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Letter to the president Bhutan Solidarity from the BPP
President
Dear, Dr.
Sunilam
Date 22. Nov. 2007
President,
Bhutan
Solidarity
New Delhi
I am very happy
to hear that Bhutan Solidarity is organizing a seminar,
today 22 nov 2007, on “Refugees Repatriation To Bhutan
And Their Participation In Elections” where all
the Indian Political Parties, Parliamentarians, Human Rights
Activists, Intellectuals, Journalists and the dignitaries
are invited. I on behalf of the people of Bhutan aspiring
for the establishment of democracy, take the privilege to
extend warm felicitation and welcome the latest development
on the progressive support to our movement. The decision of
the organizing this historical seminar in New Delhi, at
this crucial time, is highly stimulating, wannabe and
welcoming for bringing about early solution of our long
struggling stalemate.
Though I am
unable to participate personally in this important seminar,
because of suffering from typhoid since a week long, I hope
this august gathering will decide on the future of democracy
lover people of Bhutan and amicable solution of two decade
long refugee crisis.
I need not have
to repeat the old stories of the yester-year of Bhutanese
political reality, but given the opportunity, I would like
to quickly update for your reference about the genesis of
the crisis of over hundred thousand Bhutanese refugees who
are languishing in Nepal and India since early 90s.
Bhutan
showcased change in the cabinet by retiring senior ministers
and replacing them by young ones in 1998. The king further
enhanced the cabinet to ten members in 2002 calling it,
“devolution of power and transforming the system of
governance” as so called “Compact and Efficient” reducing
civil servants to little over 11,000 thereby creating an
unemployment scenario. This was followed by unveiling of the
“Draft Constitution” of the Kingdom of Bhutan on March 26,
2005, albeit in its own version as drafted by the king's
handpicked 39 ‘Drafting Committee’.
The regime has
demonstrated its manifestation into democratization
processes with a whimsical theory of a pseudo democracy.
Article 2(16)(e) of the ‘Draft Constitution” holds absolute
power to “….exercise powers relating to matters, which are
not provided under this Constitution or other laws” and
contravenes provisions under Article 1(1) that reads,
“sovereign power belongs to the people of Bhutan”. With
farce and hollow vision, the political development has
progressed declaring for general election in March 2008 in
contravention to Article 2(6) of the “Draft Constitution”,
“Upon reaching the age of sixty-five years, the Druk Gyalpo
shall step down and hand over the Throne to the Crown Prince
or Crown Princess, provided the Royal Heir has come of age”
as the fourth monarch attains 52 only at the time of his
abdication from the golden throne last year. This is but
creating national political problem leaving seventeen year
old sufferings of the refugees in Nepal and India
unresolved.
It is an
established fact that the history of Lhotshampas settlement
in Bhutan dates back to 1624 AD, confirmed by the written
agreement popularly known as the “Tamrapatra” between the
Zhabdrung, Ngawang Namgyal, the Dharmaraja of Bhutan, and
Raja Ram Shah of the then Gorkha kingdom (Nepal). Further,
Lhotshampa settlement in the south according to Bhutan’s
official history book, the Nepali speaking people were found
living in Sibsoo, Samchi and Chirang even before 1900. Kazi
Ugyen Dorji was appointed Gongzim and Commissioner for
Pasakha with the responsibility to look after the
administration and revenue collection from Nepali speaking
people living in the southern region. The first monarch,
Druk Gyalpo Ugyen Wangchuk recognized them as equal citizens
of Bhutan from 1904 and later, as they were found spreading
along the southern region from Sibsoo to Diafam, the third
monarch, King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk (1952-1972) granted
citizenship with equal rights and began giving space in the
National Assembly and the Royal Advisory Council.
The nostalgic
accounts by elderly people in the Bhutanese refugee camps
recount meeting with the third monarch who reportedly asked
the people to express their demands to which they had
responded demanding a road leading to the “house of His
Majesty” so that it would be easy for the king to travel
around the country and address the needs of the country.
Consequently, the Phuntsholing-Thimphu Highway was built
through labour conscription from among the Lhotshampas.
