The MONTHLY R E P O R T E R

Volume IV No 38, December 2007 www.bhutannewsservice.com Pages 4, Rs 4 Jubilee of Nehru’s visit Agreement has reached between Bhutan and India authorities to jointly celebrate Bhutan, 2004. use of weapons and explo- Pragathisel Sanskriti Pariwar, Bhutan News Service the golden jubilee of Jawaharlal The government mouth sives. Srijana Sanskriti Pariwar and Kathmandu, September Nehru’s first visit to Bhutan piece Kuensel quoted the court The court said, two Class Saipatri Sanskriti Pariwar which next year. officials saying that using a re- XII students, had connected are formed to strengthen the India’s first Prime Minister vis- The Samtse district court ligious façade called the Srijana with the Bhutanese in exile to communist ideology in the ited Bhutan in September 1958 has given its verdict in favor Sanskrit Sangathan, the group attend briefing sessions on country. that paved the beginning of a of sending 30 southern had held several meetings to Political and Ideology Train- Police claimed they recov- new relationship between Bhutanese to jail for five to discuss Maoist ideology and to ing conducted by the cadres ered detonators and other ma- these countries. The visit nine years on charges of in- collect money and food grain of the CPB. The government terials used for making impro- opened up the Bhutan to out- volving in seditious activities. for the Communist Party of also claimed that the Nepal vised explosive devices, mem- side world, ended its century The court after five Bhutan. People who attended Maoist and Communist Party bership forms of the Party and long isolation and delved the months long proceedings the meetings were made to fill of Nepal, Bhutan Peoples’ All Bhutan Revolutionary Stu- path to economic development. sent 30 people, who are up membership forms. Party, Druk National Con- dent Union, note-books con- The decision was taken during blamed to have joined the The meetings were held in gress, and Bhutan Gorkha taining revolutionary lyrics and a meeting between the Indian Communist Party of Bhutan Katarey and Ugyentse villages National Liberation Front were coded membership lists, coded and Bhutanese officials held in (Marxist-Leninist-Maoist), to in Samtse where they are ac- also involved in imparting names and addresses of do- . jail. cused to have designed plans training and briefing these nors and five numbers of Nepali The accused were sen- to recruit local people in their people for use of arms. textbooks on Communist Party No movements tenced in accordance with the mission. Some of the defendants are from the arrested people. Refugee Coordination Unit provisions of the National Further the court said they also accused to have sup- The police had arrested 39 (RCU) under Home Ministry Security Act of Bhutan, 1992, have set up camps in the forest ported Bhutanese in exile, and people. The status of other nine had imposed restriction on and the Penal Code of for armed training to locals on forming secret groups like still is unknown. movements of people inside camps in Beldangi after 7 pm some time ago. Raj Kumar Lamichane, District Police Superintendent of Armed Police Force base-camp in Beldangi informed that the TBR Correspondent incidents. decision was taken taking into Beldangi, December-1 Similarly, Dahal expressed grati- consideration the fragile tude over getting an opportu- security situation in the camps. Bhutan News Service (BNS) nity to extend support during The decision came at a time and Nepal FM Network have such an emergency period. when a pamphlets, claimed to distributed an estimated 1,700 Meanwhile, Fire Victims Relief be posted by the Communists pieces of clothes to fire vic- Committee in Kathmandu com- Party of Bhutan (CPB-MLM) tims in Beldangi-I camp on prising Ashok Gurung had been distributed threaten- November 30 amidst a special (Khudunabari), Mishra ing at least 12 individuals to function. (Beldangi-II), Som Subedi leave the camps or face UNHCR representative from (Beldangi-I) and Deepak Giri physical action. its sub-office in Damak, Camp (Khudunabari) distributed SAHR concerns Committee Members among Nepalese currency 29, 321 that other representatives of the was collected from Bhutanese The South Asians for Human aid agencies were present on and their wel-wishers staying in Rights (SAHR) has expressed the occasion. Kathmandu. concern over the delay in democ- Editor of the BNS, T. P. Mishra The committee with consensus A fire victim woman receiving support from representative of Nepal ratization process of Bhutan. from CMC and other aid agen- and representative of Nepal FM Krishna Dahal. Editor of BNS, in jacket, holds cash meant for In a statement issued on Decem- FM Network Krishna Dahal cies distributed Rs. 425 to each ber 7 at the end of its regional meet distribution. Photo: BNS/Jeetan Subba formally handed over the family whose huts were com- held in Kathmandu, the regional clothes to camp secretary of pletely and partially damaged riod. “Relief Committee in on the hands of fire victims was human rights group called for Beldangi-I T. B. Gurung. by the fire. Kathmandu thanks all who always praiseworthy. speedy democratization in Addressing the distribution