The

Bhutan Monthly NpUl" Views and Reviews

00 , continuing Refugees in Nepal Tllhir Ali. It may be recalled that the front even though February has ar­ According to the Broadcast­ evir;:tion of people from Bhutan by The diplomats talked 10 the Goyenunenl of Canada announced rived. According to the leader or llle ing Service (BBS), shortly before the Royal Goyernment. diplomats refugees and inquired about their assistance to Bhutanese refugees a Bhutanese delegation to the Octo midnight on Thumlay January 27, a based in Katlunandu visited the refu· well.being. TIle Bhulanese refugee few months ago and the Govern­ her bilateral talks, both countries home-made bornb was thrown at the gee t:1IJT\p5 in Jh,apa and Morang ~c r eening post at the border in ment of the UniledStatcsof America !::t:! "fe; ' 11'I !:e-.se of urs~c"j":;m~ Stnuy post of the Royal Bhutan Po­ wished taste Ihe matter of people in districts recently. The delegation Kakarvita was also inspected by the has been a major contributor to th e lice headquaners in . The refugee camps in Nepal expedi­ included the American Charge delegation. The refugees are greatly refugee welfare programme since devise reportedly failed to ellplode. Liously resolved. d'affaires Michael Malinowsky. encouraged by such visits which the very beginning of the refugee Police suspect two cigarelle­ Having agreed to the catego Canada's Chief Counsellor John provide 111\ opporrunity for donors crisis. smoking individuals, one wearing a ri1..8tion of refugce5 into fOUI cat­ Moore and the Representatiyeof the 10 get fust hand information about dark gho and the other a white jacKet egories il was further agreed. de­ U.N. High Commissioner for the situation in the refugee camps. spite iJle Bhutanese senseof urgency. over trousers. According to Corpo­ that Ihe Nepal-Bhutan 10 int Corn­ ral Lob-ung on duty, the two passed millee would meet only this Febru­ ''IMPROVED'' PRISON CONDITIONS IN BHUTAN· THE FACTS by the post shortly before the inci­ ary sim ply 10 determine the mecha­ dent. The maller is reponedly being "Tbc government also banned the ayearduring which three·fourthsot time, the above mentioned officials nisms for the process of verification investigated. So arrests have been use of shackles in pris0n5,gaYerela­ the refugee population were forced in particular, also reportedly abuse and categorization. HowevCf, even made so fst. tions access 10 prisoners and invited to make their WQy out of the coun­ the inmates in inhuman ways. Left Ihis small step forward is unlikely to 10 the mercy of \llese SllrTle officiQls REFUGEE STU[)ENTS TOP take place as scheduled since no the International Committee of the try. in the days ahead, and due to the PRE·SLC EXAMINATIONS dates have yet been finz]il.cd be­ Red Cross to visit Bhutan periodi­ The first ever visit by the uncertainty of subsequent visits by The year opened with a my of hope tween the two countries. TIlt pro­ cally," thus stated the 1993 Am­ ICRCinJanuary 1993 has also given for refugee children pursuing their motion and transfer of Bhutanese nesty International Report. 1·low­ the government It similar propa­ the ICRC or any other international education in the camps. Despite the delegate JigmiThinley IS Ambassa­ ever, the reality is quite different. ganda opportunity. Once one of the human rights groups, the prisuners dor and Pennanenl U.N. RCp'csen. The Royal Government may have most notorious prisons, Chemgang are left with little choice but to com­ dilapidated conditions of the struc­ tures under which the students srudy , taLive in Geneva, and the elevation whispered the above assurances into prison near Thimphu. built by the ply with the government instruc­ of NCpIIJese delegate Kedllt Bhakta the ears of the Amnesty Interna­ inmates themselves ovcr the last tions. the class X sent-up ClIaminations Shrestl to Acting Foreign Secretary tional delegation but prisoners in two years has been turned inlo a While inmates in Chemgang saw the Bhutanesesrudents from the Beldangi refugee camp ocC"\lpying will problbly necessitate I reconsti­ prisons other than Chemgang and showpiece. CompMed \0 the pMt. prison and a few selected cells in the lOp positions in Jhapa district. tutionoftheJoinl Committee thereby Thimphu, reportedly conUr!ue 10 the diet has bl!L.... impr~'ed, 11 few Thimphu prison are KnOWn 10 Ihe Outofthe 94 studcnts who aPf'ClITed "mv;,!;,,,, iUSlificatinn for the ineyi­ ,emain in shIlC KI~ . Conditions in visilors as wel1-:e selecled relding outside world and have st:tr:.:.d ,e· table delay_ for the sent-up uaminations con­ Chemgang prison (this prison has materials are ,1towed if\. Recently, ceiving bettcr treatmenl on occa­ ducted by the Ministry of Educa­ NEW BHUTANESE been made a showpiece for public­ however, the Bhutan Reyiew has sions, there are many others who tion. His Majesty's Government of ENVOYS ity) alw improve substantially only learnt that there is another side to continue to languish in inhuman COll­ Nepal, 93 were declared successful ditions in other pans of the counuy. E:I\cept for the Pennanent Mission prior to visits by the ICRC delega­ the story. with the top position in the district Many of these ClSes are known only of Bhutan 10 the U. N. in New York, tions. The much publicized one-time It has been reported that both going 10 a refugee stooent. 