that return is the only possible option and are discouraging individuals expressing an interest in return. In the meantime, Nepal continues to oppose steps towards local integration in the areas around the camps.

The joint RI/OSI mission will involve discussions with international organizations, local non-governmental organizations, and refugee rights activists from the community in Kathmandu and Jhapa. The focus will be on developing new, practical ways to overcome the obstacles to a solution for the long-suffering refugees. While the primary focus of the follow-up advocacy will be in the region, the team will share potential solutions with the U.S. refugee bureau and UNHCR.

Denial of exit permits delayed resettlement

Source: Apfanews.com

Kathmandu, September 25: The denial of the Nepalese government to issue exit permit for third country resettlement, some 107 exiled Bhutanese have not been able to fly to western country despite completing the processes.

According to Nepalese daily Nepal Samacharpatra, 60 of them are planned to be resettled in the United States, 40 in Australia and seven in Norway. They are from the vulnerable group whom these countries expressed willingness to resettle.

The finalized files have been stranded at Home and Foreign Ministries in Kathmandu. The ministries have not been able to issue the permit since the issue has to be decided by the council of ministers.

Most of these people now live in Kathmandu due to insecurity in camps.

Camp management committee election held in Beldangi camps

Source: Apfanews.com

Beldangi, September 24: A new camp committee has been elected in Beldangi-II and Beldangi-II extension camps on Monday.

People in Beldangi-II have elected Narad Muni Sanyashi as their camp secretary. Sanyashi won the post of the camp secretary with 79 out of 105 votes from members of the camp committee. Sumitra Kharel is elected as the deputy camp secretary of Beldangi-II.

Similarly, Gana Pati Adhikari has been elected as the camp secretary of Beldangi-II extension. He won the election with 27 out of 80 votes from the camp committee members. Mangali Maya Regmi is elected as the deputy camp secretary of Beldangi-II extension.

The election concluded in a peaceful environment and amidst tight security.

The UNHCR have hold the election amidst criticism that it had earlier failed to hold the election on time. Six camp secretaries excluding the camp secretary of Sanischare camp were widely criticized of advocating for third country resettlement.

Meanwhile, the election for the post of sub-sector head, sector head, camp secretary among few others in Beldangi-I camp is scheduled for Tuesday.

New face wins secy post in Beldangi-I election (FOLLOW-UP) [ 2007-09-25 ]
 
Beldangi, September 25: In an election of camp management committee in Beldangi-I on Tuesday, Tek Bahadur Gurung and Lila Woti Gurung have been elected to the post of camp secretary and deputy camp secretary of the camp respectively.

District Superintendent of Police (DSP) Raj Kumar Lamichhaney informed the BNS that the election was concluded in a peaceful environment and amidst tight security.

In all three Beldangi camps, new places have won the election particularly for the post of the camp secretary.

Bhutanese, Iraqis coming to Concord

Source: Concord Monitor

By CHELSEA CONABOY
Monitor staff

Two new groups of refugees, Bhutanese now living in Nepal and Iraqis living mostly in Syria and Jordan, are expected to arrive in Concord over the next year. It's not clear exactly how many will come. So far, only one Iraqi family of four is on its way, but the resettlement agency Lutheran Social Services often receives little notice of who is coming when.

The agency has told national groups that allocate refugees for resettlement in each state that it can manage about 125 refugees in the coming fiscal year, which starts in October. Most would come to Concord, and some to Laconia.

Program Manager Amy Marchildon said the agency has asked for Bhutanese and Iraqis because they could do well here. She said there are about 200 Nepalese immigrants in Concord who could relate to the Bhutanese culturally, and about 39 Iraqi Kurds were settled successfully in Concord between 1999 and 2001. The caseload also would include a diverse group of refugees from African nations.

Their refugees are people who have been persecuted for their race, ethnicity, religion, politics or social standing and who are selected for entrance to the United States. In the past nine years, Lutheran has resettled more than 470 refugees in Concord. The agency provides assistance in the first few months after arrival.

While Lutheran sets a target capacity each year, the number of refugees coming to New Hampshire doesn't always reach that level. This fiscal year, which ends at the end of September, the agency was expecting up to 130 refugees, including as many as 80 Burundians coming from camps in Tanzania. ---ADVERTISEMENT---

As of the end of August, 103 had arrived, including 85 who were resettled in Concord and 33 Burundians settled between Concord and Laconia.

All refugees must go through a background and health check before being considered for resettlement and are excluded if the United Nations determines they committed war crimes or acts against humanity, according to a pamphlet by the Church World Service, a national resettlement agency. Background checks include a screening by the State Department, fingerprinting, an interview by the Department of Homeland Security and review by the FBI and CIA.

"I think there might be a level of fear when we say 'Iraqi refugees' just in terms of security," Marchildon said. "It's important for people to understand that the refugees very involvement with the United States is the reason why they are being persecuted and targeted at home and is why they had to flee Iraq or are displaced in the country. This is historically consistent with U.S. humanitarian and foreign policy commitments."

As of the end of 2006, the population of Iraqi refugees worldwide quintupled and was second in size only to Afghans, according to a United Nations report.

Today, about 2 million Iraqi people have fled to Jordan and Syria, and an equal number are displaced within Iraq. The number of total displaced is expected to grow by another 1.5 million by the end of the year, according to Church World Service. The refugee crisis is the largest since Palestinians fled the creation of Israel in 1948. At an April conference, the United States pledged to take in up to 25,000 Iraqi refugees. This year, about 7,000 have come.

Marchildon described them as "urban refugees" who aren't concentrated in camps but who are living underground lives, destitute because they can't work without papers.

