Community members, friends and families of three teens killed in train crash last year on March 14 gathered at Buechel Park Baptist church yesterday for a memorial event held by Bhutanese Society of Kentucky. In a solemn and well organized event, the families of Chita R Chuwan, Nagin Thapa and Suk Man Rai were seen with tearful eyes, once again recollecting that tragic moment.
Speakers from across the Jefferson County Public School, including superintendent Dr, Donna Hargens, and resettlement agencies praised the community effort to manage such crisis and strong bond of community feeling Bhutanese people have shown for one another.
Flier for safe driving by BSK
The president of BSK Mr, Jiwan Bista announced the soccer tournament to honor these champions of soccer, to be held on June 4 come summer. Mr Jitu Basnet of Bhutanese American Sports council drove from Nashville, TN to pledge his support for the soccer tournament in the capacity of FIFA certified referee.
He also emphasized that the purpose of soccer tournament is to relay a message of safe driving for teens and youths, that such tragedy is not repeated.
Meanwhile, the lone survivor of the crash, Kismat Mishra is now preparing to go to college. He has improved in walking through regular exercise and have been socializing with his soccer friends.
The city has added a light and gate with cross bar in the crossing of Crawford Ave and railroad crossing where the accident happened.
Two Bhutanese Karate players from the United States have received red passport referee certifications from the USA-National Karate Federation on March 5.
Shiva Jogi (left) and Tula Dhakal
Shiva Jogi and Tula Dhakal from Columbus, Ohio become the first Bhutanese to receive the red passports.
Jogi, who is a former dojo coach of Sanischare camp, is a second dan black belt. While, Dhakal has first dan black belt and previously hailed from Beldangi-I refugee camp.
The duo, who received red passports during a National Karate Federation Championship seminar held in Brooklyn, NY on March 5-6, has an overall experience of over 15 years in martial arts.
Instructor TR Rai (left) during Franklin, Ohio game
Meanwhile, a four-member team led by sensei TR Rai, former camp secretary of Khudunabari refugee camp, took part in the USA-NKF National Qualifying Championship also held on March 5 in Franklin, Ohio.
According to Rai, former coach of Beldangi-II refugee camp Moni Rai, and Buddha Rai from Sanischare refugee camp both secured third positions (bronze medals). While, Nim Lama from Sanischare camp didn’t secure any position.
All three were qualified for the upcoming National Olympic Selection Championship to be held in Pittsburg, PA later this year in July.
Manju Rai, who was resettled in Dallas, Texas just around five months ago from Beldangi-II Refugee Camp in Nepal, died in a fatal car accident on March 4, Friday.
The 20-year-old girl was returning home from her second shift job at a cellphone company at around 9:30 P.M. central time when five-seater Mitsubishi Gallant driven by her coworker, Kumar Adhikari, became uncontrolled and hit a concrete traffic barrier during an instant lane change triggered by a speedy car that hit Mitsubishi from behind.
Manju Rai (Picture courtesy: Her uncle Bikash Rai)
She was unconscious and heavily bleeding from her forehead and nose when paramedics arrived at the scene, Kumar’s brother Bal Adhikari informed the Bhutan News Service (BNS).
Manju was later pronounced dead by a local hospital.
Meanwhile, the driver and other three passengers Bhagi Sunwar, Sabita Subba and Punam Diyali, have suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries. While, the vehicle was badly damaged.
Manju was planning to celebrate her 21st birth on March 21 by involving her friends and coworkers, a source aware of this fact told BNS.
Her younger brother and mother are still awaiting resettlement, while her father has been long serving an arbitrary jail term in Bhutan.
The funeral ceremony was not scheduled at the time of filing this report.
(Ramesh Thapa contributed to this report)
Update: A crowdfunding campaign to garner funeral cost for Manju has begun from March 8, Wednesday. Below is a button from the Gofundme.
Thimphu was still in celebration mood. All schools, government offices were on national holidays throughout the nation to commemorate the birthday of the His Majesty the King, Jigme Keshar Namgyal Wangchuck, on February 21st, 22nd and 23rd. Though His majesty’s birthday falls on 21st of February, this year nation observed holidays for two extra days.
