Long journey from Burma to United States - 1

Enough property, land and prestigious life of Kadel family in Burma (Myanmar) were always a source of jealous for his neighbors. Kewal R. Kadel’s mother was a self-learned spiritual jumping doctor (a woman who treats patient by praying and playing with the ghosts; believed in the conventional Nepali society). They earned a big cash and metallic wealth like gold, silver, brass, etc by treating sick people in their locality. This made kadel’s family miss the feeling of pains and sufferings while in Burma during 1940s.

But nobody can predict the future. History of Black days for Nepali ehnic people started in Myanmar, Burma. Suppression on Nepali ehnic Burmese during 1940s led a large number of Burmese leave their country. Kewal, his mother, elder brother and sister had to leave not only their land and property but their identity too.

And who knows all happiness is looted in no seconds. Sudden bomb blasts from the sky terrified the province people. Burma – Japan conflicts were on the horizon. Army fighters both in the sky and land were bombing and firing which marked a big question in the lives of thousands of Burmese people. All the bridges and entry-exit ways of the country were sealed. Kewal Ram and his family dug an ‘L’ shaped pit under the ground and stayed there for twelve months. But no signal of war conclusion was sensed.

They freed all their animals and fare welled all the home workers. They kept all their property under the ground. Tela Kadel, wife to Kewal Ram says, “Kewal Ram used to say; if I get chance to visit my birth place ever, I would take out all those properties”. 

With no transportation, a five year old child Kewal desperately joined a very long, painful and tiresome journey to India with his family by foot. The earth and the grass, the green water on the lake, the trees near and far off hills, and the rocks and mountains were their friends along their journey. It was a long way walk of two months to reach India. Along with the Kadel family, a large number of Nepali ehnic Burmese moved to somewhere, where they were themselves unknown of their destination.

Everyone’s legs were heavy. “But…”, Kewal’s eldest son Devi Charan says, “…my father used to say that they felt a sense of being together in a group sharing each others’ sorrows”. They inhaled peace slowly putting themselves together along their way.

However, there were, for Kewal, no other options to escape or avoid the unbearable pains of sharp pebbles and thorns on their way.

After all pain and sufferings, Kadel and many other families who arrived India were in halfway house to decide their final destination. As days passed some choosed to go to Assam, some to Megalaya, some to Sikkim and Manipur and many other states of India. Among them, a large group entered Nepal. Still a group of Burmese refugees are found in Kakarvitta, Jhapa Nepal.

During their six months stay in India, Kewal’s elder brother left mother and sister with him and vanished in Assam, India. The then, he never met his brother. “But.”, his eldest son Devi Charan stressed, “…he felt his brother’s affection when he met his sister inlaw in Nepal.

Kewal’s family then decided to spend rest of their life in Bhutan, a tiny Himalayan country in South East Asia. Again the same pain repeated, it took almost one whole month for their foot to reach Bhutan. They were relieved when they reached Dagana district in Bhutan; a place which they called their HOME.

Monarch – Tyrannical rule again ended up Kadel’s stay in Bhutan after five decades of their entry into Bhutan. Democratic movement in 1990 AD demanding Human Rights and democratic systems in the country led one lakh Nepali ethnic southern Bhutanese (Lhotshampas) migrate to Southern Nepal as refugees. Kewal Ram with his four sons and five daughters had to leave their mother (died) and sister (married) in Bhutan itself.

Miracles of his life sometimes may be distrust for somebody. When Kewal Ram’s family entered Timai refugee camp in Nepal, the other Burmese refugees were in Kakarvitta. (These two refugees are approximately in distance of 20 kilometers). With the flow of time Kewal and many other who entered Nepal had a number of sons and grandsons. He became old and was suffered by asthma and was in bed for almost one and a half decade. It was in July 2004 that his physical existence left the earth. He struggled throughout his life to have HOME but couldn’t. This credit is now left on his son’s shoulders.

Kadel family lived for around two decades in exile as refugees in Nepal. Finally, through resettlement program Kewal’s eldest son Devi Charan with his family immigrated to Richmond, Virginia state of USA in June 2008 followed by his other brothers. Devi Charan says, “ this long journey of migrating country to country for safe and home, will definitely end now because USA is believed to be a safe country where every people has equal rights and nobody suppresses no one”. After a long breath he again added, “We have a dignified life here”.

Devi Charan’s words are some of many sorrowful stories of refugees around the world struggling for a safe place called HOME where they can stay permanently with no pressures.

After a moment of thought for the concluding lines Devi Charan concludes, “…let no generations pass a refugee life as we did”.

