When will repatriation take place ?

By DHRUBA RAJ PANDIT

The Bhutanese refugee problem continues to remain a contentious issue despite several rounds of bilateral talks at different levels over the past twelve years. Even though the current refugee verification can be perceived as a positive development, the sluggish pace of it seems to preclude the easy resolution of this long-standing problem. The Bhutanese government’s reluctance to strongly respond this issue has made the situation more complex than it appears on the surface. Its sporadic expressions of unwillingness to expedite the verification process and to repatriate the verified refugees unless the whole process is complete indicate the need of a fresh slew of approaches to resolve this problem.

The Druk regime’s adamant stance on some crucial issues, particularly on the verification of refugees into four criteria is nothing but efforts to prolong the verification and repatriation of refugees. Bhutan had employed delaying tactics to avoid the formation of a verification committee earlier and now it has been insisting on the verification of individual refugees. Bhutanese children of below five years, who got evicted along with their parents before 1995, will not find their names recorded in the census record of
Bhutan, and hence they will be automatically disqualified, if the refugees are individually verified. Categorization of refugees into four criteria-- Bonafide Bhutanese, emigrated Bhutanese, non-Bhutanese and Bhutanese who have committed criminal acts-- is therefore unjustified as it will disqualify more than half of the refugees to go home if Bhutan gets its way.

Nepal has been reiterating its clear stance on the verification of refugees into two categories, namely, Bhutanese and non-Bhutanese, and only this can do justice to a large number of refugees who were driven from their homes by human rights abuses, especially under the Druk regime’s policy of ethnic cleansing. Persecution, torture, killings and the reprehensible practice of ethnic cleansing generated a huge flow of refugees. In addition to eviction of Nepali-speaking citizens of southern Bhutan, called Lhotshampas, the Bhutanese government made people sign the voluntary emigration forms and expelled them inhumanly. Consequently, over 100,000 Bhutanese citizens, approximately twenty percent of Bhutan’s total population are now living in the refugee camps run by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in Jhapa and Morang districts. They are now facing worst consequences of the racist and ethnocentric policies of the autocratic and despotic Bhutanese regime.

Druk regime’s apathetic attitude and fluctuating moods towards the verification and respectable repatriation of refugees gives an impression that it is least bothered about the problem and holds Nepal responsible for the delay in progress of the verification move. According to a recent newspaper report, the Bhutanese King, while addressing the 80th National Assembly, has cast aspersions on the Nepalese government for the delayed twelfth round of bilateral meeting due to Nepal’s internal problem. The Bhutanese King’s statement does not bode well at the present juncture when Nepal has been persistently requesting the Druk regime to explore issues pertaining to the refugee imbroglio. The Bhutanese King’s latest statement smacks of the Druk regime’s malicious propaganda against the refugee problem. This reveals the whole gamut of refugee issue, which is getting more complex due to Bhutan’s uninviting attitude towards the problem and purported justification of its fundamentally unfriendly intent.

The condition of refugees within the camps is getting more deplorable owing to various reasons. The growing socioeconomic tensions coupled with poverty have made life tremendously difficult, escalation of violence as a result of insurgency in the country has further worsened it. These have reportedly created difficulty on people’s social mobility even for the collection of daily rations distributed by different aid agencies.

This present plausible reasons why the resolution of the Bhutanese refugees should be a major political agenda of both Nepal and Bhutan. The resolution to the overstretched refugee imbroglio cannot afford further delay and efforts should be stepped up to this end. Resolution of this problem is essential also because its non-resolution will compound many problems confronting the country at present.

It is in view of this fact that the government of Nepal should explore avenues to respond to this problem in a more effective way so that the refugee problem can be solved once and forever. It should pursue the problem in a more concerted, coordinated and convincing manner. The Bhutanese regime too should realize the wide-ranging repercussions this problem has created on its socioeconomic development and in its endeavour to restore peace and harmony in the country. Restoring democratic order and expediting development effort lies greatly on Bhutan’s compromising attitude and resolve to put a logical end to the refugee issue. Understandably, frustration among refugees within the camps can lead to untoward consequences with significant ripple effects on both countries. This must be realized and acted upon at the earliest. Only with this can one be assured of perceptible affirmative developments in the situation.