"The boys in the family . . . work in factories, child labor," Marchildon said. "The girls are being prostituted. These are extreme survival mechanisms. These are families that would never dream of a life like that."

Unlike the Burundians and other African groups who have spent decades in refugee camps, the conflict that has made Iraqis into refugees is not far from the present.

"Trauma is more fresh for them," Marchildon said.

But they have had access to much more education than those who grew up in camps and they are more accustomed to Western ways. Marchildon said some aspects of integration, including finding work, could be easier.

The Bhutanese, on the other hand, face challenges largely caused by their protracted stay in refugee camps.

The refugees fled Bhutan, a Himalayan country smaller than the Dominican Republic, in the early 1990s. In the 1980s, the Bhutan government started a campaign to identify people who were "genuine Bhutanese" and forced migration of those who didn't fit that categorization, according to a slide show created by the office of the United Nation High Commission for Refugees. Efforts in recent years to repatriate those who have lived in Nepal for as many as 16 years have been unsuccessful.

There are more than 108,000 Bhutanese refugees in seven refugee camps in Nepal. Most are Hindu and speak Nepali. About 35 percent also speak English. Children in the camps are educated to about grade 10, and a limited number have gone on to college in India. About 25 percent have not been educated, according to the UNHCR. Job training has been limited. A small political faction in the camps opposes resettlement and has pushed to return to the Bhutan, causing tension in the camps when threats have been made against those in favor of resettlement.

The UNHCR slide show says at least 20,000 refugees are expected to request resettlement, but the number could be "much higher."

Government Of Nepal is responsible for security, says Abraham

Source: Apfanews.com

Kathmandu, September 20: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) country representative in Nepal Abraham Abraham has said that the UNHCR was seriously working with the government of Nepal for making security arrangements inside exiled Bhutanese camps.

In response to queries of T. P. Mishra of Bhutan News Service (BNS), Abraham on Thursday said the UNHCR has already taken initiative to create 'fearless' atmosphere for exiled Bhutanese following escalating violence inside the camps.

Abraham's response, regarding security in camps, comes at a time when an innocent refugee in Beldangi-I camp was killed by an unidentified armed gang on September 18.

Lok Nath Katel (47) of Beldangi-I camp under Sector D/1, Hut number 13/14 was killed by the gang at mid-night while he was trying to rescue neighbors from the gang's attack.

Informing that the security posts would be built by September 25 in Morang-based Sanischare camp, and by October 5 in all remaining six camps, Abraham, however said that security of exiled Bhutanese depended on government of the host country, Nepal.

He also informed that the UNHCR has already dealt the issue of security with what he termed 'high level' in government of Nepal. “UNHCR is hopeful that Nepal government will deploy security forces in camps soon after the construction of security posts”, said Abraham, adding the UNHCR has urged the government of Nepal to arrange 24 hours security vigilance in camps to ensure that people feel safe.

Indicating on the recent killing of an innocent people in Beldangi-I camp, Abraham also expressed the UNHCR's condolence, sympathy and grief to the bereaved family.

"This level of violence is senseless", said Abraham, adding that the UNHCR was committed towards bringing the perpetrator before the legal action of the host country. He also said that the UNHCR would leave no stones ‘unturned’ to bring such perpetrator before the court of justice.

Meanwhile, Abraham also urged all refugees to try to exercise a sense of mutual understanding for finding an outlet to the problem. He also informed that the UNHCR was seriously dealing with Nepal government in publicizing the report of Beldangi-II incident that claimed lives of two youths.

Confirming that a handwritten ‘pamphlet’ was also left in the name of ‘Cobra Group’ on September 18 that has threatened nine more people including the camp secretary of Beldangi-I D. P. Pradhan among others, Abraham said the UNHCR has already dealt with the government of Nepal concerning their security.

When asked if escalating ideological divergences within people was occurring in camps with the offer of third country resettlement, Abraham said “Indeed, it is increasing violence that has divided people in camps but not the offer of third country resettlement.”

Abraham also stressed on the UNHCR’s parallel concern on all three options viz repatriation, local assimilation and third country resettlement. “But the latest offer of third country resettlement has come up as a feasible solution lying on the table”, added Abraham.

Armed gang kills a refugee in Jhapa

Source: Nepalnews.com

A refugee was killed by an unidentified armed group Monday night in Beldangi I Bhutanese refugee camp in eastern Nepal, a refugee news portal said.

According to apfanews.com, a gang of 20-25 armed people killed Lok Nath Katel, 47, of Beldangi-I camp, Sector D/1 -14/15 while he was trying to rescue his neighbour from being attacked.

Apfanews.com quoted the secretary of the camp D. P. Pradhan as saying that the armed gang had come to make inquiries in the hut belonging to Narad Adhikari, general secretary of Druk National Congress (DNC) and president of Bhutan Chapter of the Netherlands-based Global Human Rights Defense (GHRD), at around midnight. Adhikari resides in Kakarvitta.

The attackers, who fled after the incident, said they were from Damak. The intention of the murder has not been known yet. The police has beefed upe security in the camp after the incident. Nobody has been arrested yet.

Adhikari is one of those who have been lobbying the Indian political leaders to put pressure on their government for addressing the Bhutanese refugee issue in recent months

Interview with US Ambassador Nancy J Powell

In a recent interview with Kantipur Daily, Her Excellency Nancy J Powell, the new ambassador of the United States of America to Nepal spoke about reason for the resettlement of  60,000 Bhutanese refugees in US.
Here is part of the Excerpts:
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Q: The US has proposed to resettle more than 60,000 Bhutanese refugees. Why is the US so keen on taking such a large chunk of refugees?

