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Damber Karki, who was on his way home Beldangi along with KB Khadka, discribes the real scene of Khadka’s attack. He is the only living eye-witness. In the second half, Tek Nath Rizal speaks seriously on fragile security situation in camps.
Sept 14: A newly born group calling itself as ‘Druk Leopard’ has issued warnings of physical attacks to at least eight refugees from various camps.
According to our Beldangi correspondent in Jhapa Nepal, this first-time-known group has pasted pamphlets in public places in between Beldangi-II and extension camps today morning issuing the threats.
The group has warned those refugees to leave the camps soon along with their families or to face severe physical actions. Leopard has accused those people of leading the repatriation movement at the initial days and now becoming involved in pushing their relatives and family members to third countries.
The blacklisted refugees includes T. B. Thapa and Gopal Gurung (affiliated to Bhutan People’s Party), D. R. Katel (Bhutan Gorkha National Liberation Front), Subash Acharya (former camp secretary of Beldangi-II extension), Bhakta Ghimirey (former chief editor of Sandesh Saptahik), Pratap Subba (former camp secretary of Sanischare camp), Narad Muni Sanyashi (camp secretary of Beldangi-II) and I. B. Khadka.
Among the blacklisted refugees, Katel is currently at the IOM transit centre in Kathmandu and will fly to USA within these few days.
The pamphlets, written in sheets of computer paper and signed by ‘Chepyastra’–Regional Coordinator of Druk Leopard, however do not contain letterheads and has no any reliable authenticity regarding if it truly exists.
Earlier on September 8, two masked youths stabbed social activist K. B. Khadka to death and until the filing of this report, no any individual or group has owned up responsibility.
Sept 13: Exiled political parties and human rights bodies have expressed their deep concern over the mushrooming growth of unruly activities inside Bhutanese refugee camps in eastern districts of Nepal.
Balaram Poudel, chairperson of a political coalition of three parties National Front for Democracy in Bhutan (NFD) has shown serious concern about fragile security system in camps. NFD’s concern follows the brutal murder of one KB Khadka recently.
General Secretary of People’s Forum for Human Rights in Bhutan DP Kafle has stated that there have been rise in the unruly activities inside refugee camps. Kafle has further appealed the authorities concerned for the management of security to refugees in camps.
Meanwhile, Human Rights Organisation of Bhutan (HUROB) has shown serious concern over the brutal killing of social activist Khadka on September 8 near Beldangi refugee camp in Jhapa Nepal.
“The ghastly murder of Khadka has shocked everyone in the Bhutanese community. The motive behind the cowardly murder is not known as he had good rapport with everyone in the camps and also with the people outside,” reads the press statement.
HUROB has also said that Khadka was one of the responsible persons to play crucial role as Camp Secretary in early 90s to establish the camp and rehabilitate the refugees.
Terming Khadka as a strong justice, the human rights body also said that the death of Khadka is a great loss to entire Bhutanese community.
HUROB has concluded that the incident has instilled fear in the mind of the refugees and insecurity of life.
“Every refugee comprehends that the murder is a well planned action by some ruthless murderer. The whole refugee community is mentally disturbed and anguished. The Nepal government should take note of the increasing trend of murder in the camps and accordingly strengthen the security measures for other refugees,” added the statement.
Condemning the murder, HUROB has urged the Nepal Government and UNHCR to take appropriate steps to find the culprits and bring before the law.
HUROB has also extended its heartfelt condolence to the bereaved family and relatives of late Khadka.
Executive Chief of the Bhutanese Refugee Durable Solution Coordination Council Hari Bangaley, who is now in New York in USA, commenting on the incident upon the request of BNS demanded that the murderers should be fallen in police net.
“The nature of the incident is very sad and condemning,” said Bangaley over telephone, adding that the culprit should be given strong punishment.
Bangaley, a close friend of late Khadka during the activities and various technical programs launched by the Bhutanese Refugee Technical Education Centre (1998-2003) for refugees in camps, said that killing human being is entirely against norms of human rights.
