Overview
The Bhutanese refugees were persecuted in Bhutan because of their Nepalese origins. Because Nepal was dealing with an internal security problem, the country could not provide resettlement for the refugees ('Security For Whom?', Watson). At the time, the Nepalese armed forces and the Maoist Communist Party were in an armed conflict that disrupted the security dynamics of the country ('Security For Whom?').
The Nepalese civil war began in 1996 and ended in 2006 claiming the lives of over 17,000 people and displacing another 100,000 people ('Security For Whom?', Watson). In 1996, the Maoist guerillas wanted to over throw the Nepal monarchy and establish a new republican state. The Nepalese government already did not believe the country was rich enough to permanently resettle all of the refugees and the on going war reinforced the notion that the Nepalese government could not and would not focus on making Nepal a permanent home for the refugees .
Today, Nepal is still struggling with security issues. With that being said, a security sector reform initiative is the approach that the Nepalese government has enacted to ensure public security and deter future violence. In November of 2006 the Comprehensive Peace Accord, which marked the end of the Nepalese Civil War, was enacted (New Issues in Refugee Research). Though consistent peace is in sight for Nepal, Bhutanese refugees are still being resettled in various countries around the world while the hope for repatriation seems to be fleeting.
The Nepalese civil war began in 1996 and ended in 2006 claiming the lives of over 17,000 people and displacing another 100,000 people ('Security For Whom?', Watson). In 1996, the Maoist guerillas wanted to over throw the Nepal monarchy and establish a new republican state. The Nepalese government already did not believe the country was rich enough to permanently resettle all of the refugees and the on going war reinforced the notion that the Nepalese government could not and would not focus on making Nepal a permanent home for the refugees .
Today, Nepal is still struggling with security issues. With that being said, a security sector reform initiative is the approach that the Nepalese government has enacted to ensure public security and deter future violence. In November of 2006 the Comprehensive Peace Accord, which marked the end of the Nepalese Civil War, was enacted (New Issues in Refugee Research). Though consistent peace is in sight for Nepal, Bhutanese refugees are still being resettled in various countries around the world while the hope for repatriation seems to be fleeting.