네팔 이민족에 의한 부탄 사회변화와 그 갈등에 관한 연구

This paper intends to analyze the social changes by ethnic Nepali immigrants in Bhutan and its conflicts. The Nepalese, mostly Hindus, immigrated into Bhutan from 1850 to 1950. Later on Napalese multiplied in numbers, which pose a potential threat to the Bhutanese traditional culture and the hegemony of the ruling elite. Due to the fear, the government of Bhutan has took a series of Bhutanization measures aimed at enforcing a distinct national identity. The government has ordered all citizens to observe the traditional Drukpa code of values and dress and removed Nepali from the curriculum in all schools in southern Bhutan. These Bhutanization policies directly effected on the cultural identity of the ethnic Nepali immigrants and led to growing unrest in southern Bhutan. In this process, many Nepali Bhutanese have left Bhutan for Nepal and India. These Nepalese refugees have caused the conflict between Nepal and Bhutan. The analysis shows that until unless the government of Bhutan modifies its racially discriminatory 1985 Citizenship Act and gives up one-nation, one-people policy, there is a little hope to resolve the Nepalese refugee problem and the conflicts between Bhutan and Nepal. In this situation, international society including India should pressure the government of Bhutan to have a multi-ethnic and multilingual attitude, when they provide aids to and economic cooperation with Bhutan. Otherwise, radicalization of the refugees supported by various organizations such as Communist Party of Nepal(Maoist) could be seen in the future which will create an another regional problem in South Asia.