Similarly, the Lhotshampas and other communities who are
economically backward and discriminated and those of the
minorities in the east and other regions have contributed
free labour selflessly despite all kinds of hardships in all
the major developmental works.
Ever since
then, the Lhotshampas have been an integral part of the
nation and were intensively involved in the nation building
process along with Sharchhokps and other minority groups
until beginning of the implementation of its nefarious
racist designs in the 80s. It is an injustice of the regime
to reward the people with the implementation of evil
policies that are discriminatory, suppressive, and horrific
and of inhumane nature.
Keeping in view
of the 1971 recorded population of 1.3m while seeking
membership with the UN and sudden fall out in 1990 vide a
statement appeared in the media claiming little over 0.65m
the Bhutanese demography seems uncertain and unreliable. On
the other hand, the aforementioned information on
Lhotshampas occupation justifies repatriation of refugees,
particularly the Lhotshampas whereby, under no circumstances
there arise question of “demographic imbalance” as carried
by media in the recent times.
It is equally
pertinent to mention here that the imbroglio in Bhutan is
not only of the cases of Lhotshampas community. The
Sarchokpa (the people of eastern Bhutan), especially the
followers of Nyingmapa sect of Mahayana Buddhism have also
become the victims of the royal discrimination. After 1997,
a large number of Sarchokpas were compelled to flee into
exile and currently living in Nepal and India while many
were arrested and put behind the bar. Still a large number
of them are languishing in the jails in Bhutan. Hence, it is
entirely a political issue, which needs to be addressed
politically so as to find out a comprehensive political
solution.
Even after
seventeen years of struggle for democracy, government
sponsored state terrorism continues against people who raise
voice against suppression and mere expression for democratic
values, rights and justice. In the name of security,
government is transforming the country into a human zoo. On
the other hand, those who were holding cabinet portfolios
are asked to resign and encouraged to open political parties
apparently to establish one man guided democracy.
Nepal being the
host country for the refugees, the refugee community
expected Nepal’s continued effort in accelerating bilateral
processes and persuading Bhutan to open greater wisdom with
broader perspectives to accept repatriation and resolving
the stalemate. However, Nepal’s political instability
encouraged Bhutan to engage itself crafting negative designs
that would help to discourage any measure of positive
approach from Nepal or international community. Bhutan has
taken the imbroglio lightly, taking advantage of Nepal's
political instability and pushed the issue into complete
deadlock.
Following
failure of the International community to convince Bhutan
despite of visits by European Communities, the donor
agencies and American emissaries, the unclear offer for
third country resettlement has pushed the refugees into
utter confusion and brought about social unrest in the
camps.
The agenda of
third country resettlement offer by America and other donor
nations too have appeared at a time when Bhutan is turning
its wheel of democratization chanting unrealistic "Gross
National Happiness" which is illusive, exclusive, hollow and
farce. As Bhutan is responsible for its wrongdoing on its
own people using means of torture, cruel and degrading
treatment extending to eviction and land grabbing, time has
ripen for India to help the suffering people of Bhutan to
give justice, democracy and their legitimate rights.
It may be
recalled about the resolution passed by European Parliament
way back in 2002 which reads, “The Indian authorities should
take full amount of the humanitarian situation of Bhutanese
refugees in Nepal and should take political initiatives in
order to support the solution of the problem”. The
embassies, donor nations and various western and regional
powers feel India’s role as crucial in view of being a close
neighbor of Bhutan. As the world’s largest functioning
democracy, India’s intervention into the crises will only
bring about amicable solution to the refugee impasse and
guide Bhutan for a transparent, accountable, inclusive and
vibrant democracy.
I pray for the
grand success of this historical meeting and a strong
resolution will be passed to open a favorable situation for
the repatriation of the refugees with honor and justice, and
pave the way for the participation in the process of
democracy so that peace and development prosper
simultaneously.
I on behalf of
the people of Bhutan, Bhutan Peoples’ Party and on my own
thank all the participants who have spared valuable time for
the suppressed people of Bhutan.
I humbly remain
in anticipation of successful meeting.
Yours
sincerely,
Balaram Poudyal
President
Bhutan Peoples’
Party
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