Gurung over a telephone con- contributed to fire victims”, At least 68 huts were damaged Bhutan. versation with the BNS ex- said Gurung, adding that the both completely and partially It further demanded for effective function, Mishra demanded pressed gratitude to all con- guarantees for human rights in the the management of fire briga- support extended by the when the fire broke out in country and a fair settlement of dier near the camps to prevent tributors for helping people in UNHCR and other organiza- Beldangi-I camp on November the crisis. from such huge loss in future camps during emergency pe- tions to deliver those clothes 9. US begins formal interviews Indian MPs delegation to visit Thimpu A delegation of Indian MPs As part of speeding up the resettle- is scheduled to visit Thimphu ment process, the second stage of and take an account of the interviewing of the exiled Bhutanese preparation of the first demo- interested to third country resettle- cratic elections in Bhutan. A ment by the US government offi- release issued by Anand cials has begun. The files of those Swaroop Verma of Bhutan people interviewed by the Interna- ing the interview while talking to vulnerable case identified by the Solidarity disclosed this fact. tional Organization for Migration Bhutan News Service said he hopes UNHCR. Yet I am called for the in- The decision was made unani- Anand Swaroop Verma Photo:BNS (IOM) has been handed over to the to fly to the US by mid January. terview twice within last one week,” mously in a seminar organized US government’s Department of According to him, those express- he said. by Bhutan Solidarity in New not only a problem between Home Security (DHS). The DHS ing extra interest in third country The DHS team will be in Damak for Delhi on November 22. The Bhutan and Nepal, but India is takes the final decision on individual resettlement and making contacts two weeks taking finals decision on seminar also decided to offer also involved with this issue cases if one is suit for the program. with UNHCR and the IOM are some thousands people to be flown a chance to exiled Bhutanese very closely, and demanded a The interviewing process began at expected to be chosen in first batch in the next few months. to participate in the democratic tripartite dialogue between the IOM field office in Damak. First to fly to the US. The health check up for these process in Bhutan. Nepal, Bhutan and India to batch of people face the interview “I neither am under protection case Bhutanese interviewed by the DHS “Another resolution of the solve the problem” said the on the same day. A person appear- due to torture in Bhutan nor with will be done in December. BNS seminar took the problem of release. BNS 2 The Bhutan Reporter, Dec ‘07 EDITORIAL Opinion & column By I. P. Adhikari Condemning Atrocities A Century of Suppression At a time when election date is Struggle for justice continues drawing closer in the country, the Royal Government of Bhutan “The second barbaric nature of Wangchuk dynasty, whose fourth descendant formulated (RGOB) has yet again flickered the fallacies of Gross National Happiness, was unveiled in 1990 when he termed thousands signals of continued atrocities of his loyal citizens as ‘terrorists’.” and suppression upon innocent Rizal reported the prevailing of rampant cor- Nepali-ethnic Bhutanese. Even the UNFORTUNATE enough, despite administration of the southern district. Lhotsampas toiled for it, this month we are The Wangchuks did not like this to hap- ruption in the bureaucracy. history has left several rooms to celebrating the centenary of the establish- pen. Jigme Palden had maintained the Interestingly, the ULFA and BODO mili- prove such atrocities and suppres- ment of monarchy in Bhutan, as refugees relation of Mit (friend-in-law) with tants operating armed struggle against the sions upon innocent pro-demo- here in Nepal. Proud to state, Bhutan’s mon- Mahasur Chhetri. Unscrupulous suspect Indian establishment were friendlier to the of the Wangchuk regime Dorjis forging alli- Wnagchuk dynasty compared to sentient cratic Bhutanese. archy would not have survived in present form had there been no cooperation from ance with southerners against the Thimphu villagers in the south. the southerners. Yet, it were they who faced palace further dwindle the status of In 1974 during his speech in Gelephu, The state-directed court an- the filthiest hatred from the regime. Lhotsampas. the fourth monarch had said, ‘the people in the south are neither from Nepal nor from nounced jail terms ranging from December 17 completes a circle of During the early 1950s, we lost Chhetri, Wangchuk dynasty ruling over the most iso- to whom we can term the bravest son that in India. They are the real 5-9 years to 30 innocent civilian lated human settlement. Changes have been Lhotsampas even had. Enlightened person- Bhutanese.’ Within years he stated this, the from southern district of the coun- restricted, freedoms are torn and human- alities like D. B. Chhetri, D. B. Gurung had plan for eviction was formulated. In a period try claiming their involvement in hood looted. Lhotsampas prayed Kings to flee the country in search of safer place of 15 years, the king interestingly termed for life. The attempt in 1950s was for equal- these ‘real Bhutanese’ to be the economic Communist Party of Bhutan were the reincarnation of the Lord Vishnu, but in reality it turned to be the demon that ity, freedom, end of ill treatment and open- migrants who entered Bhutan to grab the (Marxist-Leninist-Maoist). The seized the virginity of Nepaliness. The ing up the statement mercenaries for ben- opportunities. RGOB has claimed that the ac- voices for equality suppressed, the heads efit of all Bhutanese. Yet, the regime as- The pages are short to mention the sto- ries of hindrances and challenges that we faced cused ones had carried out sub- held high were chopped off and hands raised sumed the nation has been the hereditary against brutality tied back. We did receive a property and gift for them. while transforming the Bhutan nation from versive activities against Bhutan. whirling stone in response to banquet The exclusion of Lhotsampas was no isolation to modern one. The regime cannot How could the RGOB claim such thrown. merely an incident. The project was repay the debt we clamped on him. things when it does not hold ‘In- The decent way towards sustainability planned since the inception of monarchy in We toiled to unite the kingdom since this nation. We have a popular idiom: kam Shabdurng Ngawnag Namgyal shoulder us dependent Judiciary’ system in the and prestige has to go on. We have been shy to out mission yet we are not out of it. paryo bhando, aaphal tero thando. It was with the responsibility in 1624. It was our country? The question of under- During these hundred years, being sup- only the Nepal, nearest nation, that had ancestors and the Shabdrung who paved the going all norms of fair trial in the pressed, we lost many of our great leaders. monarchy in power when Wangchuks as- way for establishment of Bhutan as an inde- pendent nation state. By the end of four name of delivering justice to those The journey started with the murder of Garja sumed similar status in Bhutan. The Man Gurung in 1917. The murder of Gurung Wangchuks thought it was important to centuries, the country has begun to split. detainees remained a farce in the the then Paro still remains a mys- maintain good relation with Lhotsampas to Large section of the southern part was given context of Bhutan. This is yet an tery. Neither the rulers spoke of it, nor we get positive nod from the Nepal monarchy to India in 1865 by Jigme Namgyal, father of instance of Bhutan’s tactics to de- searched the cause. The murder of Gurung for establishment of Wangchuk dynasty as Ugyen Wangchuk. The process continues till hereditary line in Bhutan. today. Recent reports revealed that plans rail the repatriation process. is the beginning of the black days for Lhotsampas in this dragon kingdom. During this century, we have been swept are underway to chop off southern district Putting an end the Nepali rule in south- twice. Still we have survived our hopes for to cede into India and large part in un-demar- It is a matter of ‘shame’ on the ern district, the Bhutanese regime of justice. The first was in early 1950s when cated northern districts into China. The presence of Chinese influence in Bhutan part of the RGOB to transform in- Wangchuk elite imported a moderator for us the regime cleared the southern districts. from India. To trace out, the Dorjis who Thousands of Lhotsamps evicted during was shocking for India who took unexpected ini- nocent civilians to ‘jailbirds’ for have support the Ugyen Wangchuk in his that time live in India. The demand for jus- tiatives in recent months to express its dissatis- such a long time despite their in- mission for establishment of monarchy like tice was responded with barbaric nature of faction over the decision of the Bhutanese regime nocence. Is this what ‘democratic we did, came from Kalimpong in India, re- the hill caste bhotes descended from the to allow China enter the Bhutanese territory. other side of Himalayan range – Tibet, the The story might not end, but to end up this exercise’ mean? Besides, the con- ceived special privileges in royal family and ruled us for years. The last of powerful Bhot. write up, what we must confess now is not to let dition of hundreds of such detain- member of this family died last year – The second barbaric nature of Wangchuk the regime take another opportunity to play with ees of early 1990s peaceful dem- Lhendup Dorji who once had faced the fate dynasty, whose fourth descendant formu- our life and dignity, not to let the regime fulfill its political interest by selling land to India and China. onstration in the country still re- like ours. lated the fallacies of Gross National Hap- The Dorjis, who came from Nepali domi- piness, was unveiled in 1990 when he The struggle for justice should continue, with mains unheard to the international nated Kalimpong maintained links with termed thousands of his loyal citizens as hope that the day will come when we receive the community. southerners. This was natural since they ‘terrorists’. The story started with a mere relief. were specially mobilized to look after the incident when then royal councilor Tek Nath (The writer is President of