Reports on the human rights issues in South Asia from the perspective of the U.S Conference of Catholic Biships (USCCB) with a special chapter devoted to the Bhutanese refugee community and recommendations to create permanent placement for these people. An introduction to the plight of the Bhutanese people discusses the slowing of violence stemming from Maoist guerillas and the emerging democratic movement in Bhutan. A brief history of the discrimination of the Lhotshampas minority and their flight into the seven Nepali refugee camps is outlined. Although the camps have existed for over 15 years, they have positive aspects: they are highly organized and orderly; the school system is disciplined, yet nurturing and includes classes for special needs, vocational training, and intensive teacher training; the primary health care system, administered by the Association of Medical Doctors of Asia, includes a mental health program to assist with trauma/torture and domestic violence problems. Solutions tothis intractable refugee problem face obstacles since the refugee leaders insist on repatriation as the only course of action. The USCCB urges a combination of voluntary repatriation, naturalization in the host country, and resettlement in a third country as the most viable method to place over 100,000 refugees. A unique “vulnerable” case scenario features three orphaned sisters, ages 16, 11, and 10, the oldest of whom was raped. Their case was expedited, and they have resettled to the United States.
