भरखरै सार्वजनिक एउटा अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय प्रतिवेदनले नेदरल्याण्डमा पुनर्स्थापित भूटानीहरू परिवार विभाजन तथा मानसिक तनावको पीड़ाबाट ग्रस्त रहेका दाबी गरेको छ ।
‘‘यूरोपेली महासंघका सदस्य राज्य र अन्य साझेदारबीचको समन्वयमार्फत महासंघभित्र शरणार्थी पुनर्वाशको प्रवर्द्धन’’, विषयक अन्तरक्रियाको क्रममा नेदरल्याण्डमा भूटानी शरणार्थीको व्यवस्थापनबारे छलफलले उच्च प्राथमिकता पाएको बताइएको छ ।
नेदरल्याण्डको राजधानी हेगमा मुख्यालय रहेको अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय मानवाधिकारवादी संगठन ग्लोबल ह्यूमन राइट्स डिफेन्स (जीएचआरडी)-ले नेदकल्याण्डमा भूटानी शरणार्थीको पुनर्वाशबारे दुईवर्षको अनुगमनपछि आफ्नो प्रतिवेदन सार्वजनिक गर्दै सो छलफलको आयोजना गरेको हो ।
जीएचआरडीले आफ्नो प्रतिवेदनमा नेदरल्याण्डमा पुनर्स्थापित भूटानी शरणार्थीले व्यापक परिवारविभाजनको पीड़ा खेपिरेका जनाउँदै भूटानीहरूलाई इच्छाविपरीत देशका विभिन्न स्थानमा लगेर राखिएको पनि उल्लेख गरेको छ । सो अन्तरक्रियामा भूटानीहरूको तर्फबाट नवराज गजमेर र अर्जुन क्षेत्री पनि सहभागी रहेका बतनाइएको छ । अन्तरक्रियामा सहभागी गजमेरले भूटान सरकारले जातीय विखण्डनको अभियानमार्फत देशनिकाला गरेका शरणार्थीले २० वर्षसम्म नेपालका शिविरहरूमाक पर्खेर पनि देश फिर्न नपाएको गुनासोसहित उपस्थित विभिन्न संघ-संस्था र देशका प्रतिनिधिहरूले राखेका प्रश्नहरूमा उत्तर दिएका थिए ।
भूटानी प्रतिनिधिहरूको प्रत्यक्ष उपस्थितिमा नेदरल्याण्डमा सम्पन्न यो नै प्रथम उच्चस्तरीय अन्तरक्रिया कार्यक्रम हो ।
भूटान समाचार सेवाका क्यानाडा प्रतिनिधि इन्द्र तिम्सिना मातृशोकमा परेका छन् । उनकी ७८ वर्षिया आमा लक्ष्मी मायाले शुक्रबार बिहान १० बजे क्यानाडाको लेथब्रिजस्थित निवासमा अन्तिम स्वास लिइन् । विगत पाँच वर्षदेखि नै उनी फोक्सोको क्यान्सरबाट पीड़ित रहेकी परिवार स्रोतले जनाएको छ । ‘‘शिविरमा आर्थिक अभावका कारण हामीले उचित उपचार गर्न सकेनौं’’, शुक्रबार बिहान भूटान समाचार सेवालाई पठाएको इमेलमा तिम्सिनाले भनेका छन् ।
सन् १९३३ मा भूटानको दागाना जिल्लामा जन्मिएर भूटानी शरणार्थी शिविर बेल्डाँगी २-विस्तारितको सेक्टर ई/१-छाप्रा संख्या २५ मा करिब १८ वर्ष बिताएर सन् २०१० को जुन महिनामा तिम्सिना परिवारसँगै क्यानाडामा पुनर्स्थापित भएकी थिइन् ।
स्व. तिम्सिनाले उनीपछि चार छोरा, दुई छोरी र १६ जना नाति-नातिनीलाई छोड़ेर गएकी छिन् ।
झापा र मोरंगमा दर्ता भएका सातवटा भूटानी शरणार्थी शिविरहरूको व्यवस्थापनका लागि गरिएको व्यवस्थापन समितिको चुनाव तीनवटा बेल्डाँगीमा एक र अन्य चार शिविरमा एक-एक गरी पाँचजना सचिव छनौट गरी शुक्रबार सम्पन्न भएको छ ।
बेल्डाँगी १ शिविरका कार्यरत सुपरिवेक्षक तथा शिविर निर्वाचन समितिका अध्यक्ष हर्कबहादुर राईले मतगणनापछि ९५ मत जितेका आफ्ना निकट प्रतिद्वन्द्वी छवि खरेललाई उछिनेर बेल्डाँगी २ विस्तारितका धनवीर सुब्बाले १०१ मत ल्याएर सचिव पदमा विजयी भएका घोषणा गरे ।
यसै गरी बेल्डाँगी २ तथा २ विस्तारितका लागि मनमाया मगरलाई उपसचिवमा चयन गरिएको छ भने बेल्डाँगी १ मा सो पदका लागि यतिराज बराल चुनिएका बताइएको छ । सचिव पदमै उम्मेदवारी दिएका बरालले १८ मतमात्र ल्याएपछि उनी उपसचिवमा भिड़ेका जनाइएको छ ।
बेल्डाँगीमा एकजना र अन्य प्रत्येक शिविरमा क्रमशः सचिवहरू यस प्रकार चुनिएका छन्, बेल्डाँगी-धनवीर सुब्बा, शनिश्चरे-चम्पासिंह राई, गोल्धाप-चिरञ्जीवी राई, टिमाई-युवराज गुरुङ, खुदुनाबारी-टीकाराम राई ।
There is an analytical report on CMC election by Tilak Niraula followed by another report on vulnerable children by Lakpa Tamang. Then you can listen to discussion between dissatisfied refugees and Jhapa CDO at Beldangi-II during the course of election. The second part features conversation with Beldangi-I ex Camp Secretary TB Gurung and newly elected secy of Beldangi camps.
