Call for unification (Special Feature)
By Bhakta Ghimire, India
Bhutanese living in India after being evicted from their country in 1990 have begun to fear of their future after the western countries started the process of resettling their relatives taking asylum in UNHCR run camps in Nepal.
They requested the inclusion of all evicted Bhutanese in resettlement program if the international community really wanted to resolve the protracted crisis.
Many families remain divided – half of them staying in UNHCR camps while others live hiding in India. These Bhutanese in India suggested that the organizations and governments involved in resettlement process must provide opportunities for the divided family to re-unit before the resettlement process go ahead. It was their claim that this would be possible only through the initiatives of the government of Nepal and UNHCR, not involving India in any way.
A Bhutanese living in Siliguri, requesting anonymity for security reasons, said hopes for India's support for their repatriation to homeland has gradually vanished. Delhi government has been openly and continuously supporting the absolute regime in Thimphu. India, through economic and moral assistance, has been approving the anti-people decisions of the Bhutanese government, he said.
His statement hints to the statement given by Indian Prime Minister Dr Man Mohan Singh while addressing the first sitting of the Bhutanese parliament during his recent visit to Thimphu.
Many Bhutanese living in India have gradually begun to lend their support to armed struggle that sprouted in Bhutan by Bhutan Communist Party (Marxists Leninists Maoists). But many who supported the armed outfit also suspected over the possible success of communist rebellion in Bhutan due to the split surfaced in the party.
Jiwan Sharma, who is living in Assam by running small business, said the issue of exiled Bhutanese would only be solved through diplomatic efforts. He further said there is no possibility of carrying our armed struggle in Bhutan, but political movement could begin once the evicted Bhutanese are repatriated and settled in their original homeland.
Sharma said since the beginning of resettlement process of those Bhutanese taking asylum in Nepal, Bhutan government has hardened its policy of suppression against southern Bhutanese. Physical torture, intimidation and humiliating behavior against Nepali speaking people have resurfaced in Bhutan. He claimed that Bhutanese authorities have resumed its authoritarian rule by arresting and keeping people in police custody with allegations of involving in banned underground armed political party Bhutan Communist Party (Marxists Leninists Maoists).
It has been acclaimed that absolute monarchy in Bhutan has ended with the dawn of democracy. The country held its first election recently and formed an elected government, which is said to be democratic in nature. Yet, many provisions in the draft constitution are discriminatory against southern Bhutanese which tactically meant for further suppression on them.
In the recent parliamentary elections, more than 80,000 Bhutanese were denied of their right to vote. Many of their citizenship certificates have been confiscated. Their business licenses were also seized while many lost their government job and their children were expelled from schools.
Sharma said all these people are still living inside the country and due to security to their livelihood, it has become difficult to publicize their personal details. Bhutan News Service