Beautifully decorated one of the birthday celebration venues
This year’s birthday celebration was different and more blissful for the nation. In the same month, February, coinciding with His majesty’s birth nation has welcomed the new heir to the throne born to the royal couple. As high as the prime minister to the lowest as a farmer got audience to meet His Majesty and offer Dhar as a token of love towards the His Majesty. This year they were fortunate to offer Tashi Lekdhar for the Royal Birth of His Royal Highness The Gyalsey at the Lingkana Palace.
While, all the royal family members, high ranking officials were still in the celebration mood in the capital city- a village in southern border-Bhur in Gelephu Dungkhag (district subdivision) – was in the cloud of fear. At around 7:30pm on February 22, a group of people some dressed in Royal Bhutan Army uniform kidnapped three villagers and took them to an unknown destination.
Gelephu Clock Tower
On Feb 23, two suspects were reported to be apprehended and interrogated. They are believed to be Meches- a tribe in an Indian state of Assam. And, they are reported to be released. Three people- a class 10 student, a local driver and the third one- a helper at a piggery farm were abducted. One among the three, the helper in a piggery farm, reached home the next morning. Whereabouts of the other two remained unknown till then. This has become almost a routine, where someone gets abducted from outside Bhutan and the kidnappers demand huge amount of ransom. Some people might pay by selling what they have. There is no guarantee of the return of the loved ones.
In this case, the family borrowed Ngultrum 2 million from relatives and friends to meet the negotiated ransom. Handed to the kidnappers and got their loved ones back in the morning of February 28, 2016. Interestingly, like in some of the Indian movies- poor farmers brave to relocate their dear ones and bring back home from the captivity and the government silently backs up. This encourages further gambling upon the poor from the ends of those wrongdoers. Happiness has return for pro tem to the family, but years it is going to cost for them to clear the debt amounted at no fault.
Instances of kidnapping in and around Gelephu are not new anymore. The fate of an eleventh grader student from Norbuling Central School, and two other drivers abducted in 2014 is still a mystery. Parents and relatives of those victims have now run out of tears. Their hope is withered. They have gone so penurious that if anything happens to them or to their families, they have nothing left (literally). Mental stress and emotional breakdown is costless. Hope to see their dear ones is still a living dream. Road to the happiness and celebrations for those families is a far cry. Appeals were made for several times to the government. Patience is more than two years old!
Gelephu is the same Dungkhag that was administered by Dungpa Pema Wangdi till recently, against whom the court has labelled 21 charges along with around 70 counts for multiple cases of abuse of authority. It was almost impossible for the residents to expect anything better from the administration’s end. But, the change in the administration too has made no difference.
Rinzin (name changed), one of the residents, who moved to Thimphu seven months ago says, ‘ I was making good living. My children were excelling in the school. I sensed the situation getting worse day by day. I may be wrong to blame the government, but what I saw was, round the clock, everybody is insecure in and around Gelephu. No one knows if the bread owner returns home in the evening or a child reaches home safely from the school. I had to choose between the two- face the worse or think for the safety of the family. I opted the later.’
Norzin (name changed), is another farmer this scribe could talk to. ‘My ancestral land lies proximal to the Indian boarder. For so long the open boarder remained a boon. I have equal friends outside the border. We share farm laborers during the time of cultivation and the harvesting the crops. We visit each other’s families during festivals and celebrations. I don’t know why? I don’t know who disturbed peace. I too feel insecure these days. Where should I go? Who might buy my land- even if I decide to sell? I have only hope rested on the government and I am hopeful it does.’
‘For the past two three years, the country celebrated peace in the capital city. We, the people living in and around the Gelephu, are searching the lost peace in the countryside. I myself cannot define the state of good governance in the nation. But, I am optimistic towards the future of the Gelephu town’, says one of the fresh graduates who is planning to start some type of business after he failed to get a job even after hunting for a good year.
Gelephu Town-one of the bussiness hubs of the country.