1be 93 III other Bhutanese amblSsadorial visit to Bhutan by the Amnesty Inter­ mental and physical abuses con­ when the inmates themselves Me successful candidates will sit for the posts hive recently been filled up national delegation in January 1992 tinue and that prisoners remain in released. It has been recently re­ School Leaving CertifIcate (SLC) through fresh appointments. and two subsequent visits by the shacldes C:l\cept during the visit by ported that nine prisoners, fiv e of ex' linatior! in February. Former Minister in the Minis­ ICRC oyer the last one year have the ICRC. Specifically, Home Min­ wh om have been identi fied, lie new school session which Iryof Socia.i SeI'lices and Commu· suengthened the government's posi­ ister Dogo Tshering, Col. V. Madhulal Budhathoki, Prem started on , 61anuary after about a month's winter holidays also saw nicationsDr.TlShiTobgyel fi lled in tion to lobby its case in the interna­ NllrTIgyel of the Royal BodyGuards Bahadur Rai, Man Bahadur Bhujel, the vacancy created in Dhaka by the added enthusiasm among parents in tional fora. and ADC to the King, and Capt. Ram Lal Raut and Lok Balladur uansfer of Karma Dorji nearly a educating their children. This is evi­ The government brazenly an­ Kipchuofthe , Ghalay were transferred from year ago. dent fr om the substantial increase in nounced that it had been "given a among others. make it a point to Chcmgang prison to Lungtenphug Tobgye S.Dorji, Secretary in enrollment of children at the pri­ clean chit"by the first ever Amnesty personal Iy talk to the prisoners prior Army Headquarters near Thimphu the Planning Commission hIS sub­ mary level. lnternatimlal delegation to beallowed to each visit by the ICRe. The in­ during the rust half of 1993. Since mitted his credentials to the Amirof RIZAL TRA\SFERRED TO 10 visit the counuy in January 1992. mates are warned o f dire conse­ then their whereabouts are nOI KuwaiL This post WIS ldt vacant CHE~IGA'G PRISO\ FOr1W1ately for \he regime, the "clean quences if anything against the gov­ known. after the resignltion of Sangye In a much publicized outcome of the chit" was held back for one full year, ernment is reported. From time to Penjor, the senior most Minister in 'trial' ofTek Nath Ri1.a1. the fonner the cabinet until his recent relire­ Royal Ady isory COWlcillor was sen­ m~' tenced to life imprisonment by the Recently promoted Deputy Thimpltu HighCourt.1t was reported Ministers Nado R inchhen and Jigmi The Royal Government of Bhutan is quirements, each family must pay a egories fonnulated by the regime that the Court gave Ril.al ten days to Thinley have also left the kingdom going ahead with its dubious plans to minimumof Nu. 450.00 10 beregis­ earlier, the Royal Government is appeal. According to reliable to take up their ambassadorial as­ scuttle, or alleasl delay, the bilateral tered IS D citi1.en. Besides this. the presently busy placing southern sources, Rizal remained unaware of signments. Ambauaoor Rinchhen talks with Nepal which began last vill~gers have to regularly make Bhutanese, both those within the this supposed offer. Only three days after the COUft who is also accredited 10 Katlunandu year. Despite the on-going talks, the cash contributions to the local au­ country and in the refugee canlps in vcrdict. the'King "magnanimously" from New , hIS already pre· government is continuing to evict thorities which are reportedly col­ Nepal, in tile four categories that sented hi.! credentials 10 the IndillJl decreed tllat "Rizal will be released people from the south. The never lected for different construction have bec.nagreed 10 between the two President. The new assignment for from prison once the govemrnent of ending census exercise continues works. Also, fQr whatever reasons, governments. Karma Letho, also of Deputy Min­ Bhutan and Nepal resolve the prob­ with more and more people being anyone hiling to be physically To study the situation in the ister rank, has not been announced. lem of peoplc.Jiving in refugee camps declared "illegal-inunigrants" in each present in his!1ICr respective village refugee camps and 10 find out more It is assumed that he will rejoin the in eastern Nepal," with the implica­ during twO consecutiveccnsus enu­ about the manner in which the Ministry of Communications from new round. lion that from a prisoner, Ri1.a1 sta­ NepaleseGovernment hllS been col ­ tuS was converted to thal of a hos­ whcre he was sent 10 Since 1990, the government merations loses his/hcr citizenship. tage! Subsequent to this "magnani­ eight years ago. has been forcing people to provide TIle recent arrivals in the camp also lecting data regarding refugees. the mous" gesture on the part of the As Permanent Representatiye free labour thereby leaying very little rcportofincreased intimidation and Royal Government has also dis· King, Ril.al has now been trans­ of Bhutan to the U.N. in Geneva time for them 10 tend their own fields. threats forcing people to leaye the palched spies to the camps. T ..... o ferred to Chemgang prison near Jigrni Thinley will also represent Proceeds from the sale of cash crops persons despatched by the Royal country. Thinlphu. E:I\cept d\lJing and prior Bhullnp Ambassador to the Euro­ have to be deposited with the gov­ Government were wcently appre· A special feature in the latest to visits by ICRC and others he is pean Community and other Scandi· ernment. After ensuring that the round of census is "categorization". hended by local police with incrimi· reportedly being abused and mis­ navian and European countries. r«iple are economically broken, in In addition to placing the southern nating documents in Goldhap Refu­ trcated. There has been no announcement theCUTTent round of census enumera· Bhutancse in seven different c at· gee camp. regarding the placement of Paljor tion. in addition 10 all previous re- Dorji, Thinley's predecessor in Geneya. 1994 The Bhutan Review Page Two ~ u,:VI~W OF ROYAL MINISTERS AND SECRETARIES I The first month of 1994 saw the ap­ situtiondepends forits survival, that S t.Stephcn'sCollegeasundergradu_ The alleged bomb auac: k on Janull}' 21 in the heart of the kingdom, pointment, by Royal Command, of th ere have been steady murmurs of ales. It is indeed te ll ing that this ujXln the very citadel of the royal security forces. is fuel for much two new Deputy Ministe"'. Home conjoclUre. If indeed there was such an attempt. I number of theories discontent. same individual whose intellect, Secretary J igmi Thinley rrom can be postulated for the origins of the plot. In the filling up o f posts at the honesty and integrity were appreci­ The incident' is reportedly under investigation by lhe Royal Mendegang in Thimphu d istrict and highest leve ls, every western ated., and whose bnJlal frankness Bhutan Police. Howevc:r. even if there is a genuinely serious l \tempt 10 KhMdu Wangchuk, Secretary in the Bhut.ancse always remains a poten­ served to inspire a motivated leader dig up !he truth, considering the level ofincompelenceof the kingdom' s Royal Civil Se..... ice Commission, tial candidate while others automati· in the early eighties, has now be.