R E P O R T E R

Bhutan�s Leading English Monthly Newspaper

Vol V No 52 September 2009 www.bhutannewsservice.com Pages 4 Price Rs. 4

A rescue team of water induced disasters finally puncturedthe flood-deposited soil mass creating outlet for inundatedwater in the Sunduwa River and prevented three Beldangicamps from submerging. The rescue team led by HiranandaJha from Kathmandu took hours to create an outlet for water.The authority earlier warned the Bhutanese citizens inBeldangi camps and the locals of riparian areas about theprobable flood risks. According to Beldangi-I camp SecretaryT.B. Gurung, the camp management committee and ArmedPolice Force jointly announced the community peopleappealing them not to go to the flooded area.Just a few days before the start of women festival Teej,majority of the huts witnessed flood that made the plasticsheds unfit for shelter.The continued torrent for several hours completely inundatedGoldhap camp and swift away the bridge connecting themain entrance to camp, reports from the camp say. Accordingto the residents, overflow of river Deuniya and a rivuletBaiterni led to inundation of the camp from both the sides.Since the water did not have force, no houses were reported

Camps Inundate During TeejBy TBR CorrespondentAugust, Damak

to be washed away. However, several shifted their belongingsto a safe zone to avoid the probable risks.�People have rushed to safer side leaving few members athut to look after the properties,� said the camp secretary.In Goldhap, the river started pouring into the camp at mid-night and water level continually went rising for several

hours.Similarly, reports from Beldangi II extension said that aDhan Maya Magar from sector B4 died when she was washedaway by the Mau River. She was returning home aftercollecting firewood. Her body was recovered some 200 mdown the river crossing area, police said.

Nature�s Gift: Food-deposited soil mass in the Sunduwa RiverFile photo: In search of shelter during flood

Thinley in JapanPrime Minister, Jigmi Y.Thinley, left Bhutan for a week-

long visit to Japan on August 25. Hewas seen off by cabinet ministers andsenior government officials.

While in Japan, the Prime Ministerwas scheduled to deliver a key noteaddress on Gross National Happinessat Fukuoka and hold high levelmeetings with the Japanese captainsof industry and commerce.

He was also to meet the President of the JapanInternational Cooperation Agency, Sadaka Ogata, and attendfunctions organized by the Japan-Bhutan FriendshipAssociation.

A press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wrotethe visit was expected to open up new business opportunitiesand further strengthen the existing close ties of friendshipand cooperation.

Indian HM visit BhutanIndian Home Minister

P.Chidambaram paid three daysvisit to Bhutan starting fromAugust 21. During his visitChidambaram discussed borderissues with the Bhutanesegovernment.

During his visit,Chidambaram met the King,Prime Minister Jigmi Y. Thinley,the fourth King Jigme Singye andMinister for Home and CulturalAffairs, Minjur Dorji.

Indian media reported that the purpose of the visit was tofurther strengthen bilateral relations between India andBhutan.

His three-day official visit to Bhutan was his first foreigntour after taking over the portfolio on December 1 last year.

Woman hit by a car inChicagoBy T.N. Mishra, California

Radhika Kharel, 58, resettled in Chicago met an accidentwhile crossing a busy street at 7:30 p.m. local time on August20.

According to her brother, Khara Nanda Kharel, she washit by a car leaving her left leg fractured.

The family source informed this reporter that the hearing-impaired victim is undergoing treatment in a hospital andher detail medical reports are not yet furnished.

They have moved to Chicago under resettlement programfrom Beldangi-II, sector F-1.

DNC, BNDP leaders meetNepali home minister

Kathmandu, August 15, 2009: Dr. DNS Dhakal, ActingPresident of Bhutan National Democratic Party (BNDP) andKarma Duptho, Secretary of Druk National Congress (DNC)submitted the application to Nepalese Home Minister BhimRawal at latter�s office in Kathmandu drawing attention ofminister to expedite the process of issuance of Bhutaneserefugee identity card.

According to Duptho, Minister Rawal promised to lookinto the matter seriously.

The Government of Nepal and UNHCR jointly conductedcensus of exiled Bhutanese in 2006-2007 following whichthe identity cards were issued. Some several hundreds ofthem haven�t received their identity card until now.

In addition, they, along with S. B. Subba, Harka JungSubba, Radha Adhikari and Nirula Rai, attended the SAAPEconference in which Bhutanese political and refugee issueswas apprised to the members of civil societies from EU andIndia to pressurize their respective governments for therepatriation of exiled Bhutanese and early resolution topolitical crisis.

H I L I G H T S

Police arrested Prem Bista of Beldangi-I camp, Sector A-1/82along with a local resident, Bibek Limbu, of Damak-3 forcounterfeiting Nepali 1000 rupee note.

Damak police in Jhapa district made the duo public yesterdaywith a pistol, bullets, knife and some counterfeit notes.

Police arrested them from a hotel at Damak after followinginformation provided by a local of Butabari in Jhapa wherethey were able to use some forged notes.

The police also apprehended a local car owned by ChandraThapa. They used the car for their counterfeit business,according to police Inspector Nabin Karki.

Karki also informed that the masterminds of counterfeitbusiness, Ashok Rai and Buddhi Kerong, have been at large.

Both Bista and Limbu admitted that such fake notes are printedat Siliguri. They purchase such notes from there and spreadto various places in Nepal, according to Inspector Karki.

Armed Police Force deployed in camps has cautioned exiled

Youth held with counterfeit notesBy Arjun PradhanDamak, August 26

Bhutanese regarding note counterfeiting during the upcomingDashara and Tihar festivals.

Bikek Limbu (left) and Prem Bista being made public byDamak police Photo: titomithopiro.com

Camp Secy playresettlement drama,CPB (MLM) threatenthemCamp secretaries of all seven camps appealed the UnitedNations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) andInternational Organization for Migration (IOM) seekingarrangement for their trip to resettling countries.

In a letter sent to UNHCR and IOM on August 18, theyhave stated that they wanted to study situations of theresettled Bhutanese themselves expressing their interest tosupport resettlement of all those in camps. �Give us anopportunity to visit the resettlement countries to know thefacts, and convince the refugees till the last number of therefugee gets resettled from Nepal,� they said in their appeal.