After the incident people can see the presence of the security patrol along the Sarpang-Gelephu highway and around. This is certainly going to add some level of relief to the residents. Continuity matters. Safe return of all those, remaining, abductees with no cost to the families already in shock is deemed the prior obligation of the government.
The office of the prime minister is silent till this piece is being prepared. Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, who remained updating his Facebook page on other issues of celebrations and his every visits – remained mute at this pathetic cause, matter of citizens’ security concern. Political parties, who visit people around the elections with Lollipops, remained so distant as if it was not the matter of their concern. In other words, it is not the time of the elections to climb the ladder to the power. They (political party leaders) missed ‘A for Ace’ card by not responding towards peoples’ problem in need. For them 2018 elections is too far to come.
People this scribe talked to have a common message to convey to the Prime Minister and the cabinet ministers including the National Assembly members representing Sarpang Dzongkhag. Celebration in the capital city is over now- at least think for the safety of the people in need- We will not ask about the developmental projects to ease the lives of people anymore! Developmental activities are not the priority to the government in this area- because it is not safe for the investment!!
A high level visit to these villages might allay the pain in the hearts of those sobbing family members. And, the assurance for non-occurrence is one of the options to lessen the Gelephu panic.
Note: The views expressed are solely of the author and doesn’t represent that of BNS. -Editors
Dilip Dahal was just twelve years when his family fled from home in Tsirang (Chirang) Bhutan in 1991. After twenty seven years he flew to Kathmandu, November 2015, to attend a high-level meeting to mark the resettlement of 100,000 refugees in US and other eight countries that accepted to resettle the Bhutanese refugees camped in eastern Nepal.
Dilip and his family arrived in Clarkston, Georgia in 2008 after US initially committed to allow at least 60000 of the Bhutanese refugees to resettle. The first job he got in the US was housekeeping. Today he owns two gasoline and convenience stores, his business growing ever since he owned a grocery store in Clarkston just around the corner of apartments where many Bhutanese and Burmese families were put to by resettlement agencies.
Dilip with his wife, Shanti, and daughter Dipasha (Picture courtesy: Dilip)
Dilip worked in local farmer’s market before taking the job of store manager at this Asian Grocery that he bought later to try his own luck for business.
Being a successful entrepreneur, Dilip engaged in community organization of Georgia, played roles in forming OBCA (Organization of Bhutanese Community in America) and gave back to community by sponsoring many community events. He was elected to Vice-president of OBCA in its fifth annual convention held in Fort Worth, Texas, June 2015. The convention was attended by UNHCR Nepal’s head Mr Craig Sanders.
Dilip had no any idea of this leadership role he would assume when he started his primary education in Green Vale Academy of Beldangi I back in 1992. Nor had he dreamt of meeting the prime minister of that host country, let alone the dignity and pride of being the US citizen. He even could not surmise how the life in US would be for his family when the plan for resettlement was floated in camps. Like many other literate youths, Dilip was in favor of resettlement, yearning to break away from the stalemate of camp life.
OBCA was invited to attend the 100,000th mark of resettlement in Kathmandu. At an event held November 9, 2015 in Shangrila Hotel, Dilip represented the success story of resettlement in the US, while Devi Maya represented that dubious happiness of being the one-hundred thousandth refugee to fly to Ohio State of the US. As the vice-president of OBCA, Dilip Dahal met Prime Minister and President of Nepal, UNHCR country representative, US Ambassador to Nepal, IOM Chief of Mission in Nepal and other Nepalese officials
He wrote to BNS, “OBCA felt it was imperative to thank the government of Nepal for providing shelter to the Bhutanese refugees for more than two decades and ultimately opening doors for their resettlement.”
Dilip offering token of appraciation to PM Oli (Picture courtesy: Govinda Thapa)
Besides extending thanks to the Government of Nepal for generously hosting Bhutanese refugees, OBCA presented souvenirs to the President and Prime Minister of Nepal as symbol of gratitude.
