APFAnews Archive August 2006
Sit-in participants confront with Rizal
Kathmandu, August 29: Despite the call from Nepalese civil society leaders and chairman of Bhutanese Refugee Representatives Repatriation Committee (BRRRC) Tek Nath Rizal for withdrawing the indefinite sit in protest, the participants have vowed to continue.
The sit-in program in front of the United Nations house in Lalitpur, Nepal was announced to have ended on Sunday but participants have denied leaving the place unless concrete commitments from Nepal government and international community come for solution of the crisis.
The 35 protestors commit that they are ready to go hunger strike rather than leaving the program in the middle.
The participants have accused that the program failed due to lack of leadership in Rizal. The withdrawal of the sit in abruptly has brought confrontation between the participants and leadership.
The participants further said Rizal harassed and used unusual words to force them leave the sit in program. Bhutan News Service
This entry was posted in Main News on August 31, 2006 by Editor.
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US congressmen stress repatriation
Beldangi, August 28: The US Congressmen team led by Jim Kolbe has urged the Bhutan government to take back its people, who have been living a miserable life in eastern Nepal under the protection of UNHCR, on Sunday.
“After 15-years of suffering, you should be hopeful for new life,” Kolbe told the exiled Bhutanese in Beldangi at the end of his visit to the camp.
He also informed that his team would travel to Thimpu on Monday and hold talks to the Durk regime in detail.
He further said the US government has been looking for an alternative way to resolve the issue since there is no guarantee that all people would be repatriated. He said all possible alternatives should be kept open to find permanent solution of the crisis.
He ensured that the US can provide shelter and civil rights if any exiled Bhutanese was voluntarily interested to go there. However, he did not mention how many would be settle in the US.
US Ambassador to Nepal James F. Moriarty on the occasion said that although most Bhutanese in exile are interested to go back, it was impossible to say, as there was no American presence in Bhutan.
“Since there is no ground to convince the Bhutanese government, the concerned authorities are bound to look for alternative ways,” he said further adding, “We can provide unconditional resettlement in the US to those who are interested.”
He said his country is ready to work together with other co-partner countries once the government of Nepal agrees for third country resettlement.
While the US leaders were addressing representatives of the people inside the program hall, thousands of others demonstrated outside with placards demanding immediate repatriation not protesting third country settlement.
The team also visited the Sanischare camp in Morang district on the same day afternoon and talks to people. Bhutan News Service
This entry was posted in Main News on August 29, 2006 by Editor.
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Sit-in ends
Kathmandu, August 27: The indefinite sit-in program in front of the United Nations house in Lalitpur, Nepal has been withdrawn from Sunday with the request of human rights activists and members of Citizens Movement for Democracy and Peace (CMDP) of Nepal.
Over 50 exiled Bhutanese had been organizing sit-in since last 85 days in order to draw attention of the international community and to put pressure on the Bhutanese government.
Addressing adjourning program, chairman of Bhutanese Movement Steering Committee Tek Nath Rizal said the program has been withheld only for a month considering appeals from Nepalese intellectuals.
Nepalese leaders urged the participants to intensify movement with other kinds of activities within and outside Bhutan and vowed solidarity in the programs.
They also criticized both the UN and the Nepal government for their indifferent attitude toward the problem and stressed that Indian government’s role is important in finding a lasting solution of the problem. Bhutan News Service
This entry was posted in Main News on August 28, 2006 by Editor.
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Indian leaders stress India’s role
Kathmandu, August 25: The issue of exiled Bhutanese can be resolved only through a tripartite agreement among Nepal, India and Bhutan, Indian leaders of Bhutan Solidarity said. They urged the Nepal government, parties and Maoists to initiate the process to ‘facilitate’ the tripartite talks.
“This issue cannot be resolved through bilateral talks between Bhutan and Nepal alone. India must play a prominent role and tripartite talks must convene as soon as possible,” said Dr Suni Lam member of Legislative Assembly from Madhya Pradesh. The six-member-team headed by Lam visited Beldangi-II and Khudnabari camps in Jhapa recently and also met five camp secretaries, Bhutanese leaders and human rights groups.
Bhutan Solidarity is all set to launch a campaign in India for opening of Indian borders so that Bhutanese in exile can return to their homeland with dignity and security. The Indian Social Forum will also organize a conference on Bhutan in New Delhi on November 9-13.
Bhutan Solidarity will press the political parties and India government to resolve the issue at the earliest, said Lam at a press meet in the Nepalese capital on Friday.
Anand Swarup Verma, president of Bhutan Solidarity and member of the delegation team, blamed India for failing to make efforts to resolve the issue.
“Problems will not be resolved unless India wants to address the problems and tripartite talks are held,” Verma said alleging India of supporting the Bhutanese king. Bhutan News Service
This entry was posted in Main News on August 26, 2006 by Editor.
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RMA for trade simplification with Bangladesh
Phuentsholing, Aug 24: Royal Monetary Authority (RMA) officials have said that payment procedure with the Bangdadeshi importers will be simplified before December this year.
The unilateral decision of the Bangladesh Central Bank to include new provision that bank in Bhutan would be allowed to make payment to the exporters only after export documents reach the Bangladeshi bank where the LC is opened, has hindered the Bhutanese trade since January this year.
Earlier the Bhutanese banks were allowed to reimburse the exporters when they produced the bill and export documents.
The traders raised the issue during a meeting with the RMA and the banks in Phuentsholing on August 21.
RMA officials said amendments will be made soon.
“We could not receive response from Bangladeshi bank though we forwarded the issue soon after we received complains from traders in May,” RMA’s chief of banking, Pushpa Lal Chhetri said. Bhutan News Service
This entry was posted in Main News on August 25, 2006 by Editor.