Meanwhile, Communist Party of Bhutan (MLM) made acircular against the appeal of secretaries after a week. Theexile coordination committee of the party urged them to eitherwithdraw such biased decision or be responsible for anythingthat would evolve due to such intention of having trip toresettling countries.

Following the high voltage resistance form CPB (MLM)and the camp residents, they finally decided to withdrawtheir decision on August 26.

In another circular to the agencies, they regretted theirprevious move and vowed to work for repatriation of theexiled Bhutanese.

Responding to Saranarthi Sarokar, the radio program ofBhutan News Service, Champa Singh Rai, camp secretary ofSanischare camp even expressed his willingness to resignfrom the post if their move was taken to tarnish sentiments ofthe camp residents. �I am ready to submit my resignation if Ihurt my people�, Rai said.

Talking About Democracy And Media

Media is considered as the fourth organ of any state. Mediain Bhutan is infant and therefore at a precarious ground.Unbiased and independent reporting by the media help publicto make well informed decisions and avoid inconsistency ingovernance. Bhutanese media is now not in a position toaccomplish the task of disseminating information effectively.The DPT government has often taken to the course of hair-plucking of media.

Bhutan Times is under the financial pressure to exist in themarket. Bhutan Today, the only private daily, strives tocompete with state owned kuensel which recently launcheddaily paper. The development of media in a span of a decadeis, however, welcoming.

It is painful for the independent Bhutanese media persons toreport news fairly enough as many sources of informationdeny access to them. There has been always a skewedcoverage of the information region wise, content wise, sourcewise and even by gravity of the information. Newspapersand their news portals are not available to interior parts orremote hinterlands owing to the transportation andtechnological deficiency.

The hard copies are not published in the mother tongue ofLhotshampas and Sarchhops, who speak Tsangla. So, asection of the population who do not understand English orDzongkha remain uninformed by this gap of information.Broadcasting media are too limited in information flow andare susceptible to censorship.

In the light of above discussions democracy in Bhutan need

to be understood in a preliminary phase with all contradictoryelements and reactionary forces occupying the ground. Asalways seen in the history, there are forces around palacewho wish to take extraordinary advantage of their kinshipties with royal family, if any chance.

Exclusion and elimination of opposing force is a long traditionin Bhutan; democrats can be intimidated or virtually eliminatedbecause of high-handedness of react ionary forces.Transparency and accountability are buzz words but hard torealize. Bhutanese people have already lost about 10,000square meters of their country�s north-west part changingthe map of country, just when there was the king to protectthe cessation. Have the people of Bhutan been well informedabout this?

BM Dhakal, America

APPEAL

Bhutan Media Society appeals allthe esteemed readers of TheBhutan Reporter to support it bysubscribing a copy. The contri-butions from subscription of thepaper will support the upcomingissues of The Bhutan Reporter.

id30266765 pdfMachine by Broadgun Software - a great PDF writer! - a great PDF creator! - http://www.pdfmachine.com http://www.broadgun.com

Mass gathering in moral sense seems to bea challenge for Bhutanese rulers. Politicalgathering is most dangerous. Things havenot changed much though mereannouncements and procedures show thecountry has changed f rom absolutemonarchy to a parliamentary democracy.Opposition voices are merely digested..

Liberties have been extended, little by little.When ministers or royal family membersengaged, that becomes a mission for a causebut when others organize similar events, it ishardly digested.

The latest incident is visualized by thesolidarity walk by Thimphu residents whomarched in mass from memorial Chorten toto parliament to submit memo to PrimeMinister. The civil disobedience was againstthe government�s dire ignorance towardsdeath of seven school children, who weredrowned in Wangchu, when the flooded riverswept away a bridge.

There are so many questions and concernson the minds of Bhutanese people on howthe boys could not be rescued. We hope thatthe petit ion letter wil l stimulate thegovernment into launching a high-levelinvestigation on what actually happened inTsimalakha,said one of the organizers,Kunga T Dorji.

Police and the home ministry were notified ofthe event. Journalists took good interests toparticipate and write and public participationwas enthusiastic. Prime minister boycotted.Cabinet Secretary Tashi Phuntsho, HomeSecretary Penden Wangchuk, EducationSecretary Sangey Zam were irritated.

The fear inherent seems interesting. Willthere be any negative consequences of asol idari ty walk by locals remindinggovernment of its seer ignorance towardsdeath of innocent children? Is the call forgovernment to get better prepared for naturalcalamities, a harm to civil harmony?

The walk turned bitter for Bhutan ElectricityAuthority chief K. B. Wakley. Royal civilService Commission interrogated him forparticipating in what was termed an �immoralactiv ities�. Had it been organized byLhotsampas, without doubt, more Nepalispeakers would get the stamp of ngolops. Heis only person to be interrogated for joiningthe group today. The motive is clear; theNepali speakers are sti ll in target ofBhutanese rulers.

The fear of a small walk spread like wild firein Thimphu and efforts are ahead to avoidanother. Who wins the race in democracy ismatter of time but things are now clear, civildisobedience against government�s inabilityhas begun to pour into this tiny kingdom.

Freedom for MassGathering

EditorialA highly placed source at United Nations High Commissionerfor Refugees (UNHCR) has said that altogether 16,000Bhutanese citizens have been resettled in various developedcountries so far. The statistics update from the UNHCRshowed that until April 11, 2009 some 10,934 individuals haveresettled in the United States of America under the thirdcountry resettlement program. Likewise, 675 Bhutaneserefugees have resettled in Australia, 220 in New Zealand, 161in Demark, 159 in Norway, 148 in Canada and 91 in theNetherlands. A total of 66,747 Bhutanese refugees havereportedly declared their interest for re-settlement.

Re-settlement no doubt, offers a great excitement to theBhutanese refugees. The number of refugees declaringinterest for resettlement speaks of this reality. The UNHCRand other agencies involved in the process are trying tocapitalise on their initial success, to encourage more refugeesto opt for the resettlement program. The resettlement processwill continue and during the ensuing months and years, mostof the refugees living in the camps will journey into differentdirections and make new homes in different parts of thedeveloped world.

When we say �Bhutanese refugees�, we understand a�community� that now spreads into a vast Diaspora acrossdifferent lands. Here is a �community� that is changing roots.�Transition� refers to the adjustment they are undergoingand �transformation� speaks of the need on their part to acceptsome vital changes during and after this transition. �Vision�refers to a collective need, which will map the direction this�community� will grow. The �community� no doubt is goingthrough a rapid � transit ion� , one which requi res�transformation� and a proper �vision� for thefuture.

