India: A player in the court
Almost 17 years after the eviction of her citizen by the Bhutan’s autocratic regime, reluctant though, for the first time high level Indian leaders sat together to discuss this long stranded issue of the exiled Bhutanese. Buddhadev Bhatacharjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal discussed the issue with the Union Foreign Minister Pranav Mukarjee at the former's residence in Kolkata. This came right after the wake of Long March initiated by the exiled Bhutanese on May 28 from Nepal India border at Panitanki, followed by indiscriminate firing by Indian SSB towards the peaceful marcher, leading to the death of one youth and injured several. However, exiled Bhutanese called off the march after the Panitanki meeting at which the Indian authority accepted to fulfill their demand within June 15.
Indeed, the discussion of two leaders is an acceptance by India of the presence of Bhutanese citizens in the camp in Nepal. However, the comment of the foreign minister ‘The repatriation of (exiled Bhutanese) might cause demographic imbalance’ clearly reflects that India is looking into the issue on the basis of demographic pattern rather than identity and rights. But he avoided mentioning Bhutanese in exile as ‘non-Bhutanese’, what Bhutan is claming so far. In today's world of diversified society, such a critical comment from the foreign minister of world's largest democratic country is a green signal not only to the Bhutanese community in exile but also to the different social groups residing in different countries and fighting for equality and justice. If the world community take into consideration of this comment, forget about solving the problem, the world will see more social conflict. Else the countries around the world have to draw new boundaries on the basis of demography.
Indian foreign minister on his statement was greatly concern about
the demographic imbalance that may cause by the entry of 100,000 plus Bhutanese to their original home, yet he failed to realize the demographic changes that the Bhutanese regime made in post 1990s by re-settling the northerners in the land of the evicted citizens in southern Bhutan.
It is worth mentioning here that before 1985 all the social groups in Bhutan had harmoniously coexisted and equally took part in national development. However, with the increase political interference of India in late 1980s, Bhutanese regime sided with India, came out with new policies, which are directed towards her Nepali subject, ultimately leading to their eviction.
It is obvious from the comment of the Indian foreign minister that eviction of Bhutanese citizens is a planned process sponsored by India. This is the reason why India always wants to hide from the scene. India was successful to remain isolated in the past episodes, but somehow showing its concern on the issue lately, although it is not in favor of evicted Bhutanese citizens. Mukharjee is right to say that the issue is an international problem, since the international organizations are taking care of these evicted citizens. But India has to realize that India is the key player on the issue and need to be honest in solving the problem. No doubt, India is the good friend of Bhutan and a largest donor, but it does not mean that India should undermine the life of hundred thousand Bhutanese.
It was clear from the Mechi incident during Long March and Beldagi incident, that frustration among the youths in exile is escalating everyday. Back in home here, due to the discriminatory policy of the autocratic regime, frustration among the educated and unemployed youth is in rise and the number is increasing in rapid pace. The time is slipping out of hand for Bhutan to solve the problem before the fusion of these frustrated groups, who may turn into human bomb, which will be disastrous for a small country like Bhutan in particular and to the region as a whole.
It seems India want not to see their neighbors in peace. Bhutan should realize this fact and must take an independent decision as a sovereign nation to solve all the outstanding problems before the situation further deteriorates.
For Bhutan to survive with its dream of ‘Gross National Happiness’ it must strive for the harmonious fusion of every section of society, else the democratic changes may bring more harm than good.
(Chhetri writes for Bhutan News Service from Thimphu. He can be reached at [email protected])