Bhutan’s disinclination towards acceptable grounds for the categorization of refugees is a major reason behind the unimpressive progress of refugee verification. It should therefore comply with Nepal’s proposals to categorize refugees into two broad criteria and to repatriate the verified refugees at the earliest. Otherwise, repatriation will mean little to refugees who on reaching their homeland will have hardly anything to claim.

The Bhutanese government has tried to take undue advantage of Nepal’s patient diplomacy, which has, however, drawn increasing support from the international community. The geopolitical situation of Bhutan and India with Nepal makes it clear why India cannot wash its hands clean when it comes to the resolution of the twelve year long Bhutanese refugee issue. Those people who have sought refuge in Nepal have entered here passing through the Indian territory. India, which largely influences Bhutan’s defence and foreign policy arrangements, can and should play a decisive role in bringing the long-standing refugee issue to an end. Nepal should therefore approach the refugee issue more convincingly and pragmatically with synergetic partnership of the international community, particularly of India. This may serve as an opportunity for them to understand and appreciate the integrity, sincerity and righteousness of Nepal’s viewpoint and its stand on the verification process. This can make substantial contribution to resolving the refugee imbroglio through diplomatic channels.

Fatal fatalism

By AYUSHMA PANDEY

Smriti’s got promotion, mom." I told my mom about my cousin’s progress in her work one day.

"Oh, she’s always lucky. You know, it’s in one’s bhagya (fate) whether one succeeds or fails," came her stereotypical remark. Well, this is not the first time my mom responded in such a way. Every time anything happens my mom is quick enough to associate the occurrence with either one’s luck or fate. And every time she says so I invariably get angry.

"Ah, you don’t understand, Aishu! You’ll come to understand it when you reach my age." No, mom. I don’t agree with you. I mean, how can things be already determined for you? What about one’s own genuine efforts in shaping the course of one’s life? As far as I believe, for a given individual there is a distinct and definite way of performing activities and this performance plays a vital role in moulding one’s life. A similar argument is also put forward by Dor Bahadur Bista in his famous book, "Fatalism And Development".

In this book Dor Bahadur Bista talks about how we, Nepalis, attribute every single happening or mishappening as part of one’s fate which one must undergo in one’s lifetime. We believe that such events happened because they were inevitable. Such a fatalistic belief places us in a position where we regard everything as pre-determined by a superior or divine force over which we have absolutely no control at all. Hence, this belief definitely undermines personal responsibility, altruism and therefore a sense of obligation.

But, more importantly, there is a danger of complacency to those who uphold a firm fatalistic attitude, thus making people reluctant in taking steps toward one’s improvement. "Why should we work when we are doomed to undergo these (mis) happenings?"- Such type of attitude may be likely to surface which, in turn, may lead to a feeling of helplessness and inferiority complex.

Therefore, we cannot rest assured that success will come our way if the divine force has designed success for us. No, it will be total absurdity not to work towards our progress or improve on our shortcomings, thinking that everything is designed for us already and that it is something we cannot change at all.

But, the fact is that nothing in the world is pre-ordained or pre-determined. For a given individual, it is his or her action that determines success or failure in his or her life. It is only us who can define our own life through our actions. Even our holy book, Bhagwad Gita, emphasises the importance of Karma (action) in one’s life. It says that we are what we are because of our actions. Thus it is only through carrying out our responsibilities and our obligations that we achieve our goals.

So mom, you may be right in our own way and I respect that too. However, what I believe is that since we live in the 21st century we cannot afford to sit complacent, doing nothing to improve our situations and leaving things entirely in the hands of fate. Mom, you have every right to holding on to your belief, but please do consider my argument as well.