­ men in blue, andjudging from their pUlperfonnance, it is unlikely that from Dhopshari in Paro joined the cally I15sume the position of non­ come an anathema to the monarch. the "c~e" will ever be solved. privileged dozen on January 5. Three starters. Righteous claims by the Because criticism, however healthy For the. government, which fortunately suffered no maim.! new Secretaries to the Government Royal Government of equality and and well-intentioned, is no longer damage, going to the heart of the matter is neither necessary nor were also appointed when the gov­ equal opportunities notwithstanding, tolerated, Wangdi finds himself prudent. In fac!, from every perspective the case would be best left ernment announced on January II therefore, beyond acertain level, the transferred 10 the backwaters. . W'D'esolved. To !his end. the regime has already met with. stroke orluck that His Majesty had been p leased 10 average civil servant from the east It is not only the 'younger'Jot - no culprits were nabbed. Moreover, the very nature of the crime command the promotions or Sangay and the south seldom rools himself o fbureaUCTlts who have had to make point!; 10 this being the handiwork of enemies of the state; and, prov ided NgedupDorji, ThinlayGyamlShoand and harbours visions of, o r vies for, way to accommodate the special the mysleJ)' remairu unsolnd. there are more \han300,OOO IholShampa . such exalted positiom. roY11 dispensation. Two 'old' ,tal­ "enemies" who, given these conditions, can automatically be impli­ In Septcmber 1993, carrying Butevenignoringsouthemers. warts of Gaselo vmage in cated by inference. Having ensured that every southern Bhutanese has news o f Nado R inc:hhen 's ministeri al and overlooking numerous eastern Wangdiphodrang district, Peml been made a potential suspect. there is little motivation ror rurther appoinunenl, the Review had revealed Bhutanese whose competence, Wangchuk and Dorji Tenzing, tiptXld serious investigation on the part o f the government. the startling composition of the cur­ qualilication and seniority could 10 join the cabinet rank since nearly In v iew of the advantages ID the regime in not finding out who was rent clbinet in a front-page slOry. At have justi ficd the royal nod, the num­ a decade ago, have also been side­ behind the brazen attempl, it is possible !.hat the lruth will never be that time, 1O (83.33%)ofthe 12 Min­ ber or ngalong blUeaucrats o ver­ lined. With a background in Agri­ known. But there are a nwnber of possibilities that could explain the islers were from the western region looked and unceremoniously thrust culture, soft-spoken Pema incident. One, although the possibility is remote, it is quite feasible that which has just 15% of the total popu­ aside in this instance is surprising. Wangchuk was a Director in !.he the entire episode is a concoction o r the regime itselr, and that the Agriculture Deparunent when !.he incident nevudid actually take place. Two, even more improbable, the lation; with a miniscule TheTe is no denying !.he fact that two joined service. A potential can­ attack was real and some "anti-nationals", read lholShampas, were 1.5% of Bhutan's population alone both new deputy ministers had very didate for the titleof most respecLCd indeed behind the aUempt. Three, and most probable, the allempt was provided 6 M in isters (50%). 1bc re­ high profile clUeers thanks to rortu­ c ivil servant together with the For­ real but the attackers were nol, as the governmenl will have infer, maining 2 pos it ions (16.67%) were itouscircurnstances Md well-placed eign Secretary. Wangchuk i5 cur· directly related to tJle southern problem. shared by the South, Central and the connections; but it is equally a fact rently Secretary in the SUJ"Iey or While it may appear far-fetched, scenario one, of a plot hatched East with a combined 85% o f the total that both are rairly junior even among BhuUln. Cousin Dorji T enzing (ali by the regime as ameans of providing "evidence" of hard core terrorist popolalion. the new breed of educated andquali­ as activ ity by anti-nationals, cannot be completely ruled out. Over the past Clearly, tJte anicle in the Re­ fied bureaucrats, and that neither Tenzin Dhendup for a year during one year especially, 10 justify its excesses and to derend itself against view has not gone unnoticed. The has displayed any extraordinary in, 1992-1993 ostensibly to ward o ff international criticism, the government has undertaken an aggressive equations and percentages have ap­ tellect and acumen. evil spirits) who led the Animal Husbandry sector for long, was propaganda campaign to conjure up "anti-national terrorists". Faced parently made an impression and the That two very junior candi­ pulled aside and made the hatchet with scepticism and a credibility problem, it appears quite feasible for regime has evidcntly sought to make dates could lelve behind someone mm to undertake thc unpleasant a state, desperate to bolster its sagging credibility, to engineer anti-state amends. Not surprisingly, however. o f tile stature of Foreign Secretary royal command relating to physical crimes which, in the absence of actual culprits and other c urrently the redrcssal fails to take inlo account TJ.Rixin (yes. he is from deportation of Indians and Nepalis acknowledged state enemies, can be attributed through circumstantial the glaring irnbalancei'clating to 85% Bumthang!) who has held the high­ in the mid-eighties, Having success­ evidence 10 supposed anti-nationals from the south. This conveniently of the population in the eastern. cen­ est post (Grudo 1) incivil service for unsuccessful allemptcould bcone instaJlceof pl ot hatched 10 serve