Bhutan Assessment 2000

Despite a strong undercurrent of ethnic tension within society and state repression, the year 2000 began on a peaceful note. 1999 was largely peaceful with minor incidents of crime believed to be committed to finance separatist activities. Severe state initiatives have ensured that the law and order scenario in Bhutan remains peaceful.

The decade long ethnic tensions between the Bhutanese state (dominated by the Ngalong ethnic group) and people of Nepalese origin (termed as the Lotshampas) continues to drag on though it manifests itself primarily as a refugee problem. After several rounds of negotiations between Bhutan and Nepal, the issue is now essentially projected only as repatriation of refugees presently located in Nepal with no mention of democratisation within Bhutan, the source of the conflict. An estimated 95,000 Lotshampas are now residing in refugee camps in Eastern Nepal. After eight rounds of negotiations and one-to-one meetings between the King of Bhutan and the Prime Minister of Nepal, the two countries have agreed upon the categorisation of persons living in the refugee camps. They have been categorized as bona fide Bhutanese (if they have been forcibly evicted from Bhutan), Bhutanese who have emigrated, non-Bhutanese and Bhutanese who are wanted for criminal offences in Bhutan.

The resistance groups among the Lotshampas (termed as ngolops by the government) have been accused of desecrating holy places and decamping with nangtens (priceless artefacts) with a view allegedly to finance their criminal and seditious activities, as well as personal gain. In the year 1999, at least three such cases were reported. Besides, between January and June, the ngolops had made four attempts, which were foiled by a vigilante public, to infiltrate into Bhutan to carry out illegal activities. Since the problem erupted in 1990, the ngolops have committed 73 murders, 63 rapes and abducted 241 persons. Besides, they had indulged in 1,029 acts of dacoity and armed robbery and 64 instances of vehicle thefts, and had attacked and injured 696 people in Southern Bhutan. Further, they had laid 67 ambushes on Bhutanese security forces and had also damaged the basic infrastructure in the country.

Another minority ethnic group too has begun to resist the imposition of the majority culture. In 1999, the Sarchops initiated a dissent campaign demanding a greater say in the politics of the country, which was soon crushed by the government. They have now organised themselves under the banner of Druk National Congress and are led by Ronthong Kunley Dorji. The Lotshampas and the Sarchops are gaining greater exposure, which has the potential of erupting into a conflagration, just as the September 1990 violent Lotshampa demonstration was the outpouring of suppressed demands.

Another problem that the Bhutanese authorities are confronted with is that of the presence of Indian insurgent groups on Bhutanese soil. Two of them, the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) and National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB)have established camps in Bhutan. It is also suspected, though not confirmed as yet, that a third Indian militant outfit, the Bodo Liberation Tigers may have also established camps in Bhutan. Owing to pressure from India the government of Bhutan has initiated steps towards closing training camps established by terrorist groups operating in North-East India. Despite receiving training from Indian security forces, the Bhutanese security forces are yet to gain adequate confidence to force the issue with the terrorist groups. As in June 1999, an estimated 300 ULFA militants were present in Bhutan, in camps located in the forests of southern Bhutan, in the Samdruk Dzonkha area. There are an estimated 21 ULFA camps in Bhutan.

Bhutan has held two rounds of talks––on November 20, 1998 and May 7, 1999, with ULFA militants and had asked them to leave their territory. The talks were inconclusive and all future negotiations are proposed to be held with only the top-leadership of the outfit. The ULFA had pleaded for time at least till the year 2001 to move lock, stock and barrel from Bhutan. Meanwhile, the number of ULFA camps inside Bhutan has risen, instead of being on the wane.

Bhutan’s voicing of concern––the presence of Indian insurgent groups as the ‘greatest threat to its security’––has not been as yet matched with action, notwithstanding the issuing of a warning that anybody helping the ULFA would be tried under the 1992 National Security Act. Probably, the government apprehends reprisal against its nationals if it were to launch offensives against the ULFA and Bodo insurgents. In November 1999, the National Assembly of Bhutan had advised caution while dealing with these insurgents. Moreover, the Bhutanese security forces, though had been trained by India in anti-insurgency operations, do not yet possess the adequate mettle to launch offensives against Indian insurgents. In fact, on December 1, 1998, suspected Bodo militants laid ambush on the convoy of a Brigadier of the Bhutanese army, which was proceeding from one part of Bhutan to another through Indian territory, as is the usual practice, and killed six soldiers. A year before, in October 1997, Bodo militants had raided the Nanglang police station and made good their escape with self-loading rifles, guns, revolvers and ammunition.

The presence of various militant outfits along the India-Bhutan border has endangered the safety of vehicles plying along the Gelephu–Bongaigaon road, connecting Bhutan and India. The militants have, time and again, committed armed robberies along this road. The prime suspects are Indian militant groups operating along the India-Bhutan border and ngolops. Between January 1998 and June 1999, at least 33 cases of armed robbery were reported along this route. Those robbed included traders as well as government officials, both Indian and Bhutanese.