US support for Bhutanese refugees
Nava Thakuria
March 05, 2008
The amazing news has come out from the land of Thunder Dragon. While the tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan set a milestone embracing its first general election on the last day of 2007, the US government has extended its hands for resolving the burning refugee issue. On the first day of the year the kingdom of nearly seven hundred thousand people, gets its first elected National Council. At the same time, Washington has initiated for resettling half a lakh Bhutanese refugees taking shelter in Nepal for more than a decade.
After the upper house election, it is time for Bhutan to go for its lower house polls on March 24. Called the National Assembly, the lower house will have 47 seats. The Chief Election Commissioner of Bhutan, Dasho Kunzang Wangdi informs that 3,12,817 eligible voters would exercise their franchise. On both the occasions, those who are 18 years and above and holding valid citizenship cards, will vote.
The international media, in fact, poured news of the Bhutan election as an event to celebrate from the Asian continent. The landlocked kingdom, surrounded by Tibet (now under Chinese territory) and Indian states of Sikkim, West Bengal, Assam & Arunachal Pradesh went for polls on December 31 to form the upper house of Parliament. The Council has 20 directly elected members from each Dzongkhags (representing a district). Five eminent personalities from various fields like literature, music, social service and other areas are to be nominated by the King to form the 25-member upper house.
The security was a major concern for the kingdom during the polls. The Bhutan government sealed the border with India for 36 hours beginning from 6 pm on December 30 to prevent unwanted elements from outside. The Bhutan police and the Royal Bhutan army were engaged for the security during the polls. The Electronic Voting Machines, supported by India, were used in the poll process and observers from India, the US and few other counties including a team of UNDP (based in Thimphu) monitored the election.
Earlier the election commission conducted two rounds of mock polls in April and May last year. Four dummy parties with students as candidates participated in the polls. The relevant rules of election were however strictly followed, where advanced voting equipments were used to attract and educate the voters of the kingdom. The turn out was of course low. The election commission, of course, termed those as successful attempts.
There remained only two political parties in then fray. The People's Democratic Party, headed by the former agriculture minister, Sangay Ngedup has chosen a White Horse as its election symbol. Moreover, the Druk Phuensum Tshogpa, led by the former home minister, Jigmi Y. Thinley has accepted a pictorial design of three flying birds (Thrung Thrung Karm) as its symbol. Earlier, the election commission disqualified a third party named Bhutan People United Party (BPUP). The BPUP lacks both maturity and the appropriate mix and strength in terms of its membership since more than 80 per cent of the members are school dropouts, or have no credible academic qualifications, the commission declared.
Bhutan, also known as Druk Yul, is the midst of a unique transition from absolute monarchy to multiparty democracy, bequeathed by the Dragon King, Jigme Singye Wangchuk, and not because of any popular uprising. Previously, his main accomplishment visible to the outside world was his Gross National Happiness standard-of-living index but in December last year, having set democracy in motion, he abdicated the throne in favor of his eldest son, the Oxford- educated Crown, he Prince Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk.
Amidst appreciations for its decision to adopt democracy, Bhutan also earns brickbats from international communities particularly for the prolonged refugee issue. Mentionable that those refugee, who are Nepali-speaking Bhutanese were driven out from Bhutan during Nineties. Since then, they are living in camps of southeastern Nepal since 1991. Nearly 1,08,000 Bhutanese refugees, who were later recognized by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, were allegedly driven away by the Bhutan authority from south Bhutan.
The crisis began in 1991 as the authority started harassing the ethnic Nepali people living in South Bhutan. It was aftermath of a new citizenship act (passed in Eighties) that arbitrarily cancelled the citizenship of the Nepali speaking Bhutanese. A series of protests reciprocated the verdict, which was dealt with a massive crackdown. Finally thousands of Nepali origin families fled Bhutan in 1990. Significantly they accommodated nearly one-sixth population of the country. A few families came to India (no pass is required for a Bhutanese to enter India), where most of them arrived in Nepal. The refugees are still living in the crowded camps spread out in two districts of Jhapa and Morang of Nepal.
However, the US government has initiated for resettling nearly 60,000 refugees from the camps. "The United States will begin accepting applications for the resettlement of the refugees from Bhutan living in Nepal soon," quoting James Moriarty, the US ambassador to Nepal, the Kathmandu based media has reported. Ambassador James Moriarty also paid a recent visit to one of the Bhutanese refugee camps, where those in exile were compelled to live with no possibility for jobs and proper education to their growing children. Similarly, Australia, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Norway have also come forward expressing their wish to take a share of refugees for resettlement.
Meanwhile, Ellen R Sauerbrey, the US government's Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration, declared that their government would accept around 20,000 refugees every year. During her recent visit to Bhutan, Ms Ellen informed the media persons that around 15,000 Bhutanese refugees would be interviewed. Ms Ellen however clarified, "We do not take these people (refugees) because they are highly skilled or educated, we will take them because of humanitarian considerations."