Powell: UNHCR, the US government and other countries that have been working at resettlement option recognize three durable solutions. We look at the resettlement of he refugee in the countries which have taken up the issue is there. That is a way to solve the issue. Repatriation to the country where they came back from or resettlement. And we are not advocating a single solution. We are recognizing that the international norm is all three solutions to take place.

The origin of the efforts --- the crude effort is to recognize the people, who have been in these camps for nearly 17 years. That is incredibly a long time. Many are working for future of their children. We currently have programs in the United States that allow us to take refugees from around the world. We wanted to make our program available to them. We have been working on small amount of those who are vulnerable in one way or others. But this would be a huge increase in the processing. We are working closely with UNHCR and other countries that have been donating to keep these camps going.

We are working on two or three things now before the processing starts. One is to ensure that there is security in the camps for the refugees to make an informed and free choice that they would not be intimidated by others in the refugee camps.

We also need security for those going to do the processing and those who would be helping us. We have to have a secure environment for the refugees, for those who are processing. In the next two/three weeks we will have ready infrastructure for the police. We will then begin a campaign that includes the government of Nepal, UNHCR, and the resettlement countries. We will be explaining what the offers are, what does it mean to do with resettlements in the United States, or in Canada, or in Australia or in other places. What particular benefits they would enjoy, what are the restrictions, what qualifications do they need.

Those who opt for resettlements will work with UNHCR to process their paperworks. We need to work through how to get people from current location to Kathmandu to resettlement locations, to care for them during that process. There is also logistic thing that has to be worked out. But we will be working with officials that are posted in other parts of the region. I think they come from Bangkok, they come from New Delhi.

Read Full Interview

India for the resettlement of refugees

Source: eKantipur.com

KATHMANDU, Sept 17 - Visiting Indian foreign secretary said here Sunday that India was confident about the timely Constituent Assembly (CA) elections as all the leaders he met during his two-day visit spoke of the critical importance of holding polls as scheduled on Nov 22
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Speaking about the Bhutanese refugee problem, Menon said India welcomed the offer of resettlement of refugees by some countries. The Bhutanese refugee problem needs to be dealt with from the humanitarian aspect, instead of getting into legalities of the problem and discussing "what is right or wrong".

Refugee camps mgmt poll by Sept-end

Source: Kantipuronline.com

BY CHETAN ADHIKARI

DAMAK, Sept 14 - The Bhutanese Camp Management Committee's elections that was postponed nine months ago, is slated to be held in 24 September this year.

This was decided after an interaction held on Tuesday inside the camps by the government-administered Refugee Coordination Unit (RCU) to declare election plans. The decision came to light on Thursday. Citing the ongoing census inside the camps from November last year to May this year, the RCU had given continuity to the then management committee.

According to assistant director of RCU and Deputy Chief District Officer Laxman Hamal, the elections will be conducted for four days starting from 24 September, across the seven refugee camps which includes three Beldangi camps - No. 1, 2 and Extension - Goldhap, Timai and Khudunabari camps in Jhapa and Sanishchare in Morang. There are about 108,000 Lhotsampas (Nepali-speaking citizens of southern Bhutan) in the camps.

The elected committee will represent all the administrative works carried out on behalf of refugees inside the camps, while the RCU will function only as the support group to the committee.

Sources inside the camps said the current camp secretaries, six of whom have been supporting third-country resettlement as proposed by United Nation High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and other donor countries, are reluctant to compete for the upcoming elections fearing reprisals from anti-resettlement groups.

Frequent riots and violent attacks among refugees, especially targeted at camp secretaries in the camps made headlines in the national media in the wake of third-country resettlement option for evicted Bhutanese refugees. Some leaders, none of who live in the camps, are against the resettlement option, and have been accused of provoking violence in the camps. These leaders hold the view that resettlement option would not only derail respectful repatriation but would embolden the India-backed Bhutanese government to evict more Lhotsampas.

Dr Bhattarai talks politics, refugee issue with Canadian envoy

Source: Nepalnews.com

Senior Maoist leader Dr Baburam Bhattarai has asked the international community to play constructive role for successful landing of the ongoing peace process.

During his hour-long meeting with Canadian ambassador to Nepal David Malone on Friday, Dr Bhattarai informed the Canadian diplomat that the political situation in Nepal has reached a critical point.

In response, the Canadian envoy assured the Maoist leader of his country's support for the success of the peace process.

The two are also learnt to have discussed the resettlement of the Bhutanese refugees. Dr Bhattarai said though his party does not oppose the third country resettlement of the refugee, the process should not begin unless the refugees agree.

Meeting between the Maoist leader and Canadian envoy has been held amidst the threat of the Maoists to quit the government and resume street protests to establish republic before the polls.

NEPAL: Some 60,000 Bhutanese refugees could settle in USA "soon"

Source: Reuters

KATHMANDU, 10 September 2007 (IRIN) - Nearly half of the 108,000 Bhutanese refugees in Nepal will soon be resettled in the USA with the help of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), officials from the Nepalese government, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the IOM have told IRIN.

"We signed a MOU (memorandum of understanding) recently with the Nepalese government and we will soon have official contact with the refugees," IOM's David Derthick told IRIN after his visit to Damak, some 500km southeast of Kathmandu, where most of the refugees are living in camps.

Derthick said he had gone there to establish an IOM office to help the US government, which had selected IOM as its Overseas Processing Entity (OPE) for the Bhutanese refugees.

