(FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION ONLY)
April-May 2003
Mr. R.K. Dorji
Speech presented
by Mr. Rongthong Kunley Dorji at the Seminar on “Democracy, Human
Rights and Bhutanese Refugee Problem” at Constitution club, New
Delhi
I on behalf of Druk
National Congress and all other Bhutanese in exile would like to
extend a hearty welcome to the Hon’ble guest of today. This is a
moment of great joy for me and I am extremely glad that many of you
despite time constraints have taken pains to attend this seminar.
Over a decade has gone by since the Bhutanese crisis began. No
worthwhile change has taken place since then, both inside the
kingdom and for the Bhutanese refugees languishing in India and
Nepal. As a consequence, the plight of the Bhutanese population at
large and the Bhutanese refugees remains the same.
Under pressure from the pro-democracy forces and the international
community, the Royal Government of Bhutan has brought about some
change and has also been drafting a Constitution to establish
so-called democracy, but this exercise seems more like a move to
keep criticism at bay, than an honest attempt to establish a
meaningful democracy that will have a positive impact in the lives
of the Bhutanese people. Most of the Bhutanese people are ignorant
of the developments in this regard, and no broad consensus had been
sought in the drafting process. It is also important that all
Bhutanese, including the King and the institution of Monarchy be
governed by the Constitution. Without this, nothing will have
changed.
Due to constant pressure on the Royal Government of Bhutan from the
pro-democracy forces, in particular the efforts of the Druk National
Congress, the Bhutanese people have found slight respite due to the
relaxation in some draconian laws. But this is evident only in the
urban Pockets like Thimphu, Paro and Wangdiphodrang. The people in
the rural areas are yet to feel the benefits of these little
changes.
The establishment of a meaningful, Constitutional Monarchial system
of democracy will pave the way for peace and prosperity in Bhutan
and consolidate its sovereignty. The institution of Monarchy will be
revered. The generation of the future will be grateful.
India is a second home to us. India’s continued support has helped
in every aspect of Bhutan’s development. We are grateful to Indian
Government for the support. The Indo-Bhutan Friendship Society was
founded to further strengthen the long-standing bonds of friendship
between the people of Bhutan and India.
There are more than 20,000 Bhutanese refugees living in exile in
India. These people fled Bhutan in 1954, 1962, 1990 and 1997. They
have not been able to avail of any humanitarian assistance as they
are not recognized and do not possess any identity documents
clarifying their status. Moreover they are subject to deportation
without investigation of their status. This has saddened us. The
“Bhutanese Welfare Association” is being formed to assist in
tackling this problem. It is necessary to have all Bhutanese
refugees in exile in India registered to ensure their safety, and
the “Bhutanese Welfare Association” will interact with the
Government of India to bring this about.”
The 13 rounds of talks held between the Royal Government of Bhutan
and His Majesty’s Government of Nepal has seen little progress. The
four categories will result in all political and human rights
activists being categorized as criminals. Though the verification of
the refugees in the Khudunabari Refugee Camp is completed, the Royal
Government of Bhutan now wants to ‘verify’ those who want to
voluntarily go back to Bhutan. This ridiculous move is aimed at
creating a fraction amongst the refugees.
In the 1980s, Nyingmapa sect of Buddhism was at its lowest phase in
Bhutan. The Bhutanese people requested H.H. Dodrupchhen Rimpoche to
revive the glory of Nyingmapa religion in Kingdom and consulted the
Royal Government regarding the matter. His Majesty the King met H.H.
Dodrupchhen Rimpoche at Tashichodzong, Thimphu, and entrusted this
responsibility to Rimpoche, assuring him all necessary support from
the Royal Government. Rimpoche establish many Shedras(Learning
Centers) and monasteries, and over a period of time the glory of the
Nyingmapa was restored. All the people lived in peace and there was
complete harmony between the Nyingmapa and the Drukpa Kagyupa sect.
