On one of the fine days of early 1991, Nepalese people at Kakarvitta near Indo-Nepal border witnessed about 450 people with worn out faces and woozy looks entering Nepal looking for temporary shelter who in response provided the best of services and support that they could render at their level. They were all Bhutanese seeking asylum after being evicted of their ancestral land.
Unable to get asylum in India, the first country they entered after leaving Bhutan, these people had no options but to seek shelter in Nepal. Moreover, the Indian border security forces instigated them enter Nepal. Eviction was the result of these people’s demand for justice and institutionalization of Human Rights as enshrined in Universal Declaration of Human Rights to which Bhutan is signatory, to safeguard themselves from discriminatory and suppressive policies being imposed on them that obliterate their faith, culture and way of life.
Instead of hearing to their appeal, the Royal government chose to militarize the region launching brutal method of crackdown, following intimidation, arbitrary arrest, torture and killing in makeshift detention cells. Schools were converted into interrogation centers, while women were raped, houses were zeroed to ashes and valuable documents confiscated alongside the militarization of villages and towns. In such dreaded state of affairs, those affected Bhutanese people had to flee the country for their lives. Their relatives and others, who decided to remain behind too were coerced into signing voluntary migration forms at the gun point and finally evicted from their homeland.
Immediate settlement of Bhutanese refugees
There was no suitable space in the Nepalese territory for sheltering those asylum seekers. They were however guided by local people to the east bank of holy river Kankai Mai in Jhapa, Nepal. They were provided with temporary shades to safeguard from heat and rain. As the influx increased, camps at the river banks grew congested enough to be hygienic, which invited medically unhealthy environment and people began to suffer from various diseases.
It is obvious that all the Bhutanese people, evicted in the first phase and later those who followed the suit, passed first through the Indian check posts and entered Nepal check post before joining their country mates at Kankai camps. Those refugees began to extend their arms for donations in kind, cash and medicines for their survival before the international agencies arrived at their rescue. And, that ultimately turned into what the world witnesses today.
Senior Bhutanese officers joined Bhutanese refugees
In those critical hours of the Bhutanese asylum seekers, several educated lots, who served the government at senior bureaucratic positions too joined them to become asylum seekers. They appealed the government of Nepal, UNHCR, SCF(UK) and other NGOs and INGOs seeking their support for the weary asylum seekers. Within a short time, CARITAS, OXFAM, LWF and Nepal Red Cross Society began to field their representatives to assist the stranded Bhutanese people and provided required assistance on an ad hoc basis. The senior asylum seekers submitted appeals to the government of Nepal using the channel of the then Chief Jhapa District Officer (CDO) Shree Kul Chandra Shrestha for providing humanitarian supports and granting asylum to the suffering Bhutanese people, who had lately been made stateless by their own government.
Asylum in Nepal
After going through documents carried by the people, it was realized that the people in the camps were none other than those evicted from Bhutan as they carried with them valid evidences of being Bhutanese. On the basis of such documentary evidences, the Govt. of Nepal granted them asylum solely on the humanitarian ground and not on the ground of ethnicity, language or religion as many people erroneously assume otherwise and the Govt. of Bhutan capitalize those beliefs and misinterpret to the outside world, whereby misguiding the international community.
Administration of the camp
It was the senior refugees, who conceived the idea of the system of camp secretary, camp committee, refugee volunteers, health workers, and security guards for management of camps. A camp was divided into sectors and sub sectors for effective management and better service to the people. The senior refugees handled the administration of the camps in close coordination with the local authorities until late 1993. It was handed over to the then CDO cum Director of Refugee Coordinating Unit, Shree Chabi Raj Pantha with the understanding that they would consult senior refugees in all the important issues concerning Bhutanese refugees.
Oppression on Sharchhokp community
After the systematic quelling of the southern uprising, the regime’s attention turned to the eastern community of Sharchhokp, who began to sympathize their southern brethrens and saw the movement from a nationalistic point of view.
For the outside world, it looked more like an ethnic cleansing given the fact that the majority of the affected were of single ethnicity at that point of time. However, in view of the prevailing bond of peaceful coexistence of the diversity for centuries, the general public in other parts of the country gradually began to raise their voice for justice and their civil rights which was in support to the people’s voice in the south. The people of the south had no other alternatives but to leave the country because the eviction took place both at gun and pen point using different methods of more wrathful and less charming coercions through the district authorities backed by military forces.
Since the Govt. of Bhutan didn’t get much resistance at the time of evicting southern Bhutanese en-mass, the regime confidently dared to turn its attention on the other section of Bhutanese multi-ethnicity, the Sharchhokps. It interfered in the practice of Nyngmapa sect of Buddhism, which was indoctrinated into the community since 7th century AD. The regime’s rampant indulgence into their affairs badly hit the sentiments of the Sharchhokp monks and their community and gradually realized that the southern up-rise of the people were just and genuine. So, in support to the 1990’s appeal by the south Bhutan, the Sharchhokp community organized a mass peaceful procession that demanded equality to all faiths and culture. However, even before the peaceful procession could take up to the roads, a Buddhist monk was picked up by the district chief and shot him dead point blank at a high pass. Many other innocent people were arrested, while some of them continue to languish in the prisons. Some others had to flee the country for their lives following armed military crackdown in the Sharchhokp dominated regions, where peaceful processions successfully made it over to the respective district and local administrative centers. They ultimately joined their countrymen in refugee camps in eastern Nepal. When the government realized the growing anger in the Sharchhokp community, the regime as a means to pacify the situation quickly promoted junior Sharchhokp officers to the higher ranks in 1998, lifting them as high as cabinet ministers. However, that did not benefit the community as a whole, but strengthened the palace as its mouth piece in the campaign and advocacy against people who demanded democracy, justice and human rights.