fully fulfilled the regime's objective a as tral andsouy,em rtriQt1$ which con­ close to a decade has reportedly "proof' that the regime is deserving of international sympathy as it of making Bhutan Ilbour-free tinuc 10 conuibUle only 2 Ministers, caused deep resentment in the ad­ desperately struggles against an "organized group of anti·national Further rcdueing thepcrcentage rep· ministration. Despite his marriage through ellueme measures, he was terronsts" capable of striking at the very hem of the kingdom. resentation from the bulk o f the to Princess Sonam Chhoden cynically made Secretary of both If the halChing of a devious plot by the regime scems inconceiv­ the main manpower intensive sec­ people to a mere 14.29%. l nstead, in Wangchuck, Rixin has not changed able, the government_willed scenario or a couple of "anti-national tors, Roads and Work.l and Hous­ the mistaken notion that only those and re mains a popular civil servant. l/w/sluJmpa terrorists" bravely venturing into "enemy" territory to hurl His royal ties. albeit ortheoldorcler, ing. He remains at the same post. a primitive missile is even more implausible. If some are inclined to among the privil eged md, there­ could hardly have been cause for With the out -or-turn elevation infer, as the government hopes, thll the heinous attempt is the act of fore, powerful netd to be mollilied, discomfort or reason for his dis­ of the two officials fueling specula· southern ngoiops, this conclusion must be weighed against the follo w ~ !lIe r ~ gime has sought to bring about qualification since other royal tions Md bitterness. people have ing indisputable £11;15. Except for the shooting or the GayJegphug some 'parity' . The elevation 10 cabi­ reportedly been confused further by Dungpa _ behind which there is Mother story-over the last two full net rank of two more westerners brother-in- law, Sangay Ngedup the creation of the three Secretaries years, the government has not provided a single instance of activities (ngnlongs) from outside the Haa Dorji, brotherorTheir Majesties the I week Ilter. Most would like 10 direcl.ed against the stale by /holshampa dissidenl.5. The government valley now ensures I more 'equi­ Queens, continues to leapfrog up bel ieve that the decision was taken media has continuously carried news or supposed "terrorist" activity in table ' distribution among them; with the career ladder with unfair aban· to make sincere amencison behalf of the south, but victims have invariably been innocent villagers, almost 12 Ministers oul of J4. thc percent­ don. YesheyZimba, aman from Punakha exclusively lhouhompas. No government facilities have been targeted, age share of the west now rises ID A second Foreign Se ..... iceca· disuict with impeccable credentials, no secUJity ourposts attacked, no patrols ambushed, no attempts made 85.71% but Haa disrrict's dispro­ suahy who can justifi ably c laim be.­ senior to the new ministers and on the numerous dignitaries visiting the south. T o imagine, therefore, portionate and wlcomfortably high wildermcnt by the turn o f events, widely acknowledged as being far that individuals or groups. never having ooceopted to "do battle" even shlfe now reduces 10 'only ' 42.86%1 past and present. is current Ambas· more competent. Unforrunllc1y. it in ramiliar terrain with easier targets. would consider such a foolhardy Rumours abound that alleast sador to , Tobgye S. Dorji. is more probable that the decision plot i5 impossible. one of the promotions may have The gross inequity is lest put in emanated either from I royal desire If there was an attempl, and the convenient scape­ been inspired by domestic compul­ perspective by the fact that when the gOI1.5 are not involved, then who were the midnight raiders1The answer to play to th e 1Mrclwp gallery via sions rather than by sheer require­ twO new Excellencies together re· probably lies in the east, The recent months have reporledly witnessed Thinlay GyamlSho from Tasn;gMg ments of the sUle. Be that as it may, ported for their first job, Dorji was I build-up of sharchop chauvinism as it begins to dawn on easlerners district or, even more likely, the while not everyone was taken com­ already a Director (Grade 3) in the that the government has only been toying with them through false announcement was a result of roya pletely by surprise. the special dis­ Foreign Ministry. During !lIe time promises ever since the southern crisis was enginecred. The bitterness capitulation todomestic in·law pres pensation of royal fa vourson lllinlcy that thetwohaveclimbcdup9 grades and resentment over continued ngalong domination despite govern­ sure 10 promote Sangay Ngedup and crashed past the civil service ment wooing or C'lStem Bhutan has been primarily responsible for this and Wangchuk has, nevertheless, barrier. tile Ambassador has only Dorji. undercurrent of he ightened awareness. The shmchops have begun rclXlTted ly caused constemation in Regardless o f how the dcei just managl,,'d to climblhe ftnaltwo asking questions and, aocustomoo to the domineering old ways, the many circles. sion was arrived at. there is no doub rungs to Grade I . regime has nol been very tactful in responding. As a result. the matter The ire o f sharchops in the minds of the people thai, ye Managing Director of the Slate is being rurther exacerbated It seems eminently probable, thereforc, (easterners) in general was only to once again, royalty continues 10 Trading Corporation of Bhutan, that the regime is facmg a far moredangerous opponent - the resurgenl be ellpectcd because, yet again, this climb upwards on the backs of other Tshering Wangdi. must wonder too sharcMps. community comprising nearly 38% diligent people. In the past Sangay as to what he must do to appease the There may beother suspects and other scenarios but no more may of tilC population has been ovcr­ Ngedup Dorji's promotions were Gods. He has languished for long in be heard of this case in the near future. If, as is mostlikcly, it is true that looked despite the regime's endless m &de palatable 