I don't oppose those willing to resettle in third countries
As the preparation for third country settlement of the exiled Bhutanese, especially in US, Canada and Australia, as part of the international community to find durable solution of the protracted crisis is getting momentum, situation in the camps has worsened. Along with that the Bhutanese community in exile has divided clearly into two sections: one favoring resettlement and the others stressing repatriation. There have been several clashed between these two groups, not to mention the verbal wars. UNHCR and the international community have expressed concerned over the deteriorating situation. In midst of this, the views from the Indian side have been controversial and unclear.
Of late, the issue has become the issue of debate. Under such debates, the Bhutanese leadership in exile have been raising concern that third country resettlement would degrade the fight for democracy, human rights and equality in Bhutan. The resettlement country has not affirmed the right to return of those to be resettled. Under these circumstances, T. P. Mishra of Bhutan News Service talked with Tek Nath Rizal, the chairman of the Bhutanese Movement Steering Committee (BMSC), to know his stand on resettlement.
Is the issue of exiled Bhutanese getting complex?
I don’t support completely that the issue is getting complex. It is just the result of ‘less concern’ of international community to resolve the crisis. Bhutan is free to do its monopoly. Instead I have seen that international community is just giving pressure to exiled Bhutanese to opt third country settlement.
Clashes among exiled Bhutanese due to differences have become common. Some exiled Bhutanese recently in connection to incidents. What you say?
Yes, there are some problems in camps. Nepal government is not monitoring the situation it properly. There are some exiled Bhutanese associated to various active groups advocating for third country resettlement and repatriation. Those advocating third country settlement are working as agents of UNHCR or America to mobilize the mass for resettlement. Refugees who knew that they are being cheated by those agents, they started attacking them.
Nepalese media are quoting that there are clashes between exiled Bhutanese opting resettlement and repatriation. But I do not support that. Neither resettlement nor repatriation has begun yet. How can there be such clashes.
Government of Nepal must know that arresting exiled Bhutanese won’t give positive solutions. If Nepal is initiating such steps, it is very unwise. Ours is a problem between the Bhutanese citizens and their government.
Do you accept that there is increasing gap between those opting resettlement and repatriation?
I just know there are some confusions. Bhutanese Movement Steering Committee (BMSC) is never against resettlement. But exiled Bhutanese in the camps are not informed of terms and conditions on third country resettlement properly. The countries who have come forward with the offer are silent but there are some exiled Bhutanese who act as if they are paid employees to advocate for resettlement. So people have less trust on them. That is the reality.
It is sometimes said your leadership has failed.
That will be evaluated in future. It matters little about the failure or success of leadership. Nepal government has never realized the need of listening to Bhutanese leaders in exile who are committed to repatriating the Bhutanese citizens. I don’t think Bhutanese leadership has failed. We are doing our best. It should be clearly understood that we can never force any one to opt any options.
Why don’t you encourage resettlement?
When we talk of exiled Bhutanese, we don’t represent Bhutan as a whole. Exiled Bhutanese have passed their lives of misery for 17 years. They have long generated pains and tough life in the camps.
For 17 years, they are told that international community is working to take them home with dignity and honor. But on contrary to what has been said, now proposal for resettlement is brought in. So, we leaders in exile are shocked. But it doesn’t mean we are against resettlement.
You were telling ours is a political issue. But now international community has come to resolve it on humanitarian basis.
This is our family matter. Everyone knows that we have been demanding political changes in Bhutan. Bhutan is a key player to create this crisis. We are always ignored in all instances. We must be allowed to go back. If some exiled Bhutanese feel that they are not safe in Bhutan after their repatriation and would like to go to third country then that is a welcoming step.
Does that mean you don’t oppose resettlement?
What should I do not to go against this? I cannot tie up their limbs and drop in the US or Canada. If anyone opts to go abroad, he or she has every right to decide that. And I don’t think that I have been against this. Recently when I visited camps, I informed the fellowmen clearly that if they feel that they have secure life in America or elsewhere they can always make a choice for that.
The US has offered the package last year. But some exiled Bhutanese and UNHCR have been forcing others to fill-up forms since five years. So this is point where we are not satisfied and so are Bhutanese in the camps. The innocents are being forced to fill-up the forms luring them that they get 70 thousand US Dollars if they apply to go to the US. And UNHCR’s chief in Nepal is making the propaganda regarding forms stating that a large number of the exiled Bhutanese have applied to go to the third country. So this is pre-planned drama.
How do you evaluate the growing frustration among youths and announcement of the Communist Party of Bhutan for armed struggle?
If any exiled Bhutanese is working for an armed struggle, then Bhutan and India must be responsible for that. Further, international community holds key responsibility for making us stay without any positive development in camps for almost two decades.
Frustration among youths is created by donor agencies. Facilities are limited. A youth is told that no treatment will be done to his father as he has crossed 60. This is just an instance. There are several cases where youths are being made victims of frustrations by UNHCR or its implementing partners.
Do you support such activities?
Being a human right leader, I don’t support or believe on arm rebellion. But it should known that the situation in camp is going out of control and a prompt solution is required to address the demands of youths. Exiled Bhutanese must lead their life as human. I just request the concerned parties or nations not to support Bhutan that acted as a devil to one-lakh plus Nepali-speaking Bhutanese. .
How long do they need to wait in camps for repatriation?
No one can tell that exiled Bhutanese cannot go back to their country. They have sweated on lands of Bhutan and several generations passed their life in Bhutan. It is not that exiled Bhutanese are not willing to go back but Bhutan is not interested to take them back home. We must not let our hopes vanish down. If Bhutan given pressure and India comes to the scene, I am sure that very soon we go back to our villages.