Youths gravitate toward arms option (REPRODUCTION)
BY TILAK P. POKHAREL
Jhapa and Morang, November 10 – The whisper about Bhutanese refugees taking up arms against the Druk monarch's absolute rule has been in the air for quite some time.
Now there are growing evidences that refugees frustrated with the Druk regime's refusal to repatriate them are gravitating toward the arms option. Maoist's success in Nepal and growing Maoist insurgency in India has bolstered their confidence. Ignored ad infinitum by their king, some of the 106,000 Bhutanese refugees – who where driven out of the country in an "ethnic cleansing" 16 years ago – have begun to organize themselves for armed struggle as an alternative to establish democracy and end ethnic discrimination at home.
"Armed struggle is the only alternative for everyone now," Shree Lal Kafle, 47, a Bhutanese refugee living in one of the UNHCR-funded camps in Eastern Nepal told the Post last week.
Says Chhabi Kharel, 29, another refugee: "Armed struggle is not a luxury, it's a compulsion."
According to Kafle, many revolutionary organizations (read "political parties") have emerged in Bhutan and refugee camps.
One "Nabin", who identified himself as the central member of Communist Party of Bhutan and had come to refugee camps all the way from Bhutan, told journalists this week that they had formed a "military commission" in February to wage armed struggle.
Formation of Coordination Committee of Maoist Parties and Organization of South Asia (CCOPOSA) has also boosted their aspirations. A joint resolution adopted by the fourth conference of CCOPOSA in August said, "In Bhutan, the budding Maoist movement has courageously taken up the task of mobilizing the masses for revolution… (toward making) South Asia a flaming field of Maoist revolutions." Com-munist Party of Bhutan (Marxist-Leninist-Maoist) [CPB(MLM)] and Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) were two of the nine parties adopting the resolution.
According to refugees who want to mount an insurgency in Bhutan, two more parties – Sarswo Liberation Front and Sadribhasi Liberation Front – were formed last year in Bhutan. "They are underground in the country."
Established in 2001, CPB(MLM) has started pamphleting within Bhutan and refugee camps. One of such pamphlets attributed to "All Bhutan Revolutionary Students' Union" and distributed in all seven camps on the night of October 20 has invoked Charles Darwin-propounded theory: "existence of any animal that fails to struggle is sure to become extinct" to justify such a struggle in Bhutan. "Let's search life in struggle," says the pamphlet.
"We have our support and solidarity for any party launching struggle in whichever form in Bhutan," says Kharel, who feels that "illegitimate" movement should be considered an option if lawful ways don't bring any results.
Both Kafle and Kharel – the intransigent advocates of repatriation – say resettlement of refugees in third countries is "damaging". "We wish neither the international community nor Nepal government push for this kind of resolution," says Kharel.
Dhan Bahadur Sunuwar, Eastern Regional Coordinator of Lutheran World Federation-Nepal, which has been providing humanitarian assistance to the refugees since the very beginning, says the feeling of armed struggle among the youths is the outcome of "frustration".
"However, we have set up youth-friendly centers in each camp in order to engage them in constructive activities for the last four months," says Sunuwar. "If (armed struggle-related) activities continue, it may affect our work."
The likes of Kafle and Kharel in the camps say they want to return home, not to other countries. If it doesn't happen through peaceful means, they said, there will be a successful armed struggle, which will unseat the Druk monarch, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, ensuring their return.
Though all the refugees want change in system in Bhutan, they differ on the way to do so. And, this is the bone of contention, which is dividing them. Dr Bhampa Rai, Advisor of Bhutanese Repatriation Representative Committee (BRRRC), says he feels strongly for repatriation but falls short of approving a radical movement.
"Only thing we want is change in the system in Bhutan (which will ensure our voluntary repatriation)," says Dr. Rai, who until 1990 was the president of the Bhutan Health Association. On the armed struggle, he says, "Maybe, our young brothers might be saying so. If things don't work through good ways, rough ways too should be considered. But, let's hope that such a situation doesn't arise."
An ardent advocate of keeping all options (repatriation, local integration and third country resettlement) open for resolution of the refugee impasse, Hari Bangale, who is the camp secretary of Beldangi-II, says the "end result" of such a struggle won't be good. "I don't believe in armed struggle," says Bangale. "They haven't studied the geopolitical situation. They shouldn't be impractical and swept away by sentimental waves. Who doesn't love their own country?"
Source: ekantipur.com November 11 06