Table of Contents
Why are there so many Nepali refugees?
Refugees from Bhutan supervised camps in eastern Nepal after being evicted from their homes in Bhutan when the government introduced a new law removing citizenship and civil rights due to ancestry. Without the right to work or own land in Nepal these refugees have been dependent on food aid from the United Nations.
Can Bhutanese speak Nepali?
The Nepali language is the only Indo-Aryan language spoken by native Bhutanese. Inside Bhutan, it is spoken primarily in the south by the approximately 265,000 resident Lhotshampa as of 2006.
Is there discrimination in Bhutan?
Bhutanese Nepali speakers who still live in Bhutan told us that 15 years after the mass eviction of their fellow ethnic Nepalis, they continue to suffer discrimination in almost all aspects of their daily lives, including in education, health, employment, and land ownership.
Can Nepali live in Bhutan?
An estimated 650,000 Nepali-speaking people live mainly in the southern belt of Bhutan and are relatively recent immigrants to the area. They comprise a combination of caste and ethnic groups, including Bahun, Chhetri, Gurung, Limbu, Newar, Rai and Tamang.
Why was Nepal kicked from Bhutan?
These refugees registered in refugee camps in eastern Nepal during the 1990s as Bhutanese citizens deported from Bhutan during the protest against oppressive measures of Bhutanese government by some of the Lhotshampas demanding Human Rights and democracy in Bhutan.
How many Bhutanese are in Nepal?
Around 6,500 Bhutanese refugees are still living in Nepal. Most of them want to return to Bhutan. They said their struggle for repatriation was ongoing for the past 26 years.
What does LA mean in Bhutanese?
Whenever you meet local people, say “Kuzu zangpo la” which means “hello” in Bhutan. During the conversation, to show the respect, the Bhutanese often add “la” to the end of sentences. Afterward, they may say “Jen Pa Leg Sho” which means “Welcome”.
Who are Bhutanese Nepali?
The Nepali-speaking Bhutanese, also called Lhotsampas (“People of the south”), are Bhutanese citizens of Nepali origin, a large number of whom are refugees from Bhutan.
What race are Bhutanese?
There are three major ethnic groups in Bhutan: the Bhutia (also called Ngalop), the Nepalese, and the Sharchop. The Bhutia are the largest ethnic group and make up about half of the population. They are the descendants of Tibetan immigrants who came southward into Bhutan beginning about the 9th century.
Is there freedom of speech in Bhutan?
The constitution provides for freedom of speech including for members of the press, and the government generally respects these rights in practice. Citizens can publicly and privately criticize the government without reprisal.
Why did Nepalese go to Bhutan?
The government allowed more internal migration by Nepalese seeking better education and business opportunities. However, the most divisive issue in Bhutan in the 1980s and early 1990s was the accommodation of the Nepalese Hindu minority. In 1988, the government census branded many ethnic Nepalis as illegal immigrants.
Why are Bhutanese refugees coming from Nepal?
Who are the Bhutanese people?
The Nepali-speaking Bhutanese, also called Lhotsampas (“People of the south”), are Bhutanese citizens of Nepali origin, a large number of whom are refugees from Bhutan.
How many Nepali-speaking Bhutanese refugees in Seattle?
The author interviewed approximately 12 recently arrived Nepali-speaking Bhutanese refugees in the Seattle area.
What is the Bhutanization campaign?
The government therefore initiated a campaign, known as “One country, one people,” or “Bhutanization” to cement Bhutanese national identity. The policies imposed the Druk dress code, religious practices, and language use on all Bhutanese regardless of prior practices.
How do Bhutanese parents decide the name of their child?
Parents also decide which of the two names the child will go by. Like the Nepalese in Nepal, the Bhutanese citizens of Nepali origin in Bhutan (Lhotsampas) traditionally divided themselves into castes; a person’s family name often denotes the caste to which s/he belongs.