I do not feel I have supported Bhutanese Government’s actions, nor any other reader has supported Bhutanese Government’s cruel and harsh treatment given to many of its thousands of residents. I have read and heard reports of imprisonment, beating, torture and rape of innocent residents by some of Army and Police officers of Bhutan, and no civilized person can support that kind of inhumane treatment.

Suraj ji complains that no one came to their help when Bhutanese refugees were living a miserable life in the camps for 17 years. I think that is not true because many international agencies including Red Cross, did provide necessary help to over 106,000 refugees living in Nepal, and they are still providing help to the refugees. Suraj ji I also complained that local Nepali people used to call refugees as Bhotangay and Shirnarthis. Suraj ji feels that nobody should support Dr. Bhampa Rai because he never lived in a refugee camp.

I do not mean to support or advocate Dr. Bhampa Rai but to the best of my knowledge, Dr. Bhampa Rai sacrificed his job as “Special Surgeon to Royal Family”, in Bhutan and left Bhutan to show support for Bhutanese refugees, and started to live in a small hut in a refugee camp in Nepal. Later he moved out of the camp and started to live in his own house outside of refugee camp, because he does not want to go to USA or any other third country, but wants to go back to his motherland, Bhutan. At present, Dr. Bhampa Rai has a clinic in Damak / Jhapa, and provides medical care to Bhuatnese refugees free of charge. Dr. Bhampa Rai is a rich man, and he knows being a Doctor, he can earn a lot of money in Nepal, India, Bangladesh, USA, or anywhere else in the world. But I think, he still wants to go back to Bhutan because he loves his motherland.

When Indian Border Security Force officers used Laathi Charge, tear gas and guns to stop thousands of Bhutanese refugees from marching towards Mechi bridge, near Indo-Nepal border on May 28, 2007, and killed a refugee Mr. Saha Bahadur Shewa (Darjee) from Sanichare camp, it was Dr. Bhampa Rai who was there to support and help refugees, and took the body of Mr. Shewa to Mai River to pay respect to the departed soul. And many of readers are calling Dr. Bhampa Rai a criminal? I want to ask those readers who call Dr. Bhampa Rai a “Criminal”, what crime has he committed? If Dr. Bhampa Rai is a criminal indeed, why local Police are letting him walk free? Why Police never arrested Dr. Bhampa Rai, if he was responsible for the killing of Mr. R. K. Bhudathoki, Mr. Shanti Ram Nepal, Mr. K. B. Khadka and others?

Obviously, living in a refugee camp is never easy and no one should expect having facilities of five star hotels. I terribly feel sorry for those Bhutanese refugees who lived almost 18 years in camps and for those who are still living in the camps, but I must remind them the facts that they have been very lucky for not experiencing the same difficult conditions many other refugees around the world have experienced or are still experiencing.

About 1,70,000 Bihari refugees are still living in 66 camps in Bangla Desh since 1971 (Almost 39 years). Thousands of Palestinians are still living in refugee camps in Israel, Jordan, Egypt and other araes since 1949 (Almost 61 years).

On September 16, 17, and 18, 1982, with the help of Israelis, Christian extremists entered two Palestinian refugee camps called Sabra and Shatila, and for three days, they continued killing and raping men, women, young girls and kids and babies. Israeli army officers closed all the exit doors and fired on those Palestinians who tried to flee. This campaign of killing and raping stopped only after the United States gave a strong and stern warning to Israelis and Christian extremeists. Thousands of men and children were killed and thousands of women and girls had been raped already.

And Suraj ji is complaining about being called Bhotangay and Shirnarthi?

To the best of my knowledge, none of Bhutanese refugees living in Nepali camps was ever hurt, raped or killed by Nepali Police or Army. Thanks to Nepal Government.