But in 1993, some people with vested interests poisoned the King’s
mind. Misunderstandings arose and as a consequence Rimpoche was
banned from visiting Bhutan. The Royal Government then began the
repression of the Nyingmapa sect. Unable to bear the repression, in
1997, monks and other practitioners in Bhutan, belonging to the
sect, raised their voice in peaceful protests, demanding freedom of
religion. They were ruthlessly suppressed. More than 13 Nyingmapa
learning centers have been closed down and 20 monasteries have been
converted to Drukpa Kagyupa since then. Gomchen Karma (monk) was
shot dead in cold blood by the Mongar Chief District Officer, Lakhpa
Dorji, and more than 200 monks were arrested and sentenced to jail
terms ranging from 8 to 16 years, for treason against the country.
Many Nyingmapa practitioners including monks fled the kingdom and to
take refuge in Nepal and India. Presently there are more than 7000
monks staying in various parts of Nepal and India. Nyingmapa
practitioner and Bhutanese community in general wants the Nyingmapa
sect centers’ headquarter inside the country to solve this problems
and Royal Government of Bhutan must establish such headquarter.
Royal Government of
Bhutan’s role in allowing insurgent groups like the United
Liberation Front of Assam(ULFA), the National democratic Front of
Bodoland(NDFB) and the Kamtapuri Liberation Organisation (KLO) to
establish their camps in Bhutan and its reluctance to bring about a
solution to the problem has endangered the security not only of
Bhutan, but the entire region. This move is detrimental to the
interests of all parties concerned. Solutions for such problems come
only through dialogue. And it is the Royal Government of Bhutan’s
responsibility to initiate the process. The longer such issues
remain in limbo, the complications only multiply, and if such issues
are used as political playing cards, history has shown that the
consequences can only be disastrous.
The unilateral decision of the Camp Secretaries in the seven
Bhutanese refugee camps in Nepal to lead the refugee cause without
broader consultations with political and human rights activists and
intellectuals is unfortunate. The function of the camp secretaries
is to ensure the smooth functioning of the camps and its
administration, and are appointed by His Majesty’s Government of
Nepal for a one-year term for the purpose. As the repatriation has
proved to be a complicated process, further complicated by lack of
earnestness on the part of the Royal Government of Bhutan, it would
be wiser for all Bhutanese refugees from all walks of life to
participate in brainstorming about the matter, through their
representative political or human rights organizations or other
bodies, and be included in the process thus.
6 years have lapsed since my own arrest in India at the behest of
the Royal Government of Bhutan and the beginning of my extradition
case. Though the progress is slow, I have great faith in India, the
largest democracy in the world and its judiciary system. I know
truth will prevail in the end.
I urge the People and the Government of India’s to help and support
us in bringing about a meaningful change in Bhutan and in brining an
end to the Bhutanese crisis and the plight of its people, so that
peace and prosperity may return to the entire region once again.
Ka din chhe.
Tom Adhikari
THE PROBLEMS OF
BHUTANESE IN INDIA
While bilateral negotiations are going on for
the repatriation of the Bhutanese registered in Nepal those
languishing in India have neither been registered or provided the
basic amenities for subsistence nor do they foresee any opportunity
for their repatriation. As per the Indo-Bhutan Treaty of 1949
‘Bhutanese subjects residing in Indian territories shall have equal
justice with Indian subjects’ which implies that because we enjoy
equal rights we cannot be accorded refugee status in India –
therefore it can be rightly said that India is our second home.
However, in real life we, particularly those who have been evicted
from Bhutan owing to the political disturbances there and who have
been residing in India have been confronting numerous problems.
