Notion of celebrating WRD
It was beyond their expectation, but the recently-concluded World Refugee Day (WRD), June 20 was silently observed by the exiled Bhutanese, marking the eighteenth year of their exile life, their unfruitful stay in eastern districts of Nepal. None of them had ever imagined these many years would be worthlessly spent under the UNHCR-monitored ramshackle huts but it turned to reality with no better prospect of their future.
The hopes for repatriation and subsequently becoming a respected citizen in their country of birth continue to surface in their daily activities but remained overshadowed as authorities concerned, which howled for repatriation, have now gone into hibernation. Each year, their wish not to observe the next WRD inside these camps, ends without opening the door, largely due to Bhutan absconding from repatriation process. And, obviously, many smelt this absconding tactics of the Druk regime as a reward from New Delhi encouraging continued atrocities towards its citizens.
Initial years of WRD celebrations generated more hopes of repatriation than other options. Unfortunately, now it has turned otherwise, we are to wish for getting out of these camps – be it any form of solution. Exiled Bhutanese and their leaders left no stones unturned to demand for their dignified repatriation and aid-agencies strongly stood on their favor for over a decade.
But, with the passage in time, the significance of marking the WRD inside Bhutanese refugee camps was undermined by a section. Increasing volume of cultural shows by Communists Party of Bhutan (CPB-MLM) put shadow over the refugee day celebrations. While rest of the world celebrate it to bring cheers among the refugees, Bhutanese communist termed it a ‘black-day’ in the history behind the creation of refugee deadlock in the tiny Himalayan kingdom, Bhutan.
A section of exiled Bhutanese motivated by this 'progressive' underground outfit established a trend of marking WRD waging black flags along with slogans of anti-monarchy, thereby, discouraging aid-agencies and other partner organizations not to participate in such functions trying to bring cheers for being 'refugee'. This year as well, minor event in the camps fulfilled the formality of the UNHCR and its partners of celebrating the day. Ironically, third country resettlement has become a priority agenda over WRD celebrations.
At a time when refugees around the globe and including the UNHCR, and other humanitarian partners involved in an array of activities to mark WRD including experiencing refugee life in a UNHCR tent, bridge lighting, sports events, concerts, photo exhibitions and film festivals, exiled Bhutanese in Nepal simply wished the god to help not to celebrate the day next year.
With the escalating number of exiled Bhutanese expressing their interest for resettlement with hope to begin a new life, the significance of WRD for them became boredom. Silence on part of the UN refugee agency and its humanitarian partners could visualize quite a different meaning. Consequently, voices for repatriation have been getting suppressed – mouth stitched, hearts held on, feelings knotted and wishes turned down. As if to mean there are no exiled Bhutanese willing to get back to their country.
Becoming a refugee is something like struggling for the existence of day-today life with hard times. Indeed, hundreds of thousands of people with capacities of refugees could explain the sorrows and grief they posse in a better way rather than by anyone involved in assisting them.
Pains and sorrows of the reasons behind being 'refugees' from Bhutan have always suppressed their willingness to explain. For them, sense of nationality, need of the citizenship and the significance of home town will be above all the factors when one becomes a refugee.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres, in a circular message this year said providing protection to refugees today is more challenging than when his office began work in 1951 trying to find solutions for Europeans uprooted in the aftermath of World War II.
The tracks ahead for any sustainable solution to our crisis have really turned unclear. The option of third country resettlement is lying on the table. The plan-turned-unplanned concept of Bhutan News Service (BNS) to air exclusive radio programs through various FM stations in Nepal, based on excusive information on our resettled fellowmen, clearly reflected that the choice for resettlement would not be a ‘blunder’ if chosen.
BNS collected some fresh audio-reports, though remained unaired due to lack of funds at the eleventh hour, from its well-wishers and foreign correspondents staying in the US, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Canada, and Australia. These reports in general made attempt to transmit meaning that resettlement in itself isn’t a hard choice like the rumors engulfed the camps. Prospects of your future of raising living standard might be fulfilled, as our correspondents say, but your wish to be an honorable citizen remains unfulfilled – and you will celebrate WRD next year as well.
On the other side, the grand-designer of the deadlock, absolute Bhutanese regime, is howling at the international arena floating its fabricated logic of pushing the Himalayan kingdom to democratic state despite rise in atrocities. The regime is in no position to guarantee rights of the citizens and suppression upon the Nepali-ethnic community continues. Whether or not it becomes easy on our part to press the Druk regime to kick-start the repatriation process but at least we should be alert in pushing Bhutan towards international court of justice for the crime it committed.
Like what UNHCR chief says, protection of refugees must not only be the efforts that international community makes but towards lessening the chances of making more people refugees. Resettlement is not only the responsibility that UNHCR and resettling countries must pay attention but prevent further eviction of citizens from Bhutan, which seems likely, as the Human Rights Watch reported. Marking WRD day with commitment not to make more people refugees is important than bringing cheers to refugees or giving temporary solution of the current crisis.