Political Parties and Social Organizations
Meanwhile, the Bhutanese refugees also formed political parties in addition to those already existing prior to establishment of the camps. They also established social organizations aiming at looking after the refugees’ welfare and working towards developing a conducive atmosphere to repatriate all the refugees back to Bhutan with safety and dignity.
In 1998, to avoid confusion amongst the Bhutanese refugees and to support various agencies providing assistance to the refugees, including the government of Nepal, the refugee community formed a committee, “by the Bhutanese refugees and for the Bhutanese refugees” named “Bhutanese Refugee Representative Repatriation Committee” (BRRRC) by keeping all political parties and social organizations intact to allow them function according their respective constitutional provisions.
The BRRRC took the initiatives to documenting information of all the Bhutanese refugees with due suggestions and assistance from the CARITAS and LWF. It aimed at serving the Bhutanese refugees as their caretaking guardian and serve them in collaboration and coordination with all concerned agencies so that rights of those ignorant refugees are secured and impartial justice is given to all. However, for various obvious reasons, the BRRRC’s position had been undermined and ignored by the concerned agencies making the repatriation program of BRRC more marginalized.
More influx of refugees
Influx of Bhutanese refugees began to increase in the post-1992 period soaring up to 500-700 a day that soon made the camp over crowded. Food and medicine was not enough to meet the requirement and many people especially old and young ones developed malnutrition, easily infected by common diseases like chest infection, infective diarrhea and typhoid that went on claiming many lives. At such an alarming situation, once again the senior refugees approached the government of Nepal through Chief District Officer for allocation of new sites to establish camps, which was graciously granted, hence the present camps.
UNHCR and INGOs
Gradually, voice of the asylum seekers were heard by the international organizations like UNHCR and SCF(UK) , who were permitted by the Govt. of Nepal to assist the Bhutanese refugees that brought a great relief to the refugees. All the new developments that took place in the camps made the government of Bhutan unhappy. However, both the Govt. of Nepal and the UNHCR turned their deaf ears to the Government of Bhutan. Exhibiting much agony and unhappiness towards Nepal and the international community, particularly the UNHCR, the Govt. of Bhutan began evicting more and more innocent Bhutanese on various fabricated allegations. In an attempt to keep their stand clear of Bhutan’s allegation, the Govt. of Nepal and UNHCR jointly established a screening post at Kakarvitta near Indo-Nepal border in 1993, to properly verify the evictees and ensure that no illegal migrants or imposters entered Nepal under the guise of asylum seekers.
Move for Repatriation
Bhutanese refugees constantly worked for repatriation and organized several peaceful repatriation programs, which however, were thwarted by the Indian security forces at Indo-Nepal border. The Bhutanese peace marchers were not only inhumanely handled, but also baton charged and ruthlessly beaten, injured and shot dead at the Mechi bridge, the Indo-Nepal border. Even those refugees, who successfully entered Bhutan were dumped back to Indo-Nepal border by the Indian security forces and threw them into Nepal at several incidental programs.
Bilateral Talks
Being aware that those asylum seekers huddled up in the refugee camps in Nepal were none other than Bhutanese citizens, the Govt. of Nepal began negotiating with the Govt. of Bhutan. At the beginning, the Govt. of Bhutan refused to accept the truth. However, with the international pressure mounting on Bhutan, the government of Bhutan had no other alternatives than to accept and acknowledge the presence of Bhutanese in the camps. So, with the ulterior motives of deception and to drag the issue by creating an eye-washing exercise, the Govt. of Bhutan proposed to take up bilateral negotiations without involving any third party or refugee representative in the talks, obviously for fear of being caught about its inhuman crime during the process. The Govt. of Bhutan also proposed to categorize and verify the Bhutanese refugees after constituting a joint verification team from both the governments.
Joint Verification
The Govt. of Nepal was very kind to accept the proposal tabled by the Govt. of Bhutan to verify and categorize Bhutanese citizens in the territory of Nepal. The verification of one of the camps, Khudunabari, Jhapa, Nepal was conducted in 2003. The team from Bhutan dominated the entire show that adamantly identified two four year children of that camp as criminals of Bhutan. Even in such one sided verification, it was found that the majority of the Bhutanese refugees (about 74%), were bona-fide citizens of Bhutan and there was no room for the Bhutanese team to deny the fact. In that sample verification, the rest of the refuges were not accepted for their failure to provide any documentary evidences as their documents were confiscated at the time of eviction. The verified and proven Bhutanese citizens still await repatriation against the Govt. of Bhutan’s deaf ears. However, Bhutan successfully campaigned international donor agencies, who have over the last four years been working towards resettling the refugees in the third countries, giving a temporary relief to the camp-dwellers. It is not to be amazed that the cruel and self oriented individualistic rulers enjoy in the palace on the taxes, perspirations, blood and life of the people, who boast themselves as the patriarchs and govern the country for the vested palace oriented interest.
Present stand of Nepal
Initially, the government of Nepal presented seriousness on the Bhutanese refugee issue, but as of now, Nepal seems to be reluctant enough to understand people’s aspirations for the repatriation of those proven Bhutanese refugees verified in 2003 by the joint verification team. On contrary, the government of Nepal is currently involved actively in issuing one way exit permit to the so-called ‘interested’ Bhutanese refugees for third country resettlement. It is yet to be known whether the government of Nepal is giving exit permit as a guardian of Bhutanese refugees or as a country of asylum. Bhutanese refugees silently feel being fallen victim of conspiracy the second time, as government of Nepal’s assurance to help achieve people’s objectives of repatriation to their original homesteads in dignity and honor remains to be justified.
