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TRANSCRIPT
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Socio-Economic Conditions of Bhutanese Refugees in Beldangi-2, Camp, Damak, Jhapa
A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of Humanities and Social
Sciences Central Department of Sociology/Anthropology
in Partial Fulfillment of The Requirements for
The Degree of Master of
Arts in Sociology
Submitted By
Damayanti Bhattarai
Central Department of Sociology and Anthropology
Tribhuvan Univesity
Kirtipur, Kathmandu
2008
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TRIBHUVAN UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY/ANTHROPOLOGY
KIRTIPUR, KATHMANDU, NEPAL
LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE
The dissertation entitled SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS OF BHUTANESE
REFUGEES IN BELDANGI- II, CAMP, DAMAK, JHAPA submitted by Damayanti
Bhattarai has been accepted as the partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of
Master of Arts in sociology.
Dissertation Committee:
……………………...
Dr. Om Prasad Gurung
Head of Department
………………….. Prabhakar Lal Das Supervisor
…………………..
Mr. Prem B. Chalaune
External
Date: ...........................
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TRIBHUVAN UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY/ANTHROPOLOGY
KIRTIPUR, KATHMANDU, NEPAL
LETTER TO RECOMMENDATION
This is to certify that Ms. Damayanti Bhattarai has worked under my supervision and
guidance for the preparation of the dissertation entitled Socio-Economic Conditions
of Bhutanese Refugees in Beldangi-2, Camp, Damak, Jhapa, for the partial
fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in Sociology. The
study is original and carries useful information in the field of socio-economic
condition of Bhutanese Refugees. I, therefore, recommend this dissertation for the
evaluation to the dissertation committee.
Date: -----------------------
Prabhakar Lal Das
Associate Professor
Central Department of
Sociology/Anthropology
Tribhuvan University
Kathmandu, Nepal.
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ACKNOWLDEGEMENT
I would like to acknowledge Mr. Prabhakar Lal Das, Associate Professor,
Department of Sociology and Anthropology in Tribhuwan University,
Kirtipur, dissertation supervisor for guiding this dissertation smoothly,
efficiently and effectively on the topic “SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS
OF BHUTANESE REFUGEES IN BELDANGI-2 CAMP, DAMAK, JHAPA”.
I am indebted to the people of Refugees Camp of Beldangi-2, the Camp
Management Committee (CMCs) and Refugee Coordination Unit (RCU),
LWF, IOM, CARITAS, UNHCR, Nepal Red Cross Society-Damak Chapter,
AMDA-Damak, other individuals, institutions and the experts who have
helped me to complete this dissertation.
I owe my sincere gratitude to Miss Sujata Shrestha, Miss Sareeta Bhattarai
(UNHCR), Mr Ramesh Dangol(LWF), Mr Gobinda Koirala (CARITAS) for
their assistance in data collection, field trips and support for the completion
of the dissertation thesis.
I am indeed grateful to my parents, siblings, friends and everyone who
contributed in one or the other way for the care, support, motivation.
At last, I would like to specially thank and mention the applaudable support
and role played by cousin brother Amar Mani Adhikari.
Damayanti Bhattarai
Department of Sociology/Anthropology
Date: December,2008 Tribhuwan University,Kirtipur
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CONTENTS
CHAPTER - I 15
INTRODUCTION 15
1.1 Background of the Study 15
1.2 Statement of the Problem 19
1.3 Objectives of the Study 22
1.4 Conceptual Frameworks 23
1.5 Significance of the Study 24
CHAPTER - II 26
LITERATURE REVIEW 26
2.1 Theoretical Reviews: 26
2.2. Reviews of the previous study: 27
CHAPTER - III 30
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 30
3.1. Research Design 30
3.2 Nature and sources of Data 30
3.3 Universe and Sampling 30
3.4. Data collection Techniques 31
3.4.1 Refugees Focus Group Discussion: 31
3.4.2 Direct Observation: 31
3.5. Reliability and Validity of the Data: 31
3.6 Data Analysis and Interpretation: 31
3.7 Limitations of the Study: 32
CHAPTER - IV 33
DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION 33
4.1 Introduction and Analysis of the Study Area 33
4.2 Mass exodus of the Bhutanese 34
4.3 Main causes of displacement of the Bhutanese Refugees 35
4.3.1 Citizenship Act 37
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4.3.2 The Language Policy 38
4.3.3 Biased Laws or Categorization 39
4.3.4 Code of Social Decorum: Driglam Namza 39
4.3.5 Green Belt Policy in the South 40
4.3.6 Marriage Act 40
4.3.7 Taxation 41
4.3.8 Forced Labour 41
4.4 Uprising in Southern Bhutan 41
4.5 Incompetent Leadership 43
4.6 Present Bhutan 43
4.7 Nature and Volume of Bhutanese Refugees of Beldangi-Two 43
4.7.1 Birth Rate/Death Rate 44
4.7.2 Family Structure 44
4.7.3 Population by caste 45
4.7.4 Marriage in the Camp 46
4.7.5 Religion 46
4.7.6 Festivals and the Way of Life 48
4.7.7 Means of Sustenance in the Camp 48
4.7.8 Fuel 49
4.7.9 Education in the Camp 50
4.8 Socio-economic Condition of the Bhutanese Refugees of Beldangi two 52
4.8.1 Teaching 53
4.8.2 Business 53
4.8.3 Manual Labour 53
4.9 The Different INGOs Helping the Refugees 54
CHAPTER- V 56
IMPACTS OF THE BHUTANESE REFUGEES OF BELDANGI TWO ON THE
LOCAL COMMUNITY 56
5.1 Social Impacts and the Worsening Relationship 56
5.1.1 Prostitution 56
5.1.2 Alcoholism and Gambling 57
5.1.3 Theft and Robbery 57
5.2 Impacts on Environment 57
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5.3 Economical Impacts 58
5.3.1. Unemployment Problem 58
5.3.2 Farming 59
5.3.3 Labours 59
5.3.4 Price Rise 60
5.4. Impacts on Health and Education 61
5.5 Impacts on Psychology 62
5.5.1 Effects of Bhutanese Regugee in the Development of Beldangi-2 and
Surroundings. 62
5.5.1.1 Development of Roads and Transportation 62
5.5.1.2 Business 63
5.5.1.3 Film Theatres 63
CHAPTER - VI 65
SUMMARY CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 65
6.1 Summary 65
6.2 Conclusion 67
6.3 Recommendations 68
BIBLIOGRAPHY 70
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QUESTIONNAIRE FOR THE SURVEY
Name of the Refugee:……………………………….. Title:………………………
Gender:…………………… Age:………………….. Education:………………..
To gather, receive, collect, study and analyze information, following questions were asked
to the refugees. The questions are listed below:
When did you arrive from Bhutan?
What was the reason for displacement?
Voluntary Evicted
Civil war No idea
How many members are there in your family?
1 - 4, 4 – 6
6 – 8 8 and above
For how many years have you been in Nepal?
What is the means of subsistence?
What was your profession in Bhutan?
Farmer Business
Govt. Employee Others
Are you able to pursue the same occupation here?
Yes No
What are the different sources of assistance for you?
Are the assistances sufficient?
Yes No
Is your family self-dependent?
Yes No
Who comprises maximum in your family members?
Old Young Children?
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Which religion do you follow?
Hinduism Buddhism
Christian Others
What different festivals do you celebrate?
What are the deficiencies faced by you?
Do you wish to return to Bhutan?
Yes No Uncertain
Where are your relatives, kith and kin?
In Camps In Bhutan
In Nepal In India
Do relatives, kith and kin keep in touch?
Yes No
How can the problems be solved in your view?
Bilateral Talks between Nepal and Bhutan With India‟s help
With help from UNHCR and International communities.
What do you wish for?
Repatriation Local Integration
Third Country resettlement Continue in the camp
The relationship with the local people is:
Good Bad
Fair No relation at all
Do the locals help in your day today life?
Yes No Sometimes
Do you support the process of Third Country Resettlement?
Yes No
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Appendix-3
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Appendix-4
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ANNEXES
Annex 1: Questionnaires for the Survey
Annex 2: Personal and Family Information
Annex 3: Location of Refugee Camps in Morang and Jhapa
Annex 4: Bhutanese Refugee operation Management Organizational Chart
Annex 5: Assistance to Bhutanese Refugees in Nepal
utandnc.Com
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Abbreviations
NOC NO Objection Certificate
DNC Druk National Congress
AHURA Activists of Human Rights
UNHCR United Nations High Commission for refugees
RGOB Royal Government of Bhutan
WFP World Food Programme
LWF Lutheran World Federation
NGOs Non Governmental Organizations
INGOs International Non Governmental Organizations
UNO United Nations Organization
SAARC South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
F1 – F7 File 1 to File 7
PFHRB Peoples‟ Forum for Human Rights in Bhutan
RBA Royal Bhutan Army
RBP Royal Bhutan Police
BPP Bhutan Peoples‟ Party
NAPE New Approach to Primary Education
RCU Refugee Coordinating Unit
NRCS Nepal Red Cross Society
SCF Save the Children Fund
AMDA Association of Medical Doctors of Asia
JVT Joint Verification Team
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Tables and Figures
1. Descriptive Table of the Seven Different Camps 18
2. Representation of Ethnic Communities in a Pie Chart 21
3. Population Distribution of Beldangi-2 camp 29
4. Respondent population according to caste 30
5. A picture depicting a Religious Ceremony “Bratamanda” 32
6. Respondents population according to Religion 32
7. Edible Items of Daily consumption 34
8. Students and Teachers of Beldangi-II in different classes 35
9. Various professions pursued by the Bhutanese Refugees 37
10. A woman spinning Cotton into Yarn 45
11. Comparison of daily wages of locals and the refugees 46
12. A Trader selling Clothes in the vicinity of the Camp. 48
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CHAPTER - I
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Literarily Refugees refers to homeless, involuntarily migrants who have crossed a
frontier and no longer possess the protection of their former government. Similarly, the
Oxford Dictionary defines a refugee as a “person who has been forced to leave his
country, home etc and seek refuge, especially form political or religious persecution.” A
refugee, according to the UN official definition, is a person who owing to well-founded
fear of being persecuted for reason of race, religion, nationality, membership of a
particular social or ethnic or political opinion leaves the country of his nationality. This
person is unable or owing to such focus, is unwilling to avail himself of protection of
that Country. (www.oup.com/elt/oald)
Refugees are not born but created by states, individuals and groups." said Sadako
Ogata, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. She has rightly said that
"the issue of human rights and the problems of refugees are inextricably linked. The vast
majority of refugees are driven from their homes by human rights abuses. Persecution,
torture, killings and the reprehensible practice of „ethnic cleansing‟ generate huge flow
of refugees". The Nepali-speaking Southern Bhutanese refugees just fit in her
description.
In this study, the particular case of Bhutanese refugee of Beldangi II camp has been
examined. Bhutanese refugees are people who were driven away or forced to leave from
Bhutan. They are currently staying in seven camps of Jhapa and Morang district in
eastern part of the Nepal.
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The Bhutanese Government adopted a number of policies after the nation wide census
survey in 1988,which was eventually used as a tool to force the genuine Bhutanese out
of the country .The main elements used by the government were:
- Citizenship Act of 1985
- One Nation One people Policy
- Marriage Act of 1988
- No-objection Certificate
- Voluntary Migration Forms.
- Religion etc.These were some of the major policies of the government to evict
the population from the south Bhutan.
The Citizenship Act of 1958 granted the Nepali speaking people (also called the
Lhotshampas which means people living in the south) the full citizens of the country. As
the nationwide programmes of development and modernization commenced in 1961, the
Lhotshampas, with the development of education, social services and the economy,
during the 1960s and 1970s, rose to occupy influential positions in the bureaucracy.
During the 1980s, the Lhotshampas came to be seen as a threat to the political order and
Drukpa culture. The Durkpas of the northwest or the ruling elite began to see
themselves as an endangered species that would one day be swamped by the
Lhotsampas of the south or the Sharchops of the east.
In 1985 the government began its defense of Drukpa culture and traditions. A new
citizenship act was passed that applied new criteria of citizenship, and made them
retrospective, declaring all previous legislations null and void. The new citizenship Act
of 1985, One Nation One People policy, Driglam Namza, Compulsory Labour, and No
Objection Certificate were the vivid government repressions against the Nepali speaking
Lhotshampas that resulted in the Democracy Movement of 1990.
Beginning in late 1997, several hundred ethnic Sharchops from eastern Bhutan fled into
Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and West Bengal in India and few hundreds to Nepal.