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Change in Bhutan possible: Indian leaders
Beldangi, Aug 23: The Indian leaders have suggested to work for change in Bhutan with an integrated strategy of at least one year. For that, they said, it was necessary to build public support in favor of change in Bhutan as well as in India.
They have assured the Bhutanese leaders in exile that they would extend help as much as possible for all kinds of campaigns to be run in India to build public support for changes in Bhutan. As part of this mission, a team of Indian leaders including lawmakers recently visited some parts of Bhutan, talked with local residents and assessed the latest situation.
According to Balaram Poudel, president of Bhutan People’s Party, the team of Indian leaders had visited Bhutan near to Jaigaon in West Bengal in Indo-Bhutan border. The team comprised of Madhya Pradesh MP Dr Suni Lam, who is also the chairman of Indian Social Action Forum (INSAF), chairman of Bhutan Solidarity Ananda Sworup Burma, journalist Bijaya Agnihotri and president of a Nepalese NGO Group for International Solidarity (GRINSO) Pramod Kafle.
After Bhutan, the team visited the Khudunabari and Beldangi camps of Nepal on Tuesday and Wednesday. During a program organized on the occasion, Indian leader Dr Suni Lam expressed concerned over the growing frustration among the youths in the camp. He also warned that the frustration among youths would turn into arms struggle. He further said if they take up arms, it would be great problem for South Asia itself. “To avoid such situation to come and keep on the peaceful situation, it is necessary to address the crisis instantly,” he added. Bhutan News Service
This entry was posted in Main News on August 25, 2006 by Editor.
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Is this second phase of eviction?
There was excitement for all when King Jigme Singye Wangchuk announced that he would abdicate the throne by 2008 for which he said the country would by then be a democratic.
The campaign has begun for first historic election as part of his mission for democratization of the country. Some democratic institutions are underway.
For the first election, the government has dispatched several teams for preparation of electoral roll for the polls and referendum. However, frauds and partiality among the citizens have already begun. It has revealed that the government has been trying to bar the southern Bhutanese to use their right to adult franchise.
A team led by the Bhutan People’s Party (BPP) found out the facts after an investigation mission in some southern districts recently. For instance, out of 3,200 population of above 16 years in Sibsoo block in Samtse district only 1,700 have been included in the electoral list.
At the initial phase the government officers had distributed the form to be compulsorily filled in by those crossed 16 years. However, those who were out of house for employment or other businesses at the time when the team made visits to home were not enlisted.
President of BPP, Balaram Poudel says, “Process of collecting voter’s list is being done secretly, in conspiring manner with intention to exclude Lhotshampas from voting.” He claimed that in other 14 northern districts, electoral lists have been prepared on the basis of information given by family head even though all members of family were not present absent. In these 14 districts, the people are told to register their names compulsorily. In the south, the people are told that the collection of the names was a sampling and that a second team would arrive for final assessment of the voter’s population. The forms distributed state ‘for secure, independent and fair democratic election and referendum’.
This was meant to create, as the party says, more Lhotshampas stateless and ‘illegal immigrants’ having no voting rights and citizenry.
Majority of Bhutan’s foreign friends have formally welcomed the election process. They, including the largest democratic country, India have claimed Bhutan is stepping towards complete democratization. Now, the questions arises, “Will that be fare and democratic if large number of people are excluded from voting?”
It would be translucent if any of the international human rights body or electoral experts make a visit to Bhutan to assess the real current situation inside Bhutan. It should not go deceiving any more. Bhutan News Service
This entry was posted in Opinion on August 23, 2006 by Editor.
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Preparation starts for demonstration in India
Kathmandu, August 23: Bhutanese in exile declared on Wednesday that they would be organizing protest programs in the Indian capital New Delhi and Kolkata so as to draw the attention of India to help in repatriation process.
The Bhutanese Refugees Representatives Committee Coordination Committee, a united front, stated that the bilateral talks between Nepal and Bhutan did not seem to give any solution; hence they have sought for Indian involvement in the talks.
“India’s participation is a necessary for a solution to the crisis. So, we are planning to organize demonstrations in the Indian cities,” the committee has stated.
Since a long time Bhutanese leaders have been emphasizing the involvement of India and their representatives in the talks.
A member of the committee and president of Bhutan People’s Party, Balram Poudel said that some Indian leaders will also participate in the demonstration. He said they expected assistance from Nepal government as well. Bhutan News Service
This entry was posted in Main News on August 23, 2006 by Editor.
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Nepal private bank contributes to UNHCR
Kathmandu, August 21: Nepal Investment Bank Limited (NIBL), a Nepalese private bank, has contributed Rs 640,000 towards UNHCR’s Annual program for the exiled Bhutanese in eastern Nepal.
A statement by the refugee agency on Monday said this was a landmark in private sector support to Bhutanese in Nepal and a clear expression of the concern of NIBL to help a refugee population in need.
“This contribution will be used to fund primary educational needs of the refugee students in the camps,” said country representative of the refugee agency Abraham Abraham.
NIBL has expressed its interest to support UNHCR’s noble cause of educating the exiled Bhutanese and this contribution was a part of the bank’s corporate social responsibility.
The UN refugee agency provides protection and assistance to around 106,000 exiled Bhutanese who have been sheltering in seven camps in eastern Nepal since the early 1990’s. Despite fifteen rounds of bilateral negotiations between the Bhutanese and Nepali governments not a Bhutanese has been allowed to return to Bhutan or avail of any other durable solutions. Bhutan News Service
This entry was posted in Main News on August 21, 2006 by Editor.
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Crown Prince in Singapore
Thimphu, August 19: The Bhutanese Crown Prince Jigme Keshar Namgyal Wangchuk is in Singapore visit from August 19.
