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Druk National Congress - Political Organization of Bhutan

Obituary

R.B. Basnet - a moderate reticent leader
R.K Dorji

The demise of Mr. R.B. Basnet on 18th August, 2007 is a great loss to the Bhutanese refugee community and the Bhutanese people. He was the President of Bhutan National Democratic Party (BNDP), a prominent leader, and very helpful towards the Bhutanese refugee community. Above all, his kind hearted, generous, amenable and humble disposition inspired his friends. He was soft spoken and reticent.

He hailed from a respectable family in Damphu, Cherang (Bhutan). After completing his studies, he joined the civil service in Bhutan. His last assignment with the Royal Government of Bhutan was as Managing Director of the State Trading Corporation of Bhutan. He was best of friends with my brother, Pema Wangdi.

When the citizenship crisis erupted in southern Bhutan in the late 1980s, a group of government officers led by Minister Om Pradhan and Mr. Teknath Rizal, along with Mr. R.B. Basnet and Mr. Bhim Subba submitted a petition to the King seeking a resolution of the problem. However, the situation in southern Bhutan deteriorated further due to the mishandling of the issue by a few immature self-proclaimed leaders. In this intriguing period, I met Mr. Basnet, Mr. Janga Bahadur and Mr. Harka Bahadur at Phuntsholing. I advised them to submit an apology on behalf of the community to the King in order to bring an end to the nascent problems in the region. Mr. Basnet heeded my advice and went to Thimphu where he discussed my suggestions with Mr. Om Pradhan. But Mr. Om Pradhan informed him that by then the time had elapsed to make amends. With the Government of Bhutan upping the suppression in southern Bhutan and casting suspicions over all Lhotshampas officials, Mr. Basnet's stay in Bhutan was unbearable and thus he was forced to flee for Nepal on 16th of June, 1991.

After departing from Phuntsholing, I went home to Samdrup Jongkhar. Unknown to me, a fabricated report alleging that I was in collusion with agitating Lhotshampas was already fed to the King by the trio of Gup Sonam Drukpa, Maj. Pem Tshering and Kunzang Namgyal. My friends warned me about my impeding arrest and urged me to flee Bhutan. But I stayed back because I felt there was nothing for me to run away from. On the 18th of May, 1991, I was arrested in Samdrup Jongkhar, taken to Thimphu and subjected to inhuman torture. After fifty days, I asked to sign a ‘devious release document’ in Dzongkha and English by the then Home Minister, Dago Tshering and released from detention. As soon as I reached home, I immediately went to Gawahati to treat my injuries sustained during the torture in imprisonment. From there, I fled to Nepal and reached Kathmandu on August 3, 1991.

Mr. Basnet, Mr. Bhim Subba, Mr. Rakesh Chhetri and Mr. Gurung met me on the 15th of August and shared each others' problems and recounted our past good-old days. In his capacity as President of Bhutan National Democratic Party (BNDP), he offered me the Vice-President ship of his party. I declined his good gesture because at that time I had submitted a petition to the King through the Chief Justice, Sonam Tobgay, and was awaiting a response. Non-reciprocation of my petition and the continuation of the stringent suppression in Bhutan compelled me to establish the Druk National Congress, along with Bhutanese friends in exiles and the blessing from our countrymen, to advocate for the establishment of democracy and human rights in Bhutan.

Mr. Basnet and I held numerous meetings regarding Bhutan and what our contribution should be for its future. He always stressed for a peaceful and non-violent movement. I always held him in high esteem and respected his advice and suggestions.
In 1996, Bhutanese parties came together in a single platform to form the United Front for Democracy in Bhutan (UFD) to stress for democracy and to seek a just resolution of the refugee issue. I was elected as the Chairman of the UFD. In the capacity of UFD Chairman, I came to Delhi in 1997 to seek support from the Government and the people of India for our cause. I was arrested by the Indian authorities at the behest of the Royal Government of Bhutan to have me extradited to Bhutan. After spending fifty days at the Lampur Beggars' Home and fourteen months in judicial custody at Tihar Jail, the High Court of Delhi released me on bail in 1999, after finding no evidence to support the grounds on which the Royal Government of Bhutan had sought my extradition. After my release, I continued to maintained close contact with Mr. Basnet.

My last meeting with him was on April 16, 2007 at Siliguri, in West Bengal. We discussed issues about Bhutan for three hours. His was clear in his principle and once again advised me to always remain steadfast in the peaceful movement. Our next meeting to chalk out the plan for the coming year's activities was to be held in October this year at New Delhi. The meet is scheduled to draw in numerous supporting organisations and individuals. His absence will be severely felt.

I for one will miss my friend, counsel and colleague. I have lighted butter lamps and offered prayers and prayed for the peace of his pious soul.