Since 1990 Bhutanese citizens of Nepalese origin - known as Lhotsampas in Bhutan - have been evicted from their homes by the Bhutanese government, which introduced a new law stripping them of citizenship and civil rights because of their ancestry.

Damak municipality is home to six of the seven Bhutanese refugee camps in Nepal. According to the IOM, around 60,000 will be able to settle in the USA once they have been approved by the UNHCR.

Refugees divided
The UNHCR and IOM have made it clear that only those refugees wishing to opt for resettlement will be referred for migration to the USA. There has been growing tension among the refugees - with one group opting for repatriation to their homes in Bhutan and the other favouring third country resettlement.

However, refugee activists told IRIN that most would like to migrate to the USA as they saw little hope the Bhutanese government would take them back.

"We have suffered far too long and this [resettlement in a third country] seems to be the only way to lead a normal life again. We have given up hope of the Bhutanese government accepting us back," refugee activist Narbahadur Giri, chief coordinator of the Refugee Rights Coordinating Committee (RRCC), told IRIN.

He said there was a danger of tension and political divisions among the refugees given that many are young people. The newly emerging youth-led Communist Party of Bhutan-Maoist (CPBM) has been luring a lot of young refugees into their party and campaigning against third country resettlement, said a refugee leader requesting anonymity. He said CPBM members had been threatening and attacking those opting for migration to the USA.

The CPBM recently said it would disrupt the relocation process. In a press statement from an undisclosed location, it accused the US government and UNHCR of creating divisions among the refugees by making "lucrative" offers.

"Their cause is understandable given that their own parents and senior leaders suffered immensely at the hands of the Bhutanese government, but now we have to think about how to lead a normal life without so much hardship," said Giri.

Preparations for migration
The RRCC said security measures were under way to protect refugees and the refugee registration process prior to migration to the USA.

The IOM officials also said they would be assisting both the US government and refugees in the process. "We will be preparing refugee files for US immigration. In addition, we will also do medical health assessments on all refugees approved for resettlement," said Derthick.

The IOM will also provide cultural orientation courses, and transport from Damak to Kathmandu and thence to their final destination in the USA.

"Refugees will to have to indicate where they want to go and the UNHCR will make recommendations to other countries like Canada," Derthick added.

The UNHCR said it would organise a mass information campaign to update all stakeholders about the process and inform the refugees about resettlement.

"To ensure a smooth start to the resettlement process, UNHCR requires continued political and logistical support, as well as security measures from the government. Also, there is a need for the government to announce its policy on third country resettlement to the refugees in the camps," said UNHCR country representative Abraham Abraham.

Let refugees decide

Source: Kathandu Post,2007-9-10

Finally, the international organization of migration (IOM) has established its office in Damak, Jhapa to resettle the Bhutanese refugees in some third countries and side by side some unwanted and unnecessary elements are hatching conspiracy to foil this humanitarian project. It is natural to hear mixed opinions but it is shocking to learn that our own “leaders” are busy creating chaos inside the camps.

We all know that it is not a matter of pride to fly to America and at the same time it is not good and wise to stay long in the camps under sub-human conditions. The “leaders” hardly know the pain and sorrow that the refugees are facing today. And this is not the time to listen to them, rather it is time to speak clearly and find a safe way out of the hellish refugee camps.

Let us give chance to the refugees to speak what they want today, rather than forcing them to walk in our leaders' footsteps. Hope the situation improves soon in the refugee camps after the establishment of security posts, which would encourage the panic-stricken refugees to express their feelings.

We know what Thimpu is cooking these days and we will not digest what the Druk kingdom prepares. We hope we will get a new life in the third country.

Khem Regmi
Pathri Regugee Camp, Morang

CPB-Maoist asks UN, US, Nepal not to start refugee resettlement

Source: eKantipur.com
Kantipur Report

KATHMANDU, Sept 7 - The Communist Party of Bhutan (Maoist) has urged the UNHCR, the United States and Nepal not to start the process of third country resettlement of the Bhutanese refugees languishing in Nepal.

Issuing a statement from an undisclosed location Friday, the Maoist organization in exile has also alleged that the recent violence in the refugee camps was due to the attempt of the UNHCR and the US government to muster popular support on the basis of money.

It has also warned that it will disrupt the resettlement process if they tried to start it.

The statement issued by Binod, a member of the Maoist organization, has also demanded the early release of the report prepared by the committee formed to probe the shootout at the Beldangi camp a few weeks back, compensation to the victims and action against the perpetrators.

Two refugees had died in the incident.

“If the report is not released then such an incident can recur,” the statement added.

The CPB (Maoist) has also denied its involvement in the attack on the secretary of the Beldangi-3 and burning some huts.

However, it has warned of a “physical offense against those spying against the party by giving the names of the party cadres to the UNHCR and the local administration linking them to the incident.”

Incepted in UNHCR-administered refugee camps in eastern Nepal and composed of refugees, the organization, which apparently takes inspiration from the “people’s war” launched by CPN-Maoists, calls for a “new democratic revolution” to overthrow the Bhutanese monarchy.

More than one hundred refugees of Nepali-origin are languishing at seven camps in eastern Nepal since early 90s after they were systematically evicted from their ancestral homes in southern Bhutan as part of the ongoing ethnic cleansing drive of the totalitarian regime in Thimphu.

Nepalese Foreign Minister to raise issues of Bhutanese refugee problem in UN

Foreign Minister Sahana Pradhan is leaving for New York to attend the 62nd general assembly of the United Nations.

Nepal is preparing to raise issues such as the ongoing peace process, preparation for election, problems faced by Least Developed Countries (LDCs) as well as Bhutanese refugee problem at the assembly.