During the visit Crown Prince will meet the President S.R. Nathan, the Prime Minister, Mr. Lee Hsien Loong and other government high officials there. Bhutan News Service.
This entry was posted in Main News on August 19, 2006 by Editor.
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ARSP praises King Jigme
Thimphu, August 19: The delegation from Antar Rastriya Sahayog Parishad (ARSP) after receiving an audience with the Bhutanese King on August 19 has praises him saying he is a good leader.
“King Jigme Singye Wangchuk is a visionary and a philosopher,” ARSP vice president B.L Gaur said. The delegation has appreciated Bhutan’s new approach to democratization. Meanwhile the delegates said media should play an important role in the democratization process. They also praised the commissioning of the Tala project.
The delegation also met Prime Minister and other officials in Thimphu. They are scheduled to visit the Chukha Hydro Power Corporation on their way to India on August 20. Bhutan News Service.
This entry was posted in Main News on August 19, 2006 by Editor.
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Nigerian Black mailers defraud two Bhutanese
Phuentsholing, August 19: The Bhutan Police arrested two Bhutanese with two boxes of fake hard currency in Phuentsholing.
According to Police sources one of the arrested is businessman while the other is an employee of Bhutan Power Corporation. They were arrested on charges of “attempt to counterfeit”.
The two Bhutanese had traveled to Malaysia for transaction after receiving e-mails from fraudsters who claim they were Nigerians. The arrested were convinced of transferring US$ 0.8 million and US $ 10.00 million to their account.
The two men had paid US$14,000 to the fraudsters in a hotel in Malaysia. Later it was known that except for a few genuine notes, the rest were all worthless paper,” the police told.
Scam mails that requests to claim for lottery winning notification saying that their agent will help facilitate the release are most common these days.
Informal reports received through reliable sources informed Bhutan News Service that two more Bhutanese victims of the scam were charge sheeted before the court. Bhutan News Service /Binod Sanyashi.
This entry was posted in Main News on August 19, 2006 by Editor.
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Triumph of ethnic cleansing ?
Despite deep lamentation, yelling and prying for the help to repatriate the Bhutanese refugees, they are under tremendous pressure to accept the third country settlement and local assimilation from all corners. The move spearheaded after the UNHCR failed to comply with the racist Druk regime and its protector India for repatriation.
In the beginning Nepal’s country representative for UNHCR, Abraham Abraham was at the fore-front to advocate the local assimilation and the third country resettlement followed by Judi Chang, Deputy chief (operation) for UNHCR from Geneva. Now, the Republican Senator of Pennsylvania in the United States Arlen Specter is supporting them. According to the senator, ” ‘many ‘ of the Bhutanese refugees languishing in camps in eastern Nepal are to leave so that they could be resettled in the USA. We are willing to take many of these refugees living in the camps for 16 years (to resettle in the US). This year, the USA is accepting up to 75,000 refugees from various parts of the world “. This statement has raised various queries.
First, of the 106 thousand registered refugees in Nepal, how many will get the share among ‘many ‘ and ‘75,000 refugees from various parts of the world’ ? In case the resettlement in the US is agreed, then will the settlement of only a few hundred or couple of thousands be enough? The fate of remaining refugees numbering about 100 thousand rejected on the grounds of old-age, handicap, insane, underage, uneducated etc is a matter of great concern.
Furthermore, the agony of unregistered Bhutanese who are compelled to live outside the camps is another concern. In addition, the fate of the relatives of refugees living in Bhutan who are blacklisted and excluded in the census or voters’ list for the so-called democratic election conducted before 2008 is a means to continue its ethnic cleansing policy.
Although the anxiety of the UNHCR, the United States and the European Union on the issue due to increasing armed-insurgency in least developed/developing countries or in South Asia is praiseworthy, but the remedy of third country settlement of the dissident groups has no sufficient grounds for appreciation. This will encourage the administrators of the region to adopt the same method of solution and continue discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities without even addressing the problem in relation to politics, racial identity, citizenship, the rights of salvation from poverty etc.
In case of any uprising demand for justice on the above issues, the readymade military solution, age-old method of extra-judicial killings, red corner notice, fake encounters, treaty of extradition, capturing the properties, imprisonment and forced exile are habitual instruments in the name of defusing the crises.
But these methods have never succeeded in Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Myanmar or even in India in relation to the Nagas, Ulfas, Bodos and the Kashmiries. The dissident groups either exiled or settled in America and Europe have not ended the armed-insurgency in those countries but are intensifying it. Why is it so?
The resentment of the Druk regime is not only just with the Nepali Bhutanese but also with over 30,000 Tshanglas and Ngalungs who have been living in exile in the Indian states of Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh since 1963. Also, the step-mother and brothers of the Bhutanese monarch are in exile with thousands of associates in India who are anxiously waiting / working for the appropriate time to express their dissatisfaction against the Druk establishment that is responsible for confiscating thousand of hectares of land and other assets registered to these royal relatives until 1974 that is now illegally registered in the name of new royalists.
The indulgence of seizure of the property by the Druk regime did not even spare the monastrial bodies. The vivid example lies in the periphery of land of the oldest Takstang Monastery built in the 12th century (which was gutted by fire and was reconstructed with the help of the UNESCO). It is now registered in the name of the Royal relatives.
Thus, instead of resettling the handful of Bhutanese refugees abroad, the UNHCR should seek the option of non-military sanction against Bhutan and compel the government to stop the state sponsored-terrorism and accept the repatriation of all the Bhutanese in exile.