Though success has been counted in terms of hard figures -one hundred thousand refugees- life is not a bed or roses for those who made this journey to the west. In the US, the suicide rate of Bhutanese is among the highest; the number strike to fifty-eight odd loss of life. Several have been killed in car accidents while going to work. Domestic rift has widened, some facing charges of domestic violence. And, many state based community organizations are bracing up with appropriate tools and methods to prevent such maladies befalling upon common lots.
It’s time Nepal government chalk out a meaningful plan to provide best alternative to the camp life for those who have not shown interest in resettlement yet and to those who espouse repatriation with honor and dignity. The then government of Nepal which helped opening the refugee camp in the bank of river Kankai in Jhapa in the early 1991, should now close refugee camp with appropriate package of hope for sustainable means of living for those remaining refugees. And, UNHCR and IOM should facilitate the process of ending this long festering humanitarian issue in south Asia to its safe landing.
The Bhutanese king Jigme Khesar Wangchuk and queen Jetsun announced birth of their first child, prince Gyalsey, Thursday. According to the royal announcement, the price was born on Feb. 5, and first presented to the fourth king Jigme Singye Wangchuk.
“Our happiness knows no bounds, as we announce the Royal Birth of His Royal Highness The Gyalsey on 5th February 2016,” reads Khesar’s official Facebook.
King Khesar with Jetsun (Picture courtesy: JKW’s Facebook)
According to the announcement, Jetsun delivered the prince safely at the Linkana Palace, Thimphu and was attended by royal family members and doctors.
“Tashi Delek to all the people of Bhutan. Let us celebrate and rejoice in the Birth of His Royal Highness the Gyalsey,” Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay said in his Facebook.
The Prime Minister also announced that his government has declared Monday as a public holiday to celebrate the royal birth.
Meanwhile. coinciding with the birth of Gyalsey the monarchs have also decided to begin the reconstruction of Paro Dzong that was first constructed by Zhabdrung Nawamg Namgyal in 1649.
A former Dzongkha teacher from Khudunabari Refugee Camp, Hem Tiwari, 48, was killed in a fatal vehicular crash Thursday afternoon in Newark, Ohio.
Popularly known as Chhunu Lopen among his students and colleagues, Tiwari was in the passenger seat of a car driven by Birkha Poudyel when the vehicle met with an accident with another car along Highway 62 eastbound.
Late Hem Tiwari (Picture courtesy: His Family)
Tiwari’s brother, Tej Tiwari, quoted a Licking Country Sheriff as informing the duo that he suffered spot death during the crash.
The driver and another passenger, Durga Khatiwada, are being treated for non-life-threatening injuries at Grant Medical Center.
The trio was heading for filling job applications in a local company where Tiwari was recently hired and scheduled to begin his work, according to his family sources.
Tiwari arrived in Raleigh, North Carolina through the federally funded third country resettlement program in 2010. Three years later, he moved to Columbus, Ohio.
A funeral ceremony has been scheduled for Feb 9, Tuesday, at 10 Am at Shaw Davis Funeral Home.
Meanwhile, the Bhutanese Nepali Community of Columbus said it has invited all community members for their presence during Tiwari’s final rituals.
His wife Mon Maya Tiwari, a daughter (20) and two sons (14 and 5) survive late Tiwari.
Refugees experience psychological stressors in the migration process. Stressors occur while fleeing their country of origin, in the refugee camps, in flight, during initial resettlement, and the post resettlement period. Over time, they may develop symptoms of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as well as other self-harm behaviors (suicide attempts, substance abuse, excessive gambling, etc.). PTSD is a Mental Health conditions that is triggered by a terrifying event—either experiencing it or witnessing it. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety, and uncontrolled thoughts about the event.
Lack of awareness about mental health problems and resources can negatively impact refugees’ transition and integration into their new community. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) and Question, Persuade and Refer (QPR) have been used to train refugees in the United States. The training is aimed to promote mental health awareness and provide participants the skills to help those in distress.