Population growth and poverty alleviation

By KHAGENDRA PANDAV ADHIKARI

As the world population multiplies, the resources of the developing countries are also depleting. It is estimated that the world population reached six billion in October 1999 and it will reach seven billion by the year 2010. The population growth rate is 1.5 per cent per annum. The UN reports caution that more than 95 per cent of this growth is occurring in developing countries.

According to the 2001 census, the total population of Nepal was 23,157,423 and annual population growth rate was 2.24 per cent for the decade 1991-01. It is predicted that if the present rate of growth continues, Nepal’s population will double in 30 years.

The per capita income in Nepal is the lowest in South Asia. The present trend of population growth significantly contributes to slackening economic growth. There are three major factors—fertility, mortality, migration—which effect population size, growth and distribution in a country. The rapid population growth aggravates the problems of poverty, malnutrition, pollution, environment degradation, urbanisation, unemployment and waste management in the urban areas.

In Nepal, at present about 14.20 per cent of the total population live in urban areas which was about 9.11 per cent in 1990 and this indicates that urbanisation is growing. Urbanisation is seen as a common feature in all developing countries. Lack of employment opportunities and access to facilities such as transport, education, health, entertainment, poor living condition, etc. cause migration from rural to urban areas. The wage differences between rural and urban areas are also push factors for migration.

Population and environment are closely linked. Rapid urbanisation damages environment by converting agriculture land to industrial land and residential use. Environmental degradation due to population growth and increasing urbanisation is one of the major problems in the developing world. Rural environmental problems are more related to natural resources use patterns, land use patterns, deforestation, mountain fragility, encroachment on wildlife, etc. The urban areas are facing serious environmental problems, particularly air, water and solid waste pollution. It has been realised that there is a need to develop strategies to mitigate adverse impacts on the environment.

If there were an unlimited supply of land, the world wouldn’t face a threat of the food shortage, in th eface of growing population.

Since poverty is an economic phenomenon, it is not only the problem of the poor but also the problem of all humankind. One billion people in the developing world, more than one fifth of the globe’s total population, live below the poverty line. These people are unable to meet even the basic requirements for living—food, housing and clothing.

Agriculture predominates the economy, yet the country imports foodgrain. The indicators of other sectors of the economy do not look bright. Although the country is second in hydropower in the world, it has been able to harness less than 0.5 per cent of the total potential. The gap between the rich and the poor is widening and corruption is rampant.

Poverty is a complex multidimensional problem with both national and international origins. No single solution will apply globally; country specific programmes are of crucial importance. The alleviation of poverty, hunger and greater inequity along with human resource development remain major challenges everywhere. To alleviate poverty, sectoral programmes are necessary. They should include programmes in health, education and family planning, and create productive and employment generating activities. Other activities include leased forestry, labour intensive public construction works, small farmer’s development programmes and production credit for women. The private sector and NGOs should be encouraged to implement different programmes concerning poverty alleviation.

The question of poverty cannot be separated from gender. A disproportionate percentage of women are living below the poverty line. Women are the key elements in the new development model. In the past their roles in the family, and in the local and national economy had been seen as a limited one—that of child bearer and home-keeper. Their exclusive arena was to prepare food, food processing, home economics, nutrition and health. Their vital role in food production and family income has generally been unrecognised in national economic assessments and by development planners.

Women should have full participation in decision making. Women and men should have the same right to decide freely and responsibly on the number and spacing of their children. Health facilities should be women-centered and reproductive health care services, including pre-natal care should be managed by women.

If poverty and hunger are to be eventually eradicated, a radical change is required. The government should support a community-mobilisation approach for sustainability by empowering local and community groups, generating employment by giving high priority to basic education and professional training and setting up effective primary and maternal health care system accessible to all. With the focus on the poorest, the self-employment schemes have to be launched in every district.

Alleviation of poverty calls for strong political and economic commitment on the part of the government. Corruption should be strictly curbed, foreign assistance and loans must be channeled in those areas where poor live. The main thrust of the poverty alleviation should be on agricultural development with increased employment in the agriculture sector, as well including other sectors.

( The author is an assistant lecturer at Tribhuvan University)