APFA – Bhutan) The atrocities of the RGOB have really crossed the limitation Matter of concern The Ignored Refugees thereby leaving enough space to THE distribution of ‘refugee identity card’ ment addressed by the UNHCR and gov- raise questions on the advocacy jointly by the team of UNHCR and Nepal ernment of Nepal yet again remained un- level of international rights bod- government officials has already begun from heard. The non-registered refugees are sure Sanischare camp. Authorities concerned to be barred from receiving refugee identity ies and the so-called big democ- have yet again failed to include those cards as concerned authorities haven’t yet racies of the world. Isn’t this Bhutanese, undeclared as refugees, who are flashed green light for their registration pro- Bhutan’s ‘villain’ role in the eye- languishing in different belts of Nepal and cess. And, this ironically implies that they ball of international communities India under the census team’s priority. are likely to be in quandary thereby dash- A significant portion of Bhutanese refu- ing their lives towards further dilemma. If in the name that it would soon gees, approximately 50, 000, are staying in such a situation crops-up then non-regis- step towards democratization pro- different cities of India including West Ben- tered refugees will neither be measured as By T P Mishra cess? gal, Assam etc and in Jhapa and Morang citizens of India or Nepal nor do they fall districts of Nepal as non-registered refu- under any probable option’s priority in- gees. Majority of this populace have nei- cluding third country resettlement. The UNHCR including concerned govern- There is always necessity on the ther obtained citizenship identity cards nor The UNCHR is uniformly concerned on ment authorities, more precisely Nepal and part of the world community in- has any concerned authorities taken initia- their problem too, as this population can- India, have superior role in addressing the cluding international rights bod- tives for declaring them as refugees from not simply return to their original home- problem of non-registered refugees. Or else, Bhutan. land, Bhutan despite having fear of being these government authorities shouldn’t step ies to initiate noteworthy and They still posse a heavy load of adequate persecuted by the absolute Druk oligarchy. backward to provide them with the citizen- stronger measures to furnish fair documents to prove themselves as genuine If this population is neglected further there ship identity cards in a legal means but only justice to those innocent civilians. Bhutanese citizens— forcible evictees of are chances on their behalf to be refugees should they wish for. early 1990s and thereafter. If authorities once more. They should at least be recog- The problem of non-registered, undeclared The RGOB shouldn’t be led freed concerned still ignore this population to de- nized as Bhutanese refugees thereby issu- as refugees, should not be left to fester. It from delivering entire justification clare them as ‘refugees from Bhutan’ then ing them refugee identity cards. This initia- should be regulated in a manner that their to continued atrocities since cen- there left no alternatives for their safe and tive of the UNCHR would certainly help choice is given high priority. turies. dignified lives ahead. non-registered refugees to be qualified for (Mishra is also President for Bhutan Chap- The expectation for being their predica- any possible solution in the near future. ter of Third World Media Network) 3 The Bhutan Reporter, Dec ‘07 by the ECB said. From Regime The ECB claimed more than 80 percent of the members of Exile Voice the party are students having ECB disqualifies a party left their education career in- People threatened in camp, The Election Commission of any persons having direct link complete. CPB-MLM denies involvement Bhutan has said the leaders of with the royal family like BPUP is the first party to be announced in the country af- the Bhutan People’s United Sangey Ngedup of the “There is a possibility of at- Party (BPUP) have no vision, People’s Democratic Party ter the king authorized estab- Bhutan News Service tacking on us any time. we are goals and aspirations for a (PDP) and of the lishing political parties. Damak, November 12 really worried and mentally tor- democratic Bhutan. The ECB, Druk Phuensum Tshokpa The ECB release further said, “The charter submitted tured about our safety and se- but, did not explain under what (DPT). A pamphlet, claimed to be had no clear ideology, vision curity inside the camp”, reads rationale the party leaders “It lacks credible leadership posted by the Communists and mission, indicating the the appeal. have been termed so. In a no- of the calibre that is needed to Party of Bhutan (CPB-MLM)- lack of leadership with capa- Arjun Subba, one of those tice, ECB said it cannot under run and manage the affairs of affiliated All Bhutan Revolu- bility to envision goals and ob- blacklisted in the pamphlet, over the present criteria register the nation. It lacks both matu- tionary Students Union jectives of the group.” a telephone response to the BPUP as a political party of the rity and the appropriate mix and (ABSRU) and Bhutan Repub- The party said it will file an BNS query said they were feel- country. strength in terms of its mem- lican Youths Organisation appeal against the decision of ing unsecured after the pam- Incidentally, the party lacks bership,” the press statement (BRYO) in Beldangi-I camp the commission. BNS phlet was posted. “We are con- has ‘blacklisted’ at least 12 in- fident that it was posted by the Facts Behind The Scene retirement-age (65 years or dividuals and carried warning MLM-affiliated ABRSU and older) varied from a high of to take people’s action BRYO”, said Subba, adding that against them. 7 percent for arrivals from there was a need to create se- Domestic Impact The pamphlet is reportedly cured atmosphere for them in the former Soviet Union to learnt to be signed by the camps. of Refugee a low of less than 1 percent Vice-president of the ABSRU However, in a press statement from Rwanda, Burundi, the Admissions in US Vidhyapati and president of the BRYO. issued on Monday, Coordina- Mishra Congo (DROC), and Eritrea. The pamphlet has also ac- tor of Exile Coordination Com- The demographic charac- For all arrivals, 10 percent cused Chabi Lal Thapa, Moti mittee-Nepal of the CPB-MLM teristics of arrivals from the were under the age of five, Khar Gurung, Arjun Subba, Tara Gurung has refuted post- 20 largest source countries percent), Iraq (60 percent), 28 percent were of school Dillip Kumar Dahal, Ram Rai, ing any such pamphlets. The (which contributed over 99 and Sudan (59 percent); age, 56 percent were of Toya Nath Nepal, Bhim statement has further said that percent of Fiscal Year (FY) while male refugees from the working age, and 4 percent Subba, Kiran Subba, Lok the party does not have such 2005 arrivals into the United remaining countries are rep- were of retirement age. Nath Adhikari, Buddhi Man policy. States) illustrate the variation resented by a range of 45 Gurung, Sakun Subba, and N. Meanwhile, ‘Binod’ of CPB- among refugee groups. Me- percent to 55 percent of the Resettling States P. Koirala of Beldangi-I camp MLM, who denied revealing his dian age ranged from 18 years total. During FY 2005, 77 per- of advocating for third coun- party position, over a telephone try resettlement. for arrivals from Burundi to Considerable variation cent of newly arrived refu- conversation with Bhutan News The pamphlet has also is- 33 years of age for arrivals among refugee groups can gees resettled in 16 States. Service (BNS) from undisclosed sued ultimatum that the ac- location, claimed that the pam- from Cuba. The median age be seen among specific age California (14 percent) re- for all refugees resettled in categories. Arrivals under cused ones should either phlet as such would never be settled the largest number leave camps within 15 days FY 2005 was 24 years. Fifty- the age of five varied from a done by their party as it is be- of refugees, followed by or apologies before CPB- five percent of refugees from high of 18 percent of the yond their party policy. Minnesota (12 percent), MLM. “This may be a forceful pres- Liberia were female. Fifty-two Laotians to a low of 3 per- Florida (9 percent), Texas (6 Meanwhile, those who sure from the regressive ele- percent of refugees from Si- cent of those from Iran. Ar- percent), Washington (5 were ‘blacklisted’ in the pam- ments to make innocent people erra Leone and the former rivals of school-age chil- percent), New York (5 per- phlet have appealed to the in camps to opt for the option of Yugoslavia were female. dren (five to 17 years of age) cent), Arizona (3 percent), Camp Supervisor in Beldangi- third country resettlement”, said Fifty-one percent of refugees varied from a high of 38 per- Georgia (3 percent), and I requesting for an urgent se- Binod, adding, “Those people from Columbia were female; cent for those from the Wisconsin (3 percent). The curity. are simply trying to fall under and close to fifty-one per- Congo (DROC) to a low of States of Ohio, Pennsylva- In an application filed to the the UNHCR criteria of protec- cent of refugees from 12 percent for those from nia, Illinois, Massachusetts, supervisor, they have stated tion so that they could fly to the Rwanda, Laos, and the former Eritrea. Arrivals of working- Virginia, and North Carolina the ABRSU and BRYO have US at the earliest”. Soviet Union were female. age refugees (18 to 64 years respectively resettled just said, through pamphlet, that Binod also sought attention Males were proportion- of age) varied from 82 per- under 3 percent of the newly incase of non-compliance of of Nepal government and the ately the majority of refu- cent for those from Eritrea arrived refugees. their notice, they have to bear UNHCR officials in probing into either kidnapping, physical gees from several other to a low of 41 percent for Source: Proposed Refugee Admis- the facts by maintaining ‘bal- assault or may have to face countries, namely, Eritrea (76 those from Laos. Arrivals of sions for Fiscal Year 2007 ance’ during the investigation the death penalty. process. BHUTAN HAS NOT DONE THIRD VOICE Declaration Dé Exile ENOUGH FOR PRESS FREEDOM Unless they are enough com- On Press Freedom and Freedom of Speech and Expression in Bhutan