Until the arrival of appropriate time for safe and dignified repatriation, the tactics of dole-reduction with respect to essential commodities (which is already insufficient) of survival like rice, other edible commodities, repairing materials of makeshift huts and latrines, education of refugee children, medical facilities of chronic diseases, immediate and appropriate hospital facilities to all patients, availability of qualified doctors and distributions of clothes must resume. The registration of the victims of torture, who have arrived late from the Bhutanese jail must be initiated.
Furthermore, the distribution of “coal brackets” that is proven for causing environment pollution and health hazard should be stopped and the alternate source of energy should be designed. Bluntly speaking, the refugees have opined that the reduction of relief materials is mere an attempt to coerce the refugees with no other option but to accept third country settlement or assimilation in Nepal or elsewhere other than Bhutan.
Indeed, if the rights to repatriation in their motherland is diluted by any pretext, the commitment of human rights, democracy, covenants of the UN and its associated organs will transform to be instruments just to protect the interest of bigger powers according to their will instead of protecting the needful individuals.
Therefore, the powerful countries like the United States and India has to draw their attention towards the matter and protect the world from the victory of state sponsored-terrorism, ethnic cleansing and religious intolerance persisting in Bhutan.
(The writer is former National Assembly Member and general secretary of Bhutan National Democratic Party-BNDP)
Source: eKantipur.com
This entry was posted in Opinion on August 18, 2006 by Editor.
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Nepal’s PM unaware of third country resettlement
Biratnagar, August 17: Nepal’s Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala Thursday said he was unaware about a government decision to resettle some exiled Bhutanese in third country.
Talking to a delegation of political leaders in exile including Bala Ram Poudel, president of Bhutan People’s Party at his residence in Biratnagar in Morang district PM Koirala said he would study the development in detail once he returns to the capital, Kathmandu.
The delegation had expressed their dissatisfaction over the UNHCR plan to send some 16 exiled Bhutanese to the US and Canada.
The UNHCR decision had drawn extreme criticism from the Bhutanese community, leadership in particular.
During her visit to Nepal in July, the UN Assistant High Commissioner for Refugees, Judy Cheng-Hopkins, had stated that the UN agency had reached an agreement with the foreign ministry of Nepal to send 16 most vulnerable exiled Bhutanese to third country in the first phase. Bhutan News Service
This entry was posted in Main News on August 18, 2006 by Editor.
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UNHCR urges to allow delivery of humanitarian assistance
Kathmandu, August 17: On Thursday, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has urged the local residents around the Goldhap camp to allow smooth delivery of humanitarian assistance to the exiled Bhutanese.
In a press statement the UN agency said, “It is learnt that they have organized a road blockade since August 14 with the aim of pressuring UNHCR to undertake development work in the areas surrounding the refugee camp, which unfortunately goes beyond the mandate and funding possibilities of the UN refugee agency.”
“This is unfortunate and disappointing,” UNHCR’s Representative in Nepal, Abraham Abraham said, adding, “This has seriously affected the delivery of humanitarian assistance and risks the eroding of international protection to the refugees.”
“As a result of the blockade, trucks carrying cooking fuel as well as undertaking emergency medical transport have been blocked from reaching the Goldhap camp at an extreme cost of deprivation of refugee livelihood,” Abraham added.
“UNHCR has even recently provided an ambulance, trucks to collect garbage, road works and health services to local residents in areas surrounding refugee camps. However, there are limitations to UNHCR’s mandate and financial capacity,” he said further.
He, however, expressed confidence that the authorities at the Kathmandu and district levels will, together with the local population, resolve the matter. Bhutan News Service
This entry was posted in Main News on August 17, 2006 by Editor.
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Bhutan committed to one-China policy: FM
Thimphu, August 17: Top Chinese officials said his country is ready to push forward long-term and good-neighborly friendship with Bhutan
During the meeting of Bhutanese foreign minister Khandu Wangchuk and Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan in Chinese capital of Beijing on Wednesday, the Chinese official said although China and Bhutan have not established diplomatic ties, the two nations always enjoy harmonious relations with mutual respect and equal treatment.
Wangchuk said Bhutan values the relations with China and always committed to one-China policy. He further said, his country will continue conducting friendly exchanges and cooperation with northern neighbor.
Wangchuk is in Beijing for the 18th round talks on China-Bhutan boundary issue at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing. He said Bhutan is ready to make efforts for the early resolution of the boundary issue in the spirit of mutual understanding and accommodation.
“China appreciates Bhutan’s adherence to one-China policy in the past years,” Chinese councilor Tang said, noting that China is ready to build and push forward the friendly and cooperative relations with Bhutan in line with the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.
Tang said the Chinese government is eager to resolve the boundary issue with Bhutan at the earliest possible through friendly consultations.
Wangchuk held talks on boundary issues with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei on Wednesday morning, and Li Zhaoxing met with Wangchuk later Wednesday. Bhutan News Service
This entry was posted in Main News on August 17, 2006 by Editor.
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Bhutan lost to Nepal in ACC trophy
Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), August 17: Bhutan lost to Nepal by 281 runs in the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Trophy match at Royal Selangor Club in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Wednesday.
Bhutan lost all 10 wickets with a score of 36 runs in 18.5 overs. Bikash Sharma Luitel scored the highest 14 runs for the Bhutanese team.
Batting first after losing the toss, Nepal scored 317 runs for the loss of eight wickets in all 50 overs. Two youngsters Paras Khadka, Gyanendra Malla and Mahesh Chettri lead Nepal to win against Bhutan by securing over half centuries each.
Paras top scored with 87 runs while Gyanendra scored 52 runs and Mahesh collected 56 runs not out.
Binod Das, Mehboob Alam and Shakti Gauchan claimed five, three and two wickets respectively for Nepal. Binod Das was declared the man of the match.