Bhutan‟s political persecution of Sharchops was aimed at stifling political opposition
among Sharchops from the Druk National Congress (DNC), a political party seeking
more democratic reform and human rights protection in Bhutan. Authorities arrested
hundreds of Sharchops in 1997, including community leaders and monks. Coincidentally,
the authorities in India also arrested Dorji In 1997, though they released him on bail in
June 1998. (AHURA Bhutan, 95)
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Historical records of Nepalese immigration into Bhutan dates back to 1624.That
evidence suggested that settlement of ethnic Nepalese in Bhutan began earlier, possibly
from the 17th century onwards; the first batch of 50 families went to Bhutan as a gesture
of friendship by King Ram Saha of Gorkha. After signing a friendship treaty with
Shabdrung Nawang (the spiritual ruler of Bhutan) in 1624m;sixteen years later Nepalese
artisan and skilled workers were recruited to work in the Dzongs (Fortresses that are now
used as administrative offices) and monasteries in Bhutan. During the British rule in India
the British encouraged Nepalese to migrate to Sikkim in order to arrest the revival of
Tibetan influences in Sikkim. Ethnic Nepalese were continuously encouraged by the
British to migrate to neighbouring areas in Southern Bhutan (AHURA Bhutan, 1994).
Slow migration of Nepalese continued thereafter until 1864 particularly in Samchi
district, the area adjoining to Sikkim and Eastern Nepal. Nepalese continue to migrate to
Bhutan from 1964 and 1990. (www.geocities.com/bhutanese refugees)
Bhutan is the last bastion of hereditary absolute monarchy with a feudal order. It is
passing through a harrowing period of internal insecurity, political instability and
vulnerability created by current ruling elite. The eviction of over one hundred thousand
Nepali-speaking southern Bhutanese or the Lhotshampas as they are officially called is a
glaring example of the current state of affairs in Bhutan. The government of Bhutan
created another security blunder by allowing the Indian militants form northeast India in
its territories.
The tranquil image of Shangri-La as Bhutan was called has been shattered in these
years as it has been responsible for generating one of the highest per capita refugees
(one sixth of the total population), in the world. More than 125,000 Bhutanese people,
nearly a sixth of the kingdom's total population of approximately 782,548 have been
forced to leave or forcibly evicted from the country by the Government. This has
made Bhutan as one of the highest per capita refugee generators in the world. As on
March 2007, approximately 106000 Bhutanese refugees were living in seven refugee
camps in eastern Nepal managed by the UNHCR. Rests live scattered in other parts of
Nepal. About 25,000 Bhutanese refugees are living in Indian territories with out any
help. (www.geocities.com/bhutanese refugees)
Bhutan as a multi-religious, multi-cultural and multi-linguistic society is self-evident.
However, the government argues, "Pluralism is only practical for a larger country where a
diversity of customs, traditions and culture enriches that nation. A small country like
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Bhutan cannot afford the luxury of such diversity which may impede the growth of social
harmony and unity among its people". In the name of national integration, the
government implemented various racial and discriminatory policies aimed at forceful
homogenization of multi-ethnic society. This 'Drukpanization' policy was designed to
annihilate the culture, religion and language of Lhotshampas, Sharchhops and other
minority ethnic, religious and linguistic groups. Under this policy, all other ethnic and
minority groups are required to assimilate their social and cultural identity as distinct
ethnic groups with the society dominated by politically and economically dominant
Ngalung or Drukpa ethnic group. The state could not evolve a modus operandi. To the
state 'Bhutanese national identity' meant the forceful assimilation of cultures. Forced
national integration, through eviction, through depriving the Lhotshampas and dissidents
of their nationality, or through brutal intimidation and use of force have been the hallmark
of state policy.
Without assimilation also political unity of population can be achieved. Examples abound
as USA, Switzerland and Great Britain where the Scottish and Wales enjoy their cultural
identity. The Government's policies of national integration however, received stubborn
resistance from the Lhotshampas, first, and now by the Sharchhop and other minority
groups.
Buddhism has been used as a political tool by the state. Buddhism has been defined to
suit the interests of the ruling community. The ruling elite increasingly communalize
Bhutanese polity. Politics is practiced on ethnic lines that the politics became the
monopoly of the single ethnic group, the Ngalung. The rule of state becomes problematic
when it seeks to represent one ethnic group in a multi-ethnic society. There is a constant
feeling of insecurity among all the minorities against the government as a result of
frequent changes in the laws, rules and policies and their interpretation by the Thimphu
government to suit the regime largely affecting the Lhotshampas, Sharchops and other
minority groups.
Over-conscious of the global upsurge of the democratic movement and its import to
Bhutan sooner or later, the government crafted a clever strategy to prevent the demand for
democratic reforms. The dream of a new Drukpa Buddhist state thus responds to a over-
reaction against modernization and establishment of human rights and democracy - a
threat to the absolute monarchy and feudal system. The 'ethnic cleansing' policy is a part
of that strategy.
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But, despite the democratic winds of change in the sub-continent such as emergence of
Bangladesh as an independent nation, dawn of democracy in Nepal, or the ethnic conflicts
having components of 'self- determination', 'autonomy', separatism' and 'independence' in
the neighboring Indian states of Kashmir, Punjab, North- east and Sri Lanka, Bhutanese
political institutions had no cause to worry as the Bhutanese people by and large remained
politically indifferent to these developments.
The government, instead of taking lessons from these devastating events in the region and
pursuing a realistic policy of integrating different ethnic groups and nationalities in
Bhutan, started working for the 'ethnic cleansing' of Lhotshampas. This shows
government's lack of vision and immaturity of its statecraft and cultural intolerance. Its
national integration policy was also fake. One cannot construct a national integration
policy by offering monetary compensation. National integration is a gradual process.
Bhutanese refugees are the victims of racial policy of their government, who are genuine
citizens of Bhutan. Without taking back the Bhutanese refugees, it will not be possible to
achieve integration of the Bhutanese society. They must be repatriated with dignity and
honour. Until the Bhutanese refugee problem is solved and human rights are guaranteed
there can be no peace in Bhutan. Given the current situation, the repatriation of refugees
seems not possible without effecting a change in existing laws. These laws declare a
citizen anti-national if one is found to be in contact with any dissident against the
government and are subjected to the confiscation of citizenship. The laws also declare
several thousand refugees as voluntarily emigrated and are not allowed to return to the
country. Several thousand citizens have been intimidated to flee and asked to fill up
voluntary migration forms under duress.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
According to preliminary results from the census completed 11thMay, 2007 the
total population registered with the government of Nepal and UNHCR of Refugees and
Asylum seekers is approximately 107,000 persons who live in one of the 7 camps in
eastern Nepal. The different camps are Beldangi-1, Beldangi-2, and Beldangi-2
extension, Goldhap, Timai, Sanichare and Khudunabari.
Various ethnic groups and peoples have lived in perfect communal, religious and ethnic
harmony for centuries in Bhutan. Never before, any instance of ethnic conflict, communal
or religious clash at the people‟s level has occurred in Bhutan, which has become the
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hallmark of many South Asian nations and destroyed the very basic fabric of democracy
in these countries. Tolerance, co-operation and compromise, had been the basic values of
Bhutanese society. But since the 1980s the present Government has started sowing the
racial seeds among its people. It has formulated and implemented a number of racist
policies and programmes to depopulate and evict the Lhotshampa citizens of southern
Bhutan. It is the present medieval, autocratic and despotic Government that has nurtured
racist and discriminatory practices and attitudes to perpetuate in power. This has
destroyed the very basis of existence of Bhutan as a peaceful nation.
More than 125,000 Nepali-speaking Lhotshampas of Southern Bhutan, nearly a sixth of
the kingdom's total population of approximately 782,548 have been forced to leave or
forcibly evicted from the country by the Government. This has made Bhutan as one of the
highest per capita refugee generators in the world. As on March 2001, 98,886 Bhutanese
refugees are living in seven refugee camps in eastern Nepal managed by the UNHCR.
Rests live scattered in other parts of Nepal. About 25,000 Bhutanese refugees are living in
Indian territories with out any help.
The roots of the current political crisis in Bhutan and the refugees lie in Bhutan's
geopolitics and population politics. A study of various policies of the Royal Government
of Bhutan (RGOB) in the last two decades reflects the Ngalung/Drukpa dominated
government's motive to uproot Nepali speaking Lhotshampa population from Bhutan and
reduce their number by all means. Be it Drukpanization or Bhutanization programmes,
Citizenship and Marriage Acts or NOCs, all are directed against Lhotshampas of the
south. It was a long-standing and intrinsic ruling elites' security perception that the
domestic demand for political change (democracy) would come from the Lhotshampas in
the south. The south is bordered by the democratic India. Moreover, the Lhotshampas are
economically well off and more educated than their brethren in the north and east. The
northern border with China is closed. In order to pre-empt the demand for democracy, the
government devised a clever strategy to depopulate the Lhotshampas from southern
Bhutan. Hence, the Lhotshampas suddenly became the geopolitical scapegoats and
security threat to the absolute monarchy.
Often the countries most overburdened with refugees are already among poorest in the
world. Nepal continues to be ranked as one of the poorest counties in the world in terms
of human development yet hosts more than 100,000 Bhutanese and 20,000 Tibetans
refugees Nepals inadequate social and physical infra-structural services are overstrained
by such an influx of refugees. There are seven camps with a population of more than
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100,000 refugees about half are located in Beldangi camp The camps are situated on the
plains of east Nepal, spanning two districts (Jhapa and Morang), which are the most
heavily populated in Nepal. In the seven Camps there are 45 schools, 40,000 pupils and
956 teachers. The student/teacher ration is an average 40:1 but in reality the classes are
much bigger than this as the number of teachers includes headmasters and teachers
trainers which are given very few periods, if any at all. A school environment provides
more than just basic needs to read and write, but also provides an outlets for children to
experience a sense of normality, safety and routine after many years upheaval.
Most of the classrooms are temporary structures (often made of a mixture of brick,
bamboo and grass) due to the limited life span of the camps. Many of the lower classes do
not have desks and the children are sitting on jute mats, which have been manufactured in
the camps during the income generating activities.However,all classrooms are provided
with a table and chair for the teacher. The blackboards are portable with an easel. Each
school has a large open space where assemblies can take place.
No land is available to refugees for cultivation yet the vast majority of the refugees come
from rural backgrounds.Artifical life in the camps for more …………..years is therefore
not preparing the younger generation for a farming life back home in Bhutan. Most of
them have not been involved in farming for the past decades and there is a fear that they
are losing their knowledge and experience in the area where they will have to make their
future livelihoods. Although vocational training programmes and incomes-generating
projects have been initiated, they are not a substitute for the agricultural work to which
most of the refugees will return.Incontrast, access to medical care, food rations, education
and training has resulted in improved conditions for many of the refugees.
Of the estimated 130,000 southern Bhutanese who lost their homes, lands, livelihoods and
country between 1990 and 1993, not a single person has yet been allowed home.
Although the Bhutanese Government coerced thousands into signing what it claims were
„Voluntary migration forms‟ it does admit tacitly that the camps contains bona-fide
citizens who were ejected from Bhutan against their will. The governments of Nepal and
Bhutan have met seven times at ministerial level to try to resolve the problem that is
souring relations between their two countries. All attempts to move towards a joint survey
of the camp population that would establish how many have right to repatriation have so
far failed.
The Bhutan Nepal Ministerial Level Committee (JMLC) agreed to classify Bhutanese
refugees into four categories.
1. Bona-fide Bhutanese refugees if they have been forcefully evicted.
2. Bhutanese who emigrated.
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3. Non- Bhutanese
4. Bhutanese who have committed criminal acts.
Refugees/Migration is a multidimentational phenomenon, for example demographic,
economic, political and sociological problem as it encompasses socio-psychological
aspects such as motivation to migrate, level of integration and cultural interaction
between migrants and host society. It is also regarded as a processing and machinery
mission that sparks off social changes on both the migrating and receiving ends. It affects
all the spheres of economic and social development. Thus from the national level to the
local level, the issue of refugees requires sociological investigations on its multiple
dimensions. It also calls for a reliable collection and data analyses at all levels. This
should be one of priority issues for social researchers, political analyst and policy makers
everywhere in the world, including Nepal. ( Seddon,et al,2001 ).However, most of the
studies carried out so far are concerned mainly with volume and direction of flow , and to
a lesser extent to with the characteristic of the migrants /refugees and socio-economic
and cultural impact of these refugees has appeared to be a prominent theme of the
sociological investigation. Analyses of the existing situation of the refugees, their
characteristics, their problems and future stand as the equally important and essential
issues. This research , therefore, shall resolve on these burning issues .These issues of the
refugees from Bhutan in Nepal are very important otherwise these groups of indigenous
people would be stateless, as they are neither accepted by governments of Bhutan and
Nepal. The report shall be an insight tool to understand the voiceless, stateless people of
Bhutan who once had a family, a dignified life and a country.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The main objectives of this study was to find out the demographic and socio-economic
condition of the Bhutanese refugees at the Beldangi camps as well their impacts on the
local people in Jhapa district. More specifically the study would attempt to deal with the
following objectives:
1. To know the root causes for displacement of Bhutanese Lhotshampas
Refugees.
2. To analyze the social and economic impact of Bhutanese Refugees on the
Local Community.
3. To find out the problems faced by the Bhutanese Refugees in Beldangi two
Camp.
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1.4 Conceptual Frameworks
A conceptual framework is designed for the specific purposes of the study. This would
help us to do an analysis of the socio-economic condition of the Bhutanese Refugees
sheltering across in Beldangi Camps in the Eastern Nepal. Though Secondary Data has
been collected for the purpose, Primary Data based on the attached Annexes have been
collected during the field trip too. The main data governing the daily life, socio-
economic conditions, cultural values and the role of different Donor Agencies have been
the main focus area. This has been supplemented by the demographic variables in this
report.
