BHUTAN: Current Status of the Refugees. Update No. 81

BHUTAN: Current Status of the Refugees. Update No. 81

By Dr. S.Chandrasekharan.

Resettlement of the refugees to third countries is going at a fast pace and as per the schedule despite increasing aggressive opposition from the unlawful elements inside the Camps.

The harassment to those who have already opted and waiting for their turn, had become so intolerable that the UNHCR had to arrange a small camp near the Armed Police Base Camp at Beldangi. This camp is provided security all the twenty four hours and no one can enter or leave the camp without permission. No one will also be admitted into the camp without a request from the UNHCR directly.

The transit camp as it is called has virtually become a prison and those inside are totally cutoff from the rest of their community. They are upset and many are in tears. But they seem to have no choice as life inside the camps and particularly to the leaders who have opted for third country settlement has become intolerable.

Law and order situation inside the camp has deteriorated considerably and the Police posted at the camps rarely venture into the camps to deal with unruly and criminal elements.

One benefit for those inside the security/transit camp is that the occupants are given priority in third country settlement.

As of 15th December, 25190 Refugees have left the camps for resettlement. The break up is as follows:

Australia                                          1006
Canada                                              899
Denmark                                           305
Netherlands                                       122
New Zealand                                    299
Norway                                            316
USA                                             22243

Exit Permits have been issued for another 5000 refugees. This would mean that over 30,000 refugees in all would have been resettled.

It looks that the refugees have no choice but to go for resettlement. But any open declaration would get them into trouble and harassment by the radical elements who are going to remain and who in future would form part of the force that is going to ncreate trouble in southern Bhutan remain.

What will be their future of those particularly the older ones, if they do not opt to go out when their close relatives and friends have already left? There are many heart-rending stories of families divided, families separated and older ones refusing to go along to a strange place where they will be out of place.

In one instance, one male member aged 60 has been left behind by the whole family as he did not want to move abroad but return to his home in Bhutan to spend his last days. Will he be taken back by Bhutan? Very doubtful.

There are many such cases now and the numbers will increase day by day as the resettlement plan moves into high gear. What will they do? Though many who have gone to the third country have come to terms with their new environment, there are many holdouts. There are many people who are missing their homes in southern Bhutan. For some integrating locally has become a night mare. Last week there was a report of a refugee being shot dead in one of the suburbs in USA. But such cases are few, but it adds to the panic of the elders waiting to go.

So the elders still remaining in the camps want the talks between Nepal and Bhutan to be resumed as they see a fair chance of a political solution between Nepal and Bhutan whereby they will be allowed to go back to their “dear” land.

They are hoping that Bhutan will relent and at least the elders will be allowed to go back and spend the rest of their lives in their own familiar environment. But this unlikely and they are going to be disappointed. Hopes given by both Bhutan and Nepal that the talks would resume would only add to their misery once they realise that not one refugee is going to go back to Bhutan. Some of them may end their lives.

To me, it would be foolish cruel on anybody’s part to give these hapless refugees 60 and above any hope of returning to Bhutan. On the other hand, both India and Nepal should seriously consider taking them as part of the overall solution to the problem and give them security. They would in due course get funds from their relatives now settled abroad and so there will be no financial implications.

Some of those who have already gone out and have settled down reasonably are planning to form an association for the “Non Resident Bhutanese”- NRBs. This concept of NRBs has been mooted by Dr. D.N.Dhakal, but this would work only when there is a willingness on the part of Bhutan to recognise them as Bhutanese! However an association of this type is necessary even if there in no hope of returning for the refugees settled abroad to create a forum to understand and resolve many problems, social, cultural, financial or even those relating to “just surviving” and seek remedies.