10 the public by latch Grade 2 as DirectorGcneral, but the there were two pairs of eastern hands. or worse still. for the regime, a sue8Jll of promises in exchange for ing him on to other commendllble new mirlisters cannot fail to recol­ pair each of eastern and weslem h Mds involved in the crime, then the til eiT support for !lIe government's civil servants. col1engues he subse­ IeClthat it was he, then Second Sec~ countdown hll.'l begun. For the priv ileged class in the kingdom, this may foolhardy southern policy. But it is quCt1tly managed to leave behind. rctary in Bhutan's Mission at New mean having to give up much mOf!! than whal would have appeased the within the bureaucracy, the pil1:.IT 111is time Zimba has been m~de the Delhi. who enrolled the tWO in lho/shompas in the south. UpUII which thc present political in· beast of burden. February 1994 T he Bhutan Review Page Three "IN QUOTES"

"Bhutan is willing 10 lake "Despite some positive actions in­ their detention will be ubitrarily mediumofinstruclion in all schools Human rights groups, like political back all such genuine cluding the government's authori­ p rolonged. About 200 in the country has always been En· parties, arenot permilled in Bhutan, Bhutanese, even if they had zation of periodic prison visits by "antinlltionals" are still in dctention, glish - Nepali, taught as a third although three Bhutanese human sold off lheir properties and the lnternlllional COmnUuee of the most of them in Chemgang prison, language upto the primary level rights groups in exile, HUROB, left." Red Cross (lCRC) and implemei)la­ pending trilli on charges related to (down from junior high level ear­ PFHRB and AHURA monitor the Bhutanese Foreib'll Minis­ tion o f certain legal reforms, there politicaJ unrest in southern Bhutan. lier) in the south, has been abol­ situation in thc country and collect ter Dawa Tsering, quoted remained serious concern about the The triaJ of Tek Nath Rizal, ished. depositions from the refugees, the. in Miscell any, The States­ Government's human rights prac­ the only in ternltionally recognized "Some Bhutanese enjoy con­ report states.1he groups report vio­ man, Calcutta, July 11, tices." This is the conc~U5ion of the political prisoner in Bhutan, after siderable freedom of movement, but lations of human rights by dissi­ Uni ted States State Department in over three years o f detention; h is many reports indicate that ethnic dents but only rarely. 1993. me Hwnan Rights Report for Bhutan sentena: of life imprisonment under Nepalis facesubstantiaJ restrictions Buedon three ICRC visits 10 for 1993. The report ismorecritical the t992 National Security Act; and on their ability to travel inside prisons near Thimphu and ongoing 'The Royal Government is of Bhut.an !his year than in earlier the grant of conditional clemency Bhutan," the report stales. B hutanese d ialogue with Amnesty Interna­ ready 10 take responsibility years, and qUe5lions many govern­ (he wil l be released as soon as the may engage in peaceful assembl;?­ tional, Ihe government allitude 10 for those genuine Bhutanese ment claims and denials. southern problem is resolved) has and association only for purposes international human rights and hu­ who have been fo rcibly In compliance with legisla­ been covered in Ihe report. approved by the government, al­ manitarian groups is showing signs evicted from the country." tions under me Foreign Assistance Despite the lack of written though Ihe government allows civic of improvement, the report believes. Bhutanese Foreign Minis­ Act o f 1961 and the Trade Act of guarantees, traditional Bhutanese and business organizations. Politi­ However, the government contin­ ter Dawa Tsering, in an in­ 1974, for the past 1g yem the State. culJ1lre is highly respectful o f per­ cal parties are banned. ues 10 deny visas 10 intemalional terview with the British Department has been submitting sonal privacy, the report notes. How­ The recent crisis in the south groups and individual investigators, Broadcasting Corporat ion annual country reports on hwnan ever, "these traditioru have been and the discrimination towanls eth­ Ihe report admits. Shackles may no (BBC) on January 9, 1994. rights practices to the Comminees undermined by the government's nic Nepalese stems from the threat longer be in use, but "much more on Foreign Rela t ion~ and Foreign emphasis on promoti ng national in­ perceived by the ruling elite that nccds to be done," lK:cording to the Affairsofthe U.S.Senale and House tegration." Also, "police regularly northemers would be swamped by report. ofRepresentalives respectively. The conduct house-to-nouse 5earches for the increasing southern population. reports cover human rights prac­ suspected d issidents without expla­ according to the report. From [brief] tices of al l nations that are members nation or legal juslification." attempts at assimilation, the regime MEDIA SCAN 11 of the United Nations along with a The report states that accord­ stepped to" Bhutanization" and polio 11 few that are no(. The assessments ing to hwnan rights groups Ihere cies geared to reducing the southcrn In , not many profess fa ith ill democracy these days. Striking an are presenled by the State Depan­ were "hundreds o f cases in which population through retroactive ap­ optimisticIlOt.e amid this pessimism, the Right Honourable Lord T emplcman, menllo assist Members of Congress police or army forces had allegedly plication of the 1985citiz.enshipact. said that democracy remains the only method of governance which provides in \.he consideration of legislation, beaten, raped, and robbed suspected Making impossible demands on the the greatest happiness to the greatest number. p:lTticulru ly foreign IISsistMce leg­ supporters of the dissident move­ population to prove tllcir domicile His impressive description of the essenlials of democracy, which islation. ment and their families."The report in Bhutan prior to 1958 - the year among other things included a free press, an impartial civil service and a quotes a HUROB survey