Nava Thakuria is an independent journalist based in Guwahati, Northeast India. He contributes articles for various media outlets in India and abroad. He can be contacted at navathakuria@gmail.com
After the upper house election, it is time for Bhutan to go for its lower house polls on March 24. Called the National Assembly, the lower house will have 47 seats. The Chief Election Commissioner of Bhutan, Dasho Kunzang Wangdi informs that 3,12,817 eligible voters would exercise their franchise. On both the occasions, those who are 18 years and above and holding valid citizenship cards, will vote.
The international media, in fact, poured news of the Bhutan election as an event to celebrate from the Asian continent. The landlocked kingdom, surrounded by Tibet (now under Chinese territory) and Indian states of Sikkim, West Bengal, Assam & Arunachal Pradesh went for polls on December 31 to form the upper house of Parliament. The Council has 20 directly elected members from each Dzongkhags (representing a district). Five eminent personalities from various fields like literature, music, social service and other areas are to be nominated by the King to form the 25-member upper house.
The security was a major concern for the kingdom during the polls. The Bhutan government sealed the border with India for 36 hours beginning from 6 pm on December 30 to prevent unwanted elements from outside. The Bhutan police and the Royal Bhutan army were engaged for the security during the polls. The Electronic Voting Machines, supported by India, were used in the poll process and observers from India, the US and few other counties including a team of UNDP (based in Thimphu) monitored the election.
Earlier the election commission conducted two rounds of mock polls in April and May last year. Four dummy parties with students as candidates participated in the polls. The relevant rules of election were however strictly followed, where advanced voting equipments were used to attract and educate the voters of the kingdom. The turn out was of course low. The election commission, of course, termed those as successful attempts.
There remained only two political parties in then fray. The People's Democratic Party, headed by the former agriculture minister, Sangay Ngedup has chosen a White Horse as its election symbol. Moreover, the Druk Phuensum Tshogpa, led by the former home minister, Jigmi Y. Thinley has accepted a pictorial design of three flying birds (Thrung Thrung Karm) as its symbol. Earlier, the election commission disqualified a third party named Bhutan People United Party (BPUP). The BPUP lacks both maturity and the appropriate mix and strength in terms of its membership since more than 80 per cent of the members are school dropouts, or have no credible academic qualifications, the commission declared.
Bhutan, also known as Druk Yul, is the midst of a unique transition from absolute monarchy to multiparty democracy, bequeathed by the Dragon King, Jigme Singye Wangchuk, and not because of any popular uprising. Previously, his main accomplishment visible to the outside world was his Gross National Happiness standard-of-living index but in December last year, having set democracy in motion, he abdicated the throne in favor of his eldest son, the Oxford- educated Crown, he Prince Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk.
Amidst appreciations for its decision to adopt democracy, Bhutan also earns brickbats from international communities particularly for the prolonged refugee issue. Mentionable that those refugee, who are Nepali-speaking Bhutanese were driven out from Bhutan during Nineties. Since then, they are living in camps of southeastern Nepal since 1991. Nearly 1,08,000 Bhutanese refugees, who were later recognized by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, were allegedly driven away by the Bhutan authority from south Bhutan.
The crisis began in 1991 as the authority started harassing the ethnic Nepali people living in South Bhutan. It was aftermath of a new citizenship act (passed in Eighties) that arbitrarily cancelled the citizenship of the Nepali speaking Bhutanese. A series of protests reciprocated the verdict, which was dealt with a massive crackdown. Finally thousands of Nepali origin families fled Bhutan in 1990. Significantly they accommodated nearly one-sixth population of the country. A few families came to India (no pass is required for a Bhutanese to enter India), where most of them arrived in Nepal. The refugees are still living in the crowded camps spread out in two districts of Jhapa and Morang of Nepal.
However, the US government has initiated for resettling nearly 60,000 refugees from the camps. "The United States will begin accepting applications for the resettlement of the refugees from Bhutan living in Nepal soon," quoting James Moriarty, the US ambassador to Nepal, the Kathmandu based media has reported. Ambassador James Moriarty also paid a recent visit to one of the Bhutanese refugee camps, where those in exile were compelled to live with no possibility for jobs and proper education to their growing children. Similarly, Australia, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Norway have also come forward expressing their wish to take a share of refugees for resettlement.
Meanwhile, Ellen R Sauerbrey, the US government's Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration, declared that their government would accept around 20,000 refugees every year. During her recent visit to Bhutan, Ms Ellen informed the media persons that around 15,000 Bhutanese refugees would be interviewed. Ms Ellen however clarified, "We do not take these people (refugees) because they are highly skilled or educated, we will take them because of humanitarian considerations."
Nava Thakuria is an independent journalist based in Guwahati, Northeast India. He contributes articles for various media outlets in India and abroad. He can be contacted at navathakuria@gmail.com
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