Scorecard
Nepal Innings
Paresh Lohani lbw T Wangchuk – 27 (37)
Gyanendra Malla lbw T Wangchuk – 52 (81)
Sharad Veshawkar ct D Gurung b P Wangdi – 0 (4)
Shakti Gauchan b P Wangdi – 0 (1)
Mehboob Alam lbw D Gurung – 39 (32)
Paras Khadka ct J Singhe b L Yonten -87 (68)
Basant Regmi lbw M Adhikari – 18 (33)
Binod Das c M Adhikari b P Wangdi – 4 (8)
Mahesh Chhetri not out – 56 (37)
Dhirendra Chand not out – 0 (0)
Extras (nb 3, w 26, lb 5) – 34
Total (for 8 wkts in 50 overs) – 317
FoW: 67, 73, 73, 142, 142, 196, 210, 303
Bhutan Bowling
Lobzang Yonten 9-1-48-1
Damber Singh Gurung 10-1-61-1
Tandin Wangchuk 10-1-33-2
Phuntsho Wangdi 10-0-60-3
Jigme Singe 1-0-24-0
Manoj Adhikari 6-0-40-0
Bikash Gurung 4-0-45-0
Bhutan Innings
Tashi lbw M Alam – 0 (5)
Tandin Wangchuk ct M Chhetri b B Das – 3 (11)
Manoj Adhikari ct P Lohani b B Das – 1 (8)
Tshering Dorji b B Das – 1 (15)
Damber Gurung c P Lohani b B Das – 0 (3)
Bikash Sharma Luitel c Shard b M Alam – 14 (20)
Phuntsho Wangdi c G Malla b M Alam 2 (13)
Jigme Singhe b S Gauchan – 3 (23)
Bikash Gurung b B Das – 0 (6)
Thinley W Dorje not out – 0 (0)
Lobzang Yonten c M Alam b S Gauchan – 0 (3)
Extras (w 11) – 11
Total (all out in 18.5 overs) – 36
FoW: 0, 3, 5, 6, 11, 20, 30, 32, 36, 36
Nepal Bowling
Mehboob Alam 7-3-10-3
Binod Das 8-0-24-5
Shakti Gauchan 2.5-1-1-2
Raj Kumar Pradhan 1-0-1-0
Bhutan News Service
This entry was posted in Main News on August 17, 2006 by Editor.
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Blockade in Goldhap camp
Goldhap, August 17: Local residents in Jhapa have stopped all transportation services to the Goldhap camp from Monday.
The obstruction in the transportation has created serious problem to supplying ration, cooking fuels and other necessary items. Coal briquette is supplied to the camp for cooking purposes. The blockade has also affected education and health services.
Local residents Karki said that though the road to the camp has worsened due to continued plying of the agencies’ vehicles, the agencies did not reply to the repeated requests of the local people for maintenance of the road. Local say local administration has been informed on the blockade program aready.
Camp secretary Ekraj Baskota said the stock of coal in the camp has exhausted and the people have started entering the nearby jungle to cut down trees for firewood. Bhutan News Service
This entry was posted in Main News on August 16, 2006 by Editor.
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US to accept Bhutanese refugees, Rizal criticizes
Kathmandu, August 15: The U.S. Senator Arlen Specter, who was on two days visit in Nepal, has said on August 14 the US is willing to accept many of the Bhutanese refugees.
Specter said he will soon write to Nepalese PM Girija Prasad Koirala including Deputy PM and Foreign Minister KP Sharma Oli to take strong initiatives to let refugees for resettlement.
Specter who is also scheduled to visit Bhutan said “I intend to raise the issue with the Bhutanese high officials including the King.”
It is reportedly known that this year the US is accepting up to 75,000 from various parts of the world.
According to the U.S. embassy’s website the senator’s visit to Nepal is part of a fact-finding trip to various countries including Nepal, China, Bhutan, Israel and Libya.
Meanwhile, Bhutanese leaders and organizations in Exile have commented upon his statement through Bhutan News Service in differently ways.
Human rights leader Tek Nath Rizal has sharply criticized the move. Talking to BNS he claimed Bhutan has been deceiving the whole world since 16 years. “The US move to resettle refugees doesn’t give entire justice to refugee stalemate and the Bhutanese problem” he said, adding- the country like the US should not coin such controversial package before confirming the repatriation process.
General Secretary of Druk National Congress (DNC) Narad Adhikari also criticizes the US move. He said the democratic countries like the US should not violate the fundamental rights of suppressed people. “The concept and process of resettlement will just support the absolutism,” he added.
Similarly, District- 8 under Region number- 5 committee member ‘Aviskar’ of Communist Party of Bhutan (CPB-MLM) who telephoned BNS from an unknown place, has claimed that such moves would definitely greet further cleansing of Nepali speaking Bhutanese from southern belt. He also said it depends upon individual refugees to decide but CPB-MLM criticizes such moves.
Meanwhile, Bhutanese Refugee Durable Solution Coordination Committee (BRDSCC) has welcomed the senator’s statement. Its Executive Committee member Hom Nath Baral Said “we have found that those who wish to accept resettlement would preferably select the US, as is unknown what exact number will be accepted, it should be made clearer.”
Similarly, Coordinator of the Voice for Change (VFC)-women and family group Ganga Neopane talking to BNS said VFC accepts the statement heartily. “As this is a crucial phase such moves are hospitable, however much needy information are lacking on his statement” she added.
Earlier, when UNHCR decided to relocate 16 most vulnerable refugees in Canada and the US, people in camps had demonstrated against such decision. Bhutan News Service/T.P.Mishra
This entry was posted in Main News on August 15, 2006 by Editor.