Role of India
Bhutan alone cannot be blamed for the eviction of its citizens as it was obviously backed by the neighboring ‘big-brother’ that campaigns as a large democracy. In fact, there is every reason to read that the brain behind eviction was India as it supported the royal regime by not giving asylum to the people in the first port of entry despite the fact that it has been giving refuge to people from countries like Afganisthan, Bangladesh, Sri Langka, and even from Somalia. In fact it has been the home away from home for Tibetans for over the last fifty years. Unlike the attitude towards those refugees, Bhutanese refugees have been taken inhospitably and repeatedly thwarted at Indo-Nepal borders. On the other hand, Indian government representatives never paid any visit to the Bhutanese refugee camps, while most representatives of the international community visited to understand the ground reality of the suffering people in the camps. Probably, India being the brain behind the human catastrophe in Bhutan, should have felt it unnecessary to understand the problems of the Bhutanese refugees as they are more aware than anybody else.
At this juncture, it is not out of place to remind the world community that the friendly relationship that Bhutan and India cherish both at the central and people’s level dates back to as old as Lord Buddha’s era. People both in exile and inside the country have no doubt about the sacrosanct values of friendship that have been built with bricks of love, friendship and understanding both culturally and through exchange of trade and commerce. It is not only model to the world community, but also a chapter of illustration to the global neighbors, that a small country like Bhutan, a home of monarchy can coexist with large democracy like India, which is not only one of the nuclear powers but also the country with large population existing in diversity and political harmony. It is for this prevailing network of friendship between the two nations that Bhutanese refugees take the opportunity to anticipate India’s intervention into the crisis and seek help to resolve the problem both politically and socially, considering the fact that Bhutan cannot sustain or survive without the existing friendly relations at all levels of understanding and cooperation.
Present stand of UNHCR
At the beginning, the Bhutanese refugees anticipated the UNHCR to work towards the interest of the refugees. However, the chapter of repatriation being limited to the books and the UNHCR working towards resolving the crisis through diplomatic trafficking in the name of “the option of third country resettlement”, the refugees are left with no other alternatives than to opt for the given opportunities. As it has not made the required effort to convince Bhutan to accept the refugees, people feel that they have deceived themselves by depending or trusting the UNHCR as security provider and an international agent to resolve the problem once for all and everybody. In the present context, when Bhutan proudly continues to campaign and advocate world community that the refugees in the camps are “not Bhutanese” and “are those Nepalese workers evicted from neighboring Indian states”, it becomes UNHCR’s obligation to tell the world community, why those registered in the camps in Jhapa and Morang are being resettled as Bhutanese refugees as temporary solution. ‘Why the international agencies are taking so much of pain to feed the refugees as humanitarian victims from Bhutan?’ is a question that needs clarification in response to what has been stated by Bhutan’s Prime minister.
Until late 90s, the UNHCR was found working for repatriation but since 2000 onwards it began working with complete U-turn that systematically discouraged the efforts of advocacy for repatriation by active campaigning, motivating and even indoctrinating the brighter side of third-country resettlement to the ignorant refugees. The concluding thoughts of the refugees thus explains that the UNHCR action is supporting Bhutan, who pushed these people out of their home. The ongoing exercises of the UNHCR thus goes to making the refugees absolutely stateless and develop distance from the hope of restoring their nationality and citizenship identity as the citizens of Bhutan.
Urging international community
The Bhutanese refugees urge the international community to pressurize the Govt. of Bhutan to take back its citizen from Nepal and elsewhere on the basis of the proven facts of being bona-fide Bhutanese by virtue of being in the camps administered by Nepal and supported by the UNHCR. It may not be out of place to mention here that the motivation and instigation of the ignorant refugees for third country resettlement at the cost of their nation and nationality to become international laborers tantamount to rightfully allege the resettling machineries as diplomatic and professionally dignified human traffickers.
Dear Dr. Bhampa Rai:
You have completley ignored the role of the United States in the Bhutanese refugees crisis. Don’t you remember United States pressuring Bhutan Government in late December of 2003 for joint verification process? I would like ti remind you the fact that Bhutan agreed to joint verifcation process only after United States threatenned to suspend its aid to Bhutan in 2003.
I have read your comments somewhere accusing USA for being behind the refugee crisis, and taking side with Bhutan regime. Why you are so against America?
Please let all of those Bhutanese refugees come to USA who want to come here. Please let them have a betetr future. Not all Bhutanese refugees are Doctors like you, and are not as rich as you are. You always will have tons of money with you, no matter where you live or where you move. But poor Bhutanese refugees do not have the kind of money you have. So, please stop opposing resettlement. Thanks.
Mr. Shahid M. Pasha, Massachusetts, USA.
Dr.Rai should realize he is living in a fool’s paradise. Repatriation will never happen because of people like him who live at Damak and do nothing but write down articles like this to project they are leaders. He already wasted his best time doing nothing on the ground but rather running his clinic at Damak. Now that refugeees have a new homeleand through resettlement where they can start a new and dignified life he is opposing bacause once all refugees leave camps his clinic will lose customers.
maybe rai didnot get to go to USA. let the poor people make a living and start with their life. after all we are all just a guest here on the earth and life will go on without you and me.
I agree with Suran Thapa and Dalut. However, I would never insult Dr. Bhampa Rai’s profession and his great services to Bhutanese refugees by making degatory comments like, “once all refugees leave, he will lose customers”. Dr.Bhampa Rai offers his medical help to Bhutanese refugees at no cost. I have never met Dr. Bhapa Rai, but many of my Bhutanese friends have told me his services to his people and that is why I have tremendous respect for him. I am sure, he loves his country, Bhutan, and that is why he has refused to come to America.
When Indian Border Security Force shot and killed a young Bhuatnese refugee who was trying to cross into Indian side near Mochi bridge, with other refugees, it was Dr. Bhapa Rai who received his dead body and took him to his family. No other leader was around. I disgree with Dr. Bhampa Rai on resettlement issue and for his tough stance against the United States, but I firmly believe Dr. Bhampa Rai deserves to be next Prime Minister of Bhutan.