Resettled Bhutanese in the Netherlands face problems of family split and dispersion, a report reveals.
In a meeting on ‘Promotion of resettlement in the European Union through practical cooperation between member states and other relevant stakeholders’, Bhutanese refugees’ resettlement in The Netherlands was figured at the top of the discussion.
Bhutanese participants at the meeting
Global Human Rights Defense (GHRD), a Hague based international human rights group presented its final report on ‘Bhutanese refugees’ resettlement in The Netherlands’ through power point presentations after two years of its research on the issue.
In its report GHRD highlighted several difficulties that Bhutanese refugees have faced in The Netherlands especially due to massive family splits and their relocations in various parts of the country against their wishes to live together in certain areas of the Netherlands.
Nawaraj Gazmere and Arjun Chhetri , two of the Bhutanese youths resettled from refugee camp in Nepal also participated in the deliberation.
Gazmere briefed the dignitaries on ethnic cleansing in Bhutan and how Bhutan denied taking back its citizen even after waiting for 20 years in UNHCR aided refugee camps in miseries.
He further informed the experts on the current resettlement programs in Nepal and thanked the European Union states for its generosity in helping 120000 Bhutanese refugees with food and other relief in the camps and eventually taking active part in their resettlement. He also narrated his post-resettlement experiences during the occasion.
With Jenny Lundstrom , a human rights officer at the GHRD , Gazmere answered the queries of representatives from various national and international organizations including IOM and UNHCR.
Responding to the report and the stories of Bhutanese youths, Netherlands’ organizations associated with refugees requested the Dutch government to take serious steps to solve the existing problems faced by the invited refugees. Janneke van Etten, an officer from Dutch home ministry stressed the need to unite all the stakeholders in refugee resettlement for their proper resettlement and integration in the local society.
It was the first ever high level expert meeting on resettlement that was ever attended by the Bhutanese representatives in The Netherlands. With this participation Bhutanese Dutch have started getting attention of the major stakeholders in the resettlement programs in the European Union.
Laxmi Maya Timsina, mother of Indra Timisha and BNS Canada correspondent, has passed away at the age of 78 on Friday at 10 am in Lethbridge of Canada.
Late Laxmi Maya Timsina
She was suffering from lungs cancer since five years. “We couldn’t treat our mom since treating a cancer in camp was financially impossible,” Timsina said in an email circular to BNS on Friday morning.
Born in Dagana district in 1933, late was registered at Beldangi-II Extension camp, Sector E/1-25 before she got resettled in Canada on June 2010.