The model of the Conceptual Framework for this study by me is as follows:
Economic Variables
-Job Description
-Daily Wage
-Monthly Income
-Main Source of Income
-External Assistance
-Land appropriation
Demographic
Variables
- Sex
- Age
- Population
Socio-Cultural Variables
-Religion
-Education
-Ethnicity
-Festivals
-Marriage (within and outside
the Community)
-Life Style
-Food Habits
-Language
-Costumes
Socio-Economic
Conditions of
Bhutanese Refugees
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1.5 Significance of the Study
Now a days several kinds of high magnitude problems are arising in global respective.
Among them, the refugee problem has also become a major problem. From the view of
humanitarian, it is a measurable and dreadful in humanitarian problem. First of all,
refugees are evicted from their homeland because they could not bear the violence and
many kinds of tortures. Therefore, it forces the victims to flee to other countries along
with this they have to face many kinds of problems such as basic needs of human to
survive in strange country. Thus, they have to survive with certain limitations and also
with fear and crisis. Such problems are not only related to but also engulf the local
people. Thus, the refugees arises problem to both sides. Under developing and scanty
resource country like Nepal is unable to bear the brunt of refugees economically,
socially and politically. Thus, the problem of refugees need to be resolved as soon as
possible once for all.
This study points out many important problems that are being faced by the refugees
along with the local community. It outlines the details of impacts on Beldangi
communities, where Bhutanese refugees have settled. The impacts are social, economic,
environment, psychology, sanitation, hygiene and other infrastructures etc. This study
would help to come up with some suggestions for mitigation to the policy maker and
authorities of the communities near the refugee camps. The findings will also help all
stakeholders in making proper decisions on Bhutanese refugees. Many international
non-governmental agencies such as [(Donor Agencies) UNHCR, WFP, and LWF etc]
prepare their annual budget for Nepal, keeping close eye on these Bhutanese Refugees
situation. The problems faced by the refugees in their country would also be
highlighted and the people elsewhere will have opportunity to know and get acquainted
with the real situations.
25
26
CHAPTER - II
LITERATURE REVIEW
Review of literature means to review the available literature or materials with an eye on
possibilities of developing hypothesis from it. The secondary sources were also used
with primary data for this study. Thus, journals, reports and books were reviewed in this
chapter. Some of the foreign books are Hudson (1874, 1880), Patrick (1811), Hamilton
(1819), Morris (1928).
2.1 Theoretical Reviews:
While preparing the thesis, I gathered, analyze and summarize the ideas from Dor
Bahadur Bista (1958,1964,1966,1973), Regmi (1969,1971,1972), Sharma
(1971,1972,1973). With regard to adjustment and adaptation of the refugees in the
society of their refuge, economic aspects seem to have drawn more interest than any
other dimensions. There are a number of studies dealing with occupational adaptation
alone (Hansen and Oliver Smith 1982; Stein 1979, Stein and Tomasi 1981). Many of the
Tibetans in Nepal have to adapt to new occupations (i.e., labourers in the handicraft
centres) because the agro-pastoral and nomadic life to which many of them were used to
in Tibet is no longer practicable in the settlements in Nepal. Some Tibetan refugees
have also started small restaurants in urban centres such as Pokhara and Kathmandu.
This latter group may have been experiencing problems of competition with the local
businessmen in the same field (Gombo 1985 mentions of competition and conflict
between the Tibetan and Nepali restaurant owners in Kathmandu).
Mukherji (1985), in his cultural-ecological appraisal of resettlement of four groups of
refugees in India in the post 1947 period (the Punjabis, the Tibetans, the Bengalis, and
the Sri Lankan Tamils), point out that unlike other groups, the Tibetans “settled in
relatively isolated areas where they encountered relatively unfamiliar Hindu culture
and environmental conditions” (1985:89). Given the poly-ethnic nature of the society
in Pokhara, strong pressure on the Tibetans to assimilate into the Nepali society may
not be the case as reported for the Tibetan refugees in some parts of India ( Mukherji
1985,Saklani 1984). In its report, 'Bhutan Forcible Exile” published in August, 1994,
Amnesty International believes that many people in the (refugee) camps in Nepal
have been forced out of Bhutan as a result of measures taken by the Bhutanese
authorities. Even the high level investigation team constituted by the king to look into
27
the allegations of force eviction led by the then Home Minister, Dago Tshering
reported that senior government officials in Chirang District intimidated two families
to forced eviction.
It is clear that almost all the studies in Nepal been centered to castes and ethnic groups. A
few studies have only been conducted in the national level about migration and refugees.
Since the inception of Department of Sociology and Anthropology in Tribhuan University
in 2039 B.S., Ram Bahadur Chhetri did a study on “Social, Environment Cultural
Adaptation of Tibetan Refugee in Nepal”. But none of the established scholar has done
study on Bhutanese Refugees .Different INGOs, NGos and other government bodies have
conducted the study for their own purpose. The T.U students have done a couple of study
on the Socio-Economic Conditions of these Bhutanese Refugees.
2.2. Reviews of the previous study:
Until the late 19th century and the emergence of fixed and closed national boundaries,
Refugees were always absorbed by neighboring countries. Later immigration restriction
and increasing numbers of refugees‟ necessitated special action to aid them .In 1921
Fridtjof Nansen created a League of Nations Passport to allow refugees to move freely
across national boundries.Refugees status at that time was accorded only if the migrant‟s
departure was involuntary and asylum was sought in another country. In 1938 the
definition of refugee was expanded to include persons with a well founded fear of
persecution because of ethnicity, religion, nationality, group membership, or political
opinion. Later the definition was expanded again to include persons who have fled from
their homes to other places in their own countries. Refugees status ceases to apply when
the migrants either is resettled or returns home. At the beginning of the 21st century there
were some 16 million refugees ,including nearly 4 million Palestinians; much of the rest
of the world‟s refugees were in Asia (particularly in Afghanistan) and Africa, though
conflict in the former Yugoslavia and elsewhere in post –Cold War Europe significantly
increased the number of refugees in those regions. According to www.nation.com. ; An
estimated 15.7 million refugees reside across 110 countries around the globe. Some of the
prominent hosts are Iran,Germany,Bosnia and Herzegovina,Pakistan,Rwanda,Sierra
Leone,Azerbaijan,Sri Lanka,Afganistan,Sudan,Guinea etc.Nepal stands at number 30.
Those who seek refugees‟ status are sometimes known as “Asylum Seekers” and the
practice of accepting such refugees is that of offering “Political Asylum”. The most
common asylum claims are based upon political religious grounds. The practical
determination of whether a person is a refugee or not is most often left to certain
government agencies within the host country, this can lead to abuse in a country within s
28
very restrictive official immigration policy. That is, the country won‟t recognize the
refugee status of the asylum seekers nor, for that matter, see them as legitimate migrants
and consequently treat theme as illegal aliens. The U.S. government has defined a refugee
as a person involuntarily displaced from his or her homeland.
From the time, when a group of 60 asylum seekers of Nepalese ethnicity from Bhutan
entered in Nepal, it has been bearing the economic, social and environment burden of
1,12,000 Bhutanese refugees. (UNHCR 1996).
Recently refugee has become a global problem and so has become an important issue.
According to UNHCR 45.5 million people are refugees around the world. It has become
a subject matter of daily digest for news media; most of the times we come across with
the very painful and similar kind of in-humanitarian behaviour are becoming the
synonyms of refugees. And it is our misfortune to bear it such kinds of problems that are
being created by man for any reason.
Royal Government of Bhutan with the draconian racist policy of “One Nation One
People” treated the south Bhutanese with cruelty. By the in-humanitarian behaviour the
ethnic Nepalese in Bhutan started to flee into Nepal reluctantly and they found Jhapa
and Morang districts of eastern Nepal suitable for their settlement. (Poudel, Ramkaji,
2004)
A number of agencies including United Nation World Food Programme,United Nations
High Commission for Refugees, Save the Children, Nepal Red Cross Lutheran World
Federation,CARITAS,Oxfam etc have been assisting these Bhutanese Refugees camps.It
has been noted that these Refugees are not happy despite all sorts of assistances from
these Agencies. With the number of Refugees increasing and with the high birth rate at
the camps, the environmental concern has been alarming already. It has affected the local
society; the local labors do not seem to be happy about it. It may may effect to the
Nepalese demographic as well, on a long run, should these Bhutanese mix and integrate
completely with the local population.
A total of 11 bilateral Ministerial levels talks have occurred in between Nepal and Bhutan
till 2058, addressing this problem. As per the agreement, since than 12,000 Bhutanese have
been certified and been given the status of “Refugees” (Home Ministry 2058, Page 1)
1. Number of Days for Certification: 152
2. Number of Families Certified: 1936
3. Number of Nuclear Families Certified: 3124
4. Number of Refugees Certified: 12096
29
But, again, no such decision of sending back these Refugees has been taken yet. It has
been found that majority of the refugee‟s posses a copy of the Bhutanese Nationality,
although Bhutanese Government has been denying them of as Bhutanese citizens. A
statistic shows that since 1995, 89.22 %of these migrants have copy of the nationality
certificate,9.89% have the proof of possessing land, back in Bhutan and another 0.45
%possesses other documents (Bhutanese Refugees Problem Bulletin, Home Ministry
2058,Page 2)
The human Rights Year Book -1195,Page 476,states that the implications of these
Bhutanese has extended beyond the local sphere and has touched social, economic
,political, cultural and environmental spheres of the nation. On the other hand, the local
citizens are worried that they would integrate with these Bhutanese people in due course
of time. Some of these Bhutanese have already acquired Nepalese citizenship. The
implication is still to be seen and felt It seems that the entire problems of refugees need to
be addressed through bilateral talks in between Nepal and Bhutan and need international
attentions too.
30
CHAPTER - III
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Regarding the research methodologies, the following process, procedure and techniques
are implemented in this study.
3.1. Research Design
The Study is centric to the description and documentation of the socio- economic
condition of the Bhutanese Refugees in the Beldangi-II Camps, as clearly stated the
objectives. Primary information/data have been limited to the Beldangi-II.This study
applies descriptive research Design.
3.2 Nature and sources of Data
The study applies both the qualitative and quantitative data to consider the situation of the
Bhutanese Refugees and their impact. Primary and secondary data were collected in the
course of this study. I gathered the source of Primary data during the fieldwork where
interviews, focus group discussion, direct observation were conducted with the sample
group. The secondary data were collected from the Press release, relevant literature, and
the websites over the internet, journals and reports from VDC, Central Bureau of Static‟s,
from donor agencies and I/NGO. (International/ Non-governmental Organization.)
3.3 Universe and Sampling
The number of the Bhutanese Refugees in Nepal exceeds 100,000.It was impossible
to study the total impact by these Refugees in all the palces.Although an attempt has
been made to cover the overall situation of all the seven camps in general and the
impacts of these Bhutanese in the walk of life of the local families and communities,
the basis will be on a sample of the Bhutanese Refugees in Beldangi-II.
The total household in Beldangi Camp-II is (22974), 60 in number were taken as
sample for Household interview. The sample was taken on the basis of hut numbers.
The households in the camps are homogenous. The entire sub –sectors were
represented in community interview. Focus group discussion comprised of 8-10
individuals in each group. The random sampling method was adopted for the the
purpose of the study.
31
3.4. Data collection Techniques
The semi-structured questionnaire defined during the proposal of the study could not
be used because of the restriction by the Refugee Coordination Unit (RCU) under
home ministry, looking after the camps.Insted; this study was guided through the
following data collecting structures, covering the major portion of the original set of
questionnaire.
3.4.1 Refugees Focus Group Discussion:
A semi-structured questionnaire was designed to conduct focus group discussion.
Community group discussion consisted of 8-10 members from each sub sector. The
location of the interview was selected randomly in the middle of the sub-sector. High
numbers of female were encouraged to participate.
3.4.2 Direct Observation:
In order to collect the quantitative data, the the tool of observations has been
considered very effective by the social advocates. This study includes the way of life,
attitude, expectation and the Bhutanese Refugees.
3.5. Reliability and Validity of the Data:
The data/information collected from other authentic studies; different literatures and
reports/journals published by the government and different donor agencies. News and
clippings from reliable media houses are also considered. As such, data are relied
upon on the mentioned secondary sources too.
The field trip to Camp has allowed me to collect data personally, interact with the
Bhutanese Refugees of the Camps .Every attempt has been incorporate the latest
data/information. The set of questionnaire and checklist are attached at Annex to this
Thesis.
3.6 Data Analysis and Interpretation:
The collection of data is not the end in itself in any study. The data collected during
the course of this study are tabulated, converted to percentage, depicted in pie chart,
according to the nature of the data. Where there was no possibility of retrieval of
quantitative data, qualitative data are collected and analyzed.
This report comprises of three parts. First part has tables of contents,
acknowledgement, acronyms and abbreviation, and executive summary of the report.
32
Second part has the main contents in terms of Chapters. The third part of repot is
annexes and map.