Read Details

IOM to help resettle Bhutanese refugees

Source: TheHimalayanTimes.com
Himalayan News Service
Kathmandu, September 4:

The International Organisation of Migration (IOM) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nepal to open an office in Kathmandu and implement migration programmes here.
The agreement signed last Thursday will allow IOM to begin to process for resettlement of Bhutanese refugees, currently living in camps in the east of the country, in the USA.
In May 2007, the US government selected IOM to act as its Overseas Processing Entity (OPE) for resettlement of the Bhutanese refugees.
While hopes remain that some of the refugees may eventually be able to return to Bhutan, as many as 60,000 of the refugees referred by UNHCR are expected to opt for resettlement in the USA.
“IOM will help the US government select case files of refugees for resettlement, provide medical screening and cultural orientation, and organise the complex logistics of moving the refugees from camps to the USA,” David Derthick at IOM Kathmandu told this daily.
The MoU will now allow IOM to work in Nepal in the areas of labour migration, capacity building, advisory services, migration health, international migration law, counter trafficking, return of qualified nationals, assisted return from third countries, and emergency and post-crisis interventions.

Congress (I) leader defends autocracy in Bhutan

Source: Apfanews.com

Kathmandu, September 03: While the central government of India has termed the issue of exiled Bhutanese in Nepal as the international problem, a leader of Indian Congress, the prime supporter of the autocratic regime of Bhutan, said the issue was bilateral.

Speaking to journalists on Monday in Nepalese capital Kathamndu, Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi, the spokesperson of the Congress (I), said the problem was of Nepal and Bhutan.

He, however, denied that Indian government shouldn’t play any role in finding solution of the problem though he did not explain what role India can play in this regard. He said the two countries should engage in finding solution of the problem and that India should not interfere into it if the two countries agree bilaterally.

He asked both the Nepalese and Bhutanese government to initiate dialogues to find early and amicable solution of the protracted crisis.

Earlier, in a letter by Indian prime minister Man Mohan Singh had assured the chief of the Bhutan Solidarity Dr Sunilam that Indian government would work in close coordination with the Nepalese authority to find solution of the problem.

Editorial : Abraham Abraham and the Refugee Refugees

Source: Bhutantimes.com

The tragedy of the so-called Bhutanese refugee crisis seems to be repeating itself. Those who have failed to understand the true nature of the tragedy now have another chance. Hopefully they won’t miss the irony either.

Against a tide of international criticism in the 1990s the government of Bhutan maintained that the mass exodus of Nepalese from southern Bhutan was not a result of government or military pressure on citizens, but was a result of the refugees’ own secret little plan. Leaving Bhutan in droves was Stage I of the Plan. Coming back to Bhutan in force of numbers and on their terms was supposed to be Stage II.

Many of the refugees-to-be wholeheartedly supported this plan. The concept of a Greater Nepal featured prominently in the delusions of the Nepalese diaspora those days, encouraged no doubt by the successes of the Gorkhaland movement in Darjeeling and Kalimpong. Many of them relished the idea of Bhutan going the Sikkim way. Kanak M. Dixit, a prominent editor from Nepal even wrote a cover page article on Bhutan revealingly titled “House of Cards” that seemed to foresee imminent collapse in Bhutan (Kanak Mani Dixit: House of cards: fearing for Bhutan. Himal Vol.7 No 4, July/August 1994.). Such sentiments had to be carefully hidden however and not surprisingly were heatedly denounced as some RGOB bogey.

Not all refugees were so excited by this delusion and many had to be coerced through threats and intimidation to cooperate. There was a militant wing among the refugees that offered to shorten by 6 inches anybody who did not cooperate. Translated bluntly, this was an offer of a beheading. Since the refugees were shrewdly trying to craft a picture of a persecuted minority, this fact too had to be denied. The refugee leaders cleverly deflected the blame for the exodus on a ‘despotic kingdom’ dabbling in the ‘ethnic cleansing’ of a ‘peaceful minority’. Now which self-respecting headline reader could resist buzzwords as catchy as these?

Having successfully created the critical mass of refugees and successfully set up their camps in Nepal (which incidentally was made possible only after a Long March and a standoff with the Nepalese police over the Mechi bridge), the plan began to stumble. The refugee leaders had never reckoned with Bhutanese bureaucratic obduracy and for 16 years Stage II has been in limbo. They’ve had to struggle to keep people focused on why they left Bhutan and what the next step was. Sadly for them, international sympathy for their humanitarian situation did not translate into international belief that the refugees were all Bhutanese citizens.

Finding lessons for Bhutan from the happenings in India and Nepal has been a habit among the Nepalese leaders in Bhutan. Their agitations in Bhutan in 1952 and 1990 following the successes of the uprisings against the British in India and against the monarchy in Nepal respectively bear this our. So it was no surprise that in the successes of the Maoists of Nepal the refugee leaders found inspiration and they promptly created their very own Maoist group. Unfortunately in their excitement they forgot about the US’ penchant for overreacting to anything communist or even the colour red. Not surprisingly the US became unduly alarmed by this and decided enough was enough and offered to clear the camps with a sweeping offer of resettlement in the USA.* Most of the refugees jumped at the offer as they saw it for what it was – an opportunity of a life time.

In this happy solution however the refugee leaders have found despair. Who will they lead is the main question. What will become of them as leaders? These hard questions have triggered the return of their hidden true nature and despite the risk of losing their hard earned image of peaceful refugees, they have once again resumed their old role of ‘guiding’ the people. According to them, the US offer is simply no good. No doubt being six inches shorter has something to do with it. Reports from Nepal describe a rapidly worsening situation as the Bhutan Communist Party and the Bhutan Tigers’ Front intensified their ‘campaign’ against third-country resettlement.