CommunityPeople primarily identify themselves through

communities. The natural grouping is inevitable,powerful, durable, desirable and more effective.It is possible to grow, rebuild and preservecommon values when people live in communities.Commonly shared characteristics such asreligious belief, ethnic origin, language, pasthistory and social values have always been thebasis of social cohesion among us. These valuesfoster �we� feelings in �us� and makes us part ofthe same �community�. A community is not ahuman but must be humane.

The moral test of any community lies in how it helps forthe development of its future generations. A good communityenables and encourages its members to do their best.

The Bhutanese refugee community has lost its politicalroots today. After resettlement in different continents, theyhave to root themselves new. Going forward is not easy, butwe have come absolutely prepared for the journey. The goodthing is that we already have a vibrant �community� in place.We just have to rediscover ourselves in this new setting andmove on. The key is to understand the value of socialnetworking and display that inter-connectedness as muchas possible.

Social networking unlocks our potentials and drives us togrowth collectively. Collectivity creates synergy, strength,power and possibility in addition to individual efforts. Oursocial leaders, rights activists, intellectuals, journalists,writers, poets, artists, singers and community elders shouldrealize that the concerns, hopes and aspirations of thiscommunity to grow - socially, politically and economically �are larger than the physical separation that divide us. Theyshould understand the situation that brought us here, is notjust an inventory of personal tragedies; it is a collection ofhopes and aspiration for our future. They should actaccordingly and leave some of their creations for the futuregenerations to simulate.

Transition/TransformationLife is basically designed to be transformational in nature.

It is desirable that a community in a rapid state of transitionlike our�s should be strongly transformative. We �transcend�from one reality to another in the process of transformation.Transformation is a leap forward; it is changing into new,going �beyond�. Literally, currently we are going throughthis experience, we are experiencing a new existence, a newway of living. Resettlement has made that transformationalmost mandatory. It has also fundamentally altered the rulesof engagement in our community. The role of the village headman, the priest and the temple in our lives, perhaps will neverbe the same.

Resettlement thousands of miles across, in countries withvarious political make and models and in societies; complexand hitherto unknown, could be full of new realities andchallenges. Our own life experiences and norms of life sharplycontradict with the norms of the technologically drivensocieties we are resettled in. In America, life revolves round

Transition, Transformation and Vision for the Diaspora

R. P. SUBBArpsubba@gmail.com

the clock and the hours you make working, but we come froma culture that values social norm, traditions and rituals morethan work. Our festivals come every month and we celebratesome of them for weeks. We know manual work notmechanization. We know the plough and the field, the crops,orchards, cattle, the villages, the rivers and rivulets, temples,monasteries, dzongs, foot trails, extended families, theritualistic life, traditions, festivals and celebrations - none ofthese will be part of our social life any more. It can put a teston our families, faith and culture.

The west works, learns and communicates throughtechnology. The centrally heated houses, bath showers, thewestern toilet system, air filters, smoke alarms, vacuums, dishwashers, micro waves, barbecue grills, washing machines,dryers, home computers, online payment systems, trafficrules, riding a public bus system and trains, paying by credit

cards, lifts and escalators, drug bottles with child locksystems, assembling ready-made (packed) furniture, childseats, seat belts, pumping gas, school admissions, tax filing,vending machines, cell phones or registers at work � for theBhutanese people everything i s an absolutely newexperience. From food habits to work habits, from customsto culture, from ways of life to personal habits and etiquette� the need for change is absolutely pervasive and ubiquitous.

The westerner, whose life centers around these basic,routine experiences, is often shocked to discover that formany of us these devices are a first time experience. Somehave expressed wonders knowing that some of our peoplehad not known soda in their lives before. What seems soobvious to them is very complex to us. Often at times, theymay be perturbed by our simple questions. Often, they havefailed to understand this background of the refugees withany sympathy. It seems so obvious, that lack of technologicalknow-how is a great impediment in this transition.

Many have not figured out how to use the shower formany months, and many have not used a vending machine.For a population whose roots are deeply embedded in anagrarian life and village traditions; and in whose lives a routineset of cultural values have always played a dominant role -this transition is not as seamless as it has been generallythought of.

It is important to learn how America works. It is importantto learn the mainstream culture and the English language.Even for those of us who speak English, American spellings,pronunciation and usage could be a problem. For instance,gastroenteritis is heart burn, petroleum is gas. Soft drinks aresodas. Half pants are shorts. Weight is measured in pounds,liquids in gallon; distance is measured in miles etc. The culturalgap is staggering.

Though, all Bhutanese resettling abroad are equally newto the west, those who are English educated and have anurban life experience will enjoy a higher leverage. For theelderly people with a rural background, the technologicaland cultural adjustment will be more challenging. They haveto put a little more effort at learning new things and creatingnew interests.

The problem is that we cannot �transform� you. We canonly inform you. This is a bottleneck in this transformation.We can disseminate information that helps in yourtransformation. But information is only a tool; you are theactual role player. This transition may look arduous but it is

just trivial and temporary. The real challenge is to root usdeep into this society and start growing. The adjustment isgoing to be hard and dynamic. If you have transformed wellduring this transition, your integration into the Americansociety is easy. At the end, it is all about choice - we canchoose to do well or we can deteriorate. Choose to transformin the ways you think, feel, idealize and perceive - asindividuals and as a community and achieve a biggermilestone or choose to ignore it and lament. Choice itself is achal lenge. Studies have shown that people who havetransformed quickly and integrated well have achieved morethan those who chose not to.

Developing a visionA vision should be written only in a few words or

sentences. How can a vision be seven pages long? A visionmay not even need to be written, a vision needs to bevisualized. I am just trying to set up a broad parameter forthat vision development and explaining the need and urgencyof having one.

How can we shape our �tomorrow� by making rationaldecisions today? What posi tive assumptions andexpectations do we share for writing that vision? Are we incontrol of our future as a community? Visualizing what ourcommunity would look like in fifty years and beyond hasbeen my fantasy. Developing an image of our own future is amotivating factor and could be in the interest of ourcommunity. From the vision we lay down today, our futuregenerations can gain inspiration and draw a frame ofreference of the times we are living. Above all, visioning

stimulates the notion of change,which in turn will determine how acommunity may sustain its futureor shape the direction to which itwill progress. On the contrary, anabsence of a proper vision couldgive birth to the emergence of sometoxic cultures, which can infect thewhole community. Developing avision for our community seems tobe the right thing to do.