Dalut is right: Yes, we are just guests here and will not stay here forever. Life is too short and no one should spend all of his/her life in a refugee camp. And when an opportunity presents itself, regugees should not think twice and should just leave the camps and go.
Here is a bad news: US Governemnt probably will stop bringing more refugees from Nepal, and all of remaining about 75,000 Bhutanese refugees, probably will never be able to come to America or any other Western country. In that case, Dr. Bhampa Rai will be able to put pressure on Bhutan Government to accept those refugees.
I intend to visit refugee camps in Nepal, and Bhutan, as a peace activist to bring both parties (Bhutanese refugees and Bhutan Governemnt) together to discuss an acceptable solution to both parties.
Soon after arriving Kathmandu, Nepal, I will go staright to Mr. Tek Nath Rizal’s home in Kathmandu, and then will go to Dhamak to see Dr. Bhampa Rai. I hope some day Dr.Bhampa Rai will be appointed as Prime Minister and Mr. Tek Nath Rizal will be appointed as President of Bhutan, and these two leaders will make sure the King allows all of Bhutanese refugees to return to Bhutan with dignity and respect. If the King allows me to meet him, I will do my best to convince him to start a reconciliation process.
Can someone stop this Pasha dude from tooting his empty horn, announcing his childish fantasies and spreading lies? Here is what you will do: “Soon after arriving in Kathmandu,” you will find a run-down shack in Thamel and start making it chummy with the locals, feeling so bad about their country and then going “straight” to the house of the prime Minister and Prachanda and the King and “convincing” them to stop fighting and so on.
We have seen enough of self-conscious, self-parading, condescending, know-it-all “symnpathizers” like you. Just scoot, will ya? You don’t need to praise Bhuympa. It is OK to need a place to shack-up in Damak if you make it there. Bhumpa is generous enough to give you a place to spend the night even if you do not praise him to high heavens. And the Bhutanese will not think that highly of you to give you any attention, leave alonoe to harm you in anyway. So, you don’t need Bhumpa’s protection either. Just go, spread your feathers, do your peacock dance but STOP spreading lies here.
The United States will NOT STOP resettling Bhutanese refugees any time soon. The presidential determination for Fiscal year 2011 just came out which allocates at least 35,500 to Near East/South Asia with an unallocated 3,000 reserve that can be applied if necessary. (http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2010/10/08/presidential-memorandum-refugee-admissions)
Pasha needs to understand that there are still southern bhutanese in Bhutan. I think question here is not that who ghoes where! ofcourse resettlement is a temporary solution but internationational community must put pressure on Bhutan for repatriation of geniuen Bhutanese from camps which is only the permanent solution. lastly for permanent solution ones should not come under the influence of other because of his big status……….!
Hey Pasha dude,
You must be smoking a lot of ‘ganja’ while you write. Your logic makes no sense and your ideas are so contradictory from one post to another. Your posts are designed to spread confusion and divide the Bhutanese, as some spy agents would usually, deliberately do. I even doubt if you really have a Pakistani background. Looking from hindsight, it appears that you could be from India and your mentality fits the same as that of the RAW.
And please don’t act as if you were the negotiator – meeting Rizal, Bhampa, King of Bhutan – nonesense, who are you? Forget about the king, even a plain refugee will not agree to meet you.
Hello Pakistani American Pasha,
It made no sense of your statements or article. If you are wise enough,do not waste your precious time in disturbing others mentality whether they want to repatriate or be resettled. Its really a kidding to our whole community. We truly respected US policy for being helped. Did Pakistan or India helped in this matter? You’ve in-numerous problems with different terrorist in Pakistan.Better advise them and find the solution rather than to interfere Bhutanese problem sarcastically. You are not only kidding but making bull-sheet of others. It doesn’t mean that I am in favor of all the authors above but morally Your sentiment is really childish and illogical.
Dr Rai,
I salute your profession and regard it high. Still more now-a-days you started writing your opinion where a layman like me get chance to know you more closely. Still further I respect your attachment to the community whether people comment positively or negatively on you or your litmus color (inclination). You are trained to serve the people in need.
Amidst praise I have some disagreements in this article. The concluding statement is too harsh and you have some misunderstanding in human trafficking issues and coverage. You cannot equate the resettlement and human trafficking. Whether you like or not is another aspect but people prefer it. Please understand the way I use word prefer in the prevailing camp environment. You people are advocating for the human right, justice and democracy. But you need to digest the people orientation. Respect their choice.
Hope this will not discourage you writing contribution and we are expecting to read your articles further.
By the way, do you celebrate DASARA? If so I wish you a VERY HAPPY AND ENJOYABLE DASARA.
Best Wishes.
Tortola (लोखर्के)
I would like to respond to comments posted by “Tortola”, “Conscience”, “Kazi”, “Susan”, and “Bhotangey”.
“Tortola” has written his comments in a very polite and educated manner, and I admire him/her for being disrespectful.
“Conscience” did not have to be so defensive. It was only Dr. Bhampa Rai who accused the United States of trying to divide Bhutanese community by offering resettlement, and it should be him only to offer an apology. It is common practice by angry readers to react the way “Conscience” has acted. I am not a Pakistani citizen any longer, so why I should bother with Pakistani politics? I would never become actively involved in Pakistan’s local politics because American laws on immigration and citizenship do not allow me to. However, I have right to express my opinion on Bhutan or Nepal’s politics because my hard-earned tax money is being spent on Bhutanese refugees living here in the USA, and living there in the camps in Nepal.