By Dadi Ram Antim

Police detained Relay march Chief Badal (updated)

March 30, Armed Police Force (APF) has detained three refugees along with Badal Thapa chief of relay March campaign. Along with Badal, Tara Thapa and Dhan Bdr. Rai were caught by APF before starting “relay mass to Bhutan” campaign from sanischare camp, Morang.

Whereas APF has stated that, detention is keeping in view of security risk.

Chief Badal had informed public regarding the campaign two days before through a press release. He added, campaign is organized to  pressurize Bhutan for repatriation and seek concern of  international community upcoming SAARC summit on April 28-29 in Bhutan. Political forces in exile has  not yet made any public statement on this regard.

Source said that,”march has set internal goal to enter Phuenstoling Bhutan individually.”But detail road map including who and how will they enter country is not made public. It is said that Camp based repatriation support groups has support to the allies.

Relay march organized in 2007 had resulted loss of life and several refugees were vandalized by Indian security forces. Despite of several peaceful protests made by refugees Royal Government of Bhutan has not taken initiation for repartition.
 Click here to see interview with Badal after his release.

UK to Resettle Bhutanese Refugee

United Kingdom ( UK) has work out to resettle Bhutanese Refugees languishing in Nepal. Kantipur News wrote," government team of  UK going to take interview of refugees in coming week".

It is said that, refugees disqualified for other countries and census misers will be included for interview. Nepal government and United Nation's High Commissioner for Refugees has concluded census of missing refugees two week ago.UK is one among to resettle less Bhutanese refugees in Europe.

Among one lakhs and seven thousand refugees 83 thousand have filled up resettlement interest form. where 27 thousand has been resettled in Europe and USA since 2008.

  Bhutanese Refugee resettlement is the largest program launched by UNHCR in world.

US warns against adopting in Nepal

KATHMANDU (AFP) – The United States has warned its citizens against adopting children in Nepal, saying it has "grave concerns" about the reliability of that country's adoption system.

The government urged prospective adoptive parents to choose another country, citing the case of a young Nepalese girl placed in the custody of an American couple without the consent of her biological mother and father.

"The US Department of State strongly discourages prospective adoptive parents from choosing Nepal as a country from which to adopt due to grave concerns about the reliability of Nepal?s adoption system," it said in a statement on its website dated March 4.

Nepal introduced new adoption legislation in 2008 following reports of widespread abuses of the system by unscrupulous agents who were effectively trafficking children overseas for profit.

Twenty Nepalese children have been adopted by foreign parents since the system restarted last year, seven of whom are in the US, but experts say little has changed since the new rules came into force.

The State Department said that in one of the first cases processed by the Nepal government, the US embassy in Kathmandu found the birth parents of the adopted child were actively searching for her.

The US government warning follows a recommendation last month from a team of international legal experts based in The Hague that international adoptions of Nepalese children be suspended.

They said their investigations found documents were routinely falsified and children's homes were largely unregulated, with the interests of the child often not considered at all.

Germany moved to suspend adoptions from Nepal after the findings of The Hague team's investigations were made public, and 14 embassies in Kathmandu issued a statement urging the Nepalese government to tighten controls.