3.7 Limitations of the Study:
This research is prepared as the pre-requisite of the partial fulfillment of the Masters
Degree in Arts, majoring in Sociology from Tribhuwan University. As any other kind,
this study is not free from limitations. Not to mention, the delimiting factors has been
time, resource, constraints, Government restriction. The proposal may not be able to
depict the real scenario of the each and every Bhutanese Refugees in Nepal on the
basis of the literature reviews, data /information collection, description and analyses
etc.Although, the number of Bhutanese Refugees, concentrated in the Eastern Region
of Nepal exceed 100,000 plus in number, the sample or data collection were limited to
the Beldangi Camp-II.However, every attempt has been made to summarize all the
seven camps at Jhapa and Morang.
The unavailability of all the previous literatures written in references to the Bhutanese
Refugees in Nepal limits the study of study too. The study also incorporates a brief
summary of different types of aids and assistance by the Donor Agencies, not in
Details.
Some of the common forced limitations of the study are:
1. Due the lack of unity of among the Bhutanese Refugees makes the task a little more
formidable.
2. The time frame of conducting the survey and compiling the report.
3. There was the restriction in time for the interview/interaction with the Refugees
inside the Camp.
4. The restriction was in terms of the nature of the question asked too.
5. No survey of the non-registered refugees has been done.
33
CHAPTER - IV
DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
This chapter deals with the scientific study of the statistics that is presented. The first part
of this chapter introduces about the area of the study, i.e. Beldangi-Two. The second part
deals with the root cause of displacement and nature and volume of refugees of Beldangi
II. The third part deals with the socio-economic condition of the refugees and their
relation with the local community of Damak area. Finally the fourth part deals with the
impacts of the Bhutanese refugees of Beldangi –two camps on the local community.
4.1 Introduction and Analysis of the Study Area
Nepal is a small landlocked country in south East Asia with a total area of 147181 sq km.
Its one of the least developed countries of the world and 90% of the people practise
agriculture. Though poor economically, it is rich in the natural flora and fauna and in
water resources. It is almost sandwiched between two Asian giants, India and China.
Towards its south it shares an uninterrupted border of almost 500 miles with Utter
Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal of India and towards its north lies Tibet. Nepal has 75
districts and 14 zones. Jhapa district of Mechi zone is one of them where the Bhutanese
refugees are settled. It has a total area of 1603.81 sq km and is 72 metres above the sea
level. Jhapa is one of the prosperous districts of Nepal. It is agriculturally rich, has a high
literacy rate and has got some important towns like, Damak, Birtamod, Dhulabari, etc.
The head quarter of the district is Chandragadhi. There are three municipalities in the
district viz Damak Municapility, Mechi and Bhadrapur.
Five kilometres towards the north of Damak municipality lay the Bhutanese refugee camp
of Beldangi- Two.
Table -1
A Descriptive Table of the Seven Different Camps
S.No Camp Establishment Area (in hec.) Total Population
1 Bel-I May,1991 35.6 18715
2 Bel-II July, 1992 54.56 22974
3 Bel-II Extn Nov., 1992 34.0 11774
4 Goldhap June, 1992 16.0 9716
5 Khudunabari March, 1992 60.0 13473
6 Timai Nov., 1991 14.0 10598
7 Sanischare May, 1992 40.0 21648
Source: LWF, 2007
34
Beldangi camps are located at Beldangi area of Damak municipality is divided into 19
wards. But only ward no 3, 4, 5 joined with Refugees camps. Therefore, people of
these wards mostly interact with refugees all the time.Beldangi-two is the 4th largest
Bhutanese Refugee Camp. The camp shelters around 18493 refugees, third in volume.
These three camps are in-between Madhumalla in the West and the village of Bookwa in
the East. The river Ratwa Mai flows very nears to Beldangi-Twon the south of the camp
lie Dhukurpani and Bhangbari where almost 90 % of the villagers are farmers. The huts
of the refugees are made up of bamboo and straw. These building materials are brought
from the near-by and far flung villages of Jhapa district.
4.2 Mass exodus of the Bhutanese
After the uprising of the southern Bhutanese in 1990, the Royal Government of Bhutan
used its Police force and Army force to quell the movement. In a step towards ethnic
cleansing, the Drukpa regime of the Ngalong dynasty termed the Bhutanese of the
Nepalese origin as “anti nationals” (golops) and branded them as terrorists. The RGOB
began to call them “illegal immigrants” and hatched a strong ploy to sweep them out of
Bhutan.
The RGOB unleashed a reign of terror in the Nepalese villages as per the order of the
then Home Minister, Lynpo Dago Tshering and the fourth King, Jigme Singye
Wangchuck. Hundred of adults were arrested, beaten and imprisoned without reason.
Some of them were shot dead accusing them of inciting the Lhotsampas with anti-
national feelings. Young girls and women were tortured and raped. The food crops and
the cash crops grown by the hard working Lhotsampa farmers were forcefully taken
away by the army, without the consent of the farmers, to feed their own soldiers who
were camped in different villages in the south.
The people of the south wanted to see that the human rights of the Bhutanese people
were respected and norms of democracy followed throughout the country. Instead of
listening the genuine voices of the majority of the Bhutanese, the RGOB further
tightened its grip of dictatorship and terrorised them, that forced them flee the country in
groups of hundreds and thousands, across the border to India and finally to Nepal. For
the first time in December, 1990 a group of sixty- (60) asylum seekers from Bhutan
entered Nepal. The hospitable Nepalese wholeheartedly helped them by providing them
with food and materials for making huts on the banks of river Mai in Maidhar, near
Surunga. The confused and bewildered Lhotsampas who had crossed the border, due to
35
fear of persecution, to Indian states of Assam and West Bengal, came to know about the
grant of asylum by the Nepalese govt. to 60 Bhutanese of the Nepalese origin. The
asylum granted by the then HMG of Nepal regenerated a ray of hope of survival to the
Lhotshampas.So right from the beginning of 1991, truckloads of asylum seekers began
pouring in Nepal, through the Kakarvitta entry and initially got settled on the banks of
river Mai.
Nepal already had a number of wounds to nurse at and with the inflow of the refugees
and their settlement in Maidhar, another, almost incurable gash got added. Their
settlement began to increase Nepalese woes in different sectors. The situation would
have eased within months of the refugee influx had Nepal shared a border with Bhutan.
Unfortunately they entered Nepal via India and that further complicated the problem,
easing the Royal Government of Bhutan to continue with ethnic- cleansing. When the
inflow of the refugees increased dramatically, the Government of Nepal urged the
International Organizations, like the UNHCR and the Red Cross to help the suffering lot
with humanitarian help, like the relief materials. Thus the peace loving and hard working
Lhotsampas have been leading their life in sub-human environment in seven different
camps in eastern Nepal.
4.3 Main causes of displacement of the Bhutanese Refugees
Bhutan is a small Himalayan country of South-East Asia. It is a mountainous region and
is fully landlocked. Towards south, east and west lays India and on the north lies Tibet. It
is a member country of SAARC. It became the member of UNO in 1971. Bhutan‟s
foreign policy is guided by India. Despite China being one of the largest countries of
Asia, it shares no relation with it.
Bhutan is a country with different ethnic groups. As per the report prepared by AHURA
Bhutan-1993, there are altogether 14 different ethnic groups there. Therefore it has a
heterogeneous society.
The ruling class or the Ngalongs comprises only 15% of the total population. They
mainly inhibit the Western part of the country and are richer tan other groups. The
Sarchops who inhibit the Eastern part of the country comprises about 33% of the
population. The Lhotsampas or the Southern Bhutanese occupy the southern belt of the
country. They comprise 50% of the total population. The rest of the other ethnic groups
make 2% of the Bhutanese population. This can be better represented in a pie chart.
36
15
33
50
2
Ngalongs
Sarchops
Lhotshampas
Others
Fig: 1 Representation of Ethnic Communities in percentage in a pie chart
The Ngalongs speak Dzongkha the national language of the country. The Lhotsampas
speak the same language that is spoken in Nepal, as they are the descendents of the
Nepalese people. They are Hindus and practise the Hindu culture wholeheartedly. The
Sarchops are the second largest ethnic group of the country. They speak Sarchop and are
Buddhists. The different other minority groups are: Bumthangpas, Doyas, Brokpas,
Garapas, Kuertops, Dagpas, Khengpas, Tibetans, etc.
The king is the supreme person of the country and is above the constitution. His words
are the laws of the country. The freedom of speech and expression, publication of
newspapers other than Kuensel (the Government‟s mouthpiece), voicing ones‟
fundamental rights, practising social and cultural rights, is almost banned in the country.
Bhutan has a unicameral national Assembly established by the third king, Jigme Dorji
Wangchuck, in 1953. There are 151 members in the National Assembly and they are
nominated from, a) peoples‟ representatives, b) Monastic representatives, and c) the
official representatives. The Ngalongs who comprise only 15% of the total population
have 66 representatives in the National Assembly; where as the Lhotasmpas those
comprise 50% of the total population can give only 16 representatives! The easterners,
Sarchops, have 58 representatives from their people. The representatives are not elected;
rather the King, assisted by some high-ranking officials, selects them. It is because the
democratic institutions are not prevalent in Bhutan. There are no political parties as all
political activities are banned inside the country. Despite the biasness and inequality in
37
the governance of the country, every Bhutanese had lived a peaceful and normal life till
1988. Or till 1988, no differences on social, cultural, political or economic grounds were
seen among the different ethnic groups of Bhutan. But in 1988 the government of Bhutan
legislated and implemented a number of policies that favoured the Ngalongs or those who
followed Buddhism, but they are discriminatory to the southern Bhutanese as the policies
directly violated their fundamental rights and freedom.
The government officials, as ordered by the king and supported by the Home Minister,
started propagating the policy of “One Nation One People”. This policy disturbed every
southern Bhutanese as they foresaw that the implementation of that policy would almost
erase their way of living. Those who defied following that law were penalised. Since the
policies were very discriminatory to the Lhotsampas they were compelled to agitate
against the government. So the government accused them of going against the King,
Country and the People (Cha Wa Sum). Some of the major policies that give birth to the
crisis of Bhutanese refugees are as follows:
4.3.1 Citizenship Act
Question of nationality and methods employed to determine citizenship form a backdrop
of all other issues and events in southern Bhutan. Bhutan's first attempt to define its
citizenship came with National Law of Bhutan, 1958. The regime enacted a new
Citizenship Act, 1985. This Act was given a retrospective implementation of thirty years,
that is, from 1958. It declared 31 December 1958 as the cut-off year for granting
citizenship. The Act was forcefully implemented in 1988. The wives of Bhutanese
citizens married from outside the country and children born of such parents were not
granted citizenship and were deprived of their legitimate citizenship status. This Act
defined three criteria for granting of citizenship: by birth, by registration, and through
naturalization.
This Act is the origin of the refugee problems and the looming danger of statelessness for
Lhotshampas. The National Law, 1958 prescribed 'fatherhood' as the criteria for granting
citizenship-which is normal. But the new Act repealed the previous citizenship law and
prescribed 'parenthood' as the sole criteria for grant of citizenship by birth, thus denying
citizenship to anyone whose mother was married from outside the country, even if the
mother was granted citizenship according to previous law. Since the Act was given a
retrospective implementation of 1958, all children born of a marriage between a
Bhutanese father and a non-Bhutanese mother, in between 1958 to 1988 were declared
38
non-citizens and so-called 'illegal' and 'economic migrants'. The National Assembly
in1988 confirmed 14,442 marriages between a Bhutanese citizen and a non-citizen during
last twenty years. The number was too insignificant for the government to grant
citizenship rights.
Article 3 of the Act codified a new basis for granting citizenship - a proof of residence in
Bhutan since before December 31, 1958 was required. It says that "A person permanently
domiciled in Bhutan on or before 31st December, 1958, and, whose name is registered in
the census register maintained by the Ministry of Home Affairs shall be deemed to be a
citizen of Bhutan by registration". The government subsequently brought all Lhotshampas
under the purview of citizenship by registration only. They were considered citizens by
registration and not by birth, even though they were born and reared in Bhutan since the
17th century much before the establishment of the current ruling Wangchuchk dynasty in
1907 and granted citizenship by previous laws.
4.3.2 The Language Policy
Till 1988 the Nepali Language was taught in different schools in southern Bhutan. The
whole Lhotshampa community was shocked when, all of a sudden, the teaching of Nepali
Language was banned and the Nepali textbooks destroyed.
Dzongkha is the language of the Ngalongs (the ruling class) and also is the national
language of Bhutan. It was only in late sixties that Dzongkha was introduces in the south.
Before that Nepali was the medium of language of correspondence. It was even used in
the courts to give verdicts and write decisions. Even those government officials who were
from the Drukpa community could fluently converse in Nepali Language. As per a record
by AHURA Bhutan; (Sept, 25 1990) the King had regrettably given an interview to
Kamaljeet Ratten, a journalist of the Economic Times stating that, “It is sad that the
teaching-learning of the Nepali Language had to be stopped as per the decision of the
National Assembly. Thus the Lhotsampas were deprived of their own mother
tongue.Thus, the fundamental right of a citizen to speak and use the mother tongue was
prohibited by the Royal Kingdom on the context of National Language and integration. It
was a breach of United Nation proclamation as well.
