Bhutanese refugees in Morang seek citizenship

By Hari Prasad Koirala,Patharishanishchare (Morang), May 12: The police are arresting those who have collected millions of rupees by making Nepali citizens fake Bhutanese refugees and taking them to the  third countries.

On the other hand, genuine refugees residing in the Bhutanese refugee camp located at Patharishanishchare-10 in Morang district are living in the camp with a hope that one day Nepali government will grant them Nepali citizenship.

Among them, 88-year-old Birkha Bahadur Tamang, is one. Tamang, who did not go to a third country in the hope of getting Nepali citizenship, said, “Even though, I’m a Bhutanese refugee, I am a Nepali. Now, the government of Nepal should give me the soil to hide my head and the status of Nepali citizen.” 

Most of Tamang’s relatives and friends have gone to the third countries for resettlement. The eldest son of Tamang is still in military service in Bhutan. The second and youngest son left for America. There are no other relatives in the camp. Tamang, who came to Nepal at the age of 57 after being chased from Tsirang, Lamidanda in Bhutan, is now alone. Tamang said that his grandfather reached Bhutan while looking for job from Dokhu Ghyangwari of Taplejung. 

He said, “All my brothers and sisters are Nepali citizens, I am also a Nepali, I should be sent back to Bhutan or should be given Nepali citizenship so that I can reside in Nepal by building a hut.” Not only Birkha Bahadur, but many elderly refugees like him are living in the camp so as not to go to third countries. Their daily lives depend on the general expenses sent by their relatives who have gone for rehabilitation in the USA. 

Bhagi Nanda Gurung, 77, said that his grandfather reached Bhutan from Pakhribas in Dhankuta in search of job there. Stating that his relatives are still in Dhankuta, Gurung said, “I am also a Nepali, I became a refugee because I had left my country in search of work.” 

Bhagi Nanda, who worked as a health worker in Bhutan for 25 years, is still running a medical shop. Gurung’s three sons are also currently in the US. Gurung, who has been living with his second wife and eldest son, said that he had only asked for a piece of land with the Nepal government for burial.

Gurung, who was chased from Budichu of Tsirang district of Bhutan and reached Nepal, is now residing in hut number 14 of C1.  He said he had been residing at the hut made by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in 2045 B.S. He said that he is confident that Nepal government will grant him citizenship one day. According to the secretary of the Bhutanese Refugee Camp, Champa Singh Rai, there are currently 1,441 people in the camp. Among them, 204 refugees are yet to be registered. 

The UNHCR had made arrangements for the resettlement of refugees who had been verified by December 30, 2016 to September 2019 in third countries. According to Rai, for now, the High Commission has stopped the verification work.

However, Rai said that he was surprised when he heard the news that many real Nepalis had paid millions to various people in order to become a Bhutanese refugee and go to America.

The High Commission has said that the government of Nepal will manage the refugees who want to return to Bhutan, stay in Nepal or who missed the verification process.