of 1781 citizenship was rIf st granted [but not neutral army, led to a lively interaction wi!h the audience. The occasion was rer ugee families o f whom 204 stated formalized through documentation I a lecture organi1.ed by the British Council on 'The M ochinery of Dcmoc­ RES I'ECT FOR H U M AN that mey left Bhutan because a fam ­ to ethnic ~palese s~Uled ill tile racy:· To a pessimist's anguish. his retort wu: "Hasn't democracy suc­ ~HCHTS: ily member had been bealen or tor­ southern foothills since the turn of ceeded in your country? Let us all keep trying:' There were no independent conflf­ tured,21 clairnedtohavc been raped, tile century .!.... the government re­ For him, secularism essentially meant tolerance. Fau conduct of mations of political or extrajudicial and 383 because they had been voked the citizenship of and ex­ elections was a pre-requisite of democracy. He said we must work towards killings on \.he part of the state. On threatened with or feared upe. pelled many whose farnilies had been a general consensus for public sharing of wealth. To those who advoclled the other hand, the government Referring to a survey con­ in Bhutan fo r generations, accord­ dictatorship as an alternative fonn of governance., only manipulale the charged dissident group; with 17 ducted by a consultant for an inler­ ing to the report. Govemment claims economy for thcir own advantage."... murders between August 13, 1992 nalional rdugee agency covering that the word of village elders is an In order that democracy may function efficienLly and give effect 10 the and June 5, 1993 and Ihe govern­ victimsof violence in the camps, the. acceptable substitute for written preferences of the. majority of !he electorate., it is essential there should be stable political parties . Elaborating on it in thequestion-answer session, Lord ment-controlled media reported nu­ report finds the conclusion that most documentation in the census eAer­ T empleman s aid "We cannot all be eAetcising the same rights as individuals. merous incidents of violence by al­ state sanctioned violence took place dse is disputed by dissident groups, We must ensure that people whose way prevails are thosc who are elected by leged dissidents, the rcport staleS. in t990 and \991 consistent with the report adds. Quoting a circular the majority." ... However, "a subst.antial rut unde­ reports from OtlleJ sources. Although o f the Uome Ministry, the report Democracy, in all circumstances, Lord Templeman argued, was beller termined nwnber o f the attacks the the situation appeared to have im­ also notes tllat citizenship is report­ than any other system. "Within ademocracy, private compctitiveenterprise government has idemirltd 15 inci­ proved during the first half of 1993, edly being revoked of relatives of can work only when monopoly is abolished," he said. 'The private enterprise dents of terrorism appear in fac t 10 the report states tha t towards the dissidents. A long with those expelled capitalis t must be free to make money but in doing so he incurs a debt to have been the work o f armed robber endo f 1993thesltuatlo n In Bhutan and forcibly evictcd, "still many society tocontribute according to his means towards the expenses of the State gangs taking advantage of unsettled wasdderkJratlng once again with more fled the country in the face of and tile relief of property." ... conditions on the ImiD-Bhutan bor· reports of increased Intimidation officially slIJIctioncd pressure," and Lord Tcml'leman based his argwnents on thc thesis that history has der ," thc report wncludes. and a buses. thousands of ethnic Nepalese with proved tllat the protection of thc community against the exercise of power Claims o f Bhut.anese human RESPECT FO R CIVIL U 8 ER· "unquestioned clainls to Bhutanese and the indulgence of greed by individuals lies in a democracy. rights groups that many deLlinees citizenship" moved to India or the TIES: T he Hindu, New Delhi, J a n uary 4, 1994. outside the Thimphu area are still The report states th~ the population refugee camps in Nepal to "escape the climlltc of fear and uncertainty unaccounted for, that they are being is relatively unaff~ted by the print Following persistent rumours, a noticeable increase in tile innux was in southern Bhutan. "saysthe report. held without charge. and that some media owing to 10)'0' adult literacy observed, particularly during December. New anivals predominantly origi­ RES PECT FOR )'O LITlCAL may have been "disappellJed" by the. and notes that KUflSei, the nated from particular areas in and reported visits during the RIG UTS: government fi nds a mention. Ac­ government 's w~ek l y, is the night by police and immigrltion officials, rctrenchment fr om employment The \evel of political righl~ enjoyed cording to the report, the govern­ country's only ncwspaper. It ac· and seizure of land or harvest after having categorized as illcgal immigrants by Bhutanese is summed up in thc ment denies such disappearances knowledges thatlndian and fo reign (F1) under thc latest census in May/July. Reported reasons for F1 status ever took place Md, instead, ac· publications are availablc but a1i­ observ ation: "Citizens of Bhutan do inc1udccases of mixed marriages (with Indian nalionals), having relatives in not have the right to change thcir cused dissident groups of kidnaping tions containing articles critical of Nepal or India who left Bhutan earlier and failure to produce 1958 land over 200 people over the lasl3 years, the government or royal family are government. Bhutan is an absolute documents. Ncw arrivals furthcrclaim having been threatened withsubstan­ including 24 between August 1992 confiscated or censored. monruchy, with sovereign powcr tial fines (1000-5000 Nu/person) and imprisonment should they attempt to and June 1993. Govenunent reports Utat most vested in the King. The government stay in Bhutan. Local authorities repottedly would be subject to similar The government claimed to of the schools in southern BhutllJl has resisted democratic changes." treatment should