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Tala starts export to India
Tala, August 14: The Tala hydroelectric project that begun commercial production on July 31 has exported 22 million units of electricity to India as of 10 August, earning a revenue of over 36m ngultrums.
The plant is connected to eastern region grid of West Bengal in Siliguri through the Malbase substation in Pasakha, 20 km away from the plant.
Earlier, Bhutanese officials even did not know how far the power from Tala gone to. It has reached as far as New Delhi after a substation in the outskirts of Mandila, which is about 1,500 km away from the Siliguri dispatch center.
Bhutan expects to complete the construction of the 1020 MW plant by July 2007. Bhutan News Service
This entry was posted in Main News on August 15, 2006 by Editor.
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ULFA reorganized in Bhutan
Gauhati, August 14: The outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) has re-established its presence in Bhutan with three camps recently.
Hira Sarania, who was believed to be close to commander-in-chief Paresh Barua, was heading the cadres operating from these camps.
The camps are located in the eastern district of Bhutan Samdrup Jhongkar. ULFA also had numerous bases before it was flushed out of the kingdom in December 2003. RBA had destroyed 13 camps during the operation.
The insurgents are also organizing training camps inside Bhutan, PTI reports said.
Sarania was recently in the news for sending an extortion note demanding Rs 15 lakh from the RBI’s regional director in Guwahati.
The top military brass of Bhutan and India held two rounds of talks this month regarding ULFA’s reappearance in Bhutan. India has not planned any kind of security operation in view of the ongoing peace process with the group. This will support their project to resettle in Bhutan. Bhutan News Service
This entry was posted in Main News on August 15, 2006 by Editor.
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Government recruits Indian tutors
Thimphu, August 14: In one hand, unemployment has been increasing in Bhutan, on the other the government has now brought new policy to hire tutors from India with special packages and allowances.
Reports said that the government would invite tutors for mathematics and physics subjects. The shortage of teachers is for middle and higher secondary school level.
Since last month, the education ministry began providing 20 per cent of the basic salary as ‘scarcity allowance’ to Indians working in the country. The allowance was clubbed with the 30 per cent contract allowance that should be paid to the Indian teachers in addition to their basic salary.
Director of the education department Tsewang Tandin said the provision was an interim measure to attract Indian teachers and also to retain the existing ones and that it would be scrapped once the seats were fulfilled.
Records with National Institute of Education (NIE) in Samtse show only a few Bhutanese graduating from the institute take up these two subjects as elective during their training course. There was no graduate or postgraduate lecturer in mathematics and physics in NIE last year. In 2004, only about 17 teachers graduated from NIE with mathematics.
Bhutanese have shown very little interest in mathematics during the past few years. The result of the secondary board and higher secondary board also recorded that most student failed in mathematics. Bhutan News Service
This entry was posted in Main News on August 15, 2006 by Editor.
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BMSC meets teacher associations
Kathmandu, August 14: The Bhutanese Movement Steering Committee (BMSC) has begun to approach unions and associations in Nepal to make a wake up call to the responsible government agencies, civil societies to look into the long dragging refugee imbroglio.
BMSC delegation headed by its Chairman Tek Nath Rizal has met a team of two major officials of the Teachers Union of Nepal and National Teachers Association (NTA) at Jawalakhel on August 14.
According to sources, BMSC has explained about the sufferings in the refugee camps and the chilling progressive threat approaching towards dismantling of the refugee camps without resolving the problem. BMSC spokesperson informed BNS that the TUN assured the delegation that they would make their efforts in pressurising the Nepali government to process towards bringing about solution to the Bhutanese problem and give their decision to the status of the sit-in program staged in Kathmandu since two months. Bhutan News Service.
This entry was posted in Main News on August 14, 2006 by Editor.
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BNDP announces second phase of protest programs
Birtamode, August 12: Bhutan National Democratic Party (BNDP) has announced second phase of protest on August 11 to back up sit-in program staged over the Mechi Bridge for the last few months, but to no avail.
According to General Secretary of the BNDP, DNS Dhakal, refugees would soon send letters to Indian leaders urging them to take necessary steps to settle the refugee stalemate during the protest program.
Similar sit-in that has been staged in front of the UN house in Pulchowk and the SAARC secretariat led by BRRRC since two months is still continuing. No any reactions to their demands from authorities concerned have been reported yet. Bhutan News Service.
This entry was posted in Main News on August 13, 2006 by Editor.
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Meeting of Khandu and Oli
A cursory look at the political history of Nepali leaders who have been the policymakers, almost all the high-ranking leaders are very much aware of the Bhutanese refugee crisis. For instance, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala who is well known for sacrificing his life for re-establishing democracy and has whole heartedly struggled against the autocracy, is also very much familiar with the Bhutanese problem since the 1950s. He is a dignitary from Nepal to meet the Bhutanese king at Dhaka for the first time in 1993 with an agenda of finding an amicable solution to the refugee problem. During the meeting he urged King Jigme Singay Wangchuck to stop the on going ethnic cleansing against ethnic Nepalis in Bhutan. In addition, he proposed the king to repatriate all the victims of the policy with dignity and honor to their original homesteads which could pave the way to end the refugee creation.
Likewise, present Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of Nepal who is elected as a member of Pratinidhi Shabha from the constituency which hosts three of the Bhutanese refugee camps in Jhapa, has remained the leader of Nepalese team in the fifth round of Nepal Bhutan bilateral talk held on 27th February – 1st March 1995. Krishna Prasad Sitaula, honorable Home Minster and Shubhash Nemmang, honorable Speaker of Pratinidhi Shabha are themselves the neighbors to Goldhap and Timai Refugee camps respectively.
