Objections for honouring Dago Tshering
By CM Niroula
Over 40 community organisations of the resettled Bhutanese in Australia, New Zealand, the US, Canada and UK along with representatives from Bhutanese representatives from Bhutanese refugee camps in Nepal have objected the decision of the Japanese government to honour former Bhutanese home minister Dago Tshering with a Japanese national award.
In April, Japan said it honoured Tshering with the ‘Order of Rising Sun – Gold and Silver Award’ for his contribution in improving Japan-Bhutan bilateral relations as a Bhutanese ambassador to Japan. The award is the second of the six classes honour of the ‘Order of Rising Sun’ series.
The letter sent to Japan’s Prime Minister drew the attention of the Japanese government to the fact that Tshering was one of the perpetrators of human rights violations and the voice of democracy in Bhutan in the 1990s. The letter urged the government of Japan to review the decision.
The letter further said Tshering also disavowed public accountability by denying criticism of atrocities and administrative excesses. He downplayed, misled ad obstructed information by hiding facts or purposely stirring up stories in the media. He snubbed international journalists or blocked them if they desired to meet and investigate people affected by State violence.