they fail 10 force ihe F1-citizens 10 leave. Unlike accounts have arrested 17 "conrtrmed terror­ closed since t990 have been re­ BOtll the Bhutan Peoples Party (BPP) of mMy of the previous arrivals, GOB authorities have not reportedly ists" while another 55 "terrorists" opened have been challcnged by Md thc Bhutan National Democratic allowcd any gracepcriod for new arrivals toarTange fordisposalof assets and were handed over to the administra­ outside observers who have con­ Party (BNDP) fonned in exile arc trllnSport while still in Bhutan. tion by village volunteers between firmed the reopening of only half the outlawed because "political parlies An unusually high proportion of ),oungcr children sccking reunifica­ January 1992 and May 1993. No schools, accordingtolhereport TIJC do not exist, and the governmcnt lion with tlLcir parents was recorded. Anticipating difficulties with the information was released regarding report errs in stating that Nepali as a discoulages their formation." lLUlhnriticsdurillg an upcuming cenSlIS, the chi ldren had been acting!l~ fC~lcr ATTITUUE TO these rl~talO ees. On the Ilasis nf ppst medium of instruction in schools INVESTIGA­ parcllls after tile t;"hildle ll ·~ nalmal p.1Ictlt~ had left. " ION 01< II l lMMol RIc..;JlTS pet form ance, tile rel'Ult felltS that h!I.!J -been banned since 11J90. Thc UN llc n mUllthl) silUlltinll tel)(W! endlll l! 31 Otcell1bcr 199J. VI t ILATlt)!'II :-;: February 1994 The Bhutan Review

The abuses commiuoo by Goyern­ yicted on charges related to intimi· ment forces insouthern Bhutan were dation of ethnic Nepalese. Ethnic a consequence o f Goyernment plli­ Nepalese were also excluded from cie.s intended to reduce thcpresence paying rural taxes and conlTibuting of ethnic Nepalese. These policies labor for deyelopment projects in created aclimate in which intimida­ 1992. By that time, however, the tionof ethnic Nepalese was encour­ exodus had gained momentum; thou· aged and physical aMe tacitly con­ sands of ethnic Nepalese with un· doned. A 1993 survey of yictims of questioned ci.J;i ms to Bhutanese citi­ violence in tlle refugee camps, pre­ zenshipmoyed to India or the refu­ pared by a consultant to an interna­ gee camps in Nepal to be reunited tional refugee agency found that '/ith family members and eseape a most alleged incidents of torture in climate of fear and uncertainty in southern Bhutan lOOk place in 1990 ~o uth e rn Bhutan. and 1991. This finding is consistent ... Ethnic Nepalese have been with reports that abuse by Goyern· required to produce "No Objection ment forces peaked during the year Cenificates"issued by the police for following the September 1990 dis­ admission to schools and for jobs. turbances led by the BPP. The con­ For example, a Noyember 6 adver­ sull..Dnt fOW1d that reponed rapes con­ tisement in the national newspaper tinued atahigh rate into 1992: How­ requires students seeking to enter a eyer. there were few reported cases driving school to produce a "No of rape Md torture in 1993. The Objection Certificate." Admission PreserYlng Culture a nd Tradllion - Around the Waistl Govemment flatly denied such abuse Photo: David KJanllm:r, .,' rankfurter ,\lIgemeine J\.Iagu;in to a course for a postgraduate certi fi­ ever occurred. Since October 1993, cDte in education requires a "No newly arriving refugees have re­ 1985 Citiz.enship Act also provides insecurity, Ille lossoftlleir jobs IIfter tighten immigration. If no action Objection CertirlCate:' These ccr­ ported inc: idenc:eof intimidation and for the revocation of citizenship of it was discovered that they ha.d fam ­ was taken the ruling elite feared. tificates continue to be required de· abuse which indicate another dete­ any naturalized citizcn who "has ily members who had fled the coun­ Bhutan's Buddhist society would be spite claims by theGoyemment that rioration o f the s ituation in Bhutan. shown by act or speech to be dis· try, and the wish to be reunited with oyerwhelmed by the Hindu ethnic they would be abandoned. In fact, While the influx to camps has re­ loyal in My manner whatsoever 10 relatives alreoo)' liying in thecamps. Nepalese, as happened in neighbor­ these certificates are used to prevent mained low, cases aocepted by the the king, country and people of As the year drew to adose, hoWeyCT ing Sikkim (which WM; annexed by ethnic Nepalese from taking jobs or United Nations Hi gh Commissioner Bhutan". TheBhutanese HomeMin· refugees increasingly reported inci· India in 1974). Early efforts at halt· educational slots in many districts for Refugees on the grounds of per­ istry in a circular nOlification dated dents ofpersecu ti on - including beat­ ing the unfayorabJc demographic nf Bhutan. sc<:uti on (as opposed to family re­ August 17, 1990, advised that "any ings, destruction of homes and eyic­ trends focuseoon limiling irrunigra­ union clailns) have doubled to 66 Bhutanese national leayin g tlle COW1- tion at gunpoint _ as the reason for lion and attempting 10 assimibte the percent. try to assist and help the anti-nation­ fleeing. Expulsions appear to con­ exisling eumic Nepalese. Attempts ... Sinceearly 1988, Bhutanhas als shall no longer be considered as tinue under tha goyernnwnt circular at assimilation included fUlanciu l SEVENTH PLAN TOUR sought to reduce the ethnic Neplllese a Bhutanese citizen .... such people's described inSection I.F. which pro­ incentives for intermarriage. educa· Arriying in connection wiiil /.ne population by implementing a 1985 family members Jjyil1g under the yides for Ule exile of persons whose tion for sOllle students in regions • • other than their own, and direction review of the Seventh Plan ac­ Act that signi ficantly tightened the same household also be held fully family members have joined the of economic deyelopments to the tiyities, HisMajesty the King and requirements for lIansmining citi­ responsible and forfeit their citizen­ "antinational" movement. Ihe royal entourage wererccciyed ship". Hwnan rights groups charge The government claims that south. By 1989 assimilation