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[Ed. Note: In the last issue of Human
Rights SOLIDARITY we published an article on Bhutanese refugee issue. In
October 1999, Sanjeewa Liyanage from AHRC was able to visit a refugee camp
in Jhapa district in Nepal. This article is an account of that visit
illustrated by numerous pictures.]
It was a beautiful evening in the month of October this
year in Katmandu valley in Nepal. The weather was pleasantly cool, sun
shining and snow-covered Himalayas was picturesque scene.
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| Background to Bhutanese
Refugees
The story is of a tiny land-locked kingdom, Bhutan in the
foothills of Himalayas. Nestling between Tibet and India, Bhutan is
commonly portrayed as Shangri-la,but behind the enchanting image of a land
lost in time, lurks a more disturbing reality of victimization, forced
eviction, and depopulation.
Until 1985 there was no animosity recorded in Bhutan
despite its ethnic diversity and Bhutan was indeed called the Land of
Peaceful Dragon. Crisis began when the government passed a new Citizenship
Act, which was discriminatory. The subsequent census exercise in the
kingdom in 1988 which was carried out only in the Nepali speaking southern
districts revoked their right to nationality in a large number who
otherwise had lived in harmony as bona-fide Bhutanese citizens for
generations. As a result thousands of southern Bhutanese people
(Lhotshampas) lost home, land and livelihood within a short period of
time.
Distress among Southern Bhutanese further grew in 1989
when they were forced to adopt culture and etiquette characteristic of
Northern Bhutanese under threat of punishment. Nepali, the language of the
Southern Bhutanese was dropped from the school curriculum.
The southern Bhutanese petitioned the king through their
representative, T.N.Rizal to seek a review of the government policies and
the manner in which the census was carried out, but all in vain. Following
a series arrest and imprisonment of human rights activists including
T.N.Rizal in September and October 1990, the southern Bhutanese organised
peaceful public demonstrations in all the southern districts of the
country demanding political reforms and respect for human rights. The
result was awfully tragic. It ended in ruthless government atrocities and
forced evictions of the southern Bhutanese.
Now there are well over 100,000 Bhutanese people who have
been forced into exile as refugees in Nepal and India. This figure is
equal to one-sixth of the total population of Bhutan. Over 90,000 of these
refugees are living in UNHCR supervised camps in Jhapa and Morong
districts of eastern Nepal since 1991. Approximately 30,000 others are
living outside the camps in Nepal and India.
(Source: AHURA Bhutan) |
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Picture 1:
Bhutanese refugees gathered at PFHR office in Damak
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Next morning I visited PFHR office where there
were refugees from all 7 camps in Damak area. There were people from all
generations, children to great grand parents. They all had their stories
to tell. They were waiting for someone to visit them. They were waiting to
tell their stories. Their aim? To find some redress from anyone who visit
them. The ultimate aim was to return to their own lands in Bhutan.
They were all holding their identity documents when I
wanted to take a picture of them. This scene was very common whenever I
wanted to take a picture. Most adults were holding their identity
documents. These documents are important evidence to prove that they are
citizens of Bhutan and have been living there for years.
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| Citizenship Act and How It All
Happened
The citizenship issue is the key issue affecting their
fate. Bhutanese government does not recognise them as Bhutanese citizens.
Who are they? They are Lohtchampas or southern Bhutanese among them most
are of Nepali origin. They are people without a state, mothers without a
state, fathers without a state, grandfathers without a state, grandmothers
without a state and children without a state. Terminology used to describe
them is "stateless people." But actually, they are landless people who
have lost their lands in Bhutan. Most of them are farmers. Their
livelihood is very much attached to their land. In fact land is like their
life. They lived in their lands, cultivated them for generations and made
decent living out of it. But a piece of paper made them disown their
lands. That was the Bhutanese Citizenship Act of 1985. Also the same paper
made Bhutan disown over 120,000 people.