munistic, demure and dauntless, Jointly by : Bhutan Press Union (BPU, Third World Media Network (TWMN) they should be dominated and deprived because if they are freed Bhutan Chapter and Association of Press Freedom Activists (APFA) Bhutan from these hazards, they can still do nothing. Series 1 legal instrument, Article 19 we supporting this justifiable de- If women must be free from the PURANAGHARE stress, were ignored by mand were called anti nation- societal barriers backed by male Background Bhutanese authorities. als and were evicted. Thus led dominancy and chauvinism, they Press Freedom and freedom of TV was banned until 1999. All the strengthening of the fight should posse by demure and daunt- can transform the devils in to the speech and expression were media outlets were strictly con- for freedom of speech and ex- less; beside womanish must be boon. They must again be daunt- never incorporated into na- trolled and censored by the press and the freedom of the their motto. Unless a woman is less in their pace and demure in their tional policies of Bhutan all government until recently press. Thus, we support, in proud by heart for being a woman approach to the up-liftment of through the ages. Fundamen- when it opened up way for pri- broader sense, the demand for member of the society restoration womanhood. tally, freedom of expression vate media as part of the king’s establishment of democracy of equal status is impossible. A The age is too modern and tough, and speech was termed anti efforts to democratize his re- and human rights in the coun- woman who is woman by fate one who is not cautious and aware national approach and access gime. try considering that press free- should be equally woman by pro- of the prevailing facts finds difficul- to media was regarded an at- When the struggle for human dom is impossible in their ab- fession and must also be the woman ties to survive and let male or female tempt to destroy the long pre- rights, democracy and equal- sence. by philosophy and ideology. A be the survivor. A woman who is served culture of closed soci- ity began in early 1990s, the In Bhutan’s rapidly changing woman who is such is a real woman out of womanish, demureness and being lacked by Bhutan. dauntlessness will just only become ety. The Bhutanese rulers political parties formed at that socio-economic, cultural and A woman should argue how the slave of her counterpart, negli- never prescribed that media time to lead the movement in- political scenario, information she can be machine by just re- gent in the eye of the society and go would be the best means to cluded press freedom in their technology and media are al- producing the young ones? And unrecognized forever. Therefore, let educate people and a good demand list. Subsequently, the ready vital forces that touch why can’t she be the God who us be updated according to time and partner for the good gover- deployment of the military force all national priorities. does a godly deed? This is the upgraded as per the need of the situ- nance. Despite it signed the in southern districts silenced To be Continued first symptom of womanish. Sec- ation. If we try from today we can Universal Declaration of Hu- the voices for freedom of File download available at: ondly, despite cursing their fate, make heaven out of hell and if we man Rights (UDHR), the rights speech and expression and women must jointly try to build just remain ignorant today we will www.bhutannewservice.com conferred by this international freedom of the press. Those the collective effort so that they make hell out of heaven tomorrow. 4 The Bhutan Reporter, Dec‘07 Association of Medical Doctors of Asia (AMDA) having primary On what basis does AMDA de- objective of contributing for de- Health indicators are cide secondary and tertiary re- velopment of health sector in ferrals? Nepal, took the responsibility of We have a special board to make primary health care for exiled necessary referrals. We need to Bhutanese in January 2001 shoul- satisfactory: Dr. Nirmal work under the guidelines set by dering all activities of Save the UNHCR for making such refer- Children,UK. trol, and health and nutrition referrals go to AMDA hospital- tus of camp population are satis- rals. We have representatives from where we prioritize Damak, Mechi Eye Care Center factory as per the given indica- UNHCR, AMDA, Mechi Zonal general health service, and Mechi Zonal Hospital and we tors. Reproductive health is ex- Hospital, Bhutan Heath Associa- community health ser- make secondary referrals to Koshi tended to school and community. tion, health program officers and vice, prevention and Zonal Hospital. As tertiary refer- Voluntary Counseling and Test- health service sub-committee un- combating HIV/AIDS rals needy patients are sent to ing (VCT) service has been initi- der camp management committee and sector support Dharan (BP Koirala Memorial ated in all camps. in the board that discusses the management. Hospital) and Kathmandu. How do you address such a cases we receive and make a final Whom do you target We have targeted to bring crude large number of patients? decision. supplementary feed- mortality rate under four and Maximum number of patients