source: yahoo.com

STOP KILLING, START LOVING

Following the assassination of a senior Bhutanese refugee and an erstwhile social worker, former camp Secretary of Beldangi-one, Ramesh Subba a couple weeks ago, there has been multitude of reactions on it. Various speculations have been made as to who had hands in such a heinous and maligned act.The incident hasn’t only left Subba’s family in lurch but many in the camps are dismayed and felt insecure. The common innocent people have started manifesting their fear if the camp was once again heading to be a battlefield in the illogical dictates of those who intend to taint peace and harmony.
Meanwhile, a senior leader, Bhampa Rai smells Bhutan’s hand in this crime and said that Subba’s death was a master-plot to adversely affect the repatriation movement. At the same time, a few other Bhutanese leaders, condemning the incident, have opined that such criminal acts rulling one after another were simply fostering to breed enmity and animosity among the Bhutanese brothers thereby bridging a divisive gap of difference and making them vulnerable at the hour of rush when all had to stand in unison for a common cause.
Whereas, a few celebrated the killing of late Subba. They termed it as a victory. However, wheresoever each individual’s perception in relation to this case be aligned to, either accept wholeheartedly or discard publicly, it is indeed by virtue of human ethics, conscience and rationality that violence can never bring happiness and contentment in people so as crime can never be proven instrumental for victory and justice.
Reports are there that late Subba was lately involved in the underground outfit that was blamed to have carried out a number of explosions inside Bhutan, killed refugee leaders including K.B Khadka and Santiram Nepal last year and disturbed the peace and harmony of the refugee camps. But, at the same time, death can’t be the final punishment to any culprit. Aptly to an adage ‘To err is Human, and to err is devilish’ are like human mistakes. Human beings by nature make mistakes but are instrumental tools if these mistakes are based as the foundation stones for new success thereof.
Looking back to his recent years’ deeds, if things are true as what has been said, late Subba and his organization has made a number of such mistakes. But, there are other ways to correct them. Killing of Subba doesn’t really say that those mistakes are now wiped out rather it might tempt and entice his colleagues towards committing mistakes of greater magnitude. On the other hand, the one who killed must have a heart much different from the rational being. There can be someone with rationale who might have directed the plot of killing Mr Subba but the one who directed the gun towards him can be one with an abnormal sentiments and that it can be of danger to anyone any time for he or she has a conscience that comes into play for ill intention alone.
Consecutive killings of three Bhutanese within a short span of ten months have revealed that the nightmare of impunity is what the innocent refugees have to live in. It is the grass-root people who are compelled to be sandwiched between death and threats. It is the common people after all to suffer and get suffocated in the conspiracy and defiled plumes of air, whose beginning prayers for peace and justice never get an iota of opportunity to rupture into a blossom of hope. Only are they left with, is an option of nightmare life full of impunity, threats and trouble. Looks like the refugee camps are mere sand banks with no human existence. The status of social security is dire as the growing murder, robbery; arson and the like have tightened their grips. May be there are voices in support of the recent killing of Ramesh Subba but in the ethical sense of human existence to conceive murder as the solution to any problem is like living in the barbaric era far away from the civilized 21st-century world.
As a human being we have greater responsibilities towards creation of fair, just and peaceful place on earth than to paralyse ourselves in an ever-growing flame of wrath coming out of our quick-made decisions. From the mouth of each individual the slogan ‘STOP KILLING, START LOVING’ should echo right now. This could only be what would pave a credibly positive way for the generation that is following our footprints.
(Prepared by Bhutanusa.com reporters)

Richmond Bhutanese Society announced

Virginia, US  Resettled Bhutanese in United States, Virginia state living in Richmond city announced to be united under platform of Richmond Bhutanese Society (RBS) saturday at a mid function organized at Virginia Council of Churches Hall.

Nine member executive body under the president ship of Bhupendra Baral was elected. Body constitutes Vice-president Thakur Ghimirey, General Secretary Chandra Dhakal, Treasurer Amber Bhattarai , Employment Secretary Bhim Kumar Kadel, Cultural Secretary Kanchi Maya Monger, Public Well-fare Secretary Thagi Maya Chamlagain, Out-reach Coordinator Dadi Ram Antim and Education Secretary Dhurva Mishra.

Newly elected President Baral talking in the function said,” for overall development and prosperity of Bhutanese Americans resettled in Virginia, we ought to be in one platform of RBS. He stressed that, it is our primary duty to serve our community in every prospectus enriching people with different qualities.

Jon Domiano from Virginia Council of Churches Chief Guest of the function congratulated Bhutanese people being united for betterment of community. Commentating the program Warren Pierce of Richmond’s First Baptist Church wished for the future success of the organization.

Program was chaired by the elderly intellectual of the Bhutanese Community Bhim Bahadur Magar and anchored by Thakur Ghimirey.

Dear Celestial Damsel a word gift for Valentine’s Day

Dadi Ram Antim

A small part of ink, falling like dew drops upon a thought, can make millions think. As ink flows thoughts in plain paper, my angel you flow in my heart. Though the circumstances of life has dragged me like flowing river water. Every steps of life being most lovely and unforgettable stories.

Rough roads with pebbles, gloomy environment around, crowded mass competing each other to create a cam environment there. Day was rainy, slippery, wet and shivering cold outside. Nepal, a collection of open traditions, I mean crawling for development, has not much advanced. Open door was a source to view outside activities of nature huge rainfall.

Kids moving, playing in the rains. A group hurriedly entered the room. They asked for suggestions on writing styles and presentations to me. A lady associated with the group seemed quite talkative questioned me few minutes. Unknowingly our conversation changed the model. She started briefing some how entering towards her personal life experience. Attractive speech and pleasing eyes revolving around me really centralized my conversation upon her.

The event showed her as monologue. But the words were attractive and heart touching to me. That lady who I trust, lady who trust me, we have significant love story, still paragraphs are eventually increasing.

Inclination a human symbol, has in my life. So ever unknown, unseen, virtue leading me to be connected to complete ritual of world. The roaring of the sea in my mind cannot rest. I am obstinate, my chancellor of heart.

Despite of this costly artificial gifts dear celestial damsel, a word gift for Valentine’s day- HEART-which connects us each other forever.