The United States Envoy to Nepal, Peter W. Bodde, visited Beldangi-II camp, Wednesday.
US Envoy to Nepal
He also visited Tuesday’s fire site and Pancha-oti English School of the camp, and asked students to excel well in their studies.
“The Bhutanese students in our country are excelling very well. Therefore, I want you all to take your studies seriously,” the US Envoy told school children.
Meanwhile, Senior Citizens Group submitted a six point memorandum to the US Envoy urging his government to exercise sufficient measures to convince Bhutan for accepting exiled Bhutanese back home, informed the group’s spokesperson Shanta Bir Ghaley.
An unidentified fire reportedly started from a hut owned by Tirtharaj Mishra of Sector C4, Hut No 21, has displaced around 400 residents in Beldangi-II on Tuesday afternoon.
Uncontrolled flame spreads over refugee huts in Beldangi-II (Picture courtesy : Dikesh Lama)
The mishap which was first seen at 1:45 p.m. has gutted 58 huts, while another 28 huts were dismantled while bringing fire under control, informed Beldangi-based Armed Police Force (APF).
It took over an hour for three fire fighters, camp residents and APF personnel to contain fire, our reporters reported from the site.
Representatives from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), government of Nepal and other aid-agencies have reached the fire site for rescue and relief operations.
No human casualty has been reported. However, several refugees suffered minor injuries while containing the inferno.
According to one camp management committee members preparations were being made to arrange shelter for displaced ones in schools and huts owned by their relatives.
Eyewitness from Beldangi-II say a fire that erupted half an hour ago in Sector C4 is reportedly spreading over dozens of huts. The camp residents and Armed Police Force have been battling to contain fire, confirmed our field reporters.
At least four residents of Albury in New South Wales who were resettled through the ongoing third country resettlement program overseen by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have become Australian citizens.
Bom Bahadur and Albury City Mayor
One of new citizens, Bom Bahadur Bhattarai (68), was very excited to become an Australian.
“The Australian citizenship has made me to forget the bygone days of refugee camps in Nepal. I have become citizens of two countries – Bhutan and Australia,” Bhattarai said.
Albury Mayor Cr Alice Glachan granted the citizenship certificates to him, wife Lilawati and eldest son Purna amidst a ceremony on November 26.
“What a proud moment to get identity after 22 years!,” said his youngest son Buddha, who awaits the citizenship ceremony.
Another fellow Bhutanese Krishna Bahadur Chouhan was also granted citizenship during the ceremony.
Local MPs representing legislature assemble from Albury, councilors, TAFE teachers and volunteers were also present to see joys on eyes of new citizens.
Krishna and Purna passed the citizenship test conducted by the Albury City Council, while the Bhattarai couple qualified through other eligibilities provisioned by law of the land.
A group of 20 Bhutanese including the Bhattarai family had reached Albury on October 8, 2008. Of them six were children.
Meanwhile, at least five residents from Adelaide of South Australia belonging to one Adhikari and another Yogi families have obtained Australian citizenship.
“Several have given the citizenship test. They are awaiting the results and citizenship ceremony,” a permanent resident told BNS.
The legal provision is that people born in Australia of Australian parents become Australian citizens by birth. People who migrate to Australia, including refugees, can acquire citizenship by grant.
Generally, refugees are eligible for Australian citizenship when they have been present in Australia as a permanent resident for four years.
Local councils organize citizenship ceremonies and every aspiring citizen must make a pledge of commitment during the ceremonies.
Australian citizens are legally allowed to hold the citizenship of another country (dual citizenship) or more than two countries (plural citizenship).
Bhim Bhattarai from Albury and Bikram Adhikari from Adelaide contributed to this news report while the pictures used are by Bhim Bhattarai and Krishna Chouhan.
On November 29, Prime Minister Jigmi Y Thinley met with the Ambassador of the European Union to Bhutan Mr Joao Gomes Cravinho at the Gyalyong Tshogkhang.