is There are reports of gross neg- ing in camps? achieved the target as 3.6 as pro- managed in camp level. People ligence in making prompt re- Our supplementary jected. We have conducted deliv- with chronic medical conditions ferrals to higher centers. feeding includes dried ery by trained other than Trained who need tertiary medical refer- I really don’t agree on this. We skimmed milk, eggs, Birth Attendants (TBA) and our ral services have been accordingly have never denied the needy cases. fresh fruits, oil, and pre- achievement is 96 percent. Fur- facilitated. But, it should be understood that mixed unilito. The ben- thermore, we have 95 percent im- What are the future activities? there are limitations in our refer- eficiaries are malnour- munization coverage and crude We hope to strengthen 24-hour ral guidelines as set by UNHCR. ished children, preg- birth rate is 16.6 as projected. emergency services with training I do agree that there are patients nant and lactating moth- We strongly administer commu- and provision of supplies. We who need immediate referrals but ers, and tuberculosis nity health services. Health edu- want to manage three ambulances, their cases do not fall under our (TB) patients and eld- cation, cleaning campaign, mass one for eastern and two for west- policy. Ours is a primary health erly sick. Malnutrition activities like de-worming of ern camps for effective referral care project. So, patients requir- and micronutrient defi- school children, mass polio, vita- service. We are planning to con- ing expensive treatment as heart ciencies are maintained min A distribution, TT (Tetanus duct refresher trainings on volun- surgery are said to have been de- Since 2001, it has been running at low level. There is food basket Toxoid) programs and mass nu- tary counseling and testing ser- nied and there are around 200 such Primary Health Care Project for monitoring system in camp under trition monitoring activities viz vices for HIV and provide ad- patients. But, this is our compul- Bhutanese Refugees with an ob- WFP support. Pre-mixed unilito yearly weight screening and nu- equate medicines with a focus on sion. Statistics as of September jective to provide health and nu- and oil are supplied by WFP. trition survey are regular in our Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) reveals that we made 14,325 pri- trition services. Vidhyapati Mishra What are domestic needs and project. and Opportunistic Infections mary referrals, 1,011 secondary of Bhutan News Service talked to household support? That means you are satisfied (OI) except anti-retroviral. Addi- referrals and 270 tertiary refer- Project Director, Dr. Nirmal We have provision of sanitary with project’s achievements? tionally, we conduct school HIV/ rals. Rimal on various aspects of the napkins four meter and two pieces This is an undeniable fact. MCH, AIDS awareness programs, ex- What is the best part in PHCP project. Excerpt: under garment to all women of re- mental health, OPD (Out Patient plore vocational trainings as staff for Bhutanese Refugees? What are the current productive age. We provide baby Department), emergency, family nurse and health assistant besides I am very happy to inform that activities of AMDA Nepal? blankets to all newborn and sick planning, supplementary feeding, ANM, CMA and lab assistant, on average a refugee visits a doc- AMDA-Nepal was established in babies. Bhutanese Refugee Women vaccination and immunization and and ensure the availability of PEP, tor 5.7 times a year. This is the 1990 as a national NGO. It is reg- Forum produces these supplies in community health services are Hepatitis B vaccines and emer- best indicator of good health that istered with Government of the camps. satisfactorily managed. Still, medi- gency contraceptives along with we ensure to the refugee com- Nepal (GoN) and affiliated with What is the achievement of cine supply has been regularized. essential drugs and pharmacy munity. Social Welfare Council. It is a sanitation programs? Overall indicators of health sta- management system. chapter of AMDA International Incidence of communicable dis- based in Okayama, Japan. eases and the morbidity are re- Refugees Around Us We have AMDA Hospital at duced drastically. Hygienic envi- Damak. It is also the primary re- ronment is maintained in all camps. ferral center for exiled Bhutanese Treatment of malaria cases is Two of Sudan's 'Lost Boys' return home from Cuba from western camps. There is quick and we have seen it very Siddhartha Children and Women effective. We receive medicines for JUBA, Sudan, November 29 Hospital in Butwal and AMDA TB and malaria from GoN. Treat- (UNHCR) – Lots of people have Archangelo Mechi Hospital at Dhulabari un- ment for falciparum malaria and heard about the "Lost Boys of Kuech Gur (left) der construction. Besides these, microscopes has been procured Sudan" who ended up in the we have AMDA Nepal mental for effective malaria diagnosis and United States after years on the and Michael Bol health program, Thankot Satellite treatment. run in their war-torn country or Deng pose by a Clinic, Dental and Specialist For vector and pest control, we stuck in refugee camps in UNHCR vehicle