If the list of present policy maker or the figure of stimulating personality in Nepal is further stretched, the second most towering figure of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), Dr Babu Ram Bhattarai has also been in the record of recognized personality towards the Bhutanese crises closely. This has been noticeable through his various articles that has repeatedly referred to the lordship of India with regard to the condition of Bhutan. Not only this, Benup Raj Prasai, Chakra Prasad Bastola, Bir Mani Dhakal and C P Mainali are the witnesses to the Bhutanese refugee camps as well as the suffering of refugees within the camps for the last 16 years.
Even at this state of being conversant in refugees suffering, the Bhutanese refugees of Nepalese origin are undergoing tremendous pressure of being settled in third country according to the plan and program laid by the Druk oligarchy. Also there is a wild rumor that the Druk regime intends to dismantle all the camps in Jhapa and Morang at any cost in pursuit of avoiding critiques against its ethnic cleansing and autocracy. Therefore, with regard to the modality of third country settlement, Nepal and India have been requested on the basis of burden sharing consequently, dividing the refugees in the style of portion of palatable flesh shared from the hands of brutal butcher in the slaughter house.
In this sequence Khandu Wangchuk, the External Affairs Minister of Bhutan has agreed to meet K.P Sharma Oli, the External Affairs Minister of Nepal in Dhaka on August 2, 2006. The proposal of Nepal forwarded by Oli left Wangchuk perplexed.
According to Rastriya Samachar Samitee, the proposal was, “That Nepal is eager to make a fresh beginning in the bilateral talks between the two countries to bring an end to the problem of the Bhutanese refugees once and for all. The refugee problem was essentially a problem between Bhutan and its people and it should not be allowed to come in any way in the development of bilateral relation between the two countries. He also called upon Bhutan to be flexible and helpful in working out a lasting solution to the problem in the changed context and make it acceptable to the refugees, who are currently sheltered in eastern Nepal on humanitarian grounds, so that the refugees could go back to their homeland Bhutan in dignity and honor. ”
If there is no ambiguity in the above statement of Nepal it is the suitable step taken by Nepal so far and this should not be changed under any circumstances until the repatriation of all refugees to their homeland is guaranteed.
At the same time, Nepal should not depend on the Druk regime’s move but should actively work towards the issue and should not leave a single stone unturned to bring India in the agreement in order to solve the crisis because India has the capacity to take up the vital responsibility of Bhutan’s positive nod. Otherwise, if repatriation is accrued in the absence of monitoring authority there will not be guarantee of the dignity, honor and the safety of Bhutanese people.
India should be called upon for the establishment of the office of United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees in Bhutan for the facilitation and monitoring of the repatriation and rehabilitation. In the absence of UNHCR, India herself must take the responsibility of dignified rehabilitation in front of the world community with its time bound program. It must be noted that Bhutan’s armed forces deployed to evict and denationalize the Nepali speaking Bhutanese in 1990 have remained in their position and in no time they will resume the same atrocity against Nepali speaking in southern Bhutan. Not only this, the valuable land and properties owned by the refugees since centuries has been distributed to these forces which would obviously invite trouble there.
Lastly, the catastrophe of Bhutanese refugees is not a crisis of any war or calamity. It is a crisis of deliberate creation of Druk regime. Thus it should not be allowed to denationalize the people on the ground of language, religion, race and ethnicity. Let us hope Nepal, India and international community take this matter seriously into account before the final decision. Be aware the decision of retaining/revoking citizenship right of the Bhutanese people is the right of the refugees, and not of some third country junkies.
Also, the activities of the Bhutanese refugees who are just demanding democracy, human rights and pluralism should not be made the case of criminal offence as has been proposed by the Bhutanese government.
(The writer is former National Assembly Member of Bhutan)
Source: ekantipur.com
This entry was posted in Opinion on August 12, 2006 by Editor.
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India, Bhutan discuss ULFA uprising
New Delhi, Aug. 11: Bhutan and India’s top military brass discussed the security situation after reports that United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) is re-activating bases in Bhutan.
The subject became the top agenda during the meeting of the visiting Bhutanese Army Chief Maj. Gen. Batoo Tshering and his Indian counterpart Gen. J J Singh in Delhi.
Tshering arrived here on Thursday evening and met Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee to begin his official engagements on Friday.
The meeting between the army chiefs of the two countries comes as the Army Chief Gen J J Singh has just returned after a four-day visit to Asom state, where he studied the stepping up of attacks by the ULFA cadres.
The Bhutan army had launched ‘Operation All Clear’ in 2002 to flush out the ULFA camps from eastern Bhutan, where the rebels had been staying since early 1990 when the Bhutanese king invited them to launch their operation from Bhutan. Bhutan News Service
This entry was posted in Main News on August 11, 2006 by Editor.
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Bhutan enhances technological services
Thimphu, August 10: Communication facilities in Bhutan have been expanding in recent years. The Bhutan Telecom has decided that its B Mobile service will be extended to Bumthang in central part of the country.
Construction of tower in the district has begun and selling of phone sets and sim cards have started in the local market.
Earlier, it was said that the service will be available by June this year.
Similarly, Druknet, the only ISP in the country said its service will be enhanced in six districts by January 2007. Thence, the Bhutanese customers will be accessed to 512 kbps internet service, much better than the present service. Bhutan News Service
This entry was posted in Main News on August 10, 2006 by Editor.
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Eastern command chief of Indian Army completes Bhutan tour
Thimphu, Aug 10: General-Officer-Commanding-In-Chief of the Indian army’s eastern command, Lt. General Arvind Sharma completed his five day long Bhutan visit on Thursday.
In his regular visit to this Himalayan kingdom, Sharma stressed for strengthening surety relation between Bhutan and India.