Participants attending Mental Health First Aid-Training in Pittsburgh. Photo: BNS
Mental Health First Aid
The Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training provides the knowledge needed to prepare community members to recognize and assist individuals who are in crisis. MHFA is an 8-hour long training course performed in one full day, delivered by certified MHFA instructors. It introduces participants to risk factors and warning signs around depression, anxiety, trauma, psychosis, eating disorders, substance use disorders, and self-injury and suicidal behaviors. By the end of the training, participants learn action plans to help people who may be struggling.
Question, Persuade, and Refer
QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer, which is an emergency mental health training intervention that teaches anyone to help save a life from suicide. People trained in QPR use a “chain of survival” approach (like CPR) in which they learn to recognize early suicide warning signs, question their meaning to determine suicide intent or desire, persuade the suicidal person to accept or seek help, and refer the suicidal person to appropriate resources. QPR offers hope through positive action. QPR is a 2-4 hours long training course delivered by certified instructors.
Bhutanese community leaders across the U.S. are certified MHFA and QPR trainers. A list of trainers and their locations appears below. If members of your community would benefit from knowing more about mental health and having the skills to help those in need, reach out to a trainer in your area to host a course!
Table: List of Trainers
Trainers
Address
Expertise
1
Mr. Ashok Gurung
Pittsburgh, PA
Adult Mental Health First Aid (Adult-MHFA)
2
Mr. Yadhu Dhital
Pittsburgh, PA
Adult Mental Health First Aid (Adult-MHFA)
3
Ms. Sona Shilpakar
Pittsburgh, PA
Adult Mental Health First Aid (Adult-MHFA)
4
Mr. Laxman Chamlagai
Richmond, VA
Youth Mental Health First Aid (Youth-MHFA)
5
Mr. Chandra Chhetri
Richmond, VA
Youth Mental Health First Aid (Youth-MHFA)
6
Ms. Uma Devi Mishra
Chicago, IL
Question, Persuade & Refer (QPR)
7
Mr. Mani Biswa
Lynn, MA
Question, Persuade & Refer (QPR)
8
Mr. Mitra Dhital
Seattle, WA
Question, Persuade & Refer (QPR)
9
Mr. Keshab Sharma
Akron, OH
Question, Persuade & Refer (QPR)
10
Mr. Dharani Adhikari
Salt Lake City, UT
Question, Persuade & Refer (QPR)
11
Mr. Birendra Dhakal
Clarkston, GA
Question, Persuade & Refer (QPR)
12
Mr. Yam Kharel
Nashville, TN
Question, Persuade & Refer (QPR)
13
Ms. Sarita Rasaily
Lynn, MA
Question, Persuade & Refer (QPR)
14
Mr. Karan Thapa
Rochester, NY
Question, Persuade & Refer (QPR)
If you know anyone in the Bhutanese community who are certified trainers and interested in helping others, please send their information to [email protected] to update this list.
For the contact information of the trainers: Please send e-mail to Mr. Ashok Gurung, based in Pittsburgh, PA (email: [email protected]), one of the trainers in the list.
Note: For some reasons, some of the trained individuals may have their credential expired. Even in that case, they still can share the knowledge they have learnt, which might be very helpful.
Bhutanese Community of New Hampshire (BCNH) was awarded with “2016 MLK Coalition Special Award” at the 34th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Community Celebration at the St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Manchester, New Hampshire on January 18, 2016.
Photo by: Guru Subedi
The award was bestowed to BCNH for its continued efforts on refugees and immigrants integration in the state and its unflagging support to the new Americans in their resettlement needs. Along with BCNH, a Derry resident Paul Doolittle was also awarded with 2016 Martin Luther King Jr. Award for his continued support to refugees.
NH Governor, Maggie Hassan, congratulated BCNH for being this year’s recipient of the award and said, “Together we can build the brighter future for all of us”. Citing her father’s inequality experience, Governor Hassan stated that her father grew up in segregated Florida but he learned to respect African-Americans when he fought beside them in World War II.
Keynote speaker, Dr. Arthur Hilson, said the country is moving closer to King’s dream but still has a long way to go. Dr. Hilson is one of the participants who attended King’s Washington speech.
