BHUTAN:WHERE THERE IS SILENCE AND NO PEACE

-GOVINDA RIZAL

Modern day south Asia

BHUTAN TODAY

Politics and government of Bhutan

King: Jigme Singye Wangchuck Prime Minister : Sangay Ngedup

( Kings Brother in law)Tshogdu (National Assembly) 150 members

Peoples representatives 105East=? West=? South= 16 (1988 less than that in subsequent years)

Appointed members 35Ministers 10, District chiefs 20, Other institutional heads 5

Representatives of Budhist groups 10

Political parties (Banned)

Royal High Court, King- highest court of appeal

Foreign relations- under the guidence of India.

Major areas from where people were evicted

BHUTAN TODAY AND TOMORROW

In 2008

* King wants to abdicate from Throne, *First general elections to be held*Crown Prince to become 5th monarch

King Jigme Singye Wangchuck (Born 1955 Nov 11) (Coronated June 2, 1974)

Crown Prince Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk (Born Feb 21, 1980),(Oct 21, 2004)

*1,30,000 Bhutanese citizens IN EXILE for 16 years, waiting for a royal decree for repatriation to their home land.

*Constitution drafted and distributed to the public - referendum soon

Why King wants to abdicate from Throne?

Threats of abdication to the Nation→1st time in 1990‘If I cannot solve the problem within 3 years I will abdicate

from throne’ –said the king.Result = exodus of 100,000 citizen→ 2nd threat in 2005

He decided to abdicate in favor of his son in 2008-Mounting international pressure to solve the refugee issue

Shifting the blame to no shoulder

Will the First general elections bring a change?

It legalizes the existing trend

Empowers those already ruling into a secure platform.

The people will not come to the government easily and early.

Ngalong= 187,075 Sharchops=183,373 Bhutanis=252,886

Constitution drafted and distributed to the public

Now

Political parties and group-ism –illegal

Then

Regionalism~ banned in the constitution.

Absence of house and royal Bossism

Crown Prince to become 5th monarch- is it a big event?

A great struggle 1969= the third king (present kings father) made several people

oriented, democratic reforms → to win the heart of the people for his son.

Reforms-Surrender of Veto to national assembly-Vote of no confidence to oust the king by majority.- othersThe son after coronation scraped off all the reforms made by his father.

2005= Fourth king declared reforms to gain a place in peoples heart for the young monarch

ReformsWritten constitution, bi-party system and elections…..Democratic systemRetirement age for the king and voluntary retirement.

Who is more happy?

Gross National Happiness, GNH

Happiness comes beyond materialistic things

Basic needs?

For 16 years 1,30,000 Bhutanese citizens waiting for a royal decree for permission to return to their home land.

Waiting repatriation

105, 000 in 7 camps in eastern Nepal

More than 25 000 (estimated) living in Nepal and India.

How much is Bhutan, What area can you Visit?

Bhutan for the visitors

Bhutani

Ngalongs, kings tribe

Sharchops, Majority

Origin of Bhutanese Refugees-Created by Government-For demographic balance-Trend of Democracy-First competittors to the royal elites

Bhutani→ Gorkhas(up to 1958) → Bhutanese of

Nepali origin → Southern Bhutanese → Lhotsampas →

Ngolops → refugees (after eviction)

→ Illigal immigrants

If the refugees are allowed to return,- the governement will be forced to adopt liberal democracy - the present minority led royal tribe will be in multiple disadvantage

Road Map

Situation of Bhutanese in Exile

15 rounds of Bhutan Nepal talk for repatriation

Donors –Fatigue; Cut down on the basic needs

Waste of labour and rise of social problems

Deteriorating condition – inhuman living.

Conflicts of political ideologies

Loss and lack of responsibilities

Crux of the Problem

Government’s Version

Non interference

Suspicion

Problem in the south

Moment in Southern Bhutan

Uprising

Antinational activities

Ngolop ( terrorists)

Illegal immigrants

Dissidents’ version

FraternityCompetitions in

- education - employment- Business- Production

DiscriminationCensusProtestHuman rights violation

-Rape, -plunder, -arrest, -extrajudicial killing

Struggle for DemocracyRepatriation to Homeland

Tools of Bhutan Government used for eviction

Citizenship Acts(1958,1977,1985)Marriage Act 1980Green BeltDriglam NamzaOne nation One peopleCrush down on the protesters

Arrest, imprisonment, rape, loot, eviction.Forceful migration

No Objection certificate, NOCFree and compulsory labour

(Chunidum 2 months/year, Sekteling 1months/year)

National security ActTsa-wa-Sum (King, Country, Nation)EvictionResettlement GROSS NATIONAL HAPPINESS

Categorization: a funny game of Bhutan

Census categoriesF1. Genuine Bhutanese.

