By Tenzin Choephel
Phayul Correspondent
It has been quite sometime since the last time we heard about people lining up to register names as possible candidates for the US resettlement. On 15th August a group of over 200 Tibetans gathered at the Tibetan Welfare office in Lazimpat, Kathmandu to register their names as possible candidates for US resettlement on the ground of condition of their livelihood or having no Refugee Identity Card of Nepal, that time some of the local members of the Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies addressed the gathering and assured that there is no official announcement until now, turn a deaf ear to any rumors, when there is any official announcement then everyone would be well informed according to the order of the higher Tibetan authorities. From then to now, it has been very quiet, there has been no official announcement and some people are wondering what’s happening or is something happening at all!
I talked with many Tibetans who are residing in Kathmandu, ordinary, media persons and some important persons and an overwhelming majority of them are of opinion that all Tibetans in Nepal should get equal opportunity to resettle in the USA as all Tibetans in Nepal have similar problems and it is not just the Tibetans who don’t have RC that faces extra problem. Secondly, almost 95% of Tibetans would definitely like to resettle in the USA except for few people who already have high paid jobs. About 50% of the people would like to see a free and fair selection, if any preference would be given to those who served in the Lo Guerilla Force, it would be acceptable but other than that, all should be treated equally. I asked everyone why everyone supports the resettlement of Tibetans from Nepal to the USA, the majority are of opinion that improvement in income and living standard means more money and with more money Tibetans would be better off to support their family and most importantly, they would definitely be able to contribute to the cause of Tibetan freedom struggle.
Below are excerpts of some public opinion:
Lobsang Rabgay, President, Local Tibetan Assembly, Swoyambu Area, Kathmandu, “The US Resettlement was first requested by Tibetans living in Swoyambu area; they first requested the Tibetan government (in Exile) to build housing for Tibetans living in Swoyambu area because they are poorest among Tibetans living in Kathmandu but due to unfavorable political situation in Nepal, the project was procrastinated by the Tibetan Government. Then, a meeting of Tibetan Local Assembly Members of the Swoyambu area was held and we decided to follow the order of the Tibetan Government but instead requested the Tibetan Government in April 2004 to try to resettle as many Tibetans as possible from the Swoyambu area in the USA. Since that time, the Local Assembly Members have been requesting the Tibetan Government that if all households could not be resettled in USA then at least one person from each household be resettled in the USA and we still hold on to that request despite the announcement of the Tibetan Government that those who served in the Mustang Tibetan Guerilla and those without Refugee Identity Card would be given preference. We clearly informed the Tibetan Government that if a proper honest selection procedure were not implemented then we would not accept it. There are over 600 Tibetan households and over 3000 Tibetans living in Swayambu area of Kathmandu and the 14 Local Assembly members are representing them. He also said that they have no comment on the preference given to those who served in the Mustang Tibetan Guerilla but he thinks that all others should be treated equally as all Tibetans living in Nepal have similar problem irrespective of whether one has refugee identity card or not; those who already have families in the USA and it seems like some Himalayan Region people of Nepal are trying to become Tibetans, they should not get any chance in this resettlement.”
Thubten Shastri, Journalist, Boudha “It is good if the policy is implemented and Tibetans could resettle because they would get better opportunities compared to things in Nepal. I agree if preference is given to those who served in the Mustang Guerilla and those without any legal paper and then poor households should get preference”.
Ngawang Ratutsang, Education Consultant, Swoyambu “The US Resettlement is good for financial improvement of Tibetans, I don’t object but it would not make a difference for the general cause of Tibet because they could not represent a nation and those who would be left in Nepal would be sad. We have difficulties in Nepal if the Nepali Government creates problem because they support one China policy and so Tibetans in Nepal are very vulnerable. However, I personally think that Tibetans should live collectively wherever they live to preserve their identity and so if the Tibetan Government is trying to resettle Tibetans in USA then they should try to keep Tibetans in one place and not scatter them in places of USA. I think the selection process should be fair and honest and everyone should get equal opportunity. I don’t agree with giving priorities to anyone, general public should be consulted first before the selection process is decided but until now general public were not consulted regarding the matter and it could create problem in our society. If we Tibetans live separately in different communities then we would always be vulnerable and so if we could not keep Tibetans together while His Holiness the Dalai Lama is still living then I think it’s the end of the story”.
Tsering Wangmo, office secretary, Jwalakhel “It is good for young people to get education and job opportunities and improve their financial status because situation in Nepal is not good. One person per household is a good choice of selection process. I would like to get better job opportunity and facilities but wherever we go we should not forget our Tibetan culture.
Pasang, Boudha “I support the US resettlement policy because it would improve livelihood of Tibetans. No preference should be given to anyone but new arrivals from Tibet should be given preference.”
Lobsang Chokdup, Swoyambu “It is good for young people to get education and job opportunities and improve their financial status because situation in Nepal is not good. One person per household is a good choice of selection process. Yes, I would like to get better job opportunity and facilities but wherever we go we should not forget our Tibetan culture”.
In September 2005, the Tibetan Government announced about the plan to resettle Tibetans from Nepal to USA. In March 2006, the Tibetan Prime Minister mentioned that the criteria for the selection of candidates would be formulated by December 2005 and in January 2006 a committee in charge of the selection would be established in Nepal but due to non co-operation from Nepal Government, the plan is delayed and the future of this plan is uncertain, however, the plan would not be withdrawn since it was approved by the US Congress. In the meanwhile, there has been many rumors in the Tibetan society about the names of people who are in the list, there is some kind of definite list of people already and they would be resettled, the head of Boudha Jorpati Mr. Dhondup Tsering La, publicly read out names that are in the list but we don’t know the legitimacy of such a list as there has been no official announcement from Dharamsala and in the absence of a Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Nepal. It is uncertain as of now as to what would be the actual selection procedure and who would be selected.
All the Tibetans are now eagerly waiting for any announcement from the Tibetan Government and know the selection process. We would have wait and see how the Tibetans in Nepal would react and accept the selection process. It could be speculated that the selection process would start in 2007 along with selection of about 60,000 Bhutanese refugees by the US government.
