Maoist crisis spreads in Himalayas

The Washington Times ^ | May 24, 2003 | Chitra Tiwari

[Tailgunner Joe]

While Nepal has received widespread international attention, due mainly to its seven-year Maoist insurgency, Bhutan

[daviddennis]

Interesting article, albiet a bit hard to understand. If I got the gist accurately, Bhutan has two major ethnic groups. One of them rules the country. One of them would probably rule the country if there was a Democratic Bhutan. So the current establishment, not wanting to lose power, deprives them of their citizenship and throws them into refugee camps.

I think they should split the country and give the majority ethnic group the majority of the country, therefore protecting both the old elites and the majority.

I don't understand why that's not done more often. Don't fight, split.

D

[Angelus Errare]

Maoists in South Asia ping

[Jacob Kell]

Actually, there are three ethnic groups, not two. The Ngalung, about 16% who are the Drukpas of west Bhutan and the ruling ethnic group, Sarchops, who are 31%,and Lhotshampa or Nepalese who are 53%.

[swarthyguy]

keyword: Maoists, fomentors of chaos and bloodshed, igniting ethnic tensions and rivalries.

[swarthyguy]

Another paradise...Bhutan for getaway suggestions.

[laredo44]

Bhutan — another Himalayan kingdom, about the size of Switzerland

For those seeking a more meaningful comparison, Switzerland is about twice the size of Massachusetts.

An unrelated, but interesting question: Are the citizens of Bhutan still permitted to pay their taxes in yak butter?

[daviddennis]

True; I left out the other group to simplify the explanation, which didn't seem to involve the other group. Odd since in the new nation they would be the majority, not the ruling bunch. So I would think the rulers would have to do something about them, too.

D

[Jacob Kell]

The Lhotsampa/Nepalis probably include not only true Nepalis, but other peoples who speak Nepali, such as magars.