The Bhutanese refugees in Nepal have already witnessed resettlement of over 58,000 fellow-countrymen by December 15. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is processing another 35,000 of camp residents, who were forcefully evicted from Bhutan in late 80s and early 90s, for their relations in the west.
- Children display a banner demanding repatriation in Beldangi-II camp
Mostly, younger generations are eager to accept the resettlement package, taking it as a temporary solution of their long-standing problem. For them, settlement in developed countries like the United States and Australia among others will reward them with better education and enhance economic conditions.
“Life in the camp has limited my dream for good education and improved standard of living,” explains one Jagu Kafle. His five-member family is waiting for departure date for resettlement in Canada, having completed all the procedures.
While in the camp, Kafle was unable to join for his higher studies after completing his camp schooling, free but limited up to the tenth grade.
However, several uneducated ones like his fathers, who were mostly farmers in Bhutan, are not really happy to leave Nepal. For them, the camps are the best place to demand dignified repatriation.
“I must join my three children to Canada since they have already decided to get resettled,” his father narrates.
- Indra Bahadur Subba
Indra Bahadur Subba, who walked from a nearby camp to Beldangi-II to attend 104th National Day Celebration on December 17, narrated his agony as a refugee in fort of his juniors. “Life as a refugee is bitter in every sense. I have seen all the five kings of my country. I am a genuine Bhutan and still have a dream to die in my own soil,” tells 108-year-old Subba, a registered refugee from Beldangi-I camp.
The then British emperor to India had helped to institutionalize the Bhutanese monarchy in 1907 when Subba was just four.
There are several youths who accuse senior citizens of the community of standing against the third country resettlement programme. When all family members fail to furnish a single say regarding resettlement, some households have even invited serious disputes.
“Certainly, elderly members in the refugee camps know pain and suffering they were made to undergo while in Bhutan, and still desire to return,” says Shekhar Rizal.
But, he also pointed out that some parents have simply been opposing the resettlement even after sending their younger ones for western countries secretly.
“I know a few of them. They claim their family is against the resettlement, without letting other know that their children have already been relocated,” clarifies he.
Meanwhile, exiled surgeon Dr Bhampa Rai, who now chairs the Bhutanese Refugee Representative Repatriation Committee, expressed that not only elderly citizens but also all refugee have long desire to return to their own hometowns.
“I know youths are accusing their parents. But, if doors for repatriation open, even those who are ready to fly for America or other countries, will cancel their process and return to Bhutan,” he states.
- Harka Jung Subba
A member of the Senior Citizens’ Group Harka Jung Subba, 69, is of the opinion that many parents were forcefully resettled, as they were helpless in convincing their children.
“It was a hard decision for them to opt resettlement. The process has fragmented their desire to return home with dignity and honour,” claims Subba, who is sternly against the resettlement, but has allowed his children to relocate in the United States of America.
For Chandra Bahadur Giri, a former soldier of the Royal Bhutan Army, there is no choice for Bhutan to accept its citizens back home.
“I have my citizenship card and weapon license issued by the Royal Government of Bhutan. No foreigners can avail these documents,” states Giri, producing his documents in front of camera.
“Resettlement will never be my choice. I am a Bhutanese and have right to return home.”
According to the UNHCR’s Country Representative in Nepal, Stephane Jaquemet, the population in camps will come down to below 15,000 by mid-2015, and probably the remaining refugees will be those who are against the resettlement at present, unregistered as refugees or denied of relocation due to various reasons.
The ongoing resettlement will terminate before or latest by 2015, downscaling the UNHCR’s longtime investment for the Bhutanese refugees, whose population prior to the resettlement was around 110,000.
“I am sure that Bhutan is not going to easily accept us back home. However, we must not lose our hopes in any circumstances,” adds Subba.
UNHCR, Government of Nepal and other organizations and countries should open the wide door for repatriation to Bhutan.In the beginning there were 3 options, and 1 option is started couple of years ago but repatriation is still not in discuss. So the concern organizations should open the door for repatriation.
