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A week after Bhutan's new king pledged democracy, his government's pronouncement hinted otherwise. Bhutan's foreign minister Khandu Wangchuk, briefing his country's National Assembly, blames his Nepali counterpart (KP Sharma Oli) for the lack of progress in the bilateral talks. He says repatriation of Nepal-based Bhutanese refugees, is akin to "importing ready made radical political parties and terrorists to duplicate the violence, terror, and instability the Maoists have unleashed in Nepal.”
• No talks with refugees: Bhutan minister, Nepal News
• Bhutan Assembly discusses status of bilateral talks with Nepal, Kuensel
• Reform or Trickery in Bhutan?, Progress/FPIF
• Bhutan's new king vows to modernize nation, Washington Post
• King who just wanted people to be happy abdicates in favour of son, Scotsman
• New Bhutan king pledges democracy, CNN

US Assistant Secretary of State for refugees Ellen Sauerbrey said her government is prepared to take in up to 60,000 refugees from Bhutan living in camps in the east of Nepal. It may take only 3-4 years to resettle them in the American homeland. This certainly is a good piece of news for the 100,000 plus refugees languishing in camps in eastern Nepal for more than 15 years. Canada and Australia are also interested in absorbing the refugees. A 60,000-strong American Bhutanese community, no doubt, can eventually exert extraordinary influence on the country's democratic process. However, it will soon be difficult to tell a Bhutanese refugee from a non-refugee since the lure of the American Dream among commmoners to mantris is remarkably intense.
• US ready to absorb many Bhutanese refugees living in Nepal, The Hindu
• Breakthrough for Bhutan refugees? BBC News
• US to Take Bhutanese Refugees, OhmyNews International
• US ready to take in 60,000 Bhutanese refugees living in Nepal, People's Daily
• Future of Bhutanese Refugees is a Shell Game, News Blaze

After a relative calm of over two years following his release from jail, Bhutanese dissident leader Tek Nath Rizal is all set to reenergize the democratic movement in the reclusive Eastern Himalayan Kingdom even as King Jigme Singhe Wanchuk has created considerable amount of political noise by declaring to abdicate his power in favor of a constitutional monarchy.

Brussels & Washington D.C.: Well Done, But We Won't Sit Quiet
There is no question now that the Bhutanese refugees problem has been internationalized, much to Nepal's relief. Only time will tell if Bhutan and Nepal will keep up to the praises and expectations of the United States and the European Union, major contributors in maintaining the camps in Eastern Nepal.
• Clinton authorizes $22 million for Bhutanese and the Balkan refugees (Original White House document, Jan 17/01)
• EU: We will closely follow the work of the Ministerial Joint Committee and the Joint Verification Team (Original EU document, Jan 12/01)
• US: As a major contributor, we plan to work with both countries for the just resolution of the humanitarian problem (Original US document, Jan 10/01)

US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs Karl Inderfurth visits the region. Bhutan refugees seen as Clinton’s unfinished business.
• US attempt to settle refugee issue in Nepal, HindustanTimes, Dec 02/00
• U.S. backs Nepal on refugees, urges security for Tibetan refugees, UPI Dec 02/00
• U.S. Urges Nepal, Bhutan to Resolve Refugee Problem, IWorld, Dec 01/00
• US appeals over Bhutan refugess, BBC, Dec 01/00

So why didn't Time Asia's Roderick suggest the Bhutanese they depose the king ? And if it's a bit late for Nepal and others to learn by Bhutan's example, why isn't time running out for "the rest of us"?

Just before Princess Royal's visit to Nepal, and the refugee camps, BBC's Daniel Lak finds that the sense of despair is powerful among the refugees. "...The situation is falling off the radar screen and the fear is that something dramatic, something ugly, may have to happen to get it back in view...." "Social tensions frequently boil over" reports Lak. real 56k

The future of almost 100,000 refugees living in camps in eastern Nepal was dealt another blow this week after the Bhutanese government rejected a UN formula by which their eligibility for inclusion in a future voluntary repatriation program would be determined, Amnesty International said today. AI Site. 05/00
• Nationality, expulsion, statelessness and the right to return (AI Report,)
• More AI News/Reports on Bhutan refugees
• European Parliament Resolution On Bhutan Refugees 09/11/00