“Kazi” suspects I do not have Pakistani background, but I could be an Indian. “Kazi” also has accused me of posting my comments just to create confusion among Bhutanese refugees and to divide them. A very famous Bhutanese refugee writer, Mr. TP Mishra also was sure I did not have Pakistani background but I was a Bhutanese Government agent. If someone posts an opposing point of view, he/she is immediately lebed as some kind of Bhutanese Government agent or Indian Government agent. How can I convince these people that I am not what they think, and I am just trying to speak my mind?
I have never tried to act or pretend like someone that I am not. I have never acted like a negotiator, but I would love to play a role of a negotiator if the US Embassy in Katmandu, the Government of Nepal and the Government of Bhutan allow me to. At present it seems like merely a dream, but sometimes dreams also can come true.
Probably, it is very difficult to meet the King of Bhutan, but I think I will meet Nath Rizal and Dr. Bhampa Rai. The Government of Nepal already has allowed me to enter Nepal, but I still need to receive a “Green Light Signal” from other parties involved, before flying to Nepal and Bhutan.
“Susan” has talked about Bhutanese living in Southern Bhutan. I think Bhutanese living in Bhutan, should not be a concern to the international community, because they are citizens of Bhutan. If those Bhutanese living in Southern Bhutan do not make noise, why should we make noise? If they are unhappy, they need to fight for their right themselves, and should not expect us to hand them what they want without making a noise and without making an effort.
In response to Bhotangey’s claim about The presidential determination for Fiscal year 2011 just came out which allocates at least 35,500 to Near East/South Asia with an unallocated 3,000 reserve that can be applied if necessary, I would say there are many countries that are situated in Near East/South Asia, region, including Nepal. If the United States Government decides to bring all of 35,500 refugees from Nepal alone, it still will leave at least 40,000 more refugees in Nepali camps. (Total number of Bhutanese refugees still living in the camps in Nepal is about 75,000).
Another thing the refugees need to understand that the US Government can change its mind any time it wishes to fit its needs and no other country in the world challenge its decision.
I hope the United States Government decides to bring all of remaining Bhutanese refugees living in the camps in Nepal, but unfortunately, I do not see any signs of that possibility.
Finally, I request the management of Bhutan News Service to delete uneducated, uncivilized and disrespectful comments, made by some incautious readers.
I am confused by Shahid Pasha’s confusion.
Pasha dude,
With your attitude and logic, soon you will be worn out playing the defensive. Your tax dollars will also oblige you to focus and speak for other serious problems going on elsewhere in the world, including your own country of birth, Pakistan (as you say).
You imagining being a negotiator for the Bhutanese imbroglio can be the weirdest, wildest feat of schizophrenia. We would love to hear that from Hillary Clinton, or a Jimmy Carter etc. What is your credential? You have to have a personal image, stature and trust that would be acceptable to the parties to the negotiation. So Mr. Pasha, do not blow this horn – it is not as easy as giving unsolicited free rides to some of the naive Bhutanese refugee gals in MA.
My advise, Mr, Pasha, please find other hobbies and do not waste much time around here, they are going to be productive – neither for you nor us.
Good bye.
No doubt Mr. Pasa that I agree with your views…. this is what exactly the southern Bhutanese did a decade ago when things became unbearable but what happen one hundred thousand plus people have been thrown out of country in the name of illegal immigrants, in the name of so called survival and the RGoB didn’t even hesitate to label them terrorist and what not??????????? Thousands of innocent people are still in jails around the country if you think that I am lying please come and visit Bhutan also when you come please visit southern Bhutan you will realize the real situation of the southern Bhutanese! Lastly Mr. Pasa can you fight a GOVT. backed by a nuclear power??????????????????? You can not study things by staying in USA.
Hi Pasha,
checking and balancing is fair to the accuracy.I think you are im the state of aggressiveness.Everyone has rights to sevive.Through your comment to Dr.Gompa is unhonest and you have no rights to disclose his personal matters of his properties that he owns.You are in USA,where it is illegal to speak agains any other individual’interest.Please learn in maintaining the respect in other secracy.We don’t have such advocacy empowerments to fight with Druk Regime.It is Bhutanese Government that you are sent in USA,Do you agree ?
I just want to clearify that the person named KAZI who has posted comment on Dr Rai’s article is a different one, not me, Kazi Gautam.
Dear Pasha,Kazi,Tortala and all ..
First of all I would like to thank for ur comment on Dr.Bhumpa’s articles.But my strong dislike about U is that U all have mad being in western countries. Pasha dont u have common sense to respect a man like Dr? U have scolded him a lot yar…. U dont have right to intervene on our issues…or his writing job… so my request to u all do write creative and constructive comments only….comments mean to bring reformation and correction.History has taught us to respect all equally whether they r friends or enemies. Here I would like to have one quotation of Buddha for u :Hatred cannot be destroyed by hatred but it can be overcome by love….
My ashes will too salute Dr. Rai’s selflessness and life long love for motherland … god sees the truth but waits………….
Be positive and let us have one puff of smile towords other.
Chirang Salami
Jhapa,Nepal
In response to “Susan”’s comments, I would like to mention that the Prime Minister of Bhutan has denied calling all of Bhutanese refugees as terrorists. I am sure you are not telling lies, but I there are some facts that cannot be denied. The Government of Bhutan claims that there are many Nepalese members in the Parliament, and there are more factories and industrial projects in Southern Bhutan than other parts of the country. It appears that Bhutan is moving (very slowly) towards democracy.
Honestly, I do want to visit Bhutan without being supervised and I would love to walk around freely. Probably I will never be allowed to walk around freely in Bhutan. However, I will request the Bhutan Government officials for a special permission.
You have asked me how I could fight a Government backed by a nuclear power? I suggest you study the struggle of Kashmiri people for liberation from Indian rule. India is a nuclear power, but still Kashmiri freedom fighters are not afraid of India and are still fighting for their rights.