39
4.3.3 Biased Laws or Categorization
In 1958 the National Assembly of Bhutan enacted a Legislation a law to give citizenship
certificates to those people who were living in Bhutan on the basis of; i. Birth Right, ii.
Naturalisation (who had lived in Bhutan for more than five years). iii. On the basis of
birth registration. The law was amended in 1985 proving the 1958 law null and void and
legislated a new law in its place. So in 1988, the new law was enforced through a census
conducted in the southern districts where the Bhutanese of the Nepalese origin lived.
During the census the census team categorised the southern Bhutanese into seven
different categories from F1-F7, as under.
1. Genuine Bhutanese F1 (Those people who could produce the receipt of land tax)
2. Returned emigrants F2 (Those who had left Bhutan but returned again)
3. Drop outs F3 (Those who were absent during the census)
4. Marriage (non-Bhutanese) F4 (A Non-Bhutanese woman married to a Bhutanese national)
5. Marriage (Bhutanese) F5 (A Non-Bhutanese man married to a Bhutanese woman)
6. Adopted Children F6 (Children adopted by Bhutanese parents)
7. Non-Bhutanese F7 (People who were declared non-Bhutanese by the RGOB)
For those people who were categorised under F2, F5 and F7 stricter rules were made and
were compelled to undergo different trails, compelling them to flee the country or
forcefully evicted them. The laws were so biased and illogical that, if a father came under
F1 category, the wife and the children were put under F7 because they knew that under
any circumstances they would not remain away from each other. Thus, the draconian rule
tore thousands of family that way and compelled majority of the Lhotsampas leave the
country.
4.3.4 Code of Social Decorum: Driglam Namza
The principle of Driglam Namza is based on Buddhism, which in simple terms teaches a
person, the food habits, the postures (how to sit in front of high officials), how to talk
with seniors or especially how to respect a high ranking official and how to dress in a
traditional Drukpa way. The rules in it are good to the Drukpa community. But since the
rules of Driglam Namza are alien to the southern Bhutanese, it directly interfered with
40
their way of life. So it became very tough for them to follow and get adapted to the
Drukpa way of life and living. The policy of Driglam Namza further compelled the
people to consume beef (cow‟s meat). How can the southern Bhutanese who worship
cow as a goddess consume her meat? It also forced every Bhutanese to compulsorily
wear Gho (Bokhu) and Kira (for women). The Lhotsmpas who‟re used to wearing Daura
Surwal and other clothes of their choice found it funny and difficult to wear such clothes.
They were force to wear every time and everywhere, even while working in the field.
Southern Bhutan experiences scorching summers, often the mercury rising to 40 degree
Celsius. How can Gho and Kira, made up of thick woollen clothes especially suitable for
mountainous regions, be put in such temperatures? The other problem they faced was that
they simply didn‟t know how to put the dress as any southern Bhutanese never put it in
their whole life. The lhotsampas were ordered to put the Gho and Kira in each and every
celebration and ceremony. Anyone violating the code of Driglamnamza was punished
through imprisonment. Thus then Lhotsampas were angered and were forced to go
against the tyrannical rule.
4.3.5 Green Belt Policy in the South
The southern belt of Bhutan is the breadbasket of the whole country. In a ploy to
displace the hardworking people, the RGOB hatched a conspiracy and decided to create
a green belt within 1 km from the Indian Border. This means it was a pre-planned step
to evacuate the lhotsampas from their land and houses. Most of the arable and fertile
lands fall within one km from the Indian border. Thus many were rendered homeless
and had to leave the country in search of a place to live and survive.
4.3.6 Marriage Act
The Royal Government of Bhutan had enacted legislation a policy on marriage in 1977.
The policy came into effective implementation in 1988. The policy deprived those
Bhutanese who had tied nuptial knot with the Non-Bhutanese, from facilities like
health, loan, education and many other important facilities. Though there are many
Drukpa nationals who have established marital relationships with non-Bhutanese the
law didn‟t abide them. The law was only implied to the Lhotsampas depriving them
from their fundamental rights. Since the Lhotsampas share a common culture with the
Nepalese and Indian-Nepalese they have established innumerable relationships with
them. But the ruling class Ngalongs, who had their better halves from different parts of
the Globe were not subjected to this clause. Thus, this discriminatory law of marriage
brought hardships in the lives of hundreds of families of the south.
41
4.3.7 Taxation
In the context of revenue collection different forms of taxes were levied on the
Sarchops, Lhotsampas.But Ngalongs, the ruling classes were exempted from such taxes.
Taxes were the state sponsored techniques to dominate and make them hand to mouth
situation.
Every Lhotsampa has to pay tax for everything they possess. The RGOB has levied tax
on the livestock they have, on crops they grow (cash crops) and taxed them on almost
everything they possess. Thus the Lhotsampas were drained out of every penny they
earned. Those few powerful people who are the close aides of the King consume the
taxed money. The huge sum of money collected was never used for development
purposes as Bhutan has very few roads and transportation and other infrastructures of
development. Thus, the people of the south are badly exploited.
4.3.8 Forced Labour
The ethnic minority Nepalese residing in the southern area of the Drukpa Kingdom
were subjected to state sponsored wilderness. They were asked to donate their labour
for the development of the country in the context of torturing and terrorizing them. It
was integrated efforts part of the Royal Kingdom along with puppet administration.
Besides paying taxes on every possession they have, the southern Bhutanese of the
Nepali origin were forced to give their manual labour to RGOB without pay. The RGOB
has named the works as “chunidum”, Shaptelin, Gungda moola, etc. the Lhotsampas
were forced to work under exploitive conditions. They have (had) to remain in the sites
for months, away from their family members. This further worsened the condition of the
Lhotsampas household as the bread earner of the house had/has to remain away without
earning. If denied to go for work police force were mobilised compelling them to go for
work. Thus, the Lhotsampas were harassed and exploited in a long-term plan to chase
them away from Bhutan.
4.4 Uprising in Southern Bhutan
The hardships discussed above under different sub headings finally compelled the
Lhotsampas to agitate against the RGOB. There was a general uprising in the southern
districts of Chirang, Sarbhang, Samchi, Dagana, Samdrupjongkhar on 19th September,
42
1990 to vent their resentment against the Drukpa rule. That was the starting of the fight
of the Lhotsampas, to keep continuing their culture and establish democracy with Human
rights.
The seed of the Lhotsampas resentment was sown by Tek Nath Rizal, the then advisor to
the King when he submitted a plea to His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck, to review
the 1985 legislation of the Citizenship Act, in 1988. He had requested the King to
immediately look into the matter as it was discriminatory and was implemented to the
Lhotsampas only. But, in turn, Mr. Rizal was terminated from his post alleging that his
petition was seditious and was against the Tsa Wa Sum (King, Country and People). He
was imprisoned briefly and was tortured badly. He was asked not repeat the same deed,
otherwise he would be conferred harsh punishment. He came to Nepal as his life was at
risk. In Nepal he established a party, Peoples‟ Forum for Human Rights-Bhutan
(PFHRB). But soon, on Bhutan‟s request, he was deported back to Bhutan by the then
government of Nepal in Nov. 15 1989. He was put behind the bars by the draconian rule
almost for a decade. Amnesty International declared him “Prisoner of Conscience”. After
a decade of arduous life in Prison he was released and is now living an ailing life in
Nepal.
A few of the conscious Lhotsampas kept the momentum of the uprising and more and
more people joined in, voicing the misdeeds and gross rights violation of the RGOB.
Fearing the exposure of the ugly side of the rule, the RGOB sent the Royal Bhutan Army
on a rampage in the Southern districts of Bhutan where the Bhutanese of the Nepali
origin lived. The RBA unleashed a reign of terror of killing, detaining, punishing, raping
and looting. Despite the presence of smoking barrels, on 19th September 1990, mass
demonstrations were held demanding the release of Lhotsampa prisoners, human rights
activists, reformation on the National Assembly and Judiciary and establishment of
Democracy in Bhutan. These demonstrations took place under the aegis of the Bhutan
Peoples Party (BPP). Several other freshly formed parties supported and participated in
the mass demonstration. People of all ranks and files from the south participated. Several
thousands of people were gathered in each district headquarters of South on 19th
September 1990. It was this mass that sent a chill in the nerves of the RGOB and
threatened the foundation of more than a century old Ngalong rule.
The demonstration continued for some more days. People of all walks of life showed
their solidarity to the movement. To quieten the agitators, the RGOB, all of a sudden,
mobilised its army. Scores of leaders, including the students‟ leaders were arrested and
43
detained. The atrocities of the army entered the Lhotsampas‟ villages and the villagers
were forced to flee the country for their life.
4.5 Incompetent Leadership
The situation in Bhutan would have not worsened had the leaders been able to give good
guidance and leadership. Since they were inexperienced and immature in handling such a
situation, the cry for democracy and human rights slipped out of their hands. While some
leaders betrayed the people by becoming softer to RGOB, some simply instigated the
youths and left them nowhere. Thus the struggle to store human rights and usher
democracy in Bhutan is still a far cry.
4.6 Present Bhutan
The country has undergone a sea change after one lakh plus Lhotsampas were swept out
of the country in a step towards ethnic cleansing in 1990-91. In most part of the southern
districts, dense jungle has come up where there used to be Lhotsampa villages. The Royal
Bhutan Army now occupies the schools and health centres. The Drukpa community now
occupies a few of the villages.
The Lhotsampas who survived the broom of ethnic cleansing are deprived of almost all
facilities. Leaving aside a few educated ones; most of them survive by working as
labourers on road sites. Schooling for most Lhotsampa children is banned as; they are not
given the No Objection Certificate (NOC) by the RGOB. And once again the RGOB is
wickedly hatching out plans to shoo the rest of the Lhotsampas out of the country
alleging them of involvement in different subversive activities. In totality, the condition
of Lhotsampas in Bhutan is pitiable and sub-human.
4.7 Nature and Volume of Bhutanese Refugees of Beldangi-Two
Initially the Bhutanese refugees were sheltered in the banks of River Mai in Jhapa
district. When UNHCR took over the responsibility of sheltering and feeding them, they
shifted the refugees to different locations of Jhapa and Morang districts.
The camp is located 8 km north of Damak Municipality. It is connected to Damak by a
pitched road, constructed by UNHCR. The huts are constructed along side river Ratwa
and the camp stretches 2 kms towards the Ilam border. A number of INGOs are involved
in meeting the day-to-day requirements of the refugees.
44
4.7.1 Birth Rate/Death Rate
With the socio-economic development of a society, there will be a sharp decline in the
birth rate and the death rate. However it‟s difficult to get the correct statistics of death
rate in the camp, though birth is immediately notified in the concerned administrative
section. The practise in the camp is, the more number of children you have, the more
facilities you get. But Timely report of the death rate may lead to the supervision of the
facilities you get. So the refugees try to conceal the news of their family member‟s death.
Therefore in the camp the birth rate is very high and the death rate is very slow.
The death due to old age is higher than child mortality rate. It‟s because, the Nepal Red
Cross Society that looks after the health and medication of the camp is more concerned
with the health of the children and youths than the health of the Nepalese people. It‟s
because, the young people are the red manpower where as the Nepalese are merely
dependents. At an average amount five people in the camp die every month and the birth
rate is almost three times the death rate.
4.7.2 Family Structure
Almost 80% of the families in the camp are joint families. It‟s primarily because of two
reasons. Firstly it‟s their traditional way of living. Back in Bhutan also they used to stay
together as a joint family. Secondly they are compelled to stay together as they are left
with no other options. Therefore they are crowded in very small huts. Further staying
together minimises the use of the minimal facilities they get. At an average there are
seven members in each family in the camp.
Table-2
Table Showing Beldangi -2 Camp Population:
3358families/23070 persons of March 2008
Source: UNHCR, 2008.
0-4 5-17% 18-59% 60+%
Total
Population
Female 3 17 26 3 49
Male 4 17 27 3 51
Total 7 34 53 6 100
45
4.7.3 Population by caste
A society is made up of different castes, religion, language, culture and beliefs. There
exist different castes in this camp also. They are: Brahmin, chhetry, Rai, Limbu, Magar,
Lepcha, Tamang, Kami, Damai, Sarki, etc. these different castes have made the refugee
community of Beldangi Two.It is almost akin to the society structure of Nepal. The
practice of untouchability is very much prevalent, especially among the older generation.
The Kami, Damai and Sarki are forbidden to enter the houses of the other castes. Neither
they are allowd to attend and participate in the religious rituals of the society except
theirs own. Nepali is the common language spoken in the refugee community. However
the other castes, except Brahmin, chhetry, Kami, Damai and Sarki have their own
language. The profession in the camp also varies as per their castes, though; in the
educated lot we don‟t find the profession differences as per caste. In totality the refugee
community of this camp exactly portray the Nepalese society, as we find no differences
in the whole structure.