Such is the level of fear and intimidation that has gripped the refugee camps that dozens of families have fled the camps for their safety. Many refugees now find safety in the surrounding villages.

If there is one thing that is worse than becoming a refugee, it is for a refugee to have to seek refuge FROM a refugee camp. Abraham Abraham, the Country Representative of the UNHCR camps in Nepal must answer up to this incredible failure.

And it is high time that he and the UNHCR organization acknowledge the sinister role played by the refugee leaders in the creation of the refugee tragedy.

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*This is but one possible explanation for the generous US offer.

Red Army in the Dragon Kingdom

Source: eKantipur.com
By Deepak Adhikari

Another Maoist insurgency is going to rock yet another country in South Asia, if the statements made by the leaders of the Communist Party of Bhutan Marxist-Leninist-Maoist (CPM MLM) are anything to go by.

"Preliminary preparations for an insurgency are over. We are going to launch it soon," says Vikalpa, nom-de-plume of CPB MLM General Secretary.

Bhutan is holding its parliamentary elections in March and April 2008. But, prior to the election date, CPB MLM plans to launch its 'People's War' in the Himalayan kingdom. The goal: Abolition of monarchy and establishment of a republic. Following the footsteps of Nepali Maoists who had submitted a 40-point demand to the then Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba before launching a 'People's War', CPB MLM faxed a 13-point demand to the Royal Government of Bhutan on March 22, 2007. The letter stressed the need to "introduce people's democracy in the place of absolute monarchy." The party has asked for multi-party democracy, repatriation of the refugees to their original homes with honor and dignity, release of all political prisoners and to introduce the land reform act etc. Vikalpa (literally, alternative) says that fulfillment of the demands would have paved the way for a peaceful resolution. "But, the government, rather than taking it seriously, has unleashed terror by arresting commoners, and this has prompted us to wage an armed struggle," says CPB supremo Vikalpa. .

The Druk regime is yet to respond to these demands.
The unfolding events suggest that South Asia's only active monarchy that is ruling the so-called 'Last Shangri-La' is likely to take the country into Maoist violence. The eruption of militancy in northeastern South Asia will not only push Bhutan into turmoil but the two biggest Asian power i.e. India and China will have to deal with yet another insurgency in their backyards.

Expanding Network
At a time when Nepal was mired in the Maoist conflict, CPB MLM was announced on April 22, 2003. Pamphlets were widely distributed and posters were pasted in and around the seven refugee camps of Jhapa and Morang districts of Nepal. On the same day, sixteen out of a total twenty districts in Bhutan saw similar activities. That was the occasion of Lenin Day and the official announcement of the first communist party in Bhutan formed two years back. Following its formal announcement, Bhutanese Maoist leaders zeroed in on two areas: expanding the organizational network and intensifying political and military training. The Maoist cadres overwhelmingly participated in the 'long march' along the Mechi Bridge on the border between Nepal and India last May. The forceful attempt made by the refugees to return to their home country did not succeed. It ended with clashes between refugees and Indian security forces. The unrest triggered by the Maoists in Beldangi camp of Jhapa on 27 and 28 May led to the death of Narapati Dhungel and Purna Bahadur Tamang. The CPB MLM organized a condolence meet for the 'martyrs' in Beldangi and Sanischare camps on June 10. Student leaders Toya Khatiwada, Pasang Rai, Mesh Pathak, Champa Singh Rai delivered speeches during the programme. An emergency meeting of CPB MLM Central Committee held in the first week of June, following the Beldangi and Mechi Bridge incidents, concluded that the grounds for an armed struggle were ripening. The meeting also decided to launch a 'People's War' at the earliest. Following this, CPB has intensified its activities in all the seven refugee camps. The party has been organizing cultural programmes and closed-door meetings to indoctrinate more refugees for the upcoming 'People's War.' Some of the Bhutanese leaders have gone to Western countries like USA, UK, Germany, while others stay in their cozy apartments in Kathmandu, leaving their countrymen in the cramped refugee camps. In this backdrop, the Maoists have maintained a low profile while expanding the party network on a war footing. They have succeeded in drawing huge numbers of disgruntled refugees to their block. These new breed of leaders, unlike hitherto known leaders, are little known but they are spirited youths mostly from a teaching background. While the number of full time party members is still a matter of conjecture, what is obvious is that the party leadership has been rapidly expanding its network.

Since the party is underground, most of its activities are undertaken through its sister organizations. All Bhutan Revolutionary Student Association, its student wing, was formed shortly after the announcement of CPB MLM. Similarly, All Bhutan Women Association was announced just two weeks after the formation of its student wing. All Bhutan Republic Youth Association, all Bhutan Teachers' Association, All Bhutan Peasants' Association, All Bhutan People's Cultural Forum are other sister organizations of the party.

CPB has also adopted the strategy to form independent or literary groups to spread its ideology. The now defunct Communist Study Center led by a refugee from Goldhap camp (who was adept at oratory skills) active in 2003 was one such group. CPB MLM has also been involved in collecting funds. News sources say, the party has collected donations from Bhutanese teachers working in private schools and plus-two colleges in Kathmandu. Similarly, the party has urged Bhutanese working in INGOs and donor agencies to contribute 5 per cent of their salary. Sources claim the party has been able to collect approximately 14 lakh rupees, some of which was spent on purchasing arms. Organizing cultural programmes is another way to collect money for the party. All Bhutan People's Cultural Forum organized a cultural programme and a drama titled 'Paristhiti Le Janmaeko Lakshya' (Goal Created by Circumstances) at the Nepal Academy in Kathmandu on May 10, 2007. More than thirty thousand rupees was collected from the tickets of the show and from the sales of the album 'Bidroha Ka Jhilkaharu' (Sparks of Rebellion).