Where does vision come from?A vision comes from �us� and all ofus. Remember, �none of us is assmart as all of us�. We alone arethe best and the most reliable

�infrastructure� in the development of that vision. A vision isthinking about the next level, so it must be adopted onlyafter understanding the new realities and its associatedenvironments more intimately. It needs to be developed intandem with the shared experiences, expectations andaspiration held by all community members. It should beintelligible and inclusive of the significant views andaspirations held by the community for their future. And lastly,it needs to be generated, articulated, owned and supportedby members of the community who design it.

A vision paper should provide a proper vision rationale,but need not be too radical. For the first time, we cannotblame it on Jigme Singye, if things did not go right. We are onour own and the responsibility to do something isinescapable, excuses or no excuses. Above all, we cannot letthe future happen to us. The purpose of this paper is tobegin that discourse and facilitate a discussion to that end.It wants the community members to think what possibilitiesand challenges exist in this adjustment and how can we makethe best out of it. It wants to explore what is an acceptablemodel of growing our community and how can we achieve it?

That said; let�s welcome you to the future! Imagine theBhutanese Diaspora in the next fifty years and beyond. The60,000 Bhutanese refugees who will resettle in the US willexpand demographically. A whole generation of Non-ResidentBhutanese (NRBs) is in the making. The picture looks verygood and welcoming.

Will the younger generations continue to relate andacquaint with other Bhutanese people in the Diaspora? Willthey retain and protect their Bhutanese identity, heritage andhistory or be proud of their past origin? Will they read oreven know the history we have gone through? Will theyepitomize the lessons learned from the Jewish community,and not shred off their moral responsibility towards Bhutan?Will they survive the �melting pot�? Will they be threadedlike one community, will communication flow among them?

The answers to these querries are definitely not simple.Time alone is the greatest tool which will test, how thiscommunity will move forward. It is hard to predict that futurewith any authority now. And we cannot simply hope, it willbe better. Hope is not a strategy. We must try and do thingsworth doing to move our community in the direction wedesire.(This is a part of the paper Subba presented at the conventionof the Association of Bhutanese in America on July 4, 2009.)

A vision paper should provide a propervision rationale, but need not be too radical.For the first time, we cannot blame it on JigmeSingye, if things did not go right. We are on ourown and the responsibility to do something isinescapable, excuses or no excuses.

As in the past, the parliamentary debates in the thirdsession of the first elected parliament ended without anysubstance in hand in terms of making contribution tostrengthening democracy.The king addressing the closing ceremony (July 30) saidthe Houses made good progress towards democracy andfulfilled their prescribed responsibilities well.The parliament this time passed few bills, the mostimportant of them being the police act. The act hassqueezed even administrative power of the police authoritywithin the Home Ministry claiming that allowing anindependent administration would invite politicalinterferences.Most importantly, the parliament failed to find conclusionon key bills such as the local government bill and civilservice bill. With this failure it is obvious that thegovernment would fail to conduct local elections proposedfor sometime in August-September this year.The local government has remained defunct when itsextended term, as directed by the King, ended whichhas directly affected execution of the local developmentactivities. The government had earlier proposed localelections early this year but Election Commission rejectedto go ahead without any clear legal provisions.Other important bill failed to get through was the civil

Parliament�s Diminishing Marginal Efficiencyservice bill, which would democratize the age-oldbureaucracy, also paving way for formation of tradeunions for protecting interests of the workers. The weaklegal provisions on civil service in the past had been thegood opportunity for growth of nepotism, not to expectend of that era even if the bill is endorsed.The politicians have agreed for a special session of theparliament in August just to get these bills passed leftthis time. The dates have not been confirmed yet. Thespecial session agree upon also is not sure to completethe remaining taskThe cause of uncertainty hovering tortoise-walkfunctioning of the parliament is the deepening relationsbetween the government and the upper house. Attemptinterrogation by the upper house with ministers indirectlyhindered the relation between lower house and upperhouse. Unless both the houses pass the bills, they cannotcome into effect as the law. Taking into account the bitterrelations, and acting of taking revenge to each otherbetween government and upper house, and lower houseand upper house, possibility of passing the bills duringthe special session is minimal.Delay in formation of the local body means delay inimplementation of the assurance given by the ruling partyat local level. This would invite frustration among the

people who expected drastic changes in the system ofgovernance after the introduction of democracy in thecountry.Special session of the parliament means less time forthe members of parliament to travel to their constituenciesas in the past to inform people of what are they doing inThimphu. Only a few of the MPs had gone to their areaslast time, and it comes to be certain this number wouldgo down due to consumption of time by debates in thespecial sessions.Very important issues like deteriorating securityenvironment in southern districts, creation of human rightsbodies or strengthening of media failed to get place inthe agenda. The country has no human rightsorganizations or the government has any such agenciesto implement the provision of human rights incorporatedin the constitution.The summer sessions of the parliaments in South Asiancountries general indulge in budget debates and Bhutanof obvious to adopt the culture prevailing around.However, as a new entrant to democratic world,Bhutanese parliament has additional duties to

By I.P. Adhikari, journo.indra@gmail.com

Ed-OpinionThe Bhutan Reporter September 2009 2

I recall the days back in Nepal when I usedto prepare news reports stating �x died dueto no referral to better hospitals�, Y died dueto delay in ambulance facilities and so on.This is still a reality inside the camps inNepal. Even those diagnosed as havingbitten by a poisonous snake are deferredfrom urgent medication. My senior sister,who is with me, is not physically well for thelast few weeks.

In a couple of week�s time, I have beenkeeping myself busy in following upappointments for her treatment. This short-term experience has taught me lessonsabout the hospital systems in New York Citythough I am unknown about the systems inother States; of course should be more orless the same, I think. One day I was

Association fo Press Freedom Activists Bhutan andBhutan News Service started the online discussion onthe formation of Non-Resident Bhutanese Network fourmonths ago. To continue deliberation on consolidatingthe idea of Non Resident Bhutanese (NRB), we haveasked executive chief of Bhutan National Democratic Party(BNDP), Dr D. N. S. Dhakal to explain more on rationaleof this mission and his role.