Table - 3
Table Showing Respondents Population by Caste
S.N. Ethnic/Caste Nos %
1. Brahmin 18 30
2. Chhetri 6 10
3. Tamang 6 10
4. Gurung 5 8.33
5. Rai 5 8.33
6. Subba 4 6.66
7. Kami/Damai 5 8.33
8. Pradhan 3 5
9. Bhujel 2 3.33
10. Sherpa 2 3.33
11. Magar 1 1.66
12. Limbu 1 1.66
13. Majhi 1 1.66
14. Jogi 1 1.66
Total 60
100
Source: Field Study, 2007
46
The table above shows the number of families and the total members in each family out
of the 60 samples taken for the research. Among them 18 out of 60 households is
Brahmin that constitutes 30% of the total population. Likewise 6 families are
Chhetris,that makes up 10%. Tamang,Gurung,Rai,Subba, and Kami Damai and Pradhan
comprise 6,5,5,4,5 families respectively,making up 10, 8.33,8.33,6.66,8.33 and 5
percentage.
4.7.4 Marriage in the Camp
A society is incomplete without marriage. It‟s a legal licence for two opposite sexes to
remain together. Marriage in the camp is done as per the tradition of each caste. Getting
married in the camp is not very expensive as every family earns lowly. Most of the
marriages are arranged marriages. They are arranged within the camps and very often
they go to find a match in the other refugee camps. The invited guests come with basic
items of day-to-day use like, rice, oil, sugar, pulses, money, etc to attend the party. This
minimises the expenditure of the host family. Panchey baja or Naumati baja is used in the
marriage though a lot of marriages take place without these instruments as the modern
music has a strong influence in the refugee community.
Due to the crowded habitation, many teenagers, purely due to infatuation and lust for sex,
elope. This untimely marriage has become one of the social evils of the camps. After a
few months of these untimely marriages, quarrel erupts between the husbands and wives
resulting in divorce or second marriage. In the “Mathawali” community marriage is
easier as a few bottles of home made liquor are enough to woo a girl and make her
parents happy. A few of the boys and girls have been able to find their partners in the
local community, as there exists no differences between the refugees and them.
4.7.5 Religion
There is diversity in religion in this refugee camp as there exists different religions.
Though a majority, almost 75% of them are Hindus; there are people who follow
Buddhism, Christianity, Kirati, etc. More than 99% of the Chhetris and Brahmins are
Hindus. Refugees, especially of the lower castes have recently converted to Christianity
as the system of untouchability and casteism is not there in Christianity. A lot of refugees
of Limbu and Rai origin have converted themselves into Kirati religion. Tamangs and
Gurungs who used to follow Hinduism in Bhutan have now almost all converted into
Buddhism.
47
Fig: A picture depicting a religious ceremony “Bratabandha”
Table -4
Respondent Population by Religion
S.No Religion No of Families Percentage
1 Hinduism 40 66.6
2 Buddhism 12 20
3 Kirat 5 8.33
4 Christians 2 3.3
5 Others 1 1.66
Total 60 100
Source: Field study, 2007
Out of the 60 families, in the table above, 40 of them are Hindus that means 66.6 percent
are Hindus. In the same way 20% of them are Buddhists (12 families). Christians and
Kirats consists almost 11 % ( 2 and 5) families. The remaining approximately 2% (1
family) follow other religion. This shows that Hinduism prevails over other religions in
this refugee camp though Buddhism and Christianity are on the rise.
48
4.7.6 Festivals and the Way of Life
Every national festival celebrated in Nepal is also celebrated in the refugee camp. Better
food and better clothing is a necessity during festivals. Prior to few days of the festivals,
the number of refugees who go out in the local areas for work double. They exchange the
food items they get like pulses, boiled rice, oil, etc to better quality rice in the local
market or in the local community. The respective communities celebrate Durga Puja, Kali
Puja, swaraswati puja, Lhosar, to name a few, in groups in the temples constructed in the
camp itself.
4.7.7 Means of Sustenance in the Camp
Everywhere in the world, wherever there are refugees, their survival is always difficult.
The Bhutanese refugees are looked after by World Food Programme (WFP), which works
in close coordination with UNHCR. The refugees have no choice but comply with what
WFP provides them. We don‟t find any differences of food habits among the refugees as
cent percent of them have the same quality food provided to them by WFP. The refugees
are provided just a small plot of land to construct a small hut. They don‟t have land to
cultivate crops. But they have managed growing a few seasonal vegetables in a small
stretch of land, about four feet between the two rows of the huts. This helps them a lot to
supplement to their daily needs.
Consumption of meat in the camp is very rare as it is very expensive and the penniless
refugees cannot afford buying it every time they desire to eat. How ever during important
occasions and festivals they some one manage one square meal with meat. A few of the
refugees have ventured to rear cows and pigs in the villages nearby (Dhukurpani,
Bhangbari, Bookwa, and Madhumalla). The milk and the meat they produce are sold in
the camp itself. Since almost all the refugees are farmers they have even cultivated the
local‟s land and grow rice and vegetables there.
49
Table-5
Edible Items of Daily Consumption
S.No Items Quantity/person Daily/weekly
1 Rice 400 gm Daily
2 Pulses 40 gm Daily
3 Vegetable Oil 25 gm Daily
4 Sugar 20 gm Daily
5 Salt 7.5 gm Daily
6 Seasonal vegetables 250 gm Weekly
7 Gram 20 gm Weekly
8 Onion 30 gm Weekly
9 Uni-lito 35gm Weekly
10 Potato 250 gm Weekly
11 Ginger 40 gm Weekly
Source: UNHCR, 2008
With 400 gm of rice per person per day, it is very difficult for the refugees to gratify their
hunger. They have to be contented with the incomplete dietary, as they have no other
options. The type of vegetables they get change from season to season and most of the
time the given vegetables are4 not fresh. The table very clearly shows that everything
they get is not at all sufficient for them to have a stomach full.
Consumption of meat in the camp is rare as it is very expensive and most of them cannot
afford buying it. In the same way the consumption of fruits is also nil. Lack of such
nutritious items in their diet has made the refugees feeble and weak and hence they are
easily prone to different illness, diseases and malnutrition.
4.7.8 Fuel
Till 2005 the refugees were given almost one litre of kerosene per person per week to
cook their meals. But the quantity of kerosene is reduced to one litre per family per
month. The donor agencies argue that the price of oil in the international market has shot
up and they cannot afford supplying it. The one litre of fuel is given to ignite the briquette
stove. Instead of the kerosene oil, the refugees are supplied with “briquette”- a form of
coal, with a cheaply made oven to burn it
50
The use of briquette has hampered the health of many refugees. Mostly affected are the
olds and the newly born. They suffer from diseases like asthma, bronchitis, cough,
conjunctivitis, etc. since there is no fuel to burn lamps, the refugees prepare their meals
on the Smokey oven before 5 pm and go to bed very early. In the morning also they
finish eating their food before 8 am. The camp in the morning and evening is covered
under the canopy of thick smoke emitted out of the briquette ovens.
Though there is the supply of electricity in the nearby villages, the refugees are deprived
of this facility as the huts are too crowded and are poorly made. A great risk involves in
supplying it. A number of times the refugee camp of Beldangi Camp has been ravaged
by fire destroying lives and properties.
4.7.9 Education in the Camp
One of the most important factors that make a man rational is education. It helps in
empowering human with knowledge, ideas and intelligence and prepares manpower. The
Bhutanese refugees though underprivileged have the opportunity of attending elementary
schools. Many of them continue till their Undergraduate and Graduate levels. They are
fortunate enough to derive such opportunities of learning and education.
The literacy rate of the Lhotsampas, back in Bhutan was roughly 35%. Since most of
them were farmers they were busy in cultivating their lands. The other reason of low
literacy rate in Bhutan was due to scarcity of schools. The benefit for the Lhotsampas of
becoming refugees is that their literacy rate has drastically increased. The literacy rate of
Beldangi one is 54%. The rate has increased because of the free education the refugee
children get and they have no other works to do. The scheme of adult education is also
prevalent in the camp. Many people who didn‟t know how to read and write in simple
language also have begun to understand and read the basic words of day-to-day use.
Table - 6
Students and Teachers of Beldangi-II
Students Teachers
Grade Female Male Total Female Male Total
4 sectors Schools ( PP-III ) 1126 1175 24 24 24 48
3 Extension Schools( IV- VI ) 1400 1264 27 49 49 76
1 Main School (VII- X ) 619 633 5 44 44 49
1 Secondary School (VII -X ) 552 496 3 34 34 37
Total 3873 3659 61 155 155 202
Source: UNHCR Damak, 2008
51
The response to schooling and education was very positive in the initial phase of the
refugee life as almost every one was encouraged to go to school and get free education.
But as the life in the refugee camp slowly began deteriorating each passing year due to
several reasons, primarily financial, a lot of students opted out of the school. They started
going out of the camp towards coalmines in Northeast India and other places in Nepal to
earn for their family and for themselves.
The manpower of the same camp is utilized for teaching the refugee children. In case of
teacher shortages a few teachers from other camps are also appointed. CARITAS Nepal
takes the interview of those who desire to teach as volunteer workers in the camp. The
interview is taken to check their ability whether they can teach for a specified standard.
There are aw many as 206 teachers under nine schools situated in Beldangi-II. These
teachers are posted in different sector schools. UNHCR looks after the teaching learning
materials up to standard 8 and in the higher sections, i.e. 9 & 10 CARITAS Nepal
manages the teaching learning materials. The teacher student ratio in Beldangi camp is
1:45 at an average.
There is a provision of scholarship for those students who qualify in the SLC
examination. The UNHCR through CARITAS provided Rs. 3000/- to those students who
join Arts and Commerce and a purse of Rs. 6000/- to those who join Science. Most of the
students join local colleges in Damak. Some of them go to Biratnagar, Birtamod and even
to Kathmandu. A few of them go across the border to Kalingpong, Darjeeling and Siliguri
to pursue their studies. The students who go to Biratnagar, Birtamod and towards India
take their ration and stay in groups in a room minimizing their cost of living. Then
refugee students, after completing their studies, join in different boarding schools in
Nepal as teachers as their command over the English Language is good. Their
involvement in teaching has helped a lot of refugee family to uplift their standard of
living. A few of them join in the refugee school itself as volunteer teachers.
Besides the facility of regular teaching learning, different INGOs have helped the
refugees by giving them skill based trainings, like mechanic, tailoring, soap making,
typing, etc. these trainings have helped refugees find work in and outside of the camp and
has help tem earn some small amounts. Like wise adult education has help a lot of people
pass their time reading different books, newspapers, journals, pamphlets, etc available le
in the camp
52
CARITAS Nepal designs the curriculum of the refugee students. Selected and trained
teachers are appointed in the Damak office of CARITAS where they work through out
the year designing and updating the course of study, organizing workshops and trainings
to the teachers and often visiting the refugee schools checking the effectiveness of the
teaching learning. The CARITAS comprises of Fathers and Sisters of Jesuit Refugee
Services (JRS) who are also veteran educationists. They invite experts from around the
world to train the refugee teachers.
Unlike the Nepalese calendar the school in the camp runs on Saturday also. They get the
break on Sunday. The school in the camp celebrates almost every important occasion like
Bhanujayanti, Swaraswati Puja and many other literary activities.
4.8 Socio-economic Condition of the Bhutanese Refugees of
Beldangi two
The socio-economic condition of the refugees of Beldangi two is pitiable. Their earning
is almost zero. They actually are restricted within the camp itself. The laborious farmers
who used to grow plenty of crops and vegetables have to uselessly idle their time away in
the refugee camp. They have to depend on what they get from donor agencies. However
the refugees‟ life is slowly improving, as they have been able to earn through different
works and professions. They are explained as below:
Table -7
Various Professions pursued by the Bhutanese Refugees
S. No Work No. of houses Percentage
1 Teaching 5 8.3
2 Manual Labour 30 50
3 Business 5 8.3
4 Vendors 5 8.3
5 Idle and Children 15 25
6 Total 60 100
Source: Field Work (Beldangi-Two), 2007
53
4.8.1 Teaching
Thousands of youths who have graduated from different universities join teaching the
teaching profession in Nepal. Through teaching they have been able to earn a decent
living for themselves and their families. They do not get jobs in other organizations, as
they cannot produce the Nepalese citizenship. Since they are well educated and have a
fairly good command over the English language, private and boarding schools easily take
them. It is also found that many of them conceal their nationality and join the jobs; while
some of them have secretly made the citizenship cards.
4.8.2 Business
A small percentage of refugees of Beldangi two are involved in different kinds of petty
businesses also. Some of them have put up pan shops and other grocery items within the
camp itself. Some of the refugees are seen collecting pulses, vegetable oil, gram and rice
that is given to the refugees and sell them in Damak Bazaar and Madhumalla. It is not
that the refugees have enough of these things. It is because they need money to buy a lot
of other items of daily needs. The things given by the donor agencies are the other
possession they have. So in order to meet their requirements they sell them. Some
refugees even own night buses. When they fled Bhutan they were able to bring their
money and other valuables. A very few refugees have bought small plots of land in the
villages.
The men and women of the „mathwali‟ community prepare local wine and chhyang and
sell in the camp itself. Some refugees work as vegetable vendors also. This has been a
lucrative business as fresh vegetables are demanded each household everyday. A few of
the refugee youths work as mechanics in and outside the camp.
