Repatriation shouldn’t be initiated under insecure condition
Born at Belbotay of Sibsoo sub-division under Samchi district in Bhutan, Mr. N.B. Giri who is a Mechanical Engineer, was later awarded with AMIMI from IMI, UK London. Giri is a commissioned Army officer of the Royal Bhutan Army (Capt. in 1988). He has also served in the civil services thereby representing Bhutan at various international seminars and workshops. He was arrested in December 1990 without any charges and imprisoned till 1992. Currently, Giri is working as the Chief Coordinator of the Refugee Rights Coordinating Committee (RRCC). T. P. Mishra of Bhutan News Service talked to him on various relevant issues. Excerpts:
BNS: What is RRCC? Why was it established?
Giri: It is clear that unless Bhutan has a popular democratic government including written constitution, which protects rights of the citizens then lives of exiled Bhutanese will be in danger after repatriation. The issue on protection of these people in Bhutan is likely not to be guaranteed even if voluntary or dignified repatriation takes place.
Thus, the concept of establishing RRCC sprouted out. This committee has been founded by an intellectual group of exiled Bhutanese with the declared objectives to protect and promote the rights of the Bhutanese people. It also plays an active role on the options of comprehensive approach to durable solution vis-à-vis resettlement in third countries. Besides this, it plays a primary role in appealing the government of Nepal, United Nations and all concerned authorities to help resolve the crisis without further delay.
BNS: What is RRCC doing now?
Giri: The recent US offer to resettle exiled Bhutanese in its soil has inspired people in camps. It has become a source of inspiration to uplift the lifestyle with a feeling of normalcy. We have already discussed the issue of resettlement with the US, Australia and Canada government.
BNS: Why is the RRCC needed when the US itself is supporting relocation package?
Giri: It has become very important for us to get organized for protecting our interests. The situation in camps is getting deteriorated with the flow of time. It is the demand of the time to help people protect their lives at least for a normal living. The political parties and human rights groups existing in camps are paying no attention to seek solution. People in camps are made hostage in the name of fulfilling their trivial objectives. Even the government of Nepal is not an exception to this. It will be blunder on leaders’ part if the exiled Bhutanese are forced into Bhutan before the dawn of full fledged democracy guaranteeing human rights.
Therefore, there is a need we felt to organize ourselves to stand in favor of the innocent people and support the proposal of the UNHCR and the US.
BNS: Will this committee also promote other options besides resettlement?
Giri: The RRCC has studied practicality of all options of the durable solutions in the present context and has derived its aims and objectives accordingly. The committee is aware that the solution to this dilemma would be to return to their home country. Voluntary repatriation should occur in conditions of safety and dignity. Repatriation is our preferred solution. However, it cannot be initiated if we feel insecure or unprotected. Similarly, it is not suitable for the Bhutanese people to opt for the option of local assimilation as Nepal is enrolled in its own interim political turmoil. It has immense humanitarian problems of its own citizens. Thus, the committee does not advise or promote these two of the latter options. However, it shall always respect the rights of those people who wish to opt for these two options.
BNS: Is the RRCC responsible towards creating division in Bhutanese community?
Giri: If we forget our basic duty to protect the lives of our people and just maintain the rigid stand of repatriation without realizing the grave danger to the lives of the returnees, it might loose faith in the leadership. RRCC is definitely responsible for setting free the Bhutanese people from the hands of disloyal organizations. RRCC is not responsible if there is divided opinion. I think the general mass is getting united with us.
BNS: How do you evaluate the current development in Bhutanese community?
Giri: When the UNHCR proposed to open other options of durable solution in addition to repatriation and similarly when the US offered to resettle us in the US, we are awoken from our failing future. We have retrieved our lost hopes and inspirations to rebuild our life again. Thus, the exiled Bhutanese community is definitely waiting for all these sorts of new developments.
BNS: What do you remark on the rise in communism inside camps?
Giri: Political parties and political ideologies are not the essential criteria of today’s world. An able leadership with a dynamic personality who can be just and unbiased for the cause of the suffering people is the final requirement. What the Bhutanese people want today is peace, prosperity, security and justice which can be attained by fusion of all ideologies into a decisive force. Communism or Communist Party is not the need of the Bhutanese people. Innocent people should not be labeled as communist when they know nothing about politics.
BNS: Will the offer of resettlement not fall under shadow in the midst of Bhutan’s statement claiming refugees to be ‘ready-made-terrorists’?
Giri: The foreign minister of Bhutan, Khandu Wangchuck has become a laughing-stoke in the today’s world by coining baseless statements. How can he speak that refugees who are manned by International Agencies, UNHCR, LWF, WFP, government of Nepal and Human Rights groups are ready-made terrorists?
The US has declared to resettle exiled Bhutanese on humanitarian ground. Khandu’s superfluous statement doesn’t overshadow this option. The US has observed us for 16 years and is very much aware of our humane nature and habits.
BNS: What are the future programs and plans of RRCC?
Giri: The Committee is observing the re-registration process undertaken jointly by government of Nepal and the UNHCR. It shall work as per the situations and extend the possible help to the exiled Bhutanese. We have set our teams to carryout the activities in the camps and at the international level as soon as the re-registration process in camps is completed.