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Picture 2 and 3:
Refugees holding his Bhutanese identity
document |
Bhutanese authorities just did not disown them, they subjected
them to atrocious treatment. They were subjected to atrocious treatment such as
arbitrary arrests, torture and detentions without trial, village raids and
widespread inhuman and degrading treatment of the southern Bhutanese, including
gang rape; the closure of almost all schools in southern Bhutan; the restriction
of health services; a ban on the movement of essential commodities and people;
confiscation of citizenship cards and termination of employment; burning and
demolition of houses. Such treatment systematically made life for Lohtchampas
unbearable and finally drove them out of their lands and their country -
Bhutan.
| Refugee Exodus and Setting up of
Camps in Southern Nepal
Bhutanese fleeing Bhutan in early 1991 first arrived in
Assam and West Bengal in India. They set up makeshift camps and hoped for
the situation to normalize. Instead, as the situation in Bhutan worsened
and the refugees were not permitted to set up permanent camps in India.
From August 1991, the influx of refugees increased at the rate of 1,000 a
month. The flow of refugees leaped in February 1992 to a massive 10,000
per month. The period from February to March 1992 saw the refugee
population rise to 48,000.
Conditions at Maidhar in late 1991 were grim, but the
refugee leaders quickly organised themselves and sought help from the
local community. Local Nepalese responded with donations of rice, bamboo,
money and wood. However, with thousands to feed and shelter it was
becoming impossible to manage. Many died and hundreds suffered from
malnutrition and diseases.
Urgent appeals for help resulted in assistance from
Lutheran World Federation (LWF), and in adhoc humanitarian relief from
UNHCR at the end of 1991. Following formal requests from the Nepalese
government, UNHCR began regular assistance to the Bhutanese refugees at
the beginning of 1992.UNHCR now channels its assistance through its
implementing partners. |
There are 7 refugee Bhutanese refugee camps located in Jhapa and
Morang Distict of Eastern Nepal. Refugee camp population as of June 1999 as
follows:
Picture 4: Administrative buildings of Bedangi II main
camp
Bhutanese Refugee Camp Population - June
1999
| Beldangi I |
16,587 |
| Beldangi II |
20,726 |
| Beldangi II Extension |
10,517 |
| Goldhap |
8,643 |
| Khudunabari |
12,124 |
| Sanischare |
18,829 |
| Timai |
9,191 |
| Total |
96,617 |
Data Source: Refugee Coordination
Unit, His Majesty's Government of Nepal and AHURA Bhutan
| The camp I visited was the largest camp, which
is Beldangi II which accommodate about 30,000 refugees. There were many
people waiting at the camp supervisor's office to meet us. Among the first
group I met was about 7 former members of the Bhutanese National Assembly.
They discussed their concerned with me through an interpreter. They all
have been expelled from the National Assembly following the events
occurred after enacting of 1985 Citizenship Act. According to them, among
all 7 camps there are about 18 former national assembly members. |
Picture 5: Former
Bhutanese National Assembly members (seated) at the Beldangi II
Camp
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| Atmosphere
The first impression of the camp was like a very rural
village. People lived in mud huts the huts had straw roofs. There was not
much space between houses. They were all next to each other. They looked
identical. Each house had its section and house number. |
Picture 6: Typical
refugee house made of straw and mud
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Picture 9: Water
containers lined up near a tap by refugees have to receive allocated water
rations
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There was electricity to the area. The water
was scarce and rationed. People had to line up to obtain water, which was
dispensed at allocated times. There was not a single telephone among all 7
camps. Can you imagine that there is not a single telephone for about
100,000 refugees? The only emergency access to outside the camp was the
Refugee Coordination Unit radio transmitter, which could only be accessed
by the officials in the camps from Royal Nepal Government.
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There was small clinic to cater for medical needs of the
refugees. Just one clinic operated only for a few hours for about 20,00 refugees
in the Beldangi II main camp. Food was rationed too. Once a week food was
distributed among the refugees. They included some rice and "green vegetables."
Green vegetables meant unripe bananas and potatoes. There was some minimum
education facilities for children. However, they lacked many standard
educational materials and books.
Pictures 7 & 8: Distribution
of vegetables (unripe bananas and potatoes) to refugees
One thing struck me during my visit was that these people have
been living there for about 10 years without doing nothing. They wake up in the
morning and have to spend the day doing nothing. According to many refugees I
spoke to this experience make them feel very frustrated. They all are people who
used to work hard in their fields and make good living. They only could farm
small plots in the refugee camp now. But of course that does not make them feel
the way they used to feel: sense of self-reliance and satisfaction. According to
many they feel loss of hope and uncertainty about their and their young
generation's future.
