Bhutanese refugees in no Dashain mood
As Dashain fever grips all Nepalis in the country and abroad, over 100,000 Lhotsampas (Nepali-speaking southern Bhutanese), are ruing their plight as Dashain holds little meaning to them.
They are feeling alienated in their camps in eastern Nepal, according to a news report on Wednesday.
While people in the surrounding areas of the refugee camps have already white-washed their houses and have started preparations for the greatest Hindu festival, the refugees in their huts recall the days when they also used to celebrate Dashain in their country.
?Domestic violence and suicides have gone up and many young girls have taken up prostitution to earn a living,? the report quoted Ganga Bhandari, joint secretary of a committee, as saying.
Two middle-aged people ? a man and a woman ? committed suicide last month.
While the aid they receive is stagnant, prices of daily commodities have soared.
?The supply of seasonal vegetables, kerosene and housing maintenance allowance and allowance for school uniforms have been cut,? the report quoted a Red Cross official as saying.
On August 3, over 300 Bhutanese refugees tried to return to Bhutan on their own, but Indian security forces stopped them on the border.
?India could potentially play an important part in brokering a solution,? the report quoted Abraham Abraham, country representative of the UNHCR as saying.
?How long are we going to stay here like this?? Hari Adhikari, a refugee in the camp, was quoted as saying.
Another report on Wednesday said 23 Butanese refugees of five families returned to their homeland on Tuesday, but were arrested by the Bhutan police in Phuntsoling.
The police arrested the refugees and 16 of them were handed over to the Indian police at a place called Jaigaon. The whereabouts of the remaining seven are not known, it said.
The refugees, including children, had entered Phuntsoling via Jaigaon, the report quoted Kishor Rai, the secretary general of the Human Rights Organisation of Bhutan, as saying.
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