17 years later…

For the first time in 17 years, significant on-the-ground changes have begun taking place in the Bhutani refugee camps in southeastern Nepal. Though the movement was not in the direction of their homeland, as most have long held out hope, the first week of November did mark the official beginning of a process of resettlement for the nearly 107,000 Bhutani refugees in the UN-overseen camps.

The process was kick-started late last summer with an offer from the US to resettle at least 60,000 refugees, with more offers subsequently coming from other Western countries. But getting that procedure off the ground has not been straightforward. Significant tension, even violence, has arisen within the camps over the past year, much of which has erupted between groups supporting and groups opposing resettlement.

Those opposed to resettlement include leaders who would lose their entire flock, as well as Maoist groups among the refugees who claim that resettlement is capitulation. Those favouring resettlement say it is a humanitarian exercise that would leave the 'right of return' to Bhutan intact, to be utilised when a return becomes feasible.

On a visit to the region, Ellen Sauerbrey, a US official in charge of refugee policy, warned that the Bhutani refugees in Nepal have been experiencing "severe intimidation" following the announcement of resettlement plans. She blamed pro-repatriation refugee leaders for that intimidation, while also pointedly noting that nearly everyone in the camps would qualify for resettlement to the US - unless they had a history of violence in the camps.

The US facility that will be overseeing the resettlement process to that country was also supposed to be dealing with a smaller but still significant group of 5000 Tibetan refugees in Nepal. During Sauerbrey's Nepal visit, however, an announcement was made that the Kathmandu government had suddenly decided, in what is seen as deference to Beijing, to withhold its green-light for that process. Sauerbrey said that Washington, DC would respect the decision, but would continue to press for official approval.