Let me ask you a question: Will you return to Bhutan if the King allows you to return?
Unmask your face if Susan is not your real name. If you are staying in the United States at present, then what you know what is going on in Southern Bhutan at present? If you are a former Bhutanese refugee, probably you left Bhutan at least 18 years ago. And of course, things change in 18 years.
Dear Neeruman:
Are you talking about Dr. Bhampa Rai or some other individual named Dr. Gompa?
When and where I disclosed his personal properties? I do not even know he owns some properties in Nepal. By the way, Dr. Bhampa Rai is a public figure and a politician, and public have right to discuss his properties and other personal matters.
Here in America, it is not a crime to discuss a politician’s personal matters. I think President Obama is half Muslim because his father was a Muslim, and his middle name is Hussain. President Obama lived in Pakistan many years ago. So what is wrong with talking about a public figure’s religion and his personal matters?
Let me set the record straight: I support the return of every single Bhutanese refugee who wishes to go back to Bhutan. However, I do not support the idea of overthrowing the legal Government of Bhutan.
Dear Chirang Salami:
I have tremendous respect for Dr. Bhampa Rai. I am the one who always defend Dr. Bhampa Rai when some other Bhutanese refugees insult him. Can’t you see some readers here are insulting me just because I supported Dr. Bhampa Rai? I am the one who suggested for the first time that Dr. Bhampa Rai deserves to be the Prime Minister of Bhutan.
Please go to Dr. Bhampa Rai’s clinic and say my hello to him, and please tell him I intend to come to his clinic in near future.
I never scolded Dr. Bhampa Rai. All I said was that Dr. Bhampa Rai should not have accused America of trying to confuse and divide Bhutanese refugees by offering resettlement.
Another thing I tried to say was that Dr. Bhampa Rai should not oppose resettlement because it is good for Bhutanese refugees.
I am a true friend of Bhutanese refugees, so why I cannot talk about their issues?
I suggest you read my comment very carefully again.
Pasha dude wrote:
“Let me set the record straight: I support the return of every single Bhutanese refugee who wishes to go back to Bhutan. However, I do not support the idea of overthrowing the legal Government of Bhutan”.
The more I read your comments, the more foolish you look. Your kinder garden thinking and logic has no respect here. You have changed Dr. Bhampa from a bad person to an extremely good, capable person (Prime Minister) in just between your two consequitive posts. Prom Please for the sake of your own credibility, stop your crappy none sense here. Your support or no- support does mean nothing to the Bhutanese movement and we are not soliciting. In fact, the reason why you are trying to be so close to the Bhutanese issue (when no one has asked you for that) is making us suspicious about you and your activities.
Hi Suraj Thapa,
You are a only person offending Dr.Gompa Rai’ matters.You commented him by saying that he lives in fool’s paradise.To be an ingredient of paradise should be either Eve or Adam,They also never enjoyed the true aromatic paradise too and disturbed by a huge snake.Paradise doesn’t mean either HDC’s (highly advance countries) like USA,where you live with only advanced technologies and infrastructures made by others,which will be remained Paradise to you upto certain extends or LDC’s (least Developed Countries)like Nepal and Bhutan,where Dr.Gompa Rai has been using very avdanced technology in touching the heart to hearts of his follow poor Bhutanese Refugees and the poor people around the Damak Town.He is doing a great humentarian services,Does it effect in loosing his customers? I don’t think,Do you ? They are recieving free services.Regarding resettlement opposing is found unfair to me also because immense affords declined to repatraition.I urge Suraj Thapa create own technology to explore unto hearts of suffering people.Please don’t waste your precious time unneccessarily.Have always positive attitutes in every aspects of life.
Dear Mr. Pasha,
Greetings!
Many of our valued friends took your comments in a negative way because of the way you deal with all. I didn’t write anything regarding your opinion and only commented on the Dr Rai article where I had little difference of opinion in the way he wrote especially in the concluding paragraph. The grievances being a refugee for all this long period is understandable that too for a professional person like surgeon and I feel it might not be necessary to mention down in the black and white. That is it.
But you could not spare my comment to criticize which I think is not necessary. Even then I’m gratified with your words and take it very strongly. Thanks!
I acknowledge you for your time to write all the comments and going through individual comment in our very small site. And interestingly you have a huge knowledge of our movement. Your attachment will really open our door. You are heartily welcome for discussion and sharing the ideas. Please be open and share the constructive ideas. But if you have any hidden interest also, let’s know. Nothing will happen.
With high regards!
Tortola
Pasha Dude,
Just stop your bogus.
Himal Sharma
Well Mr. Pasa! I don’t think that there is much to debate between us since by now I am sure whole world knows the fact of the “CREATION OF BHUTANESE REFUGEES BY RGoB. Further, I am also quite sure “INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY” must be aware of the “CRUEL POLICY” of Royal Government of Bhutan towards southern Bhutanese that exist even today. Before starting my comments Mr. Pasa, Jigme Y. Thinley can say so many bla bla while outside……this is only to get financial support and to get international sympathy for the wrong deeds……… while “GROUND REALITY” still exists. Yes I agree that there exist few parliamentarians from south but they are just the puppet in the hands of regime. If they raise voice they will have same fate……..!!!!!! You talk of few factories…..yea it is due to easy available of raw materials etc……..
I don’t know how far you can go…………….??????? (Barking Dog Seldom Bite), I want to tell you one thing that firstly I think you need to study the southern problem in dept before actually putting yourself in the problem???? You need to study the history of the people???? Who they are also whether you can compare these people with “KASHMIRI”????