You are just back from visiting various states of America.How are the resettled Bhutanese doing?Dhakal: I could not visit all the places where Bhutaneseare resettled but I contacted my friends over the phone.I met some resettled Bhutanese in Maryland, NorthCarolina, Atlanta, Jackson Ville (Florida) and Minnesota.They miss being together, they miss our culture, oursociety and they miss their country, Bhutan. The youngerlots are trying hard in the schools, and that is the onlyconsolation for the refugees since the school systemsare good in the US, and success in education would bethe only way to graduate from the sweat shops for theupcoming generations. There is a need to createinterconnectivity among our people; there is a need torekindle the hope of re-establishing our connection withBhutan.

What is the mechanism to make the scattered Bhutanesetogether?Dhakal: Our people are scattered in North America,Europe and Australasia. Among the recipient countriesUS would be by far the largest host of Bhutanese. Eventhe remotest state like Alaska has resettled Bhutanese. Itis a real challenge for us to reach out to these people.Fortunately, our people have started organizingthemselves into community based organizations. Thereis lots of cooperation to help each other, and that itself isa good beginning.

Why do you think NRB is important for Diaspora?Dhakal: Identity is important for our people. They arebeing resettled as Bhutanese. The word Bhutan wouldbe attached in every document. The social securitynumber, the green card, travel document, citizenshipcertificate or passport. Also, every immigrant has acountry of origin. Our people�s belongings are in Bhutan.The resettling countries will not deny the rights of thesepeople to return to Bhutan, and they would encouragethe effort to bring inclusive democratic changes in thatcountry. Bhutan National Democratic Party has alwaysmaintained that the third country resettlement is aninterim solution, and it will continue to fight for the rightsof the resettled Bhutanese to return to Bhutan. In thatsense, BNDP believes that the resettled Bhutaneseshould declare themselves as non-resident Bhutanese,and the formation of non-resident Bhutanese (NRB)platform is a necessity. The NRB platform will enable themto participate in their own way in the struggle that theyhad been with for the last 18 years to reclaim their rightfulplace in Bhutan; the NRB will continue to provide themwith Bhutanese identity; and the NRB could form as animportant resource base for Bhutanese Diaspora in theyears to come. NRB could do a lot in the long-run.

Who else will be under NRB according to you?Dhakal: We should think in long-term basis. We shouldnot create a difference between the people who havedirectly gone from Bhutan, or would go from Bhutan,and those people who are resettled under the thirdcountry resettlement program. Our meeting point is thecountry of origin. All those people whose country oforigin is Bhutan should be given an opportunity to bepart of the NRB platform.

What mechanism should you suggest to go ahead forforming this platform?Dhakal: It is heartening to know that our people havenot remained silent. Bhutanese community basedorganizations are formed wherever they are beingresettled. There is a need to introduce the idea of NRB insuch community based organizations. In addition, thereis a need to form a �Consultation Group� to do groundwork for launching the NRB with proper consultation withour fiends and sympathizers in Bhutan, Nepal, India andelsewhere.

What about its legitimacy in Nepal, Bhutan and India?Dhakal: The legitimacy of NRB remains unchallengedfrom the fact that we are being resettled as Bhutanesewith full protection of our rights to return to Bhutan bythe recipient countries. Nepal as a host country for thelast 18 years there is no question for it not supportingthe effort of Bhutanese people to strengthen their identity.India knows well that we are Bhutanese and it would bemorally wrong for it to object to the idea of creating aplatform for our long-term identity. Bhutan might ignorethis concept for some time, but it is bound to reach atNRB in future. For a country like Bhutan, having apowerful Diaspora in developed countries will always bean advantage.

It�s likely that some of the resettled Bhutanese will bedriven towards NRN or NRI in future. What are yourcomments?Dhakal: We strongly advise our people against such

Non-Resident Bhutanese Network gives usidentity : Dr. DNS Dhakal

ideas. First, it is morally wrong to give up the identitybased on which we are being resettled in overseascountries. Our history of struggle for 18 years shouldnot go as waste to the forgotten pages of history. Second,our loyalty towards our county Bhutan should not bediminished because a regime at particular period of timein history felt bad about us and expelled from the countryon ethnic grounds. The situation would change over time,particularly when there would be a change of regime inThimphu. Third, exiled Bhutanese will not qualify for NRNor NRI unless they had taken citizenship of thosecountries when they were in the camps. Even if some hadobtained the citizenship certificate, they will face legalproblem when they apply for NRN or NRI since all theirdocumentation in recipient countries will have the word�people of Bhutanese origin�.

APFA/BNS started the discussions among theBhutanese three months ago. Several have commentedwell regarding the formation of network. What shouldbe the next step that we take?Dhakal: I appreciate the effort of APFA/BNS to reachthis idea to our people. I have been reading the commentsand I could see plurality in the opinions. It is hearteningto know that our people have started challenging theidea before accepting it. The democratic process shouldbe encouraged. However, we have to move on with thework, and the NRB platform will have to get materializedsooner than later. The next step would be networking,and the networking base should be established inKathmandu until NRB is allowed to operate from Bhutan.I would think that we should start contacting Bhutaneseorganizations and individuals and get their ideas on howwe should go about the modus operandi and on how wework about the logistic and increasing the connectivity.The role of APFA/BNS is important since you are basedin Kathmandu.

Only BNDP and DNC supported the concept. Rest partiesand organizations in exile are silent. What do you say?Dhakal: Probably, other organizations are examining thedevelopment and would support the idea a t theirconvenient time. I believe that there is no alternative tothis idea, and we should all support it. It is a question ofour collective identity, salvaging the suffering andstruggle of our people for more than 18 years in the camps,and intrinsic value of this platform for our country in thelong-run. We should make it a win-win situation for theresettled Bhutanese, the country and those whosupported us in difficult times. That is the sole reasonwhy BNDP and DNC felt the need of NRB so strongly.