Clinic at Jorpati, Geriatric Centre have ultra-violet laser facility surrounding countries. Not many in South Sudan. at Pashupati and Street Children (ULF) fogging up to three rounds know about the lost boys who Program in Hattigauda. Further, in all camps when the case of Japa- ended up in Cuba. we have various human resource nese encephalitis is reporter in the For the first time, two of them Source: UNHCR development programs. community. Residual spray at the have returned home with UNHCR What does PHCP for places where cluster of falciparum help after more than two decades from for the last 23 years," said face the challenges of Bhutanese Refugees do? malaria is noted or Kala-zar is iden- in the Caribbean island nation. Gur, who hopes to use his development." Primary Health Care Project tified in the camps. Following weeks of preparations, doctorate in veterinary medicine He might have added his own (PHCP) for Bhutanese Refugees How does AMDA manage gen- Michael Bol Deng, 36, and to help build South Sudan's animal cradle of education, Cuba, where is being implemented by AMDA eral health services to people Archangelo Kuech Gur, 37, husbandry sector. Deng is a hundreds of other lost boys still Nepal under UNHCR’s fund and in camps? reached Juba on November 15 trained agronomist, a skill sure to live. UNHCR hopes that they too material support of World Food We adopt the principle of primary after a two-day journey from be in demand in the might be encouraged to return to Program (WFP) since January health care. We run curative health Havana via Paris and Nairobi. predominantly agricultural south. South Sudan with their expertise. 2001. services through 10 health centers Met on their arrival by staff of In the immediate future, both It is estimated that more than Primary objective of the program in camps. All PHCP are well the UN refugee agency and returnees plan to stay in Juba 20,000 Sudanese boys were is to provide health and nutrition equipped with new furniture, all government officials, the two men where, remarkably, they soon orphaned or separated from their services to exiled Bhutanese liv- Maternal and Child Heath (MCH) said they hoped to track down found long-lost relatives or homes and families by the conflict ing in seven different camps in units have provision of new de- relatives and build a new life in a friends to stay with. Gur said he in the south between 1984 and eastern Nepal. Beneficiary popu- livery bed and other necessary country whose culture and hoped their example might 2005. In 2001, the United States lation as of September are 8,490- items. We have good malaria diag- language they have almost encourage other skilled Sudanese took in some 3,600, who were sent under five, 98,601- over five and nosis laboratory and sufficient forgotten. to return to help rebuild a region to cities around the country. 10,7091- general population. drugs for chronic diseases, STI "We wish to welcome you devastated by years of war and But Cuba had offered homes to What are the main areas that (Sexually Transmitted Infection) warmly to participate in the still lacking vital infrastructure youngsters from South Sudan are funded by UNHCR? patients and child illness. We pro- development process with the and basic services after three much earlier. In 1986, the Cuban We primarily have four projects. vide immediate territory referral skills you have learned while years of peace. government agreed to take in a First is the food and nutrition pro- services to needy patients. overseas," William Chan, deputy "Peace has come and I see no group of 600 teenage boys and gram where we focus on supple- MCH units of health centers pro- chairman of the South Sudan reason why qualified and well- provide them with primary, mentary food commodities. Sec- vide reproductive health services. Relief and Rehabilitation trained colleagues should remain secondary and university ondly, we have domestic needs We provide psychological and Commission, told the returning outside," he said, calling education in Havana. Deng and and household support that is re- mental health services and refer- sons. "After I secure a job, I will specifically on compatriots in Gur, who fled to Itang Refugee lief assistance. Other two includes ral to primary, secondary and ter- then go to trace my family Australia, Canada and the United Camp in Ethiopia in 1984, were sanitation- vector and pest con- tiary level of hospitals. Primary members whom I have not heard States "to come back home and among this group. Published by: IP Adhikari for BMS with partial support from Rajan Giri in the US, Chief Editor: Kazi Gautam, Editor: T P Mishra Associate Editor: Teju Chouhan, Design: Vidhyapati Mishra Mailing Address: GPO 8975, EPC 2377, Kathmandu, Nepal Email: [email protected] Special Correspondent: Jeetan Subba, Bel-I: Ganga R Kalikotey, Bel-2: Puspa L. Adhikari, Bel-3: Yadhu Nath Neopane, Sanischare: Hema Dhungana, K/bari: Ganga Ram Adhikari, Goldhap: Tika Ram Lamitarey, Damak: Pabi Maya Rai, Birtamod/Bhadrapur: Kedar Niroula/Trivikram Adhikari, Biratnagar: Devi Pokhrel, Dharan: Tek N Mishra, Siliguri: Dhana Pati Acharya, Delhi/Kolkatta: Purna P. Siwakoti, Bhutan: Binod Sanyashi/Sangay Oendray