Dreams of home fade for Bhutan's expelled Nepali refugees

Source: AFP

BELDANGI REFUGEE CAMP, Nepal (AFP) — After more than 15 years living in bamboo huts in a refugee camp in Nepal, Hem Lal Subedi has no desire to return to Bhutan, and now sees his only option is a new life overseas.

Subedi is one of 100,000 Bhutanese of Nepalese origin who fled Bhutan in the early 1990s after compulsory national dress was introduced and the Nepalese language was banned.

The new regulations sparked protests which led to a harsh clampdown by authorities.

"I gave up wanting to return about a year ago," said the 53-year-old once-wealthy farmer in the sprawling Beldangi refugee camp that sits next to rice fields in southern Nepal.

"We have spent too long in this camp where we are forced to live like beggars and rely on United Nations handouts," said Subedi outside his simple hut.

Bhutan's government says the people who left in large numbers in the early 1990s were either immigrants who had settled illegally in Bhutan or people leaving Bhutan voluntarily.

"Life in the camps is often much better than that prevailing in Nepal, India or Bhutan. This is the reason so many people have congregated in the camps claiming to be refugees," Bhutanese spokesman Kinzang Dorji told AFP.

But human rights groups have said the refugees are victims of an ethnic cleansing campaign that saw one-sixth of Bhutan's 600,000 people forced out.

Nepalese farmers began settling in what is now Bhutan hundreds of years ago, and numbers increased through last century due to the underused fertile land in the foothills of the Himalayas.

The ethnically Nepalese farmers were given Bhutanese citizenship in 1958, and many in the camps still hold onto their documents in the hope that they might one day get their land back.

Subedi still has his papers -- and is in no confusion about his status.

"I am a refugee. The Bhutanese forced me to leave. I was in hiding because I had taken part in peaceful pro-democracy demonstrations in 1990 and my wife was tortured," he said.

The governments of Nepal and Bhutan have held 16 fruitless rounds of negotiations over the refugees and, with no sign they will ever be allowed back, many like Subedi have given up hope.

-- Giving up the right to return --

The chance of a new start arose for the 107,000 camp residents in 2006, when the US offered to resettle at least 60,000, with Canada, the Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, Denmark and Norway agreeing to take smaller numbers.

But the resettlement offer caused serious tensions between factions in the camps.

Radical Bhutanese Maoist groups have bombed the offices of the International Office of Migration (IOM), the organisation resettling the refugees.

And they have attacked empty buses returning from the airport after dropping off refugees to begin their long journeys overseas.

Five thousand people have already been resettled, and those who want to stay and campaign to be allowed back into Bhutan are losing ground, with around 50,000 of the refugees registered to leave the camps.

Refugee leader Bhampha Rai was surgeon to Bhutan's royal family before he fled in 1991, and he thinks the refugees who have applied to be resettled are making a huge mistake.

"Most people think America and these other countries are heaven but they are not. The refugees lack skills and are going to really struggle when they get there," said Rai.

He believes that by agreeing to resettlement, the refugees are giving up their claims to Bhutanese nationality, and allowing the issue to fizzle out.

"The people leaving are not thinking about the long-term consequences of their actions," said the leader, who has seen support for his standpoint dwindle.

"Once they go they will find it very hard to revive their nationality and are unlikely to be allowed ever to come back."

Deoka Bharati, 27, is committed to remaining a refugee in Nepal, even as she watches many of her friends depart.

"We are not very hopeful of being able to go back, but if we are here at least the dream of returning is kept alive," said Bharati, who teaches children in a town near the camp.

"If we are in a third country there will be no chance at all."

Despite fleeing Bhutan in the middle of the night with just the clothes she wore, Bharati is firm in her decision to stay.

"In my heart I am Bhutanese, and I don't think I will find a good life abroad. Bhutan is my motherland, I grew up there and I want to go back."

10,000 Displaced as Blaze Engulfs Refugee Camp

Source: The Himalayan Times

At least 10,000 Bhutanese refugees have been displaced after a massive inferno burnt down nearly 1,350 huts at a refugee camp at Goldhap of Garamani VDC of Jhapa last night.
Four refugees were injured in the incident while a child is missing, police said. Among the 1600 huts in the camp, only 250 could be saved.

The fire spread from the kitchen of the hut of Kedar Dhakal at around 6 pm while all the members of the family were taking meal. They were rescued by neighbours. The fire then gutted 1,350 huts within four hours before it was doused at around 10 pm with the efforts of fire fighters from Bhadrapur, Mechinagar and Damak, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force personnel, Nepal Army personnel and locals.