DNC has even hinted that you are one of the capableleaders for leading the network. Are you ready?Dhakal: I appreciate the proposal of the DNC PresidentR.K. Dorji. It is natural for him to think in this line since Ihave some flexibility to travel around the world. Asexecutive chief of BNDP I do not qualify for non-residentBhutanese. I am a Bhutanese political activist; officiallymy party�s headquarter is in Thimphu. I am willing toprovide the necessary support whenever needed, and Ihave been doing that during my visits abroad, during mymeetings with concerned people in Nepal and India. Asexecutive chief of BNDP I am going to do more forrecognition of NRB in Bhutan when we are allowed toparticipate in the democratic process. We will have tocreate its leadership through democratic process. Theformation of NRB will have to have wider consultationand democratic process, for that the need of an hour isformation of �Consultation Group� with establishmentof the networking base in Kathmandu.

Your message to the Bhutanese citizensDhakal: The third county resettlement is a painfuldecision. This is for the first time in the history of SouthAsia people had been moved en-masse in overseascountries for political reason. We have become thevictims of geo-politics and we cannot do anything aboutit at least for time being. Those of us who have chosenthe option for third county resettlement let us focus oureffort on children�s education. Children are our hope; wehave to do what we can to give them the best education,appreciation to our cultural heritage and inculcate in themthe spirit of being Bhutanese.

Our identity should not be lost at any cost and there arelessons to learn from the Jews, Armenians, and from manyother communities who have suffered in the process ofhistory. We will continue to work for dignified repatriationof Bhutanese people who have been unjustly expelled atdifferent period of time for political reasons. The struggleto give justice should continue from one generation toanother until it is given to everyone. The immediate taskat the moment is to create a space for our collectiveidentity. Let us create NRB, which is our legitimate right,and continue to nurture it. If NRB becomes strong, ouridentity would consolidate, our sufferings and pains ofthe refugee camps will not be lost in the forgotten pagesof history, and we will have an opportunity to contributetowards growth and development of our beloved county,Bhutan. Let us start the process, and the process willtake us to the logical end.

compelled to use the Ambulance facility by calling on theemergency number to take my sister to an emergency hospital.

Here, for emergency cases, you will have different emergencyhospitals to take care of. The ambulance arrived shortly, within 5minutes when I dialed the emergency helpline. I was very muchimpressed and happy from the way the emergency medicalassistants, who were in the ambulance, treated my sister in thepreliminary phase. Yet in the hospital, the way medical assistantstreated to a patient here, I mean in a most-caring and friendlyway, cannot be compared to those hospitals the Bhutanesereceive treatment near the UNHCR-administered camps in Nepalever.

Our definition of emergency cases will often be wrong here.Sometimes the emergency patients will have to wait for hourseven to receive emergency services in the hospital, sometimesyou need to return empty handed, without any drugs prescription.The positive aspect of all this is, hospitals in America normallydo not prescribe medication until the patient�s case is medicallydiagnosed.

I will continue to completing blogging about the medical systemin the USA sometimes in the future but I feel resettled Bhutaneseneed not have to take �paracetamol� for all kinds of diseases, inmost of the contexts like inside camps, here in the USA, thanks toresettlement program.

PostResettlement

T.P.Mishrawww.tpmishra.com

Memoirs Reporter

ICHHA POUDYEL, Australiai_poudel@yahoo.com

It was nearly two years ago my family was chosen byAustralian Government to settle in its land. Two yearsof crazy wait in camp has taught me enough patiencethat I needed most to assimilate easily in Australia.Eventually, we are in the land of our dream. It�s thegreatness of the people and the government ofAustralia that opened door for my bright future.Australia is a great country to live in. This is a safehaven for entire mankind. There are playing roomsfor children, prayer rooms for people following differentreligions and walking aid for disabled and seniorcitizens in most of the offices, hospitals, universitiesand business houses. Virgin nature brings springblossom and Australians welcome refugees every yearto share its fragrance and to rejoice.Wild birds are not scared when you go past them. Acaravan of deer let you a way through the road likecattle when you go for a trip to the village. Peoplemove freely until late night. The Torrens River passingthrough Adelaide city is clean and calm. At the beachesboth man and water birds swim and fish together. Theenvironment is least encroached by human activities.Almost all products we use are made in Australia thatmakes every Australian a proud resident of this greatland.

Government accessIn Australia what I like most is the government accessto the citizens and migrants. There is a governmentemployee to cut grass at your yard. Drinking water issupplied for free. Postal service is so simplified thatone would receive letters in a box at the compound ofhis house, unexpectedly in a very short time.All financial activities of a humanitarian entrant aredone by Centrelink.  It also records of all transactionswe make including our earning from a job, expansesand saving. The Australian government encouragesresettled refugees to work for self reliance while italso provides income supports while working dependingon their income and expenditure. Here, one has toenroll in Adult Migrant English Program within threemonths of arrival. However, if his language skill is ofhigher standard to the course taught, he doesn�t needto enroll for it.There is Technical and Further Education whichprovides technical and job oriented education forcertain hours in a week free of cost and some of theworld�s best universities.For now, there is a government house to live in onlease for six months, first month being exempted fromhousing expenses like electricity, gas and rent. Aftersix months we are expected to vacate this house for anew arrival. However, government   assists to look fornew one and settle in.

Charm of AdelaideAlthough major part of Australia is desert, there isgreenery all around ensuring healthy air in Adelaide.There are parks and soccer playgrounds at closevicinity. There are public busses and trains connectingcities to its suburbs while trams and some busses plyfree of charge within the city. In all transports, thereis discount on fare for refugees and humanitarianentrants.Most of the vehicles are equipped with special seatsfor elderly, children and physically challenged ones.There are also shops, departmental stores and marketsat different parts of the suburbs. The price varies fromplace to place and from time to time like in other places.All health related services are provided by MedicareAustralia at great discount for us.  It is illegal to buyor sell medicine- even a pain killer without doctor�sprescription. Hospitals provide homely care for thepatients.  If you are sick, all you should do is to callambulance and get admitted in the hospital and clearthe bill. Keeping attendant is discouraged.

Unemployment at 4 pecent

The unemployment rate in Bhutan has jumped to 4 percent in2009 from 3.7 percent in 2007, according to the labour ministry�sLabour Force Survey, 2009.The jump translates to 13,000 unemployed people, of whicharound 10,500 are youth between the ages of 15 and 24. Therate of youth unemployment is now almost 13 percent, upfrom 9.9 percent two years ago. The worst hit is the 15 to 19age group, consisting mainly of school dropouts, suffering a20.1 percent unemployment rate.The unemployment group shows that people dropping outof school at the high and higher secondary level are the mostunemployed, with around 5,000 in total, more than theilliterate, who number around 3,900. There are also 500unemployed graduates.

