Bhutan's forgotten people (Part 1) | 101 East

In the early 1990s, Bhutanese of Nepali origin suddenly found themselves stripped of their citizenship. Bhutan enacted a royal decree of single national identity, forcing more than 100,000 ethnic Nepalese to leave. For the next two decades, they lived in refugee camps in eastern Nepal. Almost two decades later, Bhutan remains silent on their repatriation.

Filmmaker Subina Shrestha gives her view
Now the refugee camps are emptying with the majority of people resettled in the west. But some want to stay -- clinging on to the hope of returning home, despite reports that Bhutan’s discriminatory policies have left a percentage of its population grossly unhappy.

Bhutan is known to many as the Last Shangri-la; the country of "Gross National Happiness". But behind the façade of a peaceful nation is a state that forcefully drove out a sixth of its population -- an act which has been described as a systematic "ethnic cleansing".

Sabitra Bishwa is one of more than 100,000 Lhotsampas or Bhutanese of Nepalese origin, who found themselves stateless. In the 1980s, Bhutan introduced the policy of "one nation, one people" and alienated the Lhotsampa culture. This was followed by a revision of citizenship laws. Many Lhotsampas found they did not qualify and in the early 1990s, many were forced to leave, reaching the border with India.

But India's government also rejected them, taking them to the border with Nepal. In the 22 years since, the refugees have been unable to return to Bhutan. Without India's support, the Nepalese government has been unable to influence Bhutan.

In the first of two special programmes, "Bhutan’s forgotten people" follows Sabitra Bishwa and her family from a refugee camp in eastern Nepal to their departure for a new life in the US. Around them, the camp is emptying fast. Ninety thousand people have already left, leaving behind empty shacks and their abandoned dreams of returning home. It’s a difficult choice to make, and many are heartbroken.

For refugees like Sabitra, relocating to the US is a relief. Her sister moved there one year ago and is keen to see her again and give a better future to her family.

From the camp, we follow Sabitra to Kathmandu where the refugees are given an orientation on air travel -- from how to go through security to how to find your seat.

The films ends with Sabitra and her family boarding the plane, ready to start a new chapter in their lives in a new country, one that is completely foreign to them, and which we will explore in the show's part two, beginning on May 29th, at 2230 GMT.

Is third country resettlement the best option for Bhutan’s refugees? Share your views @AJ101East #Bhutan’sRefugees

More from 101 East on:

#AlJazeeraEnglish #NepaliRefugees #101East

[asnfhtmlzxsje]

Thank u America for helping out these people, u r really a good democratic country

[Ilikelink]

Seems like this comment section has been taken over by Bhutanese people who want to deny that their country did anything wrong. Apparently critical thinking isn't too strong in Bhutan.

Forcing people to wear a certain kind of traditional clothing, which does not belong to their ethnic group, is wrong. Kicking them out from where they were born even more so.

[kite]

I see a lot of Bhutanese commenting saying "one side of the story"

the main thing is: Nothing justifies the removal of a citizen(many of them had Bhutanese citizenship) international law does not allow the removal of a stateless person but they did.
India helps otherwise they wouldn't have been able to cross people to the Indian border.

The only thing Nepali-Speaking Bhutanese relate to Nepal(the country) is the language.

I feel sorry for many people who died to this and the pass can not be changed. But now I am living with a clear identity and can do anything in life.

[thegallery]

Such an emotional story. Its not just a story but full of sorrow and emotion connected. I have many neighbors out there in the US who left Bhutan a long time ago. Wish u all a good health ❤️

[soygagan]

My ancestors plowed those fields, their blood sweat and tears still fertilize that land to this day. It aches my heart to see Bhutan being painted as this noble and peaceful nation bubbling with happiness and prosperity when I know for a fact that the riches they drown in today came at the cost of the lives of my people. The happiness they measure themselves with today came from an overbearing depression of my people. The fruits they enjoy today were worked for and ripened by the restless effort of my people. To this day my people aren’t allowed to step foot inside our own land me included, but I promise you Grandpa, I will go there, one way or another I will make sure your ashes are scattered throughout the land you once called home either that or I will die trying.

[petechiengkhamphet]

It's so touching, this story is identical to mine, I was refugee after the regime changed in Laos, I spent almost 3 years in Ubon Thailand refugee camp, the process of transiting to The US is almost the same except these new comer had more training and preparation more than us in late late 1979, thank you Aljezeera for this documentary

[subhrobhattacharya]

It was a Hindu genocide. Let's not call it Nepali Genocide!

[krishaas]

I work with a lot of Nepali kids at my job here in the United States. Asked one of them where in Nepal she was from one day. "A refugee camp, because my parents got kicked out of Bhutan."

[thanksmelaterdonaldtrump]

I proudly say that I am Nepali origin Bhutanese refugee born in Nepal. Now I am in US and I am happy, it’s great to live in strongest nation in the World coz we can do whatever we want to and I don’t care about poor tiny Bhutan.

[sam-eve]

Bhutan is a nation that evokes deep affection and concern within me, yet I harbor profound resentment towards the atrocities and acts of genocide perpetrated by the Bhutanese government against its vulnerable citizens of Nepalese origin. This government has systematically denied fundamental human rights, including access to food, shelter, and employment opportunities for men, while also subjecting women and girls to sexual violence and coercing individuals into signing documents for their forced departure from the country.

[bigwendigo]

“Songs are the resting place for tired souls.”
How poetic and true

[_the_beginning]

I'm from NEPAL 🇳🇵 I had two bhutanese refugee teacher in my school . I wish our country could've given them citizenship. They were thrown for being nepali cultured we should've accepted them as ours .

[tenzinwangmu]

Nothing is more painful than to be without an identity!

[THEGOATOFFOOTBALLMESSI]

This happened to my family but now we are here at Australia

[sandeepmukhia]

Ohh lord!! This was really shocking for me. And they talk about “Happiest country”?? Very sad to hear!! 😕

[dorjiongmo]

This is really disheartening, I’m so sorry this happened in my country. It’s breaks my heart to see them wanting to go back home. Didn’t realize it happened. I hope all the refugees of Bhutan find peace. Om mani padma hung 🙏🏻

[ackack]

it's fact that Bhutan gevermnet surpressed ethnic Nepali people In favour of Drukpa people even though both were immigrant way back. Nepalese people were taken by their first king to bhutan from Nepal. There concern is genuine but forcing them to go out is really shocking. Bhutan is hiding it's brutality against ethinic NepalI people.

[subigyalamichhane]

The self proclaimed happiest country in the world has kicked out 1/3 Rd of its own citizens. It's everything but peaceful.

[thekevguy]

This is practically North Korea way of rulling but they just reversed it so they can advertise themselves as happy place on earth

[K.d_ship]

I am sorry for what happened to the refugees
I feel extremely ashamed of myself for this happening
I hope this won’t happen
From a Bhutanese with peace.