Nepali Prime Minsiter, Mr. Koirala has made a statement recently that third country option is not a permanant solution to the refugee crisis. I think he is right , because almost 20% of Bhutanese refugees still do not want to migrate to any third country. I think by the end of next year (2011), all of other 80% of refugees will already be resetlled in USA and other countries. The remaining 20% of refugees will become a problem for Nepal, Bhutan and the International Community. I have feelings that International community, especially the United States will put pressure on Bhutanese Government to allow those remaining refugees to return to Bhutan with dignity, honor and respect. I think the Bhutanese Government will be pressured to offer Bhutanese refugee leaders, high rank positions as compensation / reward so that former Bhutanese refugees feel safe living in Bhutan, their beloved motherland.

I guess Dr. Bhampa Rai will be appointed as Bhutanese embassador to the United States and Mr. Tek Nath Rizal will be appointed as the new Prime Minister of Bhutan.

Mr. Rizal held high-rank positions in Bhutan Government. He was member of Royal Civil Service Commission, Royal Advisory Councilor, Member of the Cabinet and Coordinator of Nationwide Investigation Bureau. Mr. Rizal spent 10 years in jail in Bhutan. I think Mr. Rizal desrves to be compensated for all the torture and difficulties he experienced after he left his high-rank positions in Bhutan. He sacrificsed all of his wealth, luxerious life, poer and authority and everything because he loved his motherland Bhutan.

I hope other senior Bhuatnese refugees leaders like D. B. Rana Sampang, Tara Mukarung, Narad Adhikari, Dasho Thinley Penjore, Balaram Poudyal, and all other leaders and oridinary citizens, who have been suffered and have sacrifised for their motherland, Bhutan, should be compensated by the Bhutanese Government.

I agree with Suraj ji with the statement that , “We do not have to live in a refugee camp for ever”. I think all of those who chose to come to USA or any other third country, for a better future, did the right thing. Chosing third country resettlement does not show that thy do not love their motherland. As a matter of fact, those who resettled in USA or any other third country, some day will become a power that will not be ignored by Bhutanese Government, and after becoming citizens of USA or other coutries, they will be in a better position to help their Bhutanese brothers and sisters, living in Bhutan. These restllers will turn Bhutan into a rich and developed country, in a matter of few years.

I hope every single Bhutanese refugee, currently living in Beldangi, Khudenbari, Morang, Pathri, Damak, Goldhap, Sanicahre, and other areas and camps in Nepal gets whatever he/she wants. Those who want to go to USA or any other third country, should be able to go there. And those who want to go back to Bhutan, should be able to go back to Bhutan with dignity, respect and honor.

Let us hope that nothing bad comes to any of current and former Bhutanese refugee because they already have been suffered a lot. I hope only good things come to them.

Mr. Shahid Pasha, Westfield, Massachusetts, USA 01085

Another thing I do not understand is why the patient’s reative has sent a copy of his letter to Bhutanusa@com to have it posted on its website? Is he trying to put pressure on Dr. Bhampa Rai?

I think this is a human issue,not a political issue, and it should not be mixed with local politics of Bhutan and Nepal. Any human or any social organization can get involve and offer help to this patient. Why should we go after Dr. Bhampa Rai and try to force him to help this patient?

This letter was not written by the patient, but by one of his siblings in Nepal, Mr. Damber Bahadur Biswa. Obviously, the patient’s relative does not have any legal permission (Letter of authority) to write letters to others on patient’s behalf.

I suggest Mr. Damber Bahadur Biswa that he should let this matter handle with someone living in the United States, because someone cannot do much by living in Nepal and writing letters to political leaders in Nepal.

I have heard that Canada, and many Euoropean countries offer a better health service plans to most of its citizens and residents. But uufortunatley, here, in America, not all medical insurance plans cover everything all the times. Millions of Americans who were born here, do not have any health insurance. Many of Americans do not have full coverage of all their medical needs.
I appreciate comments made by readers, Ghana Dulal and Ram Rai. Their views reflect the reality, however I do not agree with other reader, “Til”’s’s statement, “…..we came to the United States for a better future but what I have seen here is that there is is no life (health) insurance”.
I think if any individual does not like this country for its services offered to its residents, he / she is free to apply for migration to Canada, Euorope or any other country in the world.

Mr. Shahid M. Pasha, Westfield, Massachusetts, USA 01089