Fact is Mr. Pasa southern Bhutanese are the simple innocent “FARMERS”. They are peace loving people. You may laugh at me that “MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN THE REMOTE VILLAGES NOT EVEN SEEN A VEHICLE, CYCLE etc TILL 1990. HOW CAN YOU EXPECT THEM TO USE MODERN WEAPONS???????????? Coming to your question people of Kashmir, if I am not wrong are not hated in other side….like in southern Bhutanese case it is SSB who came inside Bhutan….loaded them in trucks and deported to Mechi River(NEPAL & INDIA BOARDER). Can you think of this??????? People of Bhutanese identity are forcefully loaded in the BUS and trucks and deported to Nepal. Those who denied have been imprisoned, tortured and even killed. If I am not wrong people of BHUTAN, NEPAL and INDIA do not require “VISA” while travelling within these countries.
After a decade too, innocent people in the camps are waiting for dignified return to their Mother Land Mr. Pasa don’t ask me foolish question! Nothing is greater then Mother Land.
Lastly, Mr. Pasa question here is not of a war???????? WHAT WE WANT FROM UN IS “JUSTICE” A SOLUTION EXCEPTABLE TO BOTH THE PARTIES. NOT THAT TODAY YOU ARE A BHUTANES CITIZEN TOMMOROW AFTER CONSFISTICATING/LOOTING YOUR CITIZENSHIP IDENTITY CARD,LAND AND PROPERTY WITH THE HELP OF BIG POWERS DECLARED YOU THAT YOU ARE A TERRORIST, ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS AND THROWN OUT OF THE COUNTRY. Even today thousand of people are stateless in their own birth place. The real terrorist is roaming freely with added perks and what not???
For your kind information, I am still inside Bhutan………I am sorry if I hurt your sentiments…..!
Dear Tortola:
Please let me make a correction to my previous following statement:
“Tortola” has written his comments in a very polite and educated manner, and I admire him/her for being disrespectful.
I meant to use the world, “respectful”, but used “disrespectful”, in error.
You always have been so polite and respectful to me and other readers here, so why should I criticize you? I do not have any reason to criticize you anyway.
You have never attacked me personally, insulted me or attacked my race or religion or my origin, and I appreciate your support and kind words for me.
We are here to exchange our opinions in a civilized manner, not to fight with others, and intimidate others who just do not believe in what we do.
Dear Kazi Gautam
Bhutan News Service
http://www.bhutannewsservice.com
New York, United States
Thanks for clarifying that you were not that “Kazi” who wrote a very nasty comment recently.
However, I have reason to believe that being a part of Bhutan News Service, you are somehow responsible for creating a hostile environment here in the discussion room by not deleting hateful comments.
Is Mr. TP Mishra also a part of management of Bhutan News Service? I know for sure that Mr. TP Mishra is a very honest person and he would never allow some readers to post their hateful and uncivilized comments. I have ritcized his write ups in the past,few times, but I admire him for never taking it personally. Many readers have insulted Mr. TP Mishra many times, have called him a criminal and a troublemaker, but this brave man took all of that anger and criticism positively.
……………..
Dear Shahid,
We have received a lot of comments for the same post from you. Can you let us know your identity and intention of posting such a large number of comments? If we continue receiving such bulks of unwanted comments, we would be compelled to remove them all. Ed. BNS
Dear Editor,
Only a fraction of our Bhutanese people are commenting here and out of them only a few comment more than once. But even our hot shot commentators cannot match Mr. Pasha, for he can make tonnes of them – way much more than any one here. Mr. Pasha’s messy thoughts pollute our discussions and also raises questions about the motive of his interests. The Bhutanese refugees pay him certain amount an hour for learning driving in his car. But, he continues to say that he is helping Bhutanese. I think, we should protect ourselves from unhealty, negative comments as much as possible.
Dear Dr rai,
Commmenting on your article by many readers must not be misunderstood as an important article. Just i want to remind u that during the mass campaign launched by AHURA Bhutan for voluntary repatriation, was it not u who went against the campaign. I still remember people chasing you from camp with stones and sticks in their hands. All bhuanese know ur contribution for repatriaion.
I feel bad when a person like doctor woodwinking the people for self pitty interest. What have u done to garner the mass support? All past events prove that people who deceive innocent refugees will never be pardoned. God sees the truth but waits.
Dear Mr. Ramesh,
What you must not forget is that most human beings make thousand good acts that benefit a majority of the people around but in the making nothing is constant. Everything is changing in this world. For each and every issue all the individuals have their own opinion which in a political movement or in real people’s democracy should be open for debate before endorsing it. In case of Dr. Rai’s contribution to the Bhutanese refugees I am sure you and me can not point our finger on him. I am not his supporter, neither I belong to BNDP, BRRRC or HURON. But since the people started pouring in to the banks of river Mai, he served the Bhutanese selflessly and he has been serving them even today. He was the only senior Bhutanese doctor seen treating the ones who were desperately wanting to live more but were on the way to death. You might not have seen the very begining of the flow of the Bhutanese refugees in Mai before all the donor agencies made their way in to it. We must not be misguided by others comments.
Third country settlement also has many drawbacks. First of all, it has divided the Bhutanese families for good. One can see members of one family displaced all over the world. Some can never meet each other due to various backlogs of the laws and logistics. Among those settled in the TCR countries, many are facing thousands of the problems. And we all know the exiled Bhutanese minds can never come together as freedom and democracy is just misunderstood. So, Darwins theory of the ‘survival of the fittest’, is seen in the whole scenario. Every day one can see new organisations with a motive of serving the Bhutanese society and the movement. But the real motive behind it being to be a leader if I am not mistaken.