Acquisition of cooking gas, telephone connection, driving and
business license, travel documents, admission to schools and
colleges are some areas of great concern for those evictees who
landed in India empty handed and do not enjoy the protection of the
Bhutan Government. In addition, there are instances of arrests on
fake charges, kidnapping and abduction. Moreover, we have become an
unnecessary burden on the already poverty stricken people of the
North Eastern Region of India in particular. Hence, there is a need
for us to come together under one platform and appeal for some kind
of recognition so that we have access at least to the basic
amenities of life; until such time that a permanent solution is
worked out to the decade old political problem in Bhutan.
Of late, due to
sustained human rights campaign, though unorganized, the Royal
Government of Bhutan has loosened its grip over the people, and is
preparing to give some kind of written constitution. The government
may allow many of the refugees to return nevertheless, the struggle
for human rights and establishment of genuine democratic system of
governance will not end. In fact, it will be the beginning of a real
struggle for the people since they would be compelled by the
situation to fight for their fundamental rights from within the
country. For those who would not be repatriated some other
alternative would have to be worked out therefore the struggle would
continue. In view of the same, to work for a durable solution to the
protracted refugee and human rights problem in Bhutan we require an
impartial and neutral organization in the first place and well
managed offices at different places particularly in Delhi, to
monitor, document and report on the changes that take place.
In addition, the
necessity for having such an office with impartial credentials,
broadly working for the welfare of the entire Bhutanese Diaspora is
born out of the desire to campaign in India with a “Human Rights
Color” which the government and NGOs here might find more convenient
to interact with and seek opinion.
Therefore, with the
feed back that we have got from different quarters coupled with .my
experience at campaigning and working at Delhi we have thought of
forming an independent and impartial organization with its main
office here at Delhi. It would be a broad based umbrella
organization with contact points in Bhutan, Nepal and elsewhere. It
would work for the well being of the Bhutanese Diaspora in any part
of the world and would be provided with legal and statistical
support by the Public Interest Legal Support and Research Center (PILSARC),
Delhi.
Finally, a
registration cell would be created in which we will register
ourselves to avail of the facilities that would accrue after the
establishment of the Association and work for National
Reconciliation.
Resolution 1
The Indo-Bhutan
Friendship Society and Druk National Congress appreciates His
Majesty the King Jigme Singye Wangchuck for forming a 39 member
“Constitution Drafting Committee” which it is reported has also
submitted the Draft Constitution to the King on December 9, 2002.
The Society and Druk National Congress understands that the
Constitution will provide “Fundamental Rights, Human Rights,
Independent Judiciary, Free Press, Electronic Media, Political
Parties, Independent election Commission and other features”
essential for democracy with Parliament elected by the People of
Bhutan.
The Society and
Congress appeals His Majesty the King to show his gesture towards
democracy by releasing unconditionally all political and religious
leaders.
The Society and
Congress wishes a strong and developed Bhutan under the democratic
system of governance headed by a Constitutional Monarch.
Proposed by : Shri
Shyam Ghambir
Seconded by : Shri
S.S.Nehra
Resolution No 2
The condition of
Bhutanese living in India is very pathetic. Their status is not of
refugee as per Indo-Bhutan Treaty-1949. The treaty states that
Bhutanese may come to India and Indians may go to Bhutan without any
travel documents, where they will be treated with equal rights
except political one. The society and Congress takes serious note
that in India the Bhutanese face problems at every step. They find
it very difficult to get admission in schools and colleges, to
obtain gas or telephone connections and license for trade and
business etc. etc. Even sometimes, they are arrested on fake
charges. The society and Druk National Congress proposes that
Government of India or the State Governments should register
Bhutanese and issue ‘Identity Cards’ with specific instructions so
that Bhutanese in India may live with dignity and honour. The
society also advises the Bhutanese living in India to form their
Association which may be named as “Bhutanese Welfare Association
”to have their own platform in order to meet and to raise voice to
solve their problems.
The Indo-Bhutan
Friendship Society and Druk National Congress assures them all help
and cooperation.
Proposed by : Shri
Tom Adhikari
Seconded by: Shri
T.G. Wagley
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