“I have been hinting on the fragile security system in camps for the last few years and not to an exception now the situation in camps is as it was before,” added Bangaley.
According to Bangaley, the UNHCR has to come up with additional programs for the protection to refugees in camps, in his own words, he has raised this issue for quite sometimes. “The government of Nepal should come forth with strong measures to stop unruly activities prevailing inside camps,” said Bangaley, who termed late Khadka as one of the good leaders for social justice within Bhutanese refugee community.
He also stated that it is the right of refugees to exercise their right to live in fearless atmosphere in the host country.
“Anyone who are in such wrong steps should be given good lessons by the authority that they are not comfortable in doing so anymore and for others it should be a guideline to get to respect human being and their right to live as the first and the most important among all”, added Bangaley.
Demanding security for Khadka’s relatives in camps, Bangaley also extended his heartfelt condolence to the bereaved family.
Sept 12: India and Bhutan have pledged for a joint fight in securing their borders by deploying more guards at the frontiers.
The two governments made the pledge at a time when the alleged nexus between Maoist groups of Bhutan and militants in northeast India are reported to have been coming to the fore.
The decision follows the sixth Indo-Bhutan Border Meeting where Bhutanese Home Secretary Penden Wangchuk had expressed concern over reports that insurgents groups are being trained in the northeastern states of Nagaland and Manipur.
Wangchuk further warned that the rise in trainings of militants could be a threat to Bhutan.
“The insurgents are linked to Maoists and militants of eastern Nepal and they can pose a threat to security,” said Wangchuk.
Meanwhile, a member of the Indian delegation of the meeting said there were links between the Communist Party of Bhutan and northeast rebel groups like ULFA, NDFB and KLO.
Wangchuk also said the Bhutanese government would expedite the extensive patrolling to safeguard the border areas.
Disclosing that the India has given training support to Bhutanese police to strengthen and develop their capacity, Wangchuk further said that Bhutan was not in a position to give any opportunity to infiltrate the border.
The two governments also agreed that they would share any information regarding security and anti-government activities.
Sept 12: Bangey bazzar in Beldangi camp in Jhapa, Nepal was shut down yesterday protesting against the murder of social activist KB Khadka.
According to our Beldangi correspondent Arjun Pradhan, the security has been beefed up in camps following the incident. A large number of Armed Police Forces are deployed inside camps.
The camp management committee in Beldangi-II extension had urged for the closure of the Bangey bazaar to press the authorities to book the culprit to justice.
Police source informed the BNS that investigation were underway to bring the culprit to police net.
Late Khadka was stabbed to death on September 8 by two masked youths near Beldangi camp.
Sept 12: Family sources said that the senior bench clerk with the Phuentsholing Dungkhag Court, who went missing on September 5 is being kidnapped.
The clerk went missing on his way to Samdrupjongkhar district to solve a land issue.
It is reportedly learnt that the wife of clerk has received a ransom call demanding Nu 1,000,000 from an Indian number and later for Nu 500,000.
The senior bench clerk from Bartsham, Trashigang, who was supposed to join office on September 9 after completing the two-day leave had went at once went out of contact.
Sept 12: The first extraordinary sitting of the parliament yesterday passed the LG bill but did not come to any resolution, after more than five hours of discussions, on the draft criteria for declaring bills as urgent, addressing disputed bills in future, voting on bills in a joint sitting and drafting of bills.
The joint committee of both the houses proposed that any bill, which is of paramount national importance and is acknowledged by everyone as urgent, should be declared as an urgent bill. It was proposed that the ruling government or any of the houses could propose an urgent bill. It should also secure two-third of the total votes to qualify as one.
But many members questioned whether the bill should be first submitted to parliament to be declared as an urgent bill. Some members said that submitting the bill to parliament was not necessary if the bill is proposed as urgent bill either by the government or any of the houses. “It will be a tedious process and a waste of time,” said Mongar’s Drametse Ngatsang MP, Ugyen Wangdi.