Pictures 10 & 11:
Chabilal Daurali who was brave to share his experience of torture under
Bhutanese authorities and even displayed scars on his
back |
Among the refugees in the camp there are many
who have been subjected to torture by the Bhutanese authorities. There
were many women who have been raped by the Bhutanese authorities -
military or police. They were all in the camps. One of the persons we
managed to talk to was 38-year-old Chabilal Dhaurali. He was tortured when
he was captured by the Bhutanese authorities. When he described his
experience in the torture chamber his face was full of terror and his eyes
were full of tears. He said that reliving his experience itself is a
torture. But he wanted to describe his experience for the sake of fellow
torture victims. He even removed his upper garments to show all horrible
marks of torture. |
| More than 50% of the refugee population (about 50,000
persons) includes people of 3 generations. In some cases there were 4
generations of refugees living in the camps. The grand parents and great
grand parents were a living testimony for their existence and life in
Bhutan. Old folks spend their time reading or praying. The biggest
frustration of the adults was their uncertain future. They were also very
unhappy that they had nothing to do in the camps than just waiting. They
have now waited for about 10 years. There were a lot of bilateral talks
between Nepali and Bhutanese government (which is perceived the best way
to find a solution by the Nepali authorities) within last 10 years. So far
these talks have not brought any redress to refugees in terms of their
future. When we ask these people what is their goal the answer is simple:
"we want to return to our country -- Bhutan, we want to go back to our
homes." |
Picture 12: Rukmina
Baral (57-year-old Mother), Damaru Baral (41-year-old son) and Monoj Baral
(8-year-old grandson of Rukmina's) relating their
story |
The most disturbing scene was the young and beautiful children.
You could see so many messages written in their faces. They were beautiful and
innocent faces. There was anxiety, despair written on those faces. You could see
sincerity at the same time you could see that they were not happy faces. They
smiled at me out of courtesy and hospitality. The only thing they could give me
was their beautiful smile. Most of these children were born in the camps. The
whole world for them is the refugee camp they live. They know that their country
is Bhutan. But they have never seen it or felt their feet on its ground. The big
question is that when will these children see their homes again? Other questions
were when will these children see a proper class room for their studies? What
will they be when they grow up? Where will they belong to?
Pictures 13, 14 & 15: Children
without clear future
What was the hope? There were many groups and individuals who
have been working painstakingly for the cause of Bhutanese refugees. Some of the
NGO groups are based in Damak itself. I was able to meet representative from
People's Forum for Human Rights (PFHR) who generously sacrificed their time and
effort to coordinate the whole visit to Jhapa and Bhutanese Refugee
Representative Repatriation Committee (BRRRC) which focus on repatriation issue.
I also me AHURA and its coordinator Mr. Ratan Gazmere who is
doing an impressive work for Bhutanese refugees. AHURA has also compiled
documentation on Bhutanese refugees which is available at their web site at:
http://members.tripod.com/ahurabht/ AHURA
together with other concerned groups have tried to put the Bhutanese issue in
the international scene and have made numerous representations at United Nations
level. One of the main objectives of AHURA is to assist refugees to prove their
citizenship issue. Ratan Gazmere believe that finding a solution to refugee
crisis should be on top of all other Bhutanese issues.
There are humanitarian agencies assisting refugees in the camps
among them were The Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) and World Food Programme (WFP) who distribute food and clothing, Lutheran World Service
(LWS) who provide
infra-structure, Caritas Nepal run educational facilities, Save the Children
Fund (SCF) (UK) who assist in health care and health education and OXFAM-UK who
provide community development activities. But more than material needs, these
refugees also need support and solidarity. Their morale is very low. You could
imagine waiting for 10 years without seeing any sign of hope. If more people
from outside Nepal could just visit these people, talk to them, listen to them
and be with them for a few days, that will be a great moral encouragement for
them. Such experiences create hope for thousands of people. Moreover, if more
individuals and organisations could help make awareness of the Bhutanese refugee
issue, taking part in activities of groups campaigning for the cause of refugees
like AHURA, such acts would help the expedite finding a solution to the
Bhutanese refugee crisis.
(Note: Some factual information contained in this article is
taken from materials published by AHURA Bhutan)
Asian Human Rights
Commission
Email: ahrchk@ahrchk.org
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