SP at Jhapa district police office Rajendra Shrestha said Narayan Bhujel (17), Tilak Pokhrel (19), Tara Niraula (20) and Homnath Acharya (18) were injured in the blaze and they are being treated at Mechi zonal hospital. The name of the missing child is not known.
After the inferno, refugees have been stranded in nearby jungle, schools, food go-downs and open fields.

Dozens of livestock animals were reportedly killed in the blaze. The exact extent of the damage is yet to be assessed.

Meanwhile, Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula this morning made an on-site inspection of the Bhutanese refugee camp. Sitaula acquired information about the extent of the damage and the situation of the victims. Preliminary estimates said the inferno caused damages worth tens of millions of rupees.

Extortion drive terrorises refugees

Source: The Himalayan Times

Bhutanese refugees at all three camps in Damak’s Beldangi were terror-stricken as Bhutan’s outlawed party the Bhutan Communist Party (MLM) launched its extortion drive there. The representative of the outlawed party started collecting money saying that the funds will be utilised for waging a people’s war in Bhutan, said a refugee at Beldangi-3. However, he said the refugees were asked to pay depending on their capacity.

Even teachers at the refugee camp were reportedly asked to cough up money. The BCP (MLM) was divided into two factions after a dispute sometime ago. General secretary of the breakaway group Bikalpa, issuing a press release today, claimed that they were not behind the extortion drive.
He also alleged that Birat faction was engaged in the extortion drive.
The statement said that people’s rights will not be revived in Bhutan till the monarchy remains there, and added that his party is the genuine one and is attempting to wage the people’s war in Bhutan.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Security For Refugees

Source: The Rising Nepal
T. P. Mishra
Inability of the authorities to beef up security inside the Bhutanese refugee camps has led to a series of violent activities. In the recent months, disputes have already claimed at least three innocent young lives.

Despite repeated calls to tighten security, the UNHCR as well as the Government of Nepal haven't yet re-established the security posts inside the camps. As a result, the normal life of the people in the camps has been crippled.

Frequent violence
A small dispute between the Forestry officials and refugees at Sanischare camp on February 22 led to an uncontrolled scuffle, and claimed the lives of two youths, including one refugee from Sanischare camp. Despite several attempts to bring the situation to normalcy, life, both in the local areas and in Sanischare camp, got complicated, and there was fear among the refugees for at least a week.

When the locals from Jirkhimti village of Pathri Baazar set on fire refugee huts at Sectors 'J' and 'K' on February 23, no authority was around to control the situation, and at least five huts were turned to ashes. The locals, chanting slogans against the Bhutanese refugees, even blocked the Mahendra highway to stop the fire brigade and ambulances from reaching the camps.

The incident at Beldangi camp on May 27-28 over the so-called 'controversial' interview of Hari Adhikari Bangale, the camp secretary, is yet another illustration of the unmanaged and weak security situation inside the refugee camps. Two youths from Beldangi camp were killed in police firing during the latter's attempt to bring the situation under control. Unproved so far, it is also said that Bhutanese Maoists were involved in manhandling Bangale.

The mostly targeted people in the camps are those favouring the US offer of third country resettlement. Actually, even with the establishment of an Overseas Processing Entity by the International Office of Migration, the authorities concerned are not giving reliable information about resettlement. People in the camps do not trust the information that they receive from pro-resettlement activists or their leaders from within the same community. This is one of the prime reasons behind the frequent disputes in the refugee camps.

Meanwhile, it has to be well considered that an individual's right to expression and, in particular, his or her right to choose any of the options available for settlement should be promoted. As we live in a democratic era, the trend of violating others' rights while raising our concern should be done away with.

Even as the Home Ministry of Nepal gave assurances to provide between 25-30 armed policemen for each of the seven refugee camps by the middle of July, another ugly incident occurred in Beldangi camp on August 12.

A group of youths and women severely beat up Manorath Khanal, camp secretary of Beldangi � II, accusing him of giving approval to Pingala Dhital to attend an overseas international conference. Both of them favour third country resettlement. Not only this, the youths also vandalised the huts of those advocating 'third country resettlement' including those of Dhital and Khanal.