Gasa’s Goen Khatoey-Khamey MP, Damcho Dorji, said that if the government or either house submits a bill as an urgent bill, accepting it in the parliament should not be a problem. “Gaining two-third of the majority vote will cause problems, as some proposed urgent bills might not secure it,” he said. “In all democratic nations, a parliament accepts a urgent bill identified either by the government or the two houses.”
It was also proposed that, in future, a joint committee, similar to the committee formed to discuss the local government bill, will be formed to discuss disputed bills. The joint committee will resolve the differences between the two houses and seek to reach a consensus position acceptable to their respective houses.
The parliamentarians also proposed to reduce the joint sittings to a minimum.
While discussing the voting procedure for passing a bill, some parliamentarians argued that the speaker, as the MP of Radhi-Sakteng constituency, should be given the right to vote to make the final decision, in case the vote remains equal or fall shorts of a two-third majority vote. Some members quoted the example of the LG bill that could not be passed in the last assembly, which fell short by a vote. “If the Speaker was given the chance to vote, the bill could have passed gone through,” said one parliamentarian. But others argued that, since acquiring two-third of the majority vote is necessary, it is not necessary for the speaker to vote. Instead, the speaker should remain neutral and be fair.
A former member of the constitutional drafting committee said that the Speaker of National Assembly and the Chairperson of the National Council could vote only in case of equally divided votes by the members of their respective House. The word mentioned in the Constitution section is “deciding vote” in case of “equal votes” and not compulsory voting either by the Speaker or the Chairperson.
In case of a joint sitting, Article 13 section 4 mentions that the bill shall be passed “by not less than two-thirds of the total numbers of members of both the Houses present and voting”. Here the speaker is not included within the definition of “members present and voting” because the procedure for the joint sitting and the proceeding of either House are different. It is for this reason that the Constitution deliberately does not mention the word “casting vote” by the Speaker under Article 13 in case of joint sitting where he is the presiding officer.
A constitutional expert explained that given the need to protect the parliament as an independent organ of the Constitution, the Speaker could not play a bipartisan role. Once under oath he cannot be assumed to have political association once he is under the oath of affirmation as the Speaker of the Kingdom of Bhutan’ Parliament.
He also pointed out that it was also important for MPs to understand that, once elected, they represent the popular sovereignty of the people and therefore cannot assume sectarian representation in parliament. Thus, they are the delegates in the National Assembly of the people.
The speaker, however, said that these are all proposals and needs a deliberate discussion.
Source: Kuensel online
Sept 12: Armed Police Force (APF) arrested three accused youths from Bedangi-I camp in Jhapa in connection to physical attacks on a youth in Bedangi-II camp during the night time.
According to the APF source, the arrestees include Khadga Subba of Beldangi-II extension, Sector E/2-29, Aita Raj Rai of Beldangi-I, Sector B/1-12 and Kiran Rai of Sanischare camp, Sector B/1-32.
APF said that these youths have attacked Dirgha Monger of Beldangi-II, Sector B/4-31 at around 9 pm during the night. The attack has left at least nine refugees injured while two are in critical condition. However, the condition of Monger is not yet known.
The reason behind the attack is not yet known until the filing of this report.
Meanwhile, a local vernacular daily in Jhapa has reported that the camp secretary of Beldangi-II extension Ganapati Adhikari has received continual threats from unknown people following the death of KB Khadka.
Adhikari has strongly demanded for his security at the district administration in Jhapa.
Nar Bahadur Khadka, one of the first refugees from Bhutan to get resettled here in Colorado seems upset as he was not cooperated by his Case Manager in applying for his Green Card.
As a part of the third country resettlement program of the USA and six other countries, some twelve hundred Bhutanese from different refugee camps in Nepal have so far arrived in Colorado- one of the forty-eight states of America proposed for refugee resettlement.
It has been almost seventeen months since the first Bhutanese family arrived here. Everything seemed frustrating initially when the family of four from Beldangi-II Extension camp in Jhapa, Nepal entered Colorado first through Denver International Airport.