4.8.3 Manual Labour
As per the rule of Refugee Coordinating Unit (RCU), no refugees are allowed to go out of
the camp premises without the permission of the authority concerned. But the rule could
not be implemented effectively, as any sort of wall or barbed wire does not surround the
refugee camp. The RCU tried a number of times to block the refugees from going out but
in vain. So, thousands of refugees daily go out of the camp in search of work in the
villages and towns nearby. They mainly work as manual labourers like construction of
roads, buildings, houses, bridges, etc. some of them work in the village farm throughout
54
the year. There are manual menial jobs available in the camp. They earn meagre 40
rupees for the whole days‟ labour. Many are employed in weaving yarn and turning into
cloth.
They plough, plant crops and vegetables, reap, thrash and reach them to the go downs of
the owners. The refugees are paid but less than what the local labourers get. The villagers
are also willing to employ them, as they have to pay less and are cheaply available. A lot
of physically strong refugees desire to go to coal mines is north India as they can make
more money there.
A teacher who works inside the camp gets a monthly incentive ranging from Rs.750/- to
1400‟.At an average a teacher or a health worker in the camp earns Rs.36/day. Contrast to
this, a teacher who goes out side the camp to teach in a private or boarding school earns a
comparatively high amount. The salary depends upon the reputation of the school and
their qualification and capability. Their salary ranges from Rs3000/- to Rs.14000/ month.
They have spread throughout Nepal from Mechi to Mahakali to Jajarkot and Jumla. A
handful of the educated refugees work in India also.
With these different works and professions in the refugees‟ hand, a good amount of
money flows inside the camp improving their quality of life and food habits.
4.9 The Different INGOs Helping the Refugees
The Lhotsampas who were brutally tortured and evicted from Bhutan landed up in the
Nepalese soil. Nepal could not afford feeding the hundreds of thousands of asylum
seekers as she already has many hungry mouths to feed. But Nepal immediately reacted
to the flow of refugees in Nepal and urged UNHCR to come o their rescue. Since then,
UNHCR supported by Nepal Government and other INGOs have been supporting the
refugees. The different agencies, INGOs, organizations and NGOs helping the refugees
are as follows:
UNHCR: United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) is the chief of all
organizations. It coordinated with Nepal Government to look after the welfare of the
refugees. It is the umbrella organization of other orgs.
NRCS: Nepal Red Cross Society helps in the distribution of food and non food items,
vegetables and kerosene oil. It is also responsible for the ambulance service and other
shuttle services in the camp. It distributes medicines to the refugees.
55
Home Ministry: the Home Ministry is equally responsible for the welfare and security of
the refugees. It should be updated every now and then with what goes on in the refugee
camp. The Home Ministry for the security of the refugees installs a police post in the
refugee camp. Through the Refugee Coordinating Unit (RCU) The Home Ministry keeps
the up to date statistics of the refugees.
LWF: Lutheran World Federation provides materials for building and construction, like
bamboos, poles, wires. Straw etc. the water, a must need of the refugees is also supplied
by LWF. The construction and renovation of toilets and other forms of sanitation is also
looked after by it.
LWF/BRP mainly focuses on following activities:
1. Refugees care and Maintenance
2. Refugees Host Community Support Project (RHCSP)
3. Risk Management /Disaster Preparedness.
4. Advocacy and Networking
5. HIV/AIDS awareness
6. Empowerment
7. Relief Operation
8. Organizational Development.
WFP: Though NRCS distributes the food items to the refugees, it is WFP that actually
provides.
SCF: The SCF (UK) provides medicines and medical care. It also runs a few ambulances
to help the refugees ferry the patients.
AMDA: Association of Medical Doctors of Asia provides preventive and curative
medical help to the refugees. It has established hospitals in Damak and Birtamod for the
welfare of the refugees. It also helps the local people by treating the patients at a
minimum rate.
OXFAM: It provides non-formal education to people who are interested in vocational
trainings and education.
CVICT: Primarily care and gives counselling to victims of torture.
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CHAPTER- V
IMPACTS OF THE BHUTANESE REFUGEES OF BELDANGI
TWO ON THE LOCAL COMMUNITY
The influx of the Bhutanese refugees in the Nepalese soil has added one more complex
problem to the number of other problems Nepal already had. The people of the adjoining
areas are affected more because of their presence. Though there are some positive aspects
of the refugees of the camp, the local community complain more of negative affects. The
negative implications of the refugees are discussed below.
5.1 Social Impacts and the Worsening Relationship
There are a number of social problems that have badly affected the relationship between
the refugee community and the local community. Some of the important ones are below:
i. Prostitution
ii. Alcoholism and Gambling
iii. Theft and robbery
iv. Quarrels and misunderstanding, etc
5.1.1 Prostitution
Prostitution is a growing problem within and outside the camp. As a matter of facts a lot
of girls are compelled to serve as prostitutes as they have no other ways to earn. The
jungle around the camp has served as a suitable place to establish illicit relationship with
the local boys. It has come to our knowledge that money as less as 20 rupees also
accepted by a girl for a single physical relationship. A lot of girls secretly visit Damak
bazaar towards the evening, daily, where they get their clients. They spend the nights in
different guesthouses and come back to the camp in the morning. The parents know all
about these activities but they are compelled to stay mum. Some of them have travelled
even towards Kathmandu and Pokhara and are found working in different cabin
restaurants, guesthouses and hotels. It is not that every girl who work as a prostitute earn,
their clients often cheat them. Thus prostitution has embarrassed the otherwise morally
good people of the local community. This has misled a lot of youths, as sex is cheaply
available. The local people have often protested against the character of the girls often
leading to quarrels and misunderstanding, further jeopardising the social relationship.
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5.1.2 Alcoholism and Gambling
Alcohol is very cheaply available in the local market. Since it is cheap a lot of refugee
youths can afford getting drunk. Bangey Bazaar is a place, which is very near to the
Beldangi Two camp where cheap locally made liquor is available till late nights. The
refugees and the locals, after getting drunk, often engage in gambling. Gambling leads to
quarrel and ultimately they land up in gang fights, inflicting serious injuries to each other.
The relationship between the locals and the camp people thus spoils.
5.1.3 Theft and Robbery
Recent bank robberies in banks and financial institutions in Damak had been proved to be
the handiwork of a criminal gang which was from the Beldangi refugee camp. They not
only do organized crime but also involving in cases of thugs, cheat and frauds.
Some local people of Bhangbari and Bookwa say that there is a sudden increase in petty
thefts after the Bhutanese are resettled in Beldangi Camp. Besides snatching the
ornaments and purses by pickpockets, they even go to the extent of stealing the livestock
like goats and pigs. They either sell the stolen animals in the local market or slaughter
them in the night itself and eat them.
Gangs of refugee robbers have broken into the houses in Damak municipality,
brandishing “Khukuris” and fake guns and have looted them of their cash and valuables.
Different newspapers have written about the refugee youths who got involved in robbing
night buses in the jungle near Pathri refugee Camp. Many of them flee across the border
towards India. These antisocial activities of the refugees have put the lives of local people
at risk and they cannot help hating them.
5.2 Impacts on Environment
The environment in and around Beldangi camp has been greatly degraded after the arrival
of the refugees. In 1992, when the refugees were first resettled in Beldangi Two, we used
to see a thick forest, with thick undergrowth, around the camp. Inside the camp also there
were innumerable trees. But they are all gone now. Massive deforestation began taking
place as the refugees mercilessly fell down the trees, used them as firewood and with the
help of some local people even smuggled them. The cutting down of the trees and
clearing the thick forest for firewood has forced out a lot of animals and birds from that
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area. The villagers used to collect green grass and leaves for their animals but now
neither they get the lush green grass nor the tree leaves.
The other complain that has not been dealt seriously, made by the inhabitants of
Dhukurpani and Bhangbari, is about the drying up of their wells after the refugees‟
settlement. The refugees are supplied water from a almost 80 metres deep hole bored by a
machine. The villagers fear that if the refugees‟ imbroglio remains for a longer period of
time, there could be the scarcity of water. However, the authorities have not dealt this
complain seriously as the level of water underground doesn‟t not easily decrease.
The indiscipline defection by the camp people in the nearby jungle has created a sort of
pungent pollution in the nearby areas of Bhangbari and Dhukurpani. Equally disturbing is
the dust that is produced by the innumerable vehicles that ply on the road from Damak to
the Camp. Thus, environment has slowly degraded, polluted and deforestation is on large
scale.
5.3 Economical Impacts
The influx of the Lhotshampa refugees in Jhapa has inflicted economic wounds in the
local community. The employment at the local level has been greatly damaged as the
refugees have taken over the works that are done by local workers. The economic impact
is seen in the following fields:
5.3.1. Unemployment Problem
The refugees who were used to working in Bhutan go out of the camp in search of works.
Places like Bhangbari, Damak, Bookwa, Dhukurpani,Madhumalla, Urlabari are flooded
with the refugee workers. It is advantageous for the employers to employ the refugee
workers as they work at a considerably lower wage than the local labourers. The flow of
refugee workers is seen from early morning leaving the camp and hurrying to different
destinations.80 to 85 percent of them, including women, have bought bicycles to reach
their work place in time. The rest of them walk to their works. Almost no labourers use
the local transport, as it is expensive for refugee standards. The unemployment has
increased drastically among the local backward communities as the cheap labourers
displace them. Even the educated few of the local community have been displaced as the
private and boarding schools and institutions of the nearby areas employ the refugees
who are academically sound.
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5.3.2 Farming
More than 90% of the refugees were farmers in Bhutan. In the camp also they cannot
keep themselves away from their involvement in farming. A lot of refugees have
ventured in hiring the local people‟s land in “aadhya” and work through out the year
planting and cultivating different seasonal crops and vegetables. They have also taken the
work of ploughing, weeding, planting, harvesting, and thrashing displacing the local
labour force. With these works in hand the refugees have been able to earn for their easy
sustenance in the camp.
5.3.3 Labours
Hundreds of refugees go out of the camp daily to work as labourers on the roads and as
construction workers. Since they work at a cheaper rate than the locally available
labourers or the Nepalese labourers, the contractors find lucrative to employ the refugees
as the same work can be completed with less amount of investment. The refugees have
almost wrested the bread from the mouth of the local labourers. A lot of concrete
buildings have mushroomed in the nearby villages of Bhangbari, Dhukurpani, Damak,
Madhumalla and Urlabari as employing the refugees in construction helps them halve
their investment. The refugees are expert masons and carpenters. Since they are cheaper,
they find work easily. Many refugees leave the camp for a number of months and travel
to far away places where construction work is taking place. When they come back home
after a long gap, they bring in the camp a good amount of money. This shows that the
refugees have displaced not only the local labourers, but they have also displaced the
labourers of other areas as well. This has further tarnished the local-refugee relationship.
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Fig: A woman spinning Cotton into yarn
Many of the refugees earn their livelihood by turning cotton into yarn. Girls, woman and
other needy people do this menial job for merely Rs40 per day. Some refugees develop
entrepreneurship by selling clothes to the customers. These clothes are reasonably priced
and investment in this enterprise is minimal compared to other profession.
They are involved in manufacturing Nepali topis and bags manually from wooden
equipment (Thaan).They are engaged in turning cane into furniture in different forms and
designs. The local businessmen give them work for certain specified labour charge. They
work in paddy fields and the land of local people in minimal money. They are good
workers in sowing, reaping and collecting the grains. Most of the labourers go to nearby
local homes to work in potato fields. Cotton weaving, tailoring, bakery, painting,
needlework are the common forms of works for refugee men and woman.
5.3.4 Price Rise
The concentration of refugees in Beldangi camp has proved profitable to the local
markets and businessmen. The prices of things of daily use have shot up creating
financial insecurity to the local poor and villagers. Prices of vegetables, bamboos,
construction materials, etc have more than doubled in a very shot span of time. The
demand of consumable goods is increased greatly in the vicinity of refugees‟ camps. The
demand had lead to the traders charging higher rates to the locals and refugees. This
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prompts them to go for shopping to Damak Bazar and saving few rupees. Because of this
trend, there is a greater demand for transportation and cycles in the area.
5.4. Impacts on Health and Education
One finds rows of stay along side the roads in Bhangbari, Dhukurpani, Bookwa and
Madhumalla villages. Refugees mainly of the Mathawali communities have reared pigs in
these villages as they share border with the camp. The defecation of the pigs has polluted
these villages and has created a filthy surrounding. This has become a heaven for the
breeding of mosquitoes. It has also polluted the air and water around. Water and air borne
diseases grip the local people often.
In the education sector also, the refugees have displaced a lot of educated people of the
nearby areas. In every private and boarding schools, colleges and institutions we find
refugees working. The refugee students who have ample time to prepare for their studies
do well in the exams and get comparatively better results. Because of their meritorious
results they are preferred over the locals. They are willing to work half the salary given to
the Nepalese teachers and instructors. Hence the local educated lot have been deprived of
their earning in their own places. Though the local communities have protested a number
of times and appealed to the district authorities on refugees‟ access to work outside the
camp, they have always failed to check this.
