Durable solution: India factor has the role
After 17 years of deaf ear, the leftists in the ruling alliance, not to ignore a few democrats, have listened to what the exiled Bhutanese said, that they were suppressed and tortured in Bhutan, their right to live has been curtailed. While Nepal, the host country of the exiled Bhutanese, was not up to the snuff for internationalizing the issue, Indian senior minister called it an international problem.
For long, the leaders in exile have demanded internationalization of the problem. Nepal also remained silent to the requests, under undue indirect pressure from the southern neighbor. The second of the attempts that exiled Bhutanese made to repatriate to their land voluntarily through peace march has momentarily drawn attention of the Indian government, making it realize that failure to get it solved would create another tension in West Bengal (WB). It was vividly expressed in the statement by the WB Chief Minister.
At least, not to boost much, this is major gain on part of the leaders in exile yet they are far from achieving to what they deemed earlier for equality and dignified return. The Indian government continued to linger to discuss the issue on pretexts of presidential election. When it is over now, it has pushed aside the matter. It would not be otherwise to state that it has finally come to the India’s responsibility to find home for the exiled Bhutanese.
Nepal had earlier prepared to send a delegation to Thimphu for a last round of dialogue. However, change in government has overshadowed the plan. Bhutan’s signal to stop any kind of bilateral talks with Nepal has also put an end to Bhutan-Nepal talks, at least for this time. Indian authorities see it beneficial for them to tell Bhutan repatriate its citizens than allowing the evicted Bhutanese resettle in the United States. It was general experience that refugee resettlement in the western countries has precedence set in motion the germination of rebellion groups.
US has offered its land to resettle over 60,000 of these exiled Bhutanese repeatedly stating that Bhutan failed to repatriate its citizens and there is a bleak hope it would do so in future. However, there have been no records that US asked the Bhutanese government, formally, to take back its people. This has certainly disheartened some of the enthusiasts who want to get back to their country, while cherished others.
Bhutan cannot escape from the Indian guidance, in the changed context as well where it moves to a democratic system. For centuries, the Druk regime has remained under strict discipline of India, in both internal and external matters, and as the demand for justice and equality appears in the Bhutanese society, India cannot remain a mere spectator to this.
The leadership in exile has finished a round trip to India formally approaching various leaders in opposition and the ruling alliance. Even though they received assurances from the party leaders of their helping hand in favor of repatriation, failure of the leaders to approach the government ministers and the officials would take some time to materialize the assurances.
Indian competes for influence in Nepalese politics against the increasing Chinese presence. Rising communist activeness in Nepal has made it easier for China. India cannot ignore the fact that presence of China in Bhutan is also inevitable, for communism has already entered that country. However, the increasing power of communists in India could also lead to expansion of the ideology in this sub-continent to which India alone can do nothing.
The fact that India should have realized by now is that communist ideology that attracted the suppressed people in Bhutan is because of its ignorance to pressure the Druk regime to reign justice. The US has come to the rescue of Indian democrats for communist-free Bhutan. Unfortunately, it is already late, for both India and the US. Now the only option left for India is to finalize the issue at the earliest possible lessening attraction of the people to rebellion groups.
Still, the Indian communists have come forward to lend hand democracy in Bhutan and the democrats failed to do so. This would help build negative perspective throughout this region that justice would not be delivered if support is sought with Indian democrats.
Hopes are still alive. The ruling alliance leaders have shown their interests and pressure on union government is increasing for a ‘just solution’ of the crisis. This is for protecting the democratic image of India and lessening tension in the region that will directly affect it.
The US might begin the resettlement program soon; some of the exiled Bhutanese will be resettled. Along with this process, the process of repatriation must be begun. The need of security has been always felt. The Nepalese government has stated that it shall provide security to initiate and expedite the process of resettlement. This is very likely to provoke those exiled Bhutanese waiting to have a dignified return to their country. Instead, Nepal, in coordination with UNHCR should maintain peace in the camps, seeking the help of the leaders in exile. Thus is the way, all the exiled Bhutanese—either willing to get repatriated or resettled—shall be free to ponder over the matter.