The Bhutan Reporter September 2009 3

Reporter

THIMPHU, Bhutan � The impressive necklace ofcliff-perched fortresses that dot this Himalayannation�s mountainous perimeter are a testimonyto Bhutan�s long-standing effort to keep outforeigners.

In the 1980s, however, the tiny Buddhist nationof just 600,000 sandwiched between the People�sRepublic of China and India found itself with whatit considered to be a foreigner problem.

Bhutan�s minority population of ethnic Nepalesehad mushroomed to represent one-third of thepopulation, causing then-King Jigme SingyeWangchuck to start a �one nation, one people�policy to deport and strip many of their Bhutanesecitizenship. The campaign ended with the expulsionof about 105,000 Nepalese through beatings,torture and murder committed by the Royal BhutanArmy that lasted until the early 1990s, humanrights groups and deportees say.

�We left because we were scared that they wouldimprison us, that they would beat us, that I wouldbe raped,� said Matimya Moktan, 41, who arrivedin Nepal in 1991 and now lives in a small mud stickhut with her three children and husband in one ofseven refugee camps in eastern Nepal.

Locked in political limbo, these camps have becomebreeding grounds for a fledgling militancy that seeksto overthrow Bhutan�s monarchy just two yearsafter the king abdicated in favor of his son, JigmeKhesar Namgyel Wangchuck, who heads aconstitutional monarchy that permitted the nation�sfirst democratic elections last year.

Born a Traveller, always a Traveller�We arepreparing a protracted people �s war,� saidComrade Umesh, a 27-year-old leader of theCommunist Party of Bhutan, one of a handful ofMaoist militant groups that have developed inthe camps. The groups now have little more thanhandmade explosives, pistols and raggedCommunist literature with which to wage theirinsurgency but Indian intelligence sources say theymay soon acquire much more capacity throughrecent alliances with two Indian separatist groups:the National Democratic Front of Bodoland andthe United Liberation Front of Assam operatingin the restive Indian states of Sikkim and Assamlocated between Nepal and Bhutan.

�Through these alliances, the Bhutanese refugeemilitants can learn how to make more powerfulbombs, acquire superior weaponry and fight moreeffectively,� said the Indian intelligence source.

So far, the insurgency has been limited tooccasional bombings that have damaged bridges,fuel depots and electrical transformers in southernBhutan and the capital of Thimphu. To date, therehave been no deaths and just one injury, awoman who suffered a minor shrapnel wound,according to Bhutan �s national newspaper,

The Bhutan insurgencies

Kunesel.

Bill Frelick, refugee policy director for HumanRights Watch, says the insurgents, who arebelieved to number between 600 and 1,000, arestill too weak to launch an effective revolution.But other analysts say the alliance with militantIndians, the continuing relocation of refugees andrecruiting forays into Bhutan are worrisome signs.

In 2006, the United States and a handful of otherWestern countries offered to resettle more than70,000 Nepalese refugees. About 7,000 havealready left the camps and the rest will be gonewithin four years, according to the U.N. HighCommissioner for Refugees.

Frelick said the insurgents could take advantageof the resettlement program by using futureremittances to buy weapons and exercising moreand more radical influence rendering camps devoidof more restrained voices. �You could end upwith all the more moderate people leaving thecamps,� he said.

For the moment, the militants regularly crossinto Bhutan through thick jungles that straddlethe porous border to lecture and train ethnicNepalese residents who remain in Bhutan,refugees say.

�If all we had to show were our weapons, wewouldn�t get very far,� said Umesh. �So we teachour ideology and train cadres in making explosivesand in guerrilla fighting. We are laying thegroundwork in Bhutan both ideologically andmilitarily.�

While the government hopes the nation�s fledglingdemocracy will keep the estimated 100,000 ethnicNepalese in Bhutan from insurrection, the rebelspredict their ranks will increase, citing a lack ofstate services, special travel permits required toleave the south and a ban on Nepalese frombecoming citizens.

Perhaps with that in mind, the government plansto reopen 15 schools and build more healthcenters in Nepalese areas by the end of theyear.

�The best way a country like Bhutan candefend itself and prevent security problemshas to be through the people,� said PrimeMinister Jigme Thinley.

�By the end of five years, there wi ll beabsolute parity in terms of the provision ofservices and infrastructure. This is how wecan prevent conditions for discontent anddisaffection from growing in our country.�

Resear ch a ss i s t ance pro v ided by theInvestigative Fund of the Nation Institute inNew York.

By Don Duncan � Special to GlobalPost

Damak, August 31: Lutheran World Federation (LWF)Nepal celebrated its 25th anniversary amidst a programorganized here.

The chief of the United Nations High Commissionerfor Refugees� Jhapa-based office, Rianawati Rianawati,handed over letters of appreciation to various serviceproviders on behalf of LWF.

Those felicitated included the LWF service providerswho have worked for general cause for more than 10years.

Considering the LWF Nepal as an implementingpartner of the UNHCR, she said that the UNHCR hasappreciated the efforts of LWF in rendering variousservices to people.

T.B.Gurung, camp secretary of Beldangi-I camp,urged the concerned authority to expedite theregistration process of those exiled Bhutanese who wereabsent during 2007 official census.

Meanwhile, Indra Timshina, the coordinator ofChildren Forum submitted a written plead to the LWFfor continuously supporting children-targeted programsin camps.

Representatives of AMDA-Nepal, Caritas Nepal, campmanagement committee and Refugee Coordination Unit amongothers attended the program chaired by the chief of LWF, Jhapa.

LWF Nepal celebrate its 25th anniversary

Established in 1994, LWF Nepal is a country program ofWorld Lutheran Federation and has been assisting the exiled

Bhutanese in camps with their shelter materials.

Participants in the anniversary program

It was just two weeks ago that some political leaders inexile rushed to the Ministry of Home Affairs seekingpolitical asylum and personal security. Their mainconcerns were they are not free to operate politicalactivities in Nepal and are highly unsecured.

Personal security is important for all individuals tosurvive. But, their demands were pushed to the ministrywhen an underground outfit, Liberation Army of Bhutan,dispersed pamphlets throughout the camps on July 15.Those wide-spread pamphlets threatened political partiesto initiate necessary steps towards repatriation of theBhutanese refugees or face physical actions.

