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| Kathmandu, Saturday February 08, 2003 Magh 25, 2059. |
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Genuine breakthrough ?
The reported agreement
of the Bhutanese government during the long delayed 12th round of Nepal-Bhutan ministerial
talks on refugees that the Dragon kingdom was willing to take back the refugees who
"willingly" left Bhutan is indeed a breakthrough, which must be welcomed. In the
interest of common good of humanity, it is gratifying to note that the Bhutanese
government has taken a U-turn on this category. The vast majority of the Bhutanese
refugees now in seven UNHCR-run camps in eastern Nepal are claimed to be those who left
Bhutan on their own free accord. Bhutan in the past had insisted that such refugees cannot
be taken back. It is open to debate whether those who left Bhutan "willingly"
did so of their own accord or they were forced, psychologically, emotionally and through
other means to do so. But such a debate is now redundant in that Bhutan has agreed to take
them back. And herein lies the catch. For many of those who initially left Bhutan of their
so-called own accord probably did so under fears–whether open or latent–and it
is difficult to foresee that the refugees will be convinced that the Bhutanese government
will forget the past and treat them as equal citizens once they go back. This fear of
uncertainty could in all likelihood dissuade the refugees from wanting to return home to
Bhutan. In such a case what is the Nepalese government to do?
There is, therefore, a
big question mark over the so-called breakthrough in talks between Nepal and Bhutan over
the return home of the refugees. So there’s a need to assure the so-called willing
refugees about their safety and availability of opportunities back home in Bhutan once
they go back there. The Bhutanese refugee groups, non-governmental organizations, and
other social workers with the help from the governments and donors of both must start
their task of assuring the "willing" refugees that they need not have any cause
for concern once back in Bhutan. This is going to be a difficult proposition as the
refugees have been living in a country that enjoys different kinds of freedom unlike in
Bhutan where they, whether consciously or unconsciously, carry the fear that they might be
prosecuted for "willingly leaving the country and bringing a blot on the
kingdom." Since the "willing" refugees are said to have constituted the
highest percentage among the 100,000 refugees now in Nepal, a strong motivation among them
to return home should be present, and if not present built up by the numerous NGOs and
social workers who had flocked to the refugee camps with the avowed aim of helping them.
It is now time for everyone to do their bit to ensure that the Bhutanese refugees do
return home and that once back home none is ever prosecuted in any way for their leaving
the country. Unless this is done, the touted breakthrough could prove to be a liability
for this country. |