Negligence
The local authorities and the UNHCR usually claim that they are in constant touch to bring normalcy in the situation. It would not be a mistake to say that the UNHCR remains a mute spectator to such incidents. Otherwise, why can't the UNHCR take the necessary measures to create a peaceful and safe environment for these refugees when the Home Ministry of Nepal has said that it would deploy the security forces? It should not be forgotten that the more the refugees involve in violence, the more complicated the issue becomes. In such a scenario, the Druk oligarchy will only benefit.

If the authorities concerned continue to fail to beef up the security situation inside the Bhutanese refugee camps, then more tensions are likely to brew in the days to come. Therefore, the UNCHR and the Government of Nepal should immediately take measures to bring the tense situation to normalcy.
It is equally necessary to probe into the facts behind such-natured violence and drag the criminals, whosoever it is, to the court of justice. Refugee's right to stay under safe and secured environment must be promoted by all individuals including the authorities concerned. Even innocent people in camps are victimised from such violence. Refugee, who so ever and of any opinion, should demonstrate their civil responsibility and establish an atmosphere of mutual respect for each other's views and opinions.

On the other side, it has to be well considered that until the UNCHR itself takes initiatives to inform people in camps regarding the offer of third country resettlement then it would lead to further violence as refugees are in no account to listen to any information from the pro-resettlement activists in camps. Those activists should pressurise and lobby authorities concerned to inform people in camps rather then attempting to advocate on their own. Should the tensed situation continue as in recent days then process for both resettlement and repatriation will get derailed leading the lives of refugees' to further ailment.

(Mishra is president of Third World Media Network Bhutan Chapter)

UNHCR condemns violence in refugee camp

Source: Nepalnews.com
The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has expressed its “deep concern” over the violence that ensued in Beldangi refugee camp in Jhapa district on Sunday which resulted in five refugees being injured and requested the refugees to express their “grievances in a peaceful manner.”

Issuing a press statement Monday, the UN refugee agency strongly urged the refugees to “refrain from violence and use of force”.

“UNHCR also urges refugees to demonstrate their civil responsibility and establish an environment of law and order and mutual respect for each other's views and opinions in a democratic manner. The refugee agency asks refugees to uphold the right of every individual to make informed choices and take decisions regarding his or her own future,” the statement said.

Bhutanese refugee youths had on Sunday thrashed Monarath Khanal, camp secretary of Beldangi II extension camp, accusing him of supporting a refugee from Beldangi II camp to get permission from the local authority to attend a seminar in Thailand later this month. In the scuffle, five more refugees were injured, mostly Camp Management Committee members and some huts were destroyed as police had to be called in to calm the situation and provide security in the camp.

UNHCR said in the statement that it is saddened by this incident and also expressed its sympathy for those injured and whose huts had been destroyed.

The UN refugee agency further said that it is pleased that the government has initiated measures to provide better security in the camps, “which is vital to curb the increasing incidents of violence and threats in the camps that lead to innocent refugees being hurt or even losing lives.”

BRRRC suspends camp secretaries

Source: Apfanews.com
Damak, October 10: The dispute in Bhutanese Refugees Representatives Repatriation Committee (BRRRC) has reached the apex on Tuesday, when its meeting dismissed the six camp secretaries as central committee members of the organization.

A meeting of the BRRRC held in Damak on Tuesday in presence of its chairman Tek Nath Rizal decided to suspend the six camp secretaries immediately.

In a programme on Monday, the six secretaries of camps in Jhapa district had said they support the US offer to resettle over 60,000 exiled Bhutanese in the US, which is the best alternative to resolve the crisis prolonged for more than 17 years.

Rizal said the six persons have been suspended, as they were involved in bringing division in the Bhutanese community in exile and working against the interest of the Bhutanese people.

The suspended secretaries are Manoj Rai of the Khudunabari camp, Hari Bangale Adhikari of Beldangi - II, D P Pradhan of Beldangi - I camp, Manorath Khanal of Beldangi - II extension camp, Parshuram Nepal of Timai camp and Ram Chandra Sapkota of Goldhap camp.

The young people and students in the camps have already started campaign not to allow the secretaries to enter into their offices. Within the next one week, they would not be allowed to work in the same position. The sector heads and unit heads have also criticized the expression of the secretaries and demanded they be suspended from the position of camp secretaries as well.

US government has expressed its willingness to settle up to 60,000 of the 107,000 exiled Bhutanese in the next 3-4 years. Leaders have strongly objected the offer saying it would encourage the Druk regime for further eviction of Nepali speaking people from Bhutan.