glye zenship. Until 1985, citizenship was by representatives of the people this provision was widely used to those who were expelled are way to policies aimed 8l trlJlSmitted as looS as the father was and d istrict officials of Chinmg, revoke the citizenship of ethnic Nepalese or Indian citizens who "Bhutanization. "Measures intended a BhutlflCse citizen under the 1958 Dagana and Subhang districts, Nepalese who were subsequently came to Bhutan to work after the to presel'Ye 1 nationa1 identity re­ Nationality Law o f Bhutan (which according to the Bhutan Broad­ 1958 Nationality Law wu issued. It quired the wearing of Bhutanese granted citizenship to llIl ethnic exiledfromsouthemBhutan.ln 1993 casting Sel'Yice. The guard of Ilso claims the majority of those dress, made the teaching ofdzongkhl Nepalese adults who owned land growing nwnbers of refugees re· honour was presented by the se­ arriving in Nepal have lefl yoluntar­ compulsory, and banned instruction anti had lived in Bhutan for at least poned their citiz.enship was revoked curity forces. About l50pooples' ily after selling their land and prop­ in Nepalese. Under the 1985 C iti­ 10 years). The 1985 Act raised this under this provision. representatives andsectoral heads erty. There are credible reports that zenship Act. tens of thousands of standard by requiring that both par­ ArriY11s of refugees from of the district administration at­ these "yoilmtary emigra.ll1s" were ethnic Nepalese werededared to be ents be Bhutanese citi7.ens in order Bhutan in theelghtcamps run by the tended Ihe meeting to review the compelled to sign away Ill eir prop. illegal immigrants and forcibly to IIMlsmitcitiz.enship. Residents of United Nations High Commissioner problems and conSITaints in the evicted from the COW1try. Still more Bhutan who could not satis fy this for Refugees (UNHCR) and its co­ enyby govemmentofficials. lnJuly implementation of the Seventh flcd Ule country in the fllCe of offi· new requirement were relIoactiyely operating agencies in Nepal peaked Nepal and Bhutan agreed to form a Plan. ciall y sanctioned pressUJe. declared illegal immigrants. during 1992. By mid-I993, arriyals joint comminee to seule the prob­ In the past, the arrival of International pressure on had fallen to slightly more than lOO lem o f Ille refugees. Howeyer, the the King meant that most of the king and other Bhutanese officials Bhutan increased during 1992. as People losing thelrciti1.enship per month renecting ti g htened population would be on hand to have repeatedly stated they will ac­ concern spread about the ballooning ullder the 1985 Act may apply for screening at the Nepalese border accord a warm welcome. What cept responsibility only for refugee population in Nepal. In re­ naturali zation but only after satisfy­ and M apparent reduction inofficial standsoul in theaboyenews ilem "bonafide Bhutanese nationals who sponse, theGoyetrunentUiedtostem ing a rigorous set of standards, in­ pressure on the ethnic Nepalese. By is the lack of participation of the hayebeenforcefullyeyicted". Doeu­ the outflow of m igrants from south­ cluding proficiency in the Ozongkha September 1993, 85,OOOwereregis­ people themselYes. Is it \hat the menr.ation requirements are to be ern Bhutan. A royal decree was is­ language anti proof of residence in lered in the UNHCR camps, of .... hom people did not wish to line the determined by the joint committee. sued making it a criminal offellSe to roads to receive their monarch, BhuWlduringthepreYiousl5 years. about 66,000 arrived during 1992. Howeyer, the government of Bhutan forcibly evict any eitizcn, and three or were Ihey barred from doing Exile politicaJ groups complain thlt Between5,OOOand 15,OOOmoreare has mlldedear that it plans to accept Goyernment oUicials were con- the law makes unflir demllllds for believed to have left Bhutan and ,.7 few repatriates. documentation on Jargely illiterate settled with family members in In­ ... Ethnic Nep3lese rlfst came people in a COI,D1L--y that has only dia. The total outnow of approxi­ REFUGEE CAMP INFORMATION 10 Bhutan in large numbers al the recently adopted buic administrl­ mately 100,000 people is equal to L ocation Dis trict Refugees Students turn of the century. These migrants tiye procedures. They claim that about 15 percent of Bhutan's popu­ Timai Jhapa 8,186 3,250 were granted 8hutaneseeitizenship many ethnic Nepalese whose fanti ­ lation. Goldhap Jhapa 7.912 2.710 for the rlfSt time undcr the citizen­ lies have been ill Bhutan for generl­ M any refugees specially those 8eldangi I Jhapa 14,674 4.719 ship law of 1958. The Goyernment tions were expelled because they who srriyed in Nepal during 1991 Beldangi 11 Jhapa 18,729 6, 149 contends there was large-sl;ale ille· were unable to document their to and 1992 claim to have been pres­ Be1dangi U Ex\. Jhnpa 9.584 3,415 gal inlmigration which went unde­ residence. The Goyernment denies SUfed to leaye by local authorities. Sanischare( Pathri) Morwlg 16,614 5,217 Thesepressures include tlle threat to tected by Ille Goyernment until the this and asserts for example, that the Khudunabari(N) Jhapa 7,152 3,148 census carried out in 1988. The dis­ word of village leaders is an accept­ confiscate property, denial of publ ic Khudunabari(S) Jhlll'a 2,585 coyery that ethnic Nepalese wereon able substitute for written documen­ services and physical intimidation. Total 85.446 28,608 the verge o f becoming a majority tation. Refu gee groups d ispute this Formuchof 1993, refugees reported C umulative birlhs: 3.268 prompted the Goyernmentto launch statement and repon that village ei­ leaying Bhutan because o f increas­ Cumulative deaths: 2,460 an aggressive campaign 10 reassert ders are not present when citizen­ ing depopulation in southern dis­ T he above figures are AS o f January 31, 1994. Bhutanese (Drukpa) cullure and ship interviews are carried out. The lTicts. Feelings of apprehension and Published by the Humon Rights Organization ofBhulon,P .O. Box 172, Lalitpur. Nepal. Tel. S22768/S2S046111Q lamidara.Chirang. Bhutan]