Preparing for 'People's War'
The first national conference of CPB MLM (from January 31 to February 3, 2006) devised an ideological and technical outline for a 'People's War.' According to a party press release, the conference approved the manifesto and the programme and policies of the party. The conference, according to the release, "broke all the large and bulky party committees into a sophisticated one to make a unified force." The conference also elected Vikalpa General Secretary until the second national conference. "The most important decision was to make party military oriented and military party oriented," argues Vikalpa. Bhutanese Maoists have followed the strategies adopted by Nepali Maoists. The protracted People's War is divided into three strategic phases: defense, balance and counter attack. Defense is again divided into three sub-phases: preparation, commencement and continuation. Among these, the party is still in its first phase. The preparation phase is again divided into four phases: ideological, organizational, technical and related to struggle. Among these, they have started the propaganda machine through cultural programmes, production of people oriented musical albums and pamphlets and posters. Party mouthpieces such as Vidhyarthi Pratirodh and Naulo Awaj also serve their purpose. CPB MLM has also applied Chinese leader Mao's doctrine: 'encircling city from village.' It has stressed the formation of an armed force to implement the doctrine. Vikram, one of CPB leaders, says they plan to create a guerilla force that will be technically able to carry out defensive attacks, which, in his words, "will crush the enemy's forces while defending our forces." What is the military strength? Vikalpa says, "We have a few old and homemade guns. However, our fighters are not trained for hi-tech war. We believe in getting trained in the course of war." He adds, "There cannot be a better training field than the working area."

Made in Bhutan
CPB MLM's working area is none other than Bhutanese soil. Apart from refugee camps, Bhutanese leaders are active in Damak and Birtamode of Jhapa and Siliguri (West Bengal), Sikkim, Darjeeling and Assam in India. They also frequent Kathmandu in order to propagate and collect funds. But they are trying to focus their activities mainly inside Bhutan. CPB leaders claim that theirs is the only party established inside Bhutan. The Central Committee of CPB MLM has five commands (four commands operate in Bhutan and one in the refugee camp). More than one lakh refugees are languishing in the camps while one lakh and eighty thousand Lhotsampas (Nepali speaking Southern Bhutanese) are in Bhutan. Penetration by its cadres inside Bhutan and their mobilization has been a top Maoist priority. The result: three districts namely Tashigang, Samdrup Jonkhar and Samchi are now Maoist hotbeds. Bhutan's geographical situation (65 percent forest and 80 percent mountainous and hill region), says CPB, is suitable for guerrilla warfare. Sources say, the party plans to stat a 'People's War' from the northern districts of Yangtse, Tashigang and Mongar where the state has a minimum presence. These districts share a porous border with Arunachal state of India, which China claims as its own. The Sarchops (ethnic Bhutanese of the East) are the majority in that region. Sarchops account for 33 percent of the total population and they are coming under the influence of CPB MLM. Sarchop Mukti Morcha, a sister organization of CPB was formed a few months ago. Another organization called Gorkha Rastriya Mukti Morcha led by Amar Chhetri (which demands six southern districts be declared Gorkha Pradesh) has close ties with the Maoists. However, an analyst warns that the idea to launch the war from the southern stronghold of Lhotsamaps might be counterproductive. The Druk regime has been terrorizing south Bhutan for years. As a result, that part has become an epicentre of rebellion since the early 90s when one lakh Nepali speaking Bhutanse were forced to leave their homeland. Bhutan State Congress (est. 1952), led by DB Gurung, pioneered the rebellion in 1954 from Sarbhang district of South Bhutan. Interestingly, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala had also taken part in the democratic movement in Bhutan in the early 1950s. He disclosed the fact in his memoir published in Nepal Weekly Magazine (Aug 20-26, 2007). CPB MLM invokes Mahashur Chhetri, killed in 1954 uprising, as an inspiration for their cause.

Nepal Connection
As mentioned above, Bhutanese Maoists have largely drawn the strategy and tactics from Nepali Maoists. Bhutanese comrades have maintained a rapport with the Nepali Maoists since its inception. Nepali Maoists, sources say, provided ideological and material assistance to them. Senior leaders of CPN M imparted training on firearms and ideological and cultural issues. With both parties being members of the Coordination Committee of Maoist Parties and Organizations of South Asia (CCOMPASA), it's easier for them to cooperate, sources privy to the Maoists say. CPB MLM actively participated in an international seminar organized by CPB M between December 26 and 30, 2006. CP Gajurel 'Gaurav', In-charge of the International Bureau, CPN M, says, "We are very close, for we follow the same ideology in the first place and they are also people of Nepali origin in the second." He disclosed that most of the CPB MLM leaders were trained and inspired by Nepal's 'People's War.' He adds, "We are helping them in guerrilla warfare strategy and working policy." If CPN Maoist enters mainstream politics shunning violence, they might only share ideological grounds. Nevertheless, if the Constituent Assembly polls did not take place and they adopted a policy of rebellion, relations between these parties might extend to the level of material cooperation. CPB also maintains close ties with the Communist Party of India Maoist.

