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Peoples Forum for Human Rights- Bhutan
In 1986 the government introduced a new term for
the Nepali origin people of southern Bhutan. Lhotshampas which
in literal term denotes all the people living in south Bhutan
and does not protect the language, ethnicity and customs of the
Nepali origin who have for generations been defending the
frontiers and contributing to the socio-economic development of
the country. It is a sinister ploy to underplay the ethnic
consciousness of Nepali origin people and gradually exterminate
their ethnic status quos.
Cultural diversity is proven to enrich a nation.
In Bhutan, "One nation One People" policy was blatantly enforced upon
multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and multi-religious communities.
With its implementation, cultural pluralism in Bhutan wzs banned
and the language, dress and culture of the western Bhutanese
ruling elite was made mandatory and imposed on all the
Bhutanese.
Deprived of the right to nationality, denied the
right to enjoy ones culture, forbidden the right to wear ones
ethnic dress and to speak ones language, discontentment and
frustration among the Bhutanese people especially among the
southern Bhutanese became intolerable. On behalf of the southern
Bhutanese people, and the injustices meted out to them during
the 1988 census, Mr. Tek Nath Rizal and Mr. B.P. Bhandari, the
then Royal Advisory Councilors for southern Bhutan appealed to
the King on April 9th, 1988. Their plea met with
further injustice. Mr. Rizal was arrested and imprisoned while
Mr. Bhandari was freed after a short interrogation. After three
days he was coerced into signing a document barring him for
attending public functions with more than three people at a
time. He was deposed from his office.
Fearing persecution from continued surveillance,
Mr. Rizal went into exile to work for the attainment of human
rights of the Bhutanese people. Under his chairmanship, the
Peoples' Forum for Human Rights–Bhutan (PFHRB) was formed on 7th
July 1989 at Kakarvitta, Nepal. The PFHRB embarked upon
extensive campaign. Two books, "Bhutan, We Want Justice," In English and
"Bhutan Hamro Manav Adhikar Khoi" in Nepali, are thought provoking
and inspiring books challenging the legitimacy and the
credibility of the Bhutanese government, were published. Mr. Rizal
visited many places in Assam, West Bengal, Darjeeeling,
Kalimpong, Sikkim and last in Nepal. He had extensive talks with
various personalities. His manuscript containing the violation
of human rights which was handed over for printing in a private
press at Sikkim was taken by the government soon after his
abduction.
Unfortunately, Mr. Rizal was abducted on 16th
November 1989 along with two of his associates, Sushil Pokhrel
and Jogen Gazmer from eastern Nepal and incarcerated in
Bhutanese Prison. In May 1990, Amnesty International declared
Mr. Rizal a Prisoner of Conscience. On November 1993, The High
Court at Thimphu, Bhutan sentenced him to life imprisonment on
the charges of violating the National Security Act adopted in
1992, three years after his arrest. However, on November 19th,
1993, the King repealed the life sentence and said that Mr.
Rizal would be released after the solution to the Bhutanese
refugee problem is found. Surprisingly, on December 17th,
1999, on the occasion of the National Day he was released along
with other 200 political activists. The King explained that,
although he had been sentenced to life imprisonment for
subversive and treasonable acts against the Tsa-Wa-Sum, Mr.Tek
Nath Rizal was being granted the royal pardon unconditionally as
he had served 10 years in prison.
All the Bhutanese people both within and outside
the countries have welcomed his release. However, as per the
move of the government, there are two schools of thought among
the Bhutanese community. First it is seen that Rizal's release
was directly associated with the resolution of the Bhutanese
problem as had been declared by the King in November 1993.
Hence, this release was viewed as positive move towards
resolution of the refugee problem. In contrast to the likelihood
of such a move, it is also opined that Mr. Rizal's release was
only a ploy of the Bhutanese government to appease the
international community.
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