The funeral ceremony and cremation program is planned for Sunday at 4 pm in Lethbridge itself, he informed.
Meanwhile, various media organizations in exile have expressed heartfelt condolence to the grief-stricken Timisna family.
“We are really sorry to hear this news and we take the side of one of the senior correspondents in Canada at this hour,” said Buddha Mani Dhakal in a condolence message issued today from America.
General Secretary of Association of Press Freedom Activists (APFA) Bhutan, Vidhyapati Mishra, said the death of Timsina has closed a chapter in the history on Dagana district.
“The last moments with in the IOM transit camp in Kathmandu and back in camp are still fresh to my memory,” Mishra said, “I pray that her departed soul will always rest in peace in heaven.”
Likewise, the Third World Media Chapter – Bhutan also issued its condolence message saying Timsina’s death has caused a great loss not only to co-worker Indra, but to entire Bhutanese community in the Diaspora.
Late Timsina is survived by four sons, two daughters and 16 grandchildren.
The camp management committee elections in all even camps ended on Friday electing just five camp secretaries for management of seven camps as three Beldangi camps elected only one secretary.
Chairperson of the election board, Harka Bahadur Rai, who is also the Camp Supervisor of Beldangi-I camp, announced that Dhan Bir Subba of Beldangi-II Extension camp has been elected to lead three Beldangi camps. Subba received 101 votes out of 324 defeating Chabi Kharel who secured 95 votes.
Meanwhile, Mon Maya Mongar of Beldangi-II has been elected as Deputy Camp Secretary of Beldangi-II and Beldangi-II Extension while Yeti Raj Baral will service Beldangi-I in the same post, the election commission informed.
Baral also contested for the secretary post. However, was able to book only 18 votes.
List of camp secretaries
Dhan Bir Subba – Beldangi
Campa Singh Rai – Sanischare
Chiranjibi Rai – Goldhap
Yuba Raj Gurung –Timai
Tika Ram Rai -Khudunabari
The security on the second day was at high alert to avoid any unwanted situation or clashes among refugees during the election process.
Our Jhapa correspondent reported that Goldhap camp remained tensed early today at 8 a.m. as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) declared KB Gurung as ‘out of criteria’ to contest for the post of camp secretary. Hundreds of his supporters demonstrated against the UNHCR before the actual start of voting for the camp secretary.
Jhapa CDO speaks to agitating refugees of Beldangi-I to convince them in Beldangi-II camp as they warned of boycotting election/Rohit Pokhrel
Similarly, Beldangi-II camp witnessed demonstrations for almost two hours as the UNHCR and Refugee Coordination Unit disqualified TB Gurung at the eleventh hour. Initially, all representatives from Beldangi-I decided to boycott the electoral process demanding Gurung’s candidacy.
The government officials tried to convince the agitating mass. However, nothing was proved fruitful, initially.
Chief District Officer of Jhapa, Sashi Shekhar Shrestha, who reached Beldangi-II camp to witness the election process tried to convince the agitating refugees and warned them to obey the criteria. He even told refugees that they can file the case against UNHCR and Government of Nepal if they regard that such criteria are against the morale of election and told Gurung was disqualified as his resettlement process was underway.
Following negotiations between the general mass, elected representatives, government and UNHCR officials, Gurung was able to convince his supporters allowing the election commission to conduct the voting.
Reported by Jeetan Subba and Tilak Niraula from Jhapa for BNS with inputs from Tulasi Upreti, Lakpa Tamang, Lok Mahara and Rohit Kumar Pokhrel.
The first round of Camp Management Committee (CMC) elections in all seven camps ended on Thursday peacefully.
Exiled Bhutanese cast their votes in CMC elections to election their representatives/Lok Mahara
According to reports from camps, today’s election witnessed majority of undisputed sub-sector heads and sector heads. Majority of registered Bhutanese of and above 18 years cast their votes from early 8 a.m. today.
According to the UN Refugee Agency’s Damak office, for the effective conduction of elections 186 booths were allotted in seven camps including 70 in three Beldangi camps.
Armed Police Force (APF) Inspector of Beldangi-II camp Hira GC informed that around 150 security personnel were deployed in Beldangi camps since the early morning to provide security to election booths and ballot boxes.
