History/Background

Like most modern nations, Bhutan's 650,000 people consist of several ethnic groups. One of these is the Lhotshampa, people of Nepali origin, who began to settle in the south of the country in the late 19th century.

In the 1980s it emerged that Lhotshampas were being seen as a threat to the political order. When a string of measures were passed that discriminated against their group, the Lhotshampa organised a series of public demonstrations for which the participants were branded as "anti-nationals". Several thousands of Southern Bhutanese were imprisoned, and more than 2000 tortured, according to Amnesty International. Thousands fled to India and Nepal. By the end of 1992, there were more than 80,000 living in UNHCR camps in south eastern Nepal.

The Bhutanese refugees remain in limbo, their future still unclear. Those in the camps continue to wait for a solution that might consist of a return to Bhutan, third country resettlement or local integration or an unknown mixture of all three. Violence in the camps, between those favouring third country resettlement and those who insist on unconditional repatriation, is an increasingly serious problem.

An estimated 35,000 exist outside of the camps, in Nepal or in India, without the protection of UNHCR or any status in the countries where they live. Increasing numbers have made the difficult journey to third countries to claim asylum. Those Southern Bhutanese who remain in Bhutan also face an uncertain future, with continuing discrimination and the possibility of being excluded from the emerging democratic process offered in the new constitution.

Bhutanese Refugees in Colorado

Since 2008 many thousands of Bhutanese refugees have left the camps as part of the resettlement program, moving to start new lives in the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway.  

In Colorado, Bhutanese refugees are the largest in number and with already over a couple of thousands, the state is expecting to receive many more Bhutanese refugees in the next 5 years with the closing of refugee camps in Nepal. 

Setu Nepal, one of the Bhutanese community leaders in Colorado has made a mark back at the refugee camp in Nepal as an advocate for third-country resettlement programs. While many of the refugees were reluctant to resettle in another country and wanted to stay near home, Setu spoke to them and convinced them the opportunity and viability of refugee resettlement programs. Setu spoke, "at refugee camps, people don't do much. There are schools at camps but 'real' teachers already get recruited by private schools in Nepal so they leave the camps for jobs. So the ones left behind are those who aren't really qualified to carry out competent education. People don't know the technology either and just living at camps will not take them anywhere. So I talked to the people to convince them that third-country resettlement is the opportunity and the answer."

So many have come to the United States and are not quite "back on their feet" yet. According to Setu, especially the people who are fifty-years and older who are uneducated and physically weak are having difficulties with mental health issues and also with acquiring language skills and jobs. However, due to the cultural stigma around mental health where the mentally ill are often ostracized in the community, nobody wants to speak up and acknowledge the mental health need of themselves or their families. "It is becoming a big problem. There definitely are people struggling with mental health issues but nobody wants to come forward," Setu said with a concerned look. 

The older generation aren't the only ones with issues adjusting. The youth is clashing with other ethnic groups at schools and things are becoming violent. "These kids go out of control. I've been to schools many times and the problem is becoming worse. There are already a dozen of our Bhutanese kids who are on the list for the police," Setu then continued, "it's because these kids don't have anything to do after school so they engage in these gang activities. Parents have problems adjusting and the kids go out and cause these problems so it's becoming almost hopeless for them. The Bhutanese community needs a lot of help. A lot." 

"Another problem is young marriage," Setu says. "In Bhutan kids cannot marry young and if they do, they get kicked out of school. But in Nepal, it is allowed. So having lived in Nepal as refugees for so many years, people have gotten used to it and it is happening even here in the U.S. Young kids get married and have babies and forget about their education. How are they going to live then?" Setu seemed very concerned. 

The Bhutanese community, like any other refugee communities in Colorado, have layers of issues that they need help with. Starting from mental health, many of them need to acquire English skills, job skills and get jobs to be self-sustainable. The youth need anti-gang prevention programs, guidance from possible mentors and after school activities that can engage them in healthier ways. "I want our people to become self-sustainable so we don't have to be perceived as a burden to the society and I want to do my best to help them get on their feet and live their lives as they should. For us to do that though, we need help. We need much help from an organization like APDC who knows our culture and who gets us," Setu's words sounded hopeful at the least.