PM Thinely with EU Ambassador
Ambassador Joao Gomes Cravinho arrived in the country yesterday to discuss EU-Bhutan relations, informed the Cabinet Secretariat.
“He said that he is privileged to be the Ambassador to Bhutan and expressed his intention to visit Bhutan as frequently as possible to gain deeper understanding of the country and the development concept of GNH,” the Secretariat said.
Ambassador Joao Gomes Cravinho said that EU has been watching Bhutan with great admiration for the progress it has made.
“He assured that EU shall remain a strong development partner of Bhutan and will strengthen support in the areas of climate change and trade diversification. He said that relations between Bhutan and EU will continue to flourish.”
In response, PM Thinley thanked the Ambassador and also congratulated the European Union on receiving the Nobel Peace Prize and for promoting world peace and stability. He said that Bhutan is deeply grateful for EU’s assistance and partnership in Bhutan’s development and that the Ambassador must, during his visits, see some of the projects to assess the progress.
The Prime Minister also spoke of the need for Bhutan to diversify its relationship with the EU and how Bhutan desires to be free of donor assistance by 2020, according to the Secretariat. “He said that the 11th Plan will be critical in the achievement of this goal.”
Ambassador Cravinho returned to his country on December 2.
The largest caretaker of Bhutanese refugees in Nepal, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), informed exiled Bhutanese that agency has decided to stop supply of vegetables from January 1, 2013.
The aid-agency declared its inability to continue the supply of season vegetables for refugees of three Beldangi and Sanischare camps citing lack of budget.
“We were informed that UNHCR has to divert the budget for assisting increasing number of refugees and internally displaced persons around the globe,” Beldangi Camp Secretary, Dhan Bir Subba, told Bhutan News Service.
According to Secretary Subba, the agency said the decision was a Hobson’s choice for it to minimize mounting expenses for refugees every year.
“We are never happy with the decision although we have been told that the decision would bring minimum impact on our life standard,” added Subba.
However, UNHCR said refugees would be supplied with seeds to grow vegetables in empty huts available in the camps.
Meanwhile, Chairperson of the Bhutanese Refugee Representative Repatriation Committee (BRRRC), Dr Bhampa Rai, condemned the agency’s decision to discontinue supply of vegetables, the most essential items for refugees in camps.
“The decision has created doubts on UNHCR’s intention towards refugees. How can those who themselves survive on delicious vegetables on daily basis decide to stop the supply of the same items for us,” Dr Rai said.
According to Dr Rai, it was sad to comment that UNHCR being a UN agency has even not maintained the minimum standard in respecting human rights of Bhutanese refugees.
“Even animals need foods. How can the agency decide to keep thousands of Bhutanese hungry without the basic dietary needs?”
The agency has been supplying season vegetables of 500 grams on monthly basis to every individual refugee. The facility would terminate by the end of this month.
Buddha once said, “Just as a candle cannot burn without fire; man cannot live without spiritual life.” Bhutanese from various religious faiths and beliefs finally proved the statement truthful by attending a three-day religious discourse (Dharmik Prabachan)here in Charlotte, North Carolina that concluded today. Ohio-based reverend Guru Shree Bedanidi Subedi led the discourse.
Devotees listening to prabachan.
According to the organizer of the event, Shree Harisang Kirtan Mandali Charlotte, the religious function was performed with an aim of preserving our long-practiced tradition, culture and religious beliefs. The Kirtan Mandali also informed BNS that the event was made possible with support from Bhutanese individuals and other Charlotte-based community-based organizations.
Sova Yatra and Parikrama of the Hindu Center, the location of the discourse function, marked the first day of the program. Reverend Guru then chanted the hymns of Universal peace (Santi Bachan) at 10 AM.
Subedi, on the second day talked on the equal importance of two ways—Gyan Marga and Bhakti Marga. He said, “Knowledge and devotion are the two important parts of human lives. Youths and coming generation must take an initiative to keep this message eternal.”