Gradually, the influx of Bhutanese continues to add to the already existing large population of this Centennial State. Colorado ranks 22nd in terms of population while its physical boundary extends so wide to make it an eighth biggest state. Area in Colorado where majority of the Bhutanese and other refugees have been resettled are the erstwhile cities and counties of Denver and Aurora.
However, some ten Bhutanese families have also been resettled in Colorado Spring-a tourist destination some seventy-two miles south-west of Denver, the capital city. At the time when some families have been resettled for over a year, they are due to adjust their status of permanent residency through the Green Card application.
As it has been defined, a Green Card is an official document that is issued to foreign nationals who are granted lawful permanent resident status in the United States. Also known as Permanent Resident (PR) Card, it is granted to those who have lawfully resided in the United States continually for a period of one year. It is regarded a giant leap forward toward achieving the US citizenship.
With limited exception, Green Card holders are entitled to remain in the US permanently, to work in the country for any employer if they qualify and to re-enter the country after international travels, as long as they have not abandoned their permanent resident status. However, regarding international travel, the right to get into the nation of their origin or any other country solely rests upon the policy and law of the nation in question.
In addition to getting chance to apply for the US citizenship, a person with the Green Card in hand can enjoy same rights as US citizens except for voting rights and right to presidential candidacy. Getting chance to enter US army, applying for some federal posts and study grants, loans and scholarship plus various other federal and state benefits like applying for state housing, health facilities and other social security benefits are the supplementary of possessing the card.
In fact, one can travel even outside the US. This formerly green-colored card does not mean US citizenship and is not issued for lifetime. It is for a specific period, normally ten years.
People can also apply for Green Card based on a grant of asylum or refugee status. Some qualify for winning EDV lottery. The people of Bhutan can apply for this legal document based on their status of refugees. Here in Colorado, about ten families have applied for it so far. Some other families are on the way to applying for it as they have completed their first year of living and the mandatory medical requirements of the US Government.
It is learnt that those who have applied so far submitted required papers along with the form I-797 C filled out with their details to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The methods of applying for Green Card differ in different states. Individual may apply for a Green Card based on sponsorship by a qualifying family members or employers.
Families incur some expenses in hiring some experts in filing this petition to adjust to permanent resident status and they also have to pay a little for photograph and postal and delivery confirmation. Those who have filed the petition have to wait another month or two when they will be redirected towards submitting their fingerprints. Because of the lack of education and a language barrier, some people seem lost as how to obtain this important document.
It is important to note that three agencies viz. Ecumenical Refugee and Immigration Services, Lutheran Family Services and African Community Center (ACC) are responsible for providing initial housing, food and cash assistant needs for newly arrived refugees in Colorado. They also help refugees assimilate to the new and challenging cultural and social environment by organizing orientation programs.
These agencies have been trying to help refugees apply for required paper works but their way of assisting is rather complicated as it lengthens the actual period of processing. However, there are organizations such as Ethiopian Community and Somali Organization of Colorado to help people with language barriers to apply for the card. Their services are limited to refugees of specific tribe and nationality.
There are attorneys and notaries public in every city and counties to advocate but the majority of the refugees seem to have applied themselves with assistance from senior Nepalese, relatives and local residents they are acquainted with because these legal figures are quite inaccessible for refugees.
When some people have been working to get established permanently, there is a mixture of sentiments among others regarding their rights and desires to return to Bhutan in future. Some hold the view that after they have Alien Registration they can get back to the country of their origin while others are found indifferent towards the issue of getting back to Bhutan. There are also families who express that they are still hopeful that they can get back to Bhutan one day. Other larger group of Bhutanese maintain that they rather opt for naturalization through permanent resident status and may visit Bhutan on an occasional basis.
Resettlement of refugees in different third countries may not be satisfying solution to end the prolonged refugee crisis that has been at the front burner of the top world agenda for more than eighteen years. However, those who get valid papers to live and work in third countries after their settlement may have some better future ahead.