Violence out of Compulsion?
The Bhutanese refugee stalemate is the main base where CPB aims to launch a 'People's War.' Scholars had predicted that if the refugee impasse remained for a long time, the youths would be drawn to violence. Aruni John, a Sri Lankan scholar, in her research published by Colombo-based think-tank Regional Centre for Strategic Studies as early as August 2000 wrote, "It is likely that the unemployed Bhutanese refugee youths in Nepal will shortly become potential recruits for militant forces that currently destabilized northeast India, southern Bhutan and eastern Nepal." She concluded, "Frustration with a legal process between the governments of Bhutan and Nepal that appears to be going nowhere, a splintered refugee leadership, a seemingly uncompromising Bhutanese monarchy, and the lack of future options may push these refugee youth to turn to militancy." Many Bhutanese leaders opine that the Bhutan government should take the responsibility for the plight of the refugees. Teknath Rizal, Chairman of Bhutanese Movement Steering Committee, says, "Every person has a limit of tolerance. If that limit is crossed, one is compelled to resort to arms." The main reasons behind the formation of CPB are the frustration and anger due to the protracted refugee crisis. But will politics of violence be successful? A Bhutanese human rights leader has a few caveats. He says it is problematic for an underground party to wage a war in Bhutan due to the small size and the sparse population of the country. He recollects the arrest of 39 Bhutanese following a cultural programme4 organized by Maoists in May. Bhutan with a population of seven lakh and fifty thousand has nearly 22 thousand security forces including the Royal Bhutan Army, Royal Bodyguard and Royal Bhutan Police. Approximately 20 thousand Indian Army personnel are currently stationed in Bhutan. The soldiers are said to be kept in Bhutan for military training, road construction and other development works. This heavy military presence makes it difficult for CPB MLM to launch a 'People's War.' Probably taking its cue from this scenario, CPB has asked other political parties to launch a joint struggle against monarchy. A recent press release undersigned by Vikalpa reads, "We request all the political parties to form a unified front to fight against Bhutan's monarchy, the common enemy of all democratic forces." Thinley Penjor, chairman of Druk National Congress (DNC), while admitting that the DNC and CPB cadres in Bhutan are working jointly at local levels, hinted at the possibility of unity at the central level. Nepali Maoist leaders had advised Bhutanese Maoists to work with other stakeholders. Ram Karki, chief of Bhutan desk in the International Bureau of CPN M, says, "The Bhutanese movement will succeed only if it joins hands with DNC and BPP (Bhutan People's Party)."

India's Role
Maoist leader Gaurav says, "It's easy to start an armed struggle in Bhutan because the government is very weak. But, it may have to face the military strength of India." Bhutan, surrounded by Indian states fighting an insurgency for decades, is a strategically important region. "That's why," he says, "India will try to prevent a 'People's War.'" Like Nepal, it is sandwiched between China and India. CPB has a nexus with ULFA and Bodo, separatist outfits operating in northeast India. When Nepal's Maoist conflict reached its apogee, India termed it a common security threat for both countries. If such a Maoist conflict spawns in Bhutan, it will definitely be a trilateral (Bhutan, Nepal and India) issue. "Bhutanese Maoists have to directly confront Indian security forces," says Ram Karki, central member of CPN M. Indian interest in Bhutan is manifold. However, bilateral treaties bind Bhutan with its southern neighbour. According to the India-Bhutan Friendship Treaty of 1949, India has the prerogative over the issues of foreign affairs and security of Bhutan. The treaty was amended in February this year. Firstly, Article 2 has been rephrased and the term 'guided by the advice by GOI' has been replaced by 'friendly cooperation' in the context of Bhutan's foreign relations. Secondly, Article 6 has been revised to the extent that Bhutan can act independently in importing non-lethal equipment, but will still have to go by India’s assistance and approval for import of arms, ammunition, machines and warlike materials and stores for Bhutan’s welfare and protection. Though, there seems to be some changes in theory, India still plays in practice a significant role in the security and foreign relations of the Druk regime. India's special relation with Bhutan has irked Bhutanese refugee leaders. Bhutanese leader Teknath Rizal says, "Aren't the issues raised in Terai and ours the same? Why does India keep mum over our issue?" India's diplomatic reticence is obvious given its involvement in hydropower projects and military training in Bhutan. India has established a Military Training Team (IMTRAT) in Ha district of Bhutan. The Indian army is also active in Bhutan under the name of the General Road Task Force. In early 2003, the Royal Bhutan Army with assistance from the Indian army flushed out the insurgents operating in northeastern India from their base in southern Bhutan. The separatist outfits, United Liberation Front of Assam, National Democratic Front of Bodoland and Kamatapur Liberation Organization, once welcomed by the royal government, were later perceived as threats to the state. But three years after getting rid of the Indian insurgents, the government is likely to confront homegrown militants. This confrontation can largely be traced to the refugee problem created by Bhutan itself almost two decades ago. In this scenario enters the United States with a proposal to resettle sixty thousand refugees. This proposal, sources say, surfaced after the US detected growing extremism in the refugee camps. Australia and Canada have also shown willingness to take in a few thousand refugees. But, the advocates of third country settlement have been targeted by the Maoists. Two camp secretaries of Beldangi camp, Hari Adhikari Bangaley and Manorath Khanal, have been frequently assaulted over the last three months. Sources say Maoist cadres were involved in the incidents. The CPB MLM took part in the 'Long March' movement to return home in May this year. A press release of the party dated June 7, 2007 reads, "The organizations privy to our party had to lead the movement in Mechi Bridge due to the failure of the National Front for Democracy." In the same release, the party has vowed to start an armed struggle. It remains to be seen whether CPB MLM will be confined to mere press releases or carry out yet another 'People's War' in the subcontinent.