Several devotees and invitees, who talked to BNS, stated that this type of program would help build universal brotherhood and develop a feeling of oneness among Bhutanese and the entire American community.
On the third day of the discourse, Buddhist Monk, Nagwang Tashi Lama recited “Tripitha”and lighted 108 butter lamps for the welfare of the universal beings. Tashi said that he was very excited to see such a multi-religious platform aimed at preserving our religion and tradition.
A woman watches the 108 lighting of lamps by Buddhists on the same hall the prabachan was performed.
Meanwhile, Chabilal Dhaurali and Kapil Dhaurali performed offering of sacred thread (Upanayan) to their three sons. The program also felicitated elderly Bhutanese and showed respect for their deeds for the betterment of their generations.
Reverend Guru recited the twelveth chapter of the twelveth volume of the Sreemad Bhagwat Mahapuranam to summarize the discourse. At the end of the program, the devotees offered a prayer of universal peace by lighting 125,000 butter lamps outside the Vivek Hall.
Organizer of the function also informed BNS that their ultimate objective is to establish a Bhutanese-own Hindu temple in the area. Hundreds of devotees from different cities of North Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, among other places, attended the function.
Report contributed by Mitra Koirala while both photographs are by TP Mishra.
Leaders and activists have asked the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to listen at their grievances by organizing a joint meeting.
In a joint letter addressed to the UNHCR Sub-Office at Damak on Wednesday, they said they were very eager to discuss various issues like discontinuation of supply of vegetables in the refugee camps, restriction imposed on them to see VIPs and delegates visiting the camps, forceful resettlement of elderly citizens and ignorance of complaints and grievances of camp residents.
The request letter was signed by Dr Bhampa Rai, Balaram Poudel, DP Kafle, DB Rana Sangpang, Rinzin Dorji and Jasoda Budathoki. Similarly, Bhagirath Khatiwada, Chhabi Lal Kharel, Harka Jung Subba and Durga Prasad Sitaula have also expressed their solidarity towards the call.
Long-awaited spinal surgery of social activist, Arun Rai, was successfully achieved in Kathmandu-based Vayodhya Hospital, Wednesday.
Wife Neera feeds Arun Rai in the general ward of Kathmandu-based Vayodhya Hospital/BNS
A medical team led by Dr Prakash Bista undertook the surgery that lasted for around four hours, informed his wife Neera, who has been escorting Rai since a month.
“Hopefully, I have gained my new life after the surgery,” Rai told Bhutan News Service.
“My colleagues have contributed for my treatment, for which I am highly grateful.”
Resettled Bhutanese from various countries financially supported Rai, who was suffering from acute breathing difficulty.
Rai was brought to Kathmandu from Mitra Nursing Home, Siliguri (India) when his family was unable to afford the proposed treatments in either Calcutta or New Delhi.
An inferno has displaced two resettled families in Manchester (NH) Sunday morning at 2 a.m.
One of the apartments owned by resettled Bhutanese gutted by fire (Picture : CM Niraula/BNS)
The mishap has victimized some 30 individuals including resettled Bhutanese from two apartments rented by Dilli Ram Gazmere and Karna Bahadur Gurung.
“When police officials knocked our doors, we knew that it was an emergency – – we came to know our apartment was under fire,” one of the fire victims, Tara Gazmere, told Bhutan News Service.
According to Gazmere, all of his family members left the apartment without even collecting the basic materials. “We even didn’t collect our cloths or valuable items.”
The Red Cross has shifted the Gazmere family to Hotel Comfort Inn for temporary settlement, while the Gurung family has been moved to one of their relatives’ apartment.
Kamal Basnet, one of the executive members of the Bhutanese Community of New Hempshire, said the organization would extend all possible supports to the displaced Bhutanese.
Cause of the mishap was being investigated by police while filing this news.