Executive Director of New American Africans and 2014 recipient of Martin Luther King Jr. Award, Honore Murenzi, applauded BCNH for offering its array of services not only to Bhutanese but to other New Americans too. Speaking in the event, Mr. Murenzi, thanked BCNH for being very instrumental in helping realize New Americans’ American Dream.
Bhutanese Community of NH- members at the award receiving event. Photo by: Guru Subedi
On behalf of the organization, Guru Subedi, the incumbent Board Chair of BCNH, expressed his gratitude to the advisors of BCNH, the well-wishers, supporters, volunteers, receiving communities, the US Government, the city governments and the state government for their continued support. I thank all the staff and the Board of Directors of BCNH for their hard work, dedication and their passion to serve New Americans for their meaningful integration in the Granite State, he said.
The event attracted around 300 people including dozens of City Year volunteers, a crowd of activists, civic leaders, honorees and public officials. Manchester Police Chief Nick Willard and one alderman, Pat Long from the City of Manchester graced the event.
The newly elected Central Committee members of The Bhutanese Community in The Netherlands (BCN), formed by the 4th general convention of the BCN 6th December 2015 with Mr. D.P. Mainali as its President, organized a New Year Celebration and get together program on 2nd January 2016 in a
community hall in Utrecht, The Netherlands.
BCN New CC members/Photo: Ram Karki
Coordinator of BCN Mr. Gopal Gurung opened the program requesting everybody to observe one minute silence in the memory of all those Netherlands based Bhutanese community members who died in their new homes. He also deliberated on the program’s details to the audience present.
BCN General Secretary Mr. Ram Bahadur Chhetri welcomed everybody in the program and briefly highlighted the objectives and background of BCN formation in 2009. He further stated the importance of BCN to promote and preserve Bhutanese culture and to unite Bhutanese community members under one umbrella. Elaborating on some of the basic problems (like citizenship to the elderly members and conducting rituals of Hindus) faced by the Bhutanese community, he expressed his confidence that BCN can solve such problems in near future. He concluded his speech by wishing best wishes and prosperous new year 2016.
Coordinator Mr. Gopal Gurung invited all the elected executive members and introduced to the audience.
Participants with certificate of appreciation/Photo: Ram Karki
The five hours long program which featured various Nepali songs, dances, jokes, poem recitations, speeches, felicitation, presentations and others was chaired by BCN President D.P.Mainali with Chief Guest Shashi Poudyal, a prominent Nepali figure and Chairman of Netherlands based Nepal Development Academy.
Recognizing his valuable contribution to the Bhutanese Community members since their landing in the Netherlands and also for his continuous support to BCN, Chief Guest Mr. Shashi Poudyal was felicitated with a shawl and a framed photo Paro Takshang Monastery (Buddhist temple in Bhutan). BCN President D P Mainali handed the felicitation gift along with other team members.
Likewise all the participants and volunteers in the programs were handed over the appreciation certificates jointly by BCN President D.P Mainali, BCN Vice President Nawaraj Gazmere and Chief Guest Sashi Poudyal.
Accepting the honor Chief Guest Mr. Poudyal expressed his happiness to receive such love and affection from BCN on behalf of all the Bhutanese living in The Netherlands and promised that he will keep such love always in his heart.He further stressed the need and importance of BCN to bind all the Bhutanese of Nepali origin in The Netherlands. “Nobody will take care of our cultural heritages in the society if we don’t do it by ourselves’’ said Poudyal. He further said that Bhutanese youths can contribute a lot in the promotion and preservation of Lhotshampa culture if they are properly guided and trained by BCN. He told the audience that he will do everything possible to help BCN to further their goal of promoting community welfare in all spheres.
Outgoing BCN President Chhatra Rai was honored with the Certificate of Appreciation jointly by Mainali and Poudyal on the occasion. The certificate was received by his two brothers in his absence.
The program was coordinated and hosted by BCN executives Gopal Gurung (coordinator), Bishnu Ghimire (Youth and Student Coordinator) and Mr. Pralhad Chhetri (Treasurer).
With additional inputs from Ram Karki, The Nethelands