Altogether 744 representatives have been elected from all camps and they will vote for camp secretary and various other positions at CMC on Friday.
SLC students write their Send-Up Examinations paper in Beldangi-I camp/Lok Mahara
Considering the send-up examinations of School Leaving Certificate students, which also begun from today, teachers and students who needed to cast their votes were provided with special pass to allow them to vote without maintaining a queue as others.
According to Caritas Nepal, which looks after the education program in camps, 1311 students have appeared this year’s send-up examinations in their respective camps. Unlike in the previous years, three camps of Beldangi will elect just
a single camp secretary.
Analysts say, the competition among candidates vying for this post will be the toughest one as around a dozen candidates from three camps have filed their candidacy.
(With inputs from Tilak Niraula, Lakpa Tamang, Lok Bahadur Mahara, Tulsi Upreti and Hari Kumar Dahal)
झापा र मोरङका सातै भुटानी शरणार्थी शिविर ब्यबस्थापन समितिको चयनको लागि भोलि र पर्सी निर्वाचन हुने भएको छ ।
निर्वाचनको विश्वब्यापी मान्यता अनुरुप १८ वर्ष नाघेका सबै साढे ४७ हजार भुटानी शरणार्थीले मतदान गर्दैछन् । जस अन्तरर्गत भोलि सातै शिविरमा उप–सेक्टर तहको निर्वाचन हुँदैछ ।
उप–सेक्टर तहबाट छानिएका प्रतिनिधिहरु बीच पर्सी सेक्टर तह र शिविर ब्यबस्थापन समितिको कार्यसमिति चयनपछि निर्वाचनको सबै प्रकृया सकिनेछ ।
यसपालिको निर्बाचन पछि बेलडाँगी १ , २ र ३ शरणार्थी शिविरका लागि एउटै मात्र शिविर सचिवको ब्यबस्था हुने संयुक्त राष्टसंघीय शरणार्थी सम्बन्धी उच्च आयोगले जनाएको छ ।
निर्वाचनको लागि सातै शिविरमा तीन सयको संख्यामा सहायता तथा सरकारी कर्मचारी र सात सयभन्दा बढी शरणार्थी कार्यकर्ता परिचालन भएको बताइएको छ ।
यसैबीच भुटानी प्रज्ञिक संस्था ब्रेनले हिजो मंगलबार बेलडाँगी शरणार्थी शिविरमा सचिव पदको दाबी गर्दै निर्वाचनको मैदानमा उत्रिएकाहरु बीच सार्वजनिक अन्तरकृया गरेको छ ।
अन्तरकृयाका वक्ताहरुले शरणार्थी शिविर भित्र युवाहरुमा बढेको दुर्व्यसन , परिवारहरुको चर्को विखण्डन, सहायतामा देखिएको गुणस्तर गिरावट तथा आफ्नो घर फर्कन पाँउने मौलिक अधिकारको रक्षा जस्ता मुद्धा शिविर ब्यबस्थापन समितिका आगामी चुनौती रहेको बताए ।
The United Nations in High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has assured all seven Camp Secretaries of the camps that it would provide ration to all deprived refugees through interim provision on temporary basis.
UNHCR’s Country Representative in Nepal, Stephane Jaquemet, said the agency would work out with a government team to provide aid basket to refugees without identity cards and other asylum seekers until some major decision regarding their status is identified.
Jaquemet made such a remark at Damak of Jhapa district on Tuesday during a meeting with Camp Secretaries of all camps.
“We are very much concerned about their status. Right after the election of the Camp Management Committee, UNHCR will discuss this issue with the government and start distributing ration,” Bhanu Dhungana, Khudunabari Camp Secretary, quoted Jaquemet as saying to Dhungana’s delegation.
However, UNHCR’s Chief maintained that start of their registration would take time and that could happen only after the formation of new government in Nepal.
According to Dhungana, Camp Secretaries also submitted a detailed report of cases requiring official registration at the Government of Nepal.
“We conducted a hut-to-hut survey of such persons and found that 3190 persons are yet to be given refugee status,” Dhungana said.
However, according to the UNHCR, everyone who get ration would be qualified for the refugee status when the registration begins.