Logically, it is not a bad deal to warn them to energizeand activate the exiled leaders, most of them standingagainst resettlement package but aiming to keeprefugees in camps for some more years. When, initiativestowards repatriation are very rare, such warning becomefruitful. However, warn of physical actions against themis a matter of questions in a fragile host country likeNepal since refugees in Nepal are abided by the Nepalilaws.

Rajan Bhattarai, who is a foreign affairs advisor to PrimeMinister Madhav Kumar Nepal, has an opinion that suchdemands from the Bhutanese leaders are to be seriouslydiscussed. They have asked political asylum andsecurity for them only after 18 years of their stay inNepal, he commented. If Nepali bureaucrats have samesay as Bhattarai, the political parties certainly createdconfusion.

On the other side, camp secretaries from all the sevencamps requested United Nations High Commissionerfor Refugees (UNHCR) and International Organisationfor Migration (IOM) to arrange their trips to countriesresettling their fellow-countrymen. In a letter addressedto UNHCR and IOM on August 18, the secretariesmentioned, �Give us an opportunity to visit theresettlement countries to know the facts, and convincethe refugees till the last number of the refugee getsresettled from Nepal.�They trumpeted themselves that vast number of refugeein camps who voted them for the post of camp secretary

LEADERS VS SECRETARIES

approached them seeking assurance and guaranty foropting resettlement. According to them, the third countryresettlement program is a historic contribution to theBhutanese refugees. However, they forgot to mentionthat there are also refugees in camps who can neveraccept resettlement at any cost but choose to remain incamps until doors for getting back home are open.

The interesting thing to mention here is that CommunistParty of Bhutan (Marxist Leninist Maoist) was not happywith the decision of camp secretaries. The party�s exilecoordination committee on August 25 made a circularto the local media asking camp secretaries to withdrawtheir decision of visiting resettling countries. Accordingto the party�s statement, the resettlement program istargeted to tarnish democratic struggle in Bhutan, andis rather a temporary relief for refugees in camps.Certainly, that statement created some mind-set on thecamp secretaries. The next day, they wrote both theUNHCR and IOM that they made such decision in ahurry and don�t want to repeat it again. They evenlamented that they would continue to look after themanagement in camp administration, as well as, continueto fight for their right to return home. This time, they didnot tell the UNHCR to arrange for their trips to Americaor other countries, but requested to initiate other options� local integration and repatriation, which according tothem are as per the demands of refugees.

Political parties and other organisations formed andoperated in exile must respect the sentiments of all theBhutanese citizens, be inside Bhutan or in Diasporacommunity. There were several past instances wheresuch so-called refugee-leaders remained mum when thewhole community in camps wanted them to speak.Hundreds of refugees left their ramshackle huts forresettlement without knowing pros and cons of thirdcountry resettlement program since their leaders did notsay what was right to opt � to stay in Nepal untilrepatriation takes place or go for resettlement. Instead,the laymen in camps heard their leaders opposing theresettlement program but sending their family membersand relatives in a third country.

Camp secretaries elected by refugees also did not supplyinformation well when resettlement was just announced.They always tried to make themselves safe citing thatindividual refugee needed to make the independentdecision. Indeed, it is sad to know that camp secretarieswant to make luxurious trips to study the real situationsabroad, where the resettled refugees are having hardtimes for survival due to lack of jobs and problems ofadjustment in a new community. What rights do thesesecretaries have to make all the Bhutanese in camps togo for resettlement? Let all three options be kept openso that each refugee makes his own decision.

Vidhyapati Mishravidhyapati@yahoo.com

Whenever I hear good-bye, tears trickle down my checks, which make me silent. I try to speak outbut I can�t, instead feel like crying. I often see that simply tears wet my gloomy face.

My stay at Damak is getting harder each day. I just look at the IOM bus and start thinking severalthings, keeping myself lost in vain. With much pain inside my heart, I blame the Bhutanesegovernment, as well as, the resettlement process which compelled my friends to go far apart forever.It may not sound wise to blame others but I am compelled by situation to do so. It is indeed, somethingthat I am forced to follow up since two decades.

Most of my friends and relatives are resettled already. I bid farewell to my teachers, friends andfellow-countrymen in a large number. And this is my regular routine now-a-days. I still rememberthe twinkling eyes of Gangaram Lamitare, touchy words of CN Timsina, motivating thoughts ofIchha Poudel and journalistic character of TP Mishra.

During these moments, I promise to write in e-mails whenever I meet them at the last hour. Similarly,those departing Nepal have same reservation from abroad. As a poor journalist in exile, like severalothers of my camps, I am unable to maintain email contact with those who are physically far apartfrom me. For this I must be sorry always.

It has been over a year that the Bhutanese citizens from camps in Nepal are resettled in various thirdcountries. Whenever I hear good news on them, I am always happy. I am really proud that those whoare doing good have quite better life than in camps.

For my resettled friends and relatives, I am sharing them news from camps. The recent ones wereon inundation of camps during heavy monsoons the eastern Nepal experienced. For those who havehard time to pass time in the USA or other countries, these updates are like leisure-killing capsules,which keep themselves alert. My prayers are always with them that they get good times to keepthemselves mentally, physically and emotionally sound in a new land.

Those who are waiting for making a well-advised decision for resettlement are waiting informedexperience sharing. Such deals will assist people like me and those fighting with dilemma. Everyoneis not willing to be relocated. Hundreds of camp residents want to be repatriated from Nepali soil,not America or Australia.

Those who have left for resettlement would form a strong Bhutanese Diaspora in near future. It canbe hoped that they will start writing emails to friends and relatives in Nepal, India and Bhutan. Wemust acknowledge that it is time for global linkage to exchange our thoughts through e-mails.Everyone in camp expects that he receives regular updates on new life in various countries. So, letus get ourselves encouraged to write on regular basis.

LIVING MEMORY By Jeetan Muskan

Publisher : Bhutan Media Society, Editor : T.P.Mishra, Assistant Editor: Jeetan Muskan, News Coordinator : Arjun Pradhan , Layout: Vidhyapati Mishra, EPC 2377, GPO 8975, Kathmandu, Nepal, bns.news@yahoo.com

The Bhutan Reporter September 2009 4

By Arjun Pradhan