Denver, May 20, 2009: The newly resettled Bhutanese in Denver, Colorado are getting passing sleepless nights due to increasing attacks on the in the recent days.
“Before leaving the refugee camp, I was thinking: We have problems. . . . I’ll feel safe in the United States. Now my feeling has changed. I’m not safe in the United States,” said Yadav Rizal, 39, who was robbed of $250, beaten and dragged behind a liquor store in northeast Denver.
Due to the attacks, he has to change his apartment, again becoming refugee in America. His family shifted to a new place on Tuesday.
Denver and Aurora police are investigating three crimes. This was the fourth instance of attack on the Bhutanese. After the May 8 robbery, Rizal was unconscious for five hours in a hospital. Seven stitches closed a gash over his blackened right eye. His head and neck still ache today, he said.
The latest attack began when a big man followed him when he got off the bus at the end of a 90-minute commute from a mountain casino where he works. “He said: ‘Give me five dollars.’ ”
Rizal refused, thinking “that’s hard-earned money,” After the man hit him, Rizal threw $40 from his pocket. Another man joined the assault. After they dragged him, he felt them taking his wallet and a pack that carried a certificate of appreciation from his employer.
Also on May 13, Rohit Khanal was assaulted in an attempted robbery on East Colfax Avenue at Billings Street — another case that police are investigating.
Similarly, Shiva Bhattarai, 31, was also hassled by three man on May 13 when he got off the bus after work.
The attacks aggravate a difficult situation for resettled Bhutanese. The government grants them only $450 a month for eight months to resettle, forcing most to live in rougher areas where police and caseworkers say street crime is more frequent.
Since most resettled Bhutanese work for long hours, it is always late when they get back to home.
“Our promise is not just to bring them here,” said Paul Stein, Colorado’s refugee coordinator, who is planning emergency meetings with the Bhutan immigrants to help them improve their personal safety. “Our promise is to help them integrate. We have to do a better job.”
hi
this is arun dhungel from utah.i heard that america is so good and nice when i was in nepal but when i reached in america i saw america is soo bad for refugee but good for citizen so i pray for god that the who was bitten by other people will healthy and the who do such kind crime wii be punished.
thanks
arun
Take care guys.
Carry gun for personal safety.
Ja, it depends where you are. The whole America is not bad. Crimes are every where in the world. It is more serious in the refugee camps in Nepal. So, this should not be a discouragemnet to the other Bhutanese who are still on their way to the US. One thing should be taken care of very seriously, Be careful and be alert ,
It depends on neighborhood. These neighborhoods are dangerous for citizens too. But it sucks there is only enough money for them to be in these neighborhoods.
Hi every one,
It is sad to read such stories of refugees being assaulted for some money by the robbers. It is really tough to come to the same spirit after such kind of trauma occurs. But, life has to move on. We have no choices now guys. Think positive and dream for the future, dream for your kids. You got hit on the eye or, any where on your body but, they did not kill you. Be alert, every time, especially when you are walking alone at night. It is good to have a friend in your job who has the same schedule as yours. When some asks for money at such a situation, give them. This is the best way to avoid getting assaulted by such robbers. There was a similar case at St Louis last year. A group of vagabonds asked for a hand bag to one of our guys who was walking home from work. He refused and got smacked on his head. Fortunately, his injury was not life threatening. He is doing good now.
It is sad to hear that bhutanese are not getting seafty in most of the state in usa . these seems that government is getting looser. if we the bhutanese write an application to the central govt we may get more safe in coming days. but we we have to work together sharing our problems . thanks
Those refugees are not Bhutanese, they are nepalese(you can see the nepali faced people in the Pic). They were driven off from Nepal to USA. I don’t know why the nepalese government didn’t allow them to resettle in nepal?
My Parents and myself also was migrated from Burma(Myanmar) to nepal with other tens of thousands nepalese tens of years ago. But all of us were allowed to settle in nepal.