I think we should start thinking positively with the leaders like Dr. Bhampa and not criticize for the sake of criticism. I would also request Dr. Bhampa to bring up more write ups in the quest of excavating the truth and the true picture of what the Ngalung Bhutanese rulers followed towards the evolution of the Bhutanese refugee issue. I also would like to request the BNS NOT TO PUBLISH ANY COMMENT WRITE UPS PERSON WITHOUT A VALID IDENTITY. This person who claims to be Shahid M Pasha, USA has been seen commenting and non of the exiled Bhutanese knows him truly. There are ample reasons to doubt him to be an agent of RAW or of the interest of the Bhutanese regime. The Bhutanese commentors should not respond to a stranger who can be detrimental to our common issue as a whole. Any comment that tarnishes the image of another Bhutanese and can have potential to harm the Bhutanese movement should be discarded by the BNS team else all your positive contribution can be raged to the ground.
Dear all readers:
Dear Editor-In-Chief, Bhutan News Service:
I would like to offer apology to all of those readers who felt offended by my comments that I posted here on Bhutan News Service (BNS), recently. I request BNS to delete all of my comments that I posted on this website.
As my Allah (Almighty God) is my witness, I never meant any disrespect to anyone, nor I meant to hurt anyone’s feelings. I thought I had so much knowledge on Bhutanese refugees issue but now I realize that no matter how much knowledge I have, I will still never be able to feel the way those Bhutanese refugees feel who actually lived in the camps for almost 18 years. Now I also realize the fact that I was not being careful and cautious while writing comments on Bhutanese refugees issue. I was under the impression that most of Bhutanese refugees already have left the camps in Nepal, but just a few days ago, I have read somewhere that the number of exiled Bhutanese who have departed Nepal under third country resettlement program has reached 36,618 as of September end, and around 75,000 exiled Bhutanese still live in camps in Eastern Nepal. I admit being wrong by claiming that Bhutanese refugees issue has been resolved, in my previous comments.
In my previous comments posted here on BNS, I admired Dr. Bhampa Rai for providing medical assistance to Bhutanese refugees, free of charge. I am failed to understand why some Bhutanese refugees get so angry when someone praises Dr. Bhampa Rai?
I still feel Bhutan News Service was wrong by publishing comments made by some angry readers attacking me personally, and insulting and intimidating me. Bhutan News Service (BNS) should remain neutral and should not take sides with those who hate Dr. Bhampa Rai, or those who love Dr. Bhampa Rai. BNS needs to only make sure all of its readers express their opinions without being insulted, harassed or being personally attacked. BNS has failed to protect me against personal attacks.
I demand BNS an apology. I also demand BNS to delete all of those negative comments that contain my privacy violation and personal attacks and insults.
My identity is known to hundreds of Bhutanese refugees resettled here in the United States, especially those who live in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and many other states. Bhutan News Service has a reporter in Springfield, Massachusetts, and he knows me very well. As a matter of fact, I met him in Springfield, just a few days ago. BNS needs to contact him to learn and verify my real identity. But why BNS needs to verify my true identity? Did BNS ever demand and verify any other reader’s true identity ever? Why I am the only one being singled out by BNS? I met a very famous writer, Mr. TP Mishra, in Springfield, Massachusetts, to prove to him that I was not a Bhutanese Government agent. He did not like my comments, in the beginning, and accused me of being a Bhutanese Government agent, but now, he understands the fact that I had nothing to do with Bhutanese Government.
My real identity is Shahid M. Pasha. I was born in Pakistan, but now I am an American citizen. I have spent more years here in America, than I have spent in Pakistan. If any reader of Bhutan News Service still accuses me of being an Indian agent of RAW, then there is nothing I can do about that. As a small boy, living in Pakistan, I have seen Indian fighter jets dropping bombs in my city and destroying many buildings in my neighborhood. India fought four wars with my native country. India took East Pakistan (More than half of my country) away after attacking Pakistan in 1971, and turned it into “Bangladesh”, So, how I could be working for Indian intelligence agency, RAW?
I also have been accused of being an agent of Bhutanese Government. A reader has claimed that Bhutanese Government sent me to USA. How I could be an agent of Bhutanese Government when I have never met any officer of Bhutanese Government and have never visited Bhutan or Nepal in my life ever?
My intention is to find the truth and to help my Bhutanese refugees friends in anyway I can. I still intend to visit Nepal and Bhutan. I will visit that region only if I have time to visit. And of course, I would love to meet Dr. Bhampa Rai, Mr. Tek Nath Rizal, and the King of Bhutan, and Mr. Thinley (Prime Minister of Bhutan), if these leaders allow me to meet them. Why should not I visit Nepal and Bhutan? I like Bhutanese people (Bhutanese citizens, and current and former Bhutanese refugees), because I find them to be very lovely, nice and harmless people. My Bhutanese refugee friends here in the USA, have helped me more than I have helped them. They have given me affection, love and friendship, and I am thankful to them.
I have decided that I will not write any more comments on Bhutan News Service for a long time.
God Bless all the people of Bhutan and Nepal, including former and current refugees, living here in America, in Nepal, and anywhere else in the world.
Mr. Shahid Mohamamd Pasha, Massachusetts, USA.
dear m pasa, you are not the bad man. keep on writing . it is your rights to visit, comment or know anything you like. we are brothers.no one should hate or discriminate anyone by their race or country/.
you are right Dear Dr Rai.. i really appreaciate your article.
Dear grg:
Many thanks for supporting me. I know there are so many of readers out there who do not hate me just because I am a Pakistani. But just a few readers just cannot see a Pakistani man talking about Bhutani issues. If a white man from America, Euorope or somewhere else posts his/her comments here on Bhutan News Service, on Bhutan issue, and expresses his/her opinion, these racist readers will never attack his/her race, color or religion, just because they love white skin, and they do not like my brown skin.
I just feel sad to see that Bhutan News Service editors never discourage racist readers from insulting me or attacking my race. It appears that none of any editors reads all these posts before publishing them.
Thanks again for expressing your suport for me.
Mr. Shahid M. Pasha, Masaschusetts, USA.