Go to third country settlement, earn good dollar and come to Bhutan and Pay back the money you had received from Bhutan Govt. with full interest amount of 20 years.
But we may not get back that fertile land we had…it has been given to land less Drukpa villagers from other part of Bhutan.
I mean we have to start our daily life like in 1960 .. from Gothala(cowherder)Chowkidar(night guard) Road Construction worker under the mahajan(landlord) for 10-15 years.Then based on our perforamance of good behaviour we will be considered as SUKUMBASI(landlees people) and Govt. will provide free land.
The detail report about the willing ones back to Bhutan is well mentioned. That is what the general feelings about the repatriation and we have been holding the same value for such a long time, before we embarked for the resettlement. My heart goes with all the diehard people who have been sticking for repatriation. But, I felt the nerves of this cunning regime that remains happy when many of its own citizens are in the extreme agony in the camp. Otherwise, we literally beg for our lives while living in the camp in the vicarious situation. Given all the cruelty of the regime, it is unattainable side of hope and shallow dream. But I agree that sometimes the heavenly intervention might kindle the hope out of hopelessness. I am only waiting the divine intervention.
I appreciated the efforts put up by the writer to bring this informative issue involving so many people.
Thanks
Longing to BE repatriateD from camps’ SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE HEADING
AT MY FIRST GLANCE I THOUGHT SOMEBODY WAS INTERESTED TO REPATRIATE……
Hey all Bhutanese folks and energetic young generation start face book revolution in Bhutan from those technically advanced nations. Ya it is possible see Egypt, Syria etc all the revolution begin from USA first. We people inside Bhutan are ready to take the flow.
Long live the freedom movements!
Is this a voice from Bhutan? If Sonam feels that way, from within Bhutan, I guess this is the ripe time for the freedom fighters to get ready to struggle to liberate the suppressed people from the tyrannical rule of the wangchuk dynastic.
The world does not know the other face of the Bhutanese Government.
The world does not know the other side of Bhutan.
The world does not know the untold stories of almost 20% of Bhutan’s population in refugee camps and another 20% still inside Bhutan, except the government version.
It is for these reasons, I have asked you the victims to tell your untold stories as a “victim”, not as challenger to the government itself.
Respect the institution of recent Democracy and GNH but expose the Truth. That is the only pathway left for you to do after losing all other avenues under the highly orchestrated campaign of the RGOB and own misgivings. I applaud Chandra Bahadur Subba but the options left for him under such a coordinated strategy of various countries is only the TCRP. It is sad but a reality. I trust on “Satyamev Jayate” sooner or later. But for now,welcome abroad.
Dick B Chhetri
Halo to Sonam if he is from within Bhutan. True the egyptian movement got momentum from social web sites of Facebook and twiter. For now, the illogical ruling class chauvinism will not be able to withstand the stress of the pressure from Bhutanese within Bhutan and the Butanese diaspora. The truth can never be defeated. However, to spearhead a movement of this kind, unfaltered strategic planning,logical and continuous armed attacks, political and diplomatic processes must take place simultaneously. A political movement must run itself as a government which I had proposed in 1995 personally while we were more active. The interest of the Bhutanese general public should never be undermined. This movement must be a peoples’ movement. We do not need to teach any one personally a lesson, unless and until we fight for the common benefit of all the Bhutanese society.
Come one, come all let us start from today and now.
A member of the Senior Citizens’ Group Harka Jung Subba, 69, is of the opinion that many parents were forcefully resettled, as they were helpless in convincing their children.
“It was a hard decision for them to opt resettlement. The process has fragmented their desire to return home with dignity and honour,” claims Subba, who is sternly against the resettlement, but has allowed his children to relocate in the United States of America
Sewaroo Harka Jung Dai,
Yes, you are true with many of them. But real matter i.e. many of our younger generations also has future too. we need to think for them . for exampel “Life in the camp has limited my dream for good education and improved standard of living,” explains one Jagu Kafle. see here Jagu have right to study too.
we all are very eager to back our Mother Land. But GNH owner will be SAD MASTER WITH OUR repartations .
Best regards Dinesh.