F2. Returned migrants, i. e., people who had left Bhutan and then returned.

F3. Drop-out cases, i. e, people who were not around at the time of the census.

F4. A non- national woman married to a Bhutanese man.

F5. A non-national man married to a Bhutanese woman.

F6. Adoption cases.

F7. Non -national, i. e, migrants and illegal immigrants.

Verification categories

Category 1: Bonafide Bhutanese, if (they) have been evicted forcefully

Category 2: Bhutanese who emigrated

Category 3: Non-Bhutanese People

Category 4. Bhutanese, who have committed criminal acts

How many categories of people can you find?

7X4=28

International Perspective

International Perspective3 options

Voluntary repatriation

Settlement and integration in host country

Third country settlement

Is the issue internationalized ?• January 17, 2001

• BHUTANESE REFUGEES: Clinton’s Unfinished Business• Brussels & Washington D.C.: Well Done, But We Won't Sit Quiet

       There is no question now that the Bhutanese refugees problem has been internationalized, much to Nepal's relief. Only time will tell if Bhutan and Nepal will keep up to the praises and expectations of the United States and the European Union, major contributors in maintaining the camps in Eastern Nepal.• Clinton authorizes $22 million for Bhutanese and the Balkan refugees (Original White House document, Jan 17/01)• EU: We will closely follow the work of the Ministerial Joint Committee and the Joint Verification Team (Original EU document, Jan 12/01)• US: As a major contributor, we plan to work with both countries for the just resolution of the humanitarian problem (Original US document, Jan 10/01)

• US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs Karl Inderfurth visits the region. Bhutan refugees seen as Clinton’s unfinished business.• US attempt to settle refugee issue in Nepal, HindustanTimes, Dec 02/00• U.S. backs Nepal on refugees, urges security for Tibetan refugees, UPI Dec 02/00• U.S. Urges Nepal, Bhutan to Resolve Refugee Problem, IWorld, Dec 01/00• US appeals over Bhutan refugess, BBC, Dec 01/00

Voluntary repatriationSeveral attempts (1996-2006)

– -interception, incarceration and deportation.

UNHCR -not involved in bilateral talks?

- not allowed in Bhutan?

1999’s 30,000 fear8th talk, Sept 13-16, 1999, Kathmandu, Mahat and thinley- Bhutan proposed to begin

verification with the list of 30,000 people prepared by UNHCR.

- A shock to Nepali government and the refugees

Settlement and integration in the host country

Refugees do not want

Fears of

- eviction of remaining Bhutanis

-uprooting and deportation into Nepal of Nepali Diaspora

Strong pressure from the locals against the idea

Third Country Settlement

Fear of – Family breakdown– Pick up of the elites– Disadvantaged mass fall in Nepal’s share– Problem with the aged- adjustment

Little scope for the less educated people abroad

Nepal’s Options

1. Solution to be sought through Bilateral talks

2. Seek Indian assistance

3. Internalize the issue

After 15 rounds of fruitless talks, the Nepali government is yet to consider other options--Chances are less.

Reasons

Unstable government.

Lack of laws and regulation regarding refugees

Political vote bank and local pressure.

Biased Indian role

Bhutanis camped in India were deported into Nepal

Supports Bhutan king and avoids the concern stating bilateral issue

Stops and detains the refugees voluntarily returning to Bhutan

India’s stand

• Words• Solve bilaterally

• Actions• Deports Bhutanese

people into Nepal and stops the back attempts

Façade BehindOne man easier to deal than group

International Vote -CTBTSole importer = Export of Bhutan

Power- electricityA good “Yes” friend

A stepping stone to strike insurgents in the North East

Who will understand us?

• Who will read our appeal?

Bhutanese citizenship cards

Children

Inside country

-Police clearance or

NOC -to admit in schools

-- High drop out

- Child  soldiers

-Child labors

In camps

~45,000

New born ~ 20,000

Victim of malnutrition and crowded (unhealthy) environment.

Children’s Educatation

• In BhutanPrivatization on riseBoard Exams Class6,8,10,12Pass for trainingHigh no of failures and drop outs.• In Southern BhutanSchools closed for 16 yearsA few afford to go beyond border,NOC for admission- no entry Noc for jobs- No jobsChild labour

In campUpto class 10- caritas nepalClass 11-12 , few scholarshipsUniversity level- No Less qualified teachersNepalese Syllabus

Creation of a generation of illiterate manual workers and easy subjects.

The Most infamous example of a tyrannical rule in the 21 st century

They need your help?Support them the way you can?

-Make them friends

-Adopts them as brothers, sisters, sons or daughters

-Help them in their education

-Help them stand on their own foot.

-Voice on their behalf – you don’t need a mandate for it.

Above all visit them, see them and hear them.

Hope you will meet her one day?

Your queries?