Bhutanese Refugee Backgrounder

BHUTANESE REFUGEE BACKGROUNDER

By: Jack Foersterling, Cameron Hickert, Nick Stubler, and Roderick O'Dorisio

Who are the Bhutanese?

Bordered by India to the south and China to the north, Bhutan is a landlocked country “about half the size of Indiana” (Campling). Although small, this country’s refugee population – in proportion to its total population – is one of the highest in the world. Indeed, “Since 1991 over one sixth of Bhutan's people have sought asylum in Nepal, India and other countries” (Bhutanese Refugee Support Group). The vast majority of these refugees (around 107,000 total) reside in refugee camps in Nepal, where the Nepali government denies them “two basic rights that are prerequisites for local integration: freedom of movement and the right to work and earn a living” (Resettlement Support Center). Although many desperately want to work, they simply are not allowed. In response to this plight, the United States has offered to resettle 60,000 refugees. This has helped ease the rampant overpopulation (and associated problems) in the Nepali refugee camps, although they are still far from ideal. Of course, another forced evacuation is not appealing to all refugees, already tired from their first exhausting journey: “While many welcome the chance to begin new lives in other countries, a group of refugees opposes the resettlement plan, saying that repatriation to Bhutan is the only acceptable solution” (Resettlement Support Center). Regardless, those who have made the passage to the United States are eager and willing to support themselves and their families in a new homeland.

The Conflict in Bhutan

The conflict in southern Bhutan is both complicated and intricate. It has its roots within the historical, political, and cultural complexes of the three main groups of people: the original inhabitants of the nation, people of Nepalese origin who are now Bhutanese citizens, and recent Nepalese migrants. The conflict in southern Bhutan began when illegal Nepalese immigrants began to settle in Bhutan for economic reasons. Rather than integrate into Bhutanese society, this constantly growing population of Nepali immigrants chose to remain culturally Nepalese. The Bhutanese government perceived this growing group of immigrants to only identity with Nepal and be a part of the Greater Nepal movement. The government saw this growing dichotomy as a threat to their national unity and created a “One Nation One People” policy in response. Under this policy, Bhutanese citizens were required to use the Driglam Namzha (Bhutanese national dress and etiquette code) and reinforced the status of Dzongkha as the national language. Nepali was discontinued as a school course across the nation. After conducting their nation’s first census in 1988, Bhutanese officials were surprised to learn the magnitude of Bhutan’s immigrant population. They have since ‘encouraged’ those of Nepali descent, some of which who have called southern Bhutan home since the late nineteenth century, to permanently leave Bhutan.

Culture in Bhutan

The nation of Bhutan has long been a very isolated state, relying on the sheer size of the Himalayas that surround them to keep them uninfluenced by outside cultures and customs. Because of their little interaction with outside cultures, the Bhutanese have long held their own beliefs and heritage sacred within their culture. Due to this fact, the Bhutanese have held traditions that have remained since the beginning of the country’s founding in the mid 17th century. The basis of Bhutanese culture is centered on Buddhism, the main religion of Bhutan. These Buddhist practices can be seen widely throughout Bhutan with prayer flags set up along the mountainsides, and a small white flag adorns each roof under which the owner has appeased the local god by extending a payment or offering.  The preservation of the Bhutan tradition and culture is known as Driglamnamza, and was required of all citizens in 1990. This law, regarding the correct way to eat, talk, and show respect by bowing to those in the government and clergy, was quickly fought against by those of the Lhotsampas ethnic group, or Bhutanese citizens who come from Nepali descent. It is also this decree of Driglamnamza that has led to over 20% of Bhutan’s citizens being persecuted for their different beliefs and ideals.

            The dress code of Bhutan is fairly simple, the nationally required dress, known as the Driglam Namzha, is required in public during daylight hours. Men typically wear a heavy robe that reaches their knees with a belt forming a front pocket at the front of their robe. Women wear colorful blouses that are worn in a way to create an ankle length dress. Bhutanese women hold a large amount of power in the community, and have more rights than some men of other nearby nations and cultures. Women hold a large part in the ownership of land, and work alongside their male counterparts in the fields or owning small shops. Marriage is a mutual affair and divorce is not uncommon within the Bhutanese culture. Bhutanese food staples include red rice, buckwheat and a variety of chicken, yak and beef in the more mountainous regions.

Health Status of Bhutanese Refugees

Prior to entering the United States of America, the Bhutanese refugees are faced with numerous diseases and other detriments that affect their overall health and mental stability. Perhaps one of the most significant areas of study is the impact of torture on the mental health of Bhutanese refugees. According to a study conducted by the American Medical Association, severe torture is directly correlated with traumatic experiences and psychiatric ailments. Some of most prevalent illnesses that are carried over to American soil from the refugee camps overseas include depression, anxiety, somatic complaints, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The study conducted by the American Medical Association concludes that torture plays a significant role in the development of PTSD, and the study proceeds to deliver specific solutions that can counter the effects of PTSD in Western society. Another significant link to mental instability is the caste hierarchies that are established in the Nepalese refugee camps. According to a recent study conducted by Duke University, a strong correlation between a lower hierarchical status and mental trauma exist. This is because most refugees who do not possess a prominent role in the caste hierarchy are usually discriminated against and thus endure more frequent acts of torture compared to individuals who hold a higher ranking in the hierarchy. For American employers, knowing the previous hierarchical status of a refugee is valuable information when discussing how to treat and what services to provide a specific refugee in the desired work environment.

6 out of every 10 Bhutanese refugees currently located in refugee camps in Nepal will commit suicide within the next year according to a study done by McGill University. In the same study, colloquial language is included to describe the feelings that Bhutanese refugees associate with their mental health. The refugees often “experience dukha (sadness), manaasik bhoj (mental burden) or tanab (tension) in the man (heart-mind).” The last facet of mental stability involves the female Bhutanese refugees. According to a study conducted by the Human Rights Watch, women’s independence within refugee camps is extremely limited. They are often victims of abusive relationships and are presented with no alternatives because any attempt to leave an abusive or violent relationship often means losing custody of the children. Additional reports of sexual trafficking have been recorded. Personal health information, specifically mental status, is crucial for employers because it provides them with the necessary information to appropriately implement specific services that can create a more secure and unthreatening work environment for the Bhutanese refugees.