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Kathmandu Saturday November 18, 2000 Mangshir 03, 2057.
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In bad taste
The write-up under the headline
‘Nepali-speakers struggle under Burmese law’ is in very bad taste and it does
not do justice to the reality of Nepalis living in Burma. How little your reporter is
enlightened on the social status of Nepalese people in Burma. He has based his information
on the hearsay of a few residents of Tamu. One wonders whom he wishes to refer as
Nepali-speakers because other nationals also speak Nepali language where Nepalese are in
majority.
The Nepali-speakers he met in Tamu are the
descendents of our forefathers who migrated to Burma in search of better life. After Burma
gained independence in 1948 all foreigners were given freedom of choice either to become
citizens of the nation or stay as non-naturalized resident. Many opted for citizenship,
others stayed as foreigners.
There is discrimination of one kind or
another even in such industrialized and enlightened countries as America and Britain. Are
Nepalese and other foreigners completely free of any bias from locals over there? But in
truth, in no other country do the Nepali diaspora enjoy such esteem and respect as in
Myanmar. Your reporter says Nepalese are not allowed to join the armed forces and become
senior officers, but the fact is there were and there still are many Nepalese serving in
high ranks in civil service, educational institution, etc.
The truth about the situation of Nepalese
cannot be totally negated. Because of Myanmar’s political unrest not only ethnic
Nepalis but also native citizens are suffering economic hardship. With less opportunity to
earn livelihood in the mainland, most Nepalese flocked to the Indian border areas where
their religion, culture are similar and similar language becomes a medium of
communication.
Surya Nath Sharma
Thapathali, Kathmandu |