Table 8
Comparison of Daily Wages of locals and the Refugees
S. No Type of work Daily wage (locals) Daily wage (Refugees)
1 Paddy plantation 100 60
2 Ploughing 150 80
3 House construction 150 80
4 Carpentry 300 200
5 House renovation (roofing) 150 100
6 Field work (women) 100 60
7 Teachers 4000 (average) 2500-3000
Source- Field study, 2007
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5.5 Impacts on Psychology
A continuous fear has gripped the minds of the local people after the settlement of the
refugees in Beldangi Camp. The villagers fear that the refugees would steal their
livestock and crops, the local labourers fear permanently losing their works, fear looms
large in the minds of the travellers who travel through the camp. The villagers who used
to go to collect firewood have stopped going alone now, as they fear being thrashed or
robbed. A sort of psychological insecurity has cropped up in the minds of the local
dwellers as they get facilities inside the camp and they also get work outside. A sort of
jealousy keeps looming in the minds of the people around. Fearing all these, locals
protest and appeal but in vain. This couldn‟t be checked as the refugees too look like the
villagers. During the daytime also the villagers are compelled to guard their houses as the
refugee children freely romp in the villages, picking whatever useful things come their
way.
5.5.1 Effects of Bhutanese Regugee in the Development of
Beldangi-2 and Surroundings.
Though after the effects of the Bhutanese refugees of Beldangi two have been discussed.
Some important development in the local area are discussed here.
5.5.1.1 Development of Roads and Transportation
There has been tremendous development in infrastructures in around the Camps and the
nearby city Damak.Locals has been employed by various organizations-local, national and
international.
The INGOs helping the refugees have also helped the local communities by constructing
roads, bridges, pitched and un-pitched roads. The roads that are actually constructed to
take humanitarian helps and facilities to the refugees are now widely used by the
villagers. The refugees‟ settlement in one way is a blessing in disguise to the villagers as
they can now easily ferry their carts and vehicles on these roads. The international
organizations have also constructed a lot of concrete buildings for their office use, which
will all be handed over to the local authorities before abandoning them. UNHCR,
CARITAS, LWF and Red Cross have helped the local communities by constructing
hospitals, schools and other infrastructures that have directly benefited the local people.
Ambulance service has also been made available to the local community. AMDA
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hospital has been one of the greatest boons to the people of Damak Municipality and
around. Hundreds of people of Nepal have got employment in the offices of the different
agencies in Damak and Birtamod.
5.5.1.2 Business
A number of shops have mushroomed nearby the camp supplying the refugees with items
of daily needs. The villagers who used to grow vegetables for their consumption only
have now begun to grow seasonal vegetables in large scale. “The business has boomed,
after the refugee‟s arrival” every shop owner exults in happiness. The different forms of
business have cropped up in the years. People generally sell meat items in unorganised
way. Few people can be seen selling vegetables on the main road linking to Damak.Some
of the families are engaged in running smaller hotels selling teas, snacks and minor items.
Few of them are illegally selling local made liquors which are very much liked by the
local and refugees‟ alike. The diary product has got a big market in the camp. Petty
businessmen, who used to own bicycles earlier, now proudly ride bikes. Prosperity is on
rise in an around Camp areas.
Fig: A trader selling Clothes in the vicinity of the Camp
5.5.1.3 Film Theatres
The three film theatres in Damak Bazaar have been able to do a lucrative business as
hundreds of Bhutanese refugees throng every day for movies. Most of the refugees are
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the audience of underprivileged and neglected Nepali movies as they are comfortable in
the language. They promote and admire the Nepali language movie. It is their only form
of entertainment and recreation as they lack money. Sometimes, they are seen visiting the
movie hall during the discounted rate at a certain time. Generally, movie halls give
discount during the weekends.
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CHAPTER - VI
SUMMARY CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
6.1 Summary
The impact of Bhutanese refugees has been greatly felt in and around Camp areas. It has
been found that social, economic impacts are more vivid. This research has tried to find
out the direct and indirect or negative or positive impacts on the local community after
the settlement of the Bhutanese refugees in Beldangi two Camp. The Royal Government
of Bhutan alleges the Lhotsampas who were living for centuries in Bhutan, as illegal
immigrants. They, in fact are the legal citizens of the country who have toiled throughout
their lives to build up Bhutan. Everything went out of track when the RGOB enacted the
1985 Citizenship Act. The biased Act began to inflict unforeseen wounds among the
Lhotsampa community. Though the Lhotsampas were able to produce enough proof as
demanded by the RGOB, they were declared non-Bhutanese. Declaring Lhotsampas as
non-Bhutanese began to torture them mentally. Those who spoke against the declaration
or who tried to defy the law were physically tortured and imprisoned. In 1988 another
law was enacted. A racist policy of “One Nation One People” was implemented in 1988
that further aggravated the Lhotsampas sufferings. This policy was purely based on
Driglam Namza, which is alien to the Lhotsampa culture.
To intensify the pressure on the Lhotsampas the RGOB put an end to the Teaching-
Learning of the Nepali Language, tax was levied on every possession the Lhotsampas
had, the Green Belt Policy came into force, forced labour began ands a number of
unbearable tasks/laws were forced into them.
The creation of the Bhutanese refugees dates back to Magh 27, 2046, (Dec. 1990) when a
group of 60 asylum seekers entered Nepal through Kakarvitta Check post. And till 1993
the exodus continued. The Govt of Nepal urged the international communities, like
UNHCR, Red Cross, LWF, etc to render immediate humanitarian help to the refugees
before a disaster happened. The quick response of these organizations relieved the
refugees from their fear of being left alone. Since then the refugees have been getting free
basic facilities for their survival, including health and education. The refugees have not
forgotten their culture though they are in the camp. Marriage, Janai ceremony, saptaha
(Puran) and all other rites and rituals takes with equal vigour.
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There is no difference in status of the refugees as they all get the same quality/quantity of
items of daily use and consumption.
The locals do not welcome the presence of large number of refugees in Beldangi Two
camp as the refugees have inflicted more negative impacts than positives. The
involvement of refugee girls in prostitution has thrown the whole of the neighbouring
places/villages into shame as a lot of local youths have easy access to sex, which is
against the Nepalese culture. Other anti-social activities like robbery and theft (the recent
bank heist in Damak), deforestation, gambling, alcoholism and quarrels have also
contributed a lot in destabilising the social harmony of the adjacent villages. The cheap
labourers from the refugee camp has also wrested the daily breads/earnings of the local
labourers, as they are not employed for works. The environment has been badly depleted
by massive deforestation carried out by the refugees.
Amidst many negative impacts on the local community, positive impacts of the refugees
are also seen. The local business has boomed. Infrastructures are constructed, schools and
health facilities are also added, and the construction of pitched roads has directly
benefited the local community.
Despite several rounds of bilateral talks between the governments of Nepal and Bhutan,
the refugee imbroglio remains. When the joint verification team (JVT) comprising the
Nepalese and Bhutanese officials began verifying the refugees, whether or not they are
Bhutanese, a strong ray of hope had emerged in the minds of the refugees. But the ray of
hope faded away when the Bhutanese officials played foul putting an end to the very
process.
To, at least give a temporary solace to the refugees, the US government offered to resettle
around 60,000 refugees in its country. And the resettlement programme has already
begun and a few thousands have been shipped there. Supporting the US proposal are
Denmark, Norway, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the Netherlands. The majority of
the refugees have willingly supported the option of Third country resettlement. The
process of resettlement continues.
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6.2 Conclusion
Bhutanese Lhotsampa had a great role in installing the present Wanchuk Royal Dynasty
and they in turn should be secured as they are still loyal and dedicated to the Royal
Cause. This can date back to 1907 when British India Company vehemently opposed the
Royal regime. But the ethnic minority lobbied through Chandrashamsher in Nepal who in
turn managed to convince and persuade the British to install the Royal regime. So, the
Royal regime should not forget the role played by the ethnic Nepali speaking population.
So, there is no question of them eradicating the Culture and way of life. Instead they
should be assimilated into the mainstream and allowed with all fundamental rights.
Therefore, the Royal Regime should not feel threatened and insecured from the
Lhotsampa.
The royal government of Bhutan is solely responsible for the creation of the Bhutanese
refugees. Democracy is the way of life of people all over the world. Nepal too, a strong
hold of Monarchy changed to a Republic, as it could not do well under a King. There was
nothing wrong when the southern Bhutanese too were vociferous about the establishment
of democracy in Bhutan. But the state machinery, instead of understanding the general
opinion or feeling of the people, quelled their voices resulting to the birth of refugees.
And then solution to this crisis has always equivocated the Lhotsampas.
The negative impacts that have gripped the people of Bhangbari, Dhukurpani, Bookwa,
Madhumalla and Damak are not dealt seriously. This has always spoilt the relationship
between local people and the refugees. Certain remedial measures should be hammered
out to bring back the relation in track.
A number of problems have contributed to the failure of solving the refugee crisis. India
has always supported the Draconian rule in Bhutan and unless India speaks in favour of
repatriation or putting an end to this crisis, nothing is going to happen. The recent visit of
Dr. Man Mohan Singh, the Prime Minister of India in May 2008, has further made
Bhutan stronger in and safe.
With no options left for repatriation, the Third Country Resettlement Programme has
brought a sort of comfort to the refugees, but the imbroglio will remain further
encouraging the Dragon to breathe fire on its people who raise their voice for democracy
and human rights.
68
The settling of long standing feuds between Nepal and Bhutan on the refugee aspect is of
keen interest and will lead to better co-operation among the political and Governmental
aspect.
6.3 Recommendations
To put an end to all the social, economic, environmental and psychological problems by
both the refugees and the local community the following steps should be immediately
taken:
The Bhutanese refugees have to be repatriated at the earliest possible with India‟s
consent. Nepal has to lobby for a tri partite deal between Nepal, India and Bhutan
where the representatives of the refugees are also included.
The political situation in Nepal is very unstable. This is another reason why the
refugee imbroglio remains. With a stable government in Nepal, Bhutan can be dealt
diplomatically and refugees can be taken back. Therefore a stable government in
Nepal, with hard-working diplomats, is a must before coming face to face with the
well-seasoned Bhutanese diplomats.
The verified refugees of Khudunabari Camp (verified by JVT) should be repatriated
at the earliest possible to ease away the process for others.
The Royal Government of Bhutan should publicly apologise for making her own
people refugees and the evicted ones should be duly compensated.
The Lhotshamps should get back their land and property and those who have
overtaken their property should be ordered to leave.
The RGOB has made a mockery of democracy by holding election in 2007 without
allowing the political parties (except those related to the King) to contest in the
general election. The RGOB has deprived tens of thousands of eligible Bhutanese
voters to take part in the election. The election was a farce as the government barred
all most Bhutanese of Nepalese origin from electing their representatives. The
international communities, especially those countries who are helping Bhutan, should
immediately condemn it, suspend all aids given to them and pressure should be put
on Bhutan to involve and allow all its citizens towards democratisation of Bhutan.
The refugees came to Nepal through India. India very willingly allowed the flow of
refugees towards Nepal. The hundred of trucks that dumped the refugees in Nepal
were all Indians. Now, when the Bhutanese want to go back to their country through
the same route, the government of India enforces Article 144 of the Indian
constitution and stoops the refugees‟ right to go back to their own country. India
69
should either be booked or it should allow the thousands of refugees to go back to
Bhutan unconditionally. (Article 144 in the Constitution of India does not allow an
agitating mass of people to come together and protest)
The Bhutanese refugees are branded “anti-nationals”, “terrorists”, “illegal
immigrants”, etc by the RGOB. These tags should be immediately removed and the
refugees given equal status like any other Bhutanese of the Ngalong dynasty.
To further stop the destruction of forest and other resources of the areas surrounding
the Beldangi Two camp, the refugees should be restricted within the camp itself or
strict vigilance should be maintained around these areas.
To stop refugees from going out of the camp, they should be given enough items of
daily use or consumption. This will immediately decrease the number of socio-
economic problems that have arisen in the adjacent areas.
To deal with the number of problems that have come up after the settlement of
refugees in Beldangi two, the Government of Nepal should be able to enact unbiased
laws that would benefit the refuges as well and implement them. Since most of the
problems go unchecked the socio- economic situation has further aggravated.
And, in case of some serious that have hampered the locals‟ lives, the Government of
Nepal in consultation with the different INGOs associated with the refugees, should
solve them promptly either through compensating them or through other ways.
Nepal should use International Platforms and lobbyists to find out amicable solution
suitable both to Nepal and Bhutan.
Political parties of Nepal should come out with an integrated policy on Bhutanese
refugees so that they can exert pressure on India, Bhutan and foreign diplomats alike.
Because of lack of political vision Bhutanese refugees are languishing in seven camps
in Eastern Nepal.
After the first Democratic Assembly election in Bhutan and coronation of new King
Jigmekesar Namgyal Wanchuk there is a hope that Bhutan will start the process of
repatriation process freshly and with greater pace. This hope and efforts should be
kept alive by initiation of the Government of Nepal and Bhutan
There is a widespread violence and generation of insurgency in the Refugee Camps
which should be immediately resolved by solving the discontentment, dissatisfaction
and frustrations. Otherwise, it will spread and might harm the interests of Bhutan,
Nepal and India.
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