Throughout
its modern existence, Nepalese
foreign policy architects and defense planners have
had to perform a precarious balancing act to ensure
the nation's survival. As a protective measure, foreign
troops were not allowed to be based in Nepal. This
restriction remained in force as of 1991. Neither
China
nor India harbored territorial ambitions in Nepal;
indeed, unlike many other land boundaries in South
Asia, Nepal's frontiers were regarded by India
and China as valid international boundaries. Nor did
Nepal possess any natural resources or other economic
assets that were coveted by either neighbor. Nevertheless,
the country's geostrategic position between China's
restive Tibetan population and the Indian heartland
placed it in a vulnerable position.
Nepal
and India
Although
landlocked Nepal was surrounded by both India
and China,
the kingdom's geographic, economic, and cultural orientation
was more closely linked to India. Whereas many Nepalese
stressed the differences that defined Nepal's national
existence, India's
policy makers tended to stress the similarities that
bound the two countries together. According to New
Delhi's perception, South
Asia constituted an integral security unit in
which India
played the lead role. Many Nepalese resented this
interpretation and accused India of being insensitive
to Nepal's status as an independent nation.
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Bhutanese
Refugess
Ever
since the movement for Democracy and Human rights
against the abuses and violation of human rights,
arbitrary de-nationalization of Bhutanese citizens,
denial of children s education, denial of cultural
and linguist rights and forced imposition of discriminatory
rules of Laws, more than 135000 Bhutanese citizens,
about one sixth of total country population of 780000
have been forcibly evicted from the country by Government
since 1989. Around 105000 are living in eastern Nepal
as refugees in UNHCR
managed camps while rest are living without refugee
status in Nepal and India
where they are victims to hunger, sickness and education.
Some are homeless inside the country with no basic
support and their properties and citizenships are
also being seized by govt.
The
crisis has evolved into a protracted disputed with
Bhutanese in exile wanting to invoke right to return
to Bhutan while Royal Government of Bhutan refuses
to allow to entry on the land making the claims that
Bhutanese refugees are illegal migrants or anti-national
besides Bhutan government challenges that these refugees
were never bona-fide citizens but refugees have adequate
documentary evidences like citizenship cards and land
tax receipts to justify their claims as bona fide
Bhutanese. Thus Bhutanese refugees are trapped in
protracted situation suffering from lack of attention,
fund and assistance as other high-profile crisis around
the globe has captured the international attentions
and resources.
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more..........
Human Trafficking and Nepal
Nepal
is primarily a country of origin for women and children
trafficked for purposes of commercial sexual exploitation
to the Middle East and Asia. Reports indicate that
Nepalese
girls and women have been found in brothels in Mumbai,
India; Bangkok, Thailand; Singapore; Hong Kong; and
the Middle East.A Nepalese non
governmental organization (NGO) service provider
says that more than 5,000 Nepalese
girls ages 10 to 20, mostly from poor rural families,
are trafficked out of the country annually for purposes
of prostitution. Another source indicates 5,000 to
7,000 Nepalese girls are trafficked to India annually
and forced into prostitution. In addition, another
report suggests that 200,000 Nepalese women and girls
are at present in prostitution in various cities of
India.
Factors
that fuel the trafficking and prostitution of Nepalese
women and children include an open border, economic
destitution, and sex discrimination.The World Bank
estimates that more than half of the Nepalese population
lives below the poverty line. Trafficking victims
often come from poverty-stricken regions of Nepal
or from poor border communities. Traffickers kidnap
women and children or lure them into the country through
promises of jobs or marriage, later selling them to
brokers for as little as US$4. The brokers then deliver
the victims to brothels for as much as US$1,333.
The
open border between Nepal and India makes the trafficking
of women relatively easy. Traffickers also find protection
from corrupt border patrol officials and politicians,
thereby escaping any potential prosecution.
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more .........