In his meeting with His Majesty King Jigme Singye on August 7, Sharma expressed satisfaction over the relation between the two countries with regard to security, which he said would grow in the days to come.
During his stay in Bhutan, Sharma also met four queens, Prime Minister Lyonpo Sangey Ngedup and the Chief Operations Officer of the Royal Bhutan Army Gonglen Wogma Batoo Tshering and discussed security management.
Indian Army has five security posts in Bhutan at present. All RBA soldiers are trained in India.
Sharman had served in the Military Operations Directorate in headquarters of Indian Army, as the Defence Attache in Kathmandu, Nepal, and as the Colonel General Staff of a Mountain Division in insurgency areas and has distinction of commanding in Mountain Division in the East and a Corps in the Northern Command. He is the Colonel of the Regiment, 4 Gorkha Rifles, and the President of the Gorkha Brigade. He took over as GOC-in–C of the Eastern Command on January 1, 2005. Bhutan News Service
This entry was posted in Main News on August 10, 2006 by Editor.
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DAO warns refugees not to protest outside camps
Birtamode, August 6: The District Administration Office (DAO) in Jhapa has stated that it will take necessary initiatives to halt the ongoing agitating situation of Bhutanese refugees outside camps under control.
The decision was made by the meeting of the DAO and local seven political parties after Bhutanese refugees have been demonstrating and blocking the east-west highway chanting slogans.
Refugees of Khudunabari and Goldhap camps are reported to have blocked roads in Mukti Chowk in Birtamod while they were protesting against UNHCR decision of relocation. Similarly, refugees from Timai camp are said to have halted traffic in Dhulabari Chowk.
Chief district officer (CDO) Jaya Mukunda Khanal said they have decided to take necessary legal action against the refugees if they make attempt to halt the highway yet again. CDO has warned refugees that if they ignore the request letter that has been sent they would use force against them.
CDO has circulated a letter addressed to all seven camp secretaries mentioning that obstruction and disruptive practices in public places will not be permitted. Bhutan News Service
This entry was posted in Main News on August 7, 2006 by Editor.
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Poisoned fish claims lives in Sanischare
Damak, August 5: At least three Bhutanese refugees of Sanischare camp, Morang, who had consumed poisoned fish two weeks ago, died on August 5 while undergoing treatment at AMDA hospital in Damak.
Earlier, refugees had put poison in Daans River to kill the fish. They consumed the same fishes.
About two dozens are said to have caught of illness.
Raghu Mishra, Kamal Subedi including one more whose name is not yet known, has been identified as dead.
Those who felt sick are receiving treatment from AMDA hospital, Damak and BP Koirala Memorial hospital, Dharan. Bhutan News Service
This entry was posted in Main News on August 6, 2006 by Editor.
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RRCC criticizes leaders, supports UNHCR decision
Kathmandu, August 5: Refugee Rights Coordinating Committee (RRCC), an Ad-hoc committee with the aims and objectives to protect and promote the rights of Bhutanese refugees has been formally established on August 5.
In a program organized at Reporters’ Club, Kathmandu the RRCC has sought attention of concerned authorities to help resolve the refugee mess at the earliest possible. Addressing the media persons, the RRCC Coordinator, N.B.Giri said all possible options as durable solution to refugee cause should be unlocked.
The RRCC also strongly criticized the ongoing activities of exiled leaders and organizations. It claimed that refugees should not be forced to select only the option of repatriation, which is impossible.
The RRCC has also welcomed the UNHCR decision of resettling 16 most vulnerable refugees in Canada.
On a query of media persons, Giri said the RRCC will soon circulate information urging all Bhutanese leaders and organizations to extend support and solidarity. “Even If they deny, we won’t stop to advocate for promoting and protecting rights of refugees to select any options” he added.
In a press statement, the RRCC has said Bhutanese refugees are not willing to remain like beggars in the unimproved camps at the mercy of aiding agencies. “We have reached the end of our endurances, we want to build our homes in civilized country, which allows us to equal citizenship, and where we can encompass a respectable life and be in peace”, it said.
The RRCC has also solicited the Nepal government to review its policies and position for the refugees and open all options as durable solution, respecting their rights.
Addressing the program Ram Lachi Monger, the press and publication coordinator of Voice for Change- Women and Family group stressed on the escalating sentiments of young generation towards safeguarding their future career by opting better options besides repatriation.
The UNHCR country representative Abraham Abraham earlier in the same place, Reporters’ Club, has said the remaining and the possible options as solution to refugee issue is only resettlement. Bhutan News Service.
This entry was posted in Main News on August 6, 2006 by Editor.
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Bhutan is happiest in Asia (Exclusive)
Kathmandu, August 05: Despite political suppression and access to outside world, Bhutan tops the Asian counties in terms of happiness, the ‘World Map of Happiness’ states.
According to the map, Bhutan stands in the eighth position in the world’s happiest countries and top among the SAARC region. Nepal stands at 119th happiest country while India stands at 125, Pakistan at 166, Bagladesh at 104, Sri Lanka at 93 and Maldives stands at 66 position. The new entrant in the regional body, Afghanistan, has not been included in the study list. The northern neighbor China stands at 82 position.
Happiness index for Bhutan is 253.33. Similarly, life expectancy is 62.9 years while per capital GDP is 1.4.
The map, the first of its kind, is prepared by Adrian White, a British analytic social psychologist from University of Leicester. The map rates 178 countries around the world.
The parameters for the ranking are various but the study has stressed three major sources of happiness — health, wealth and access to education.
Denmark stands at the top of the happy list while an African country, Burundi lies at the bottom of the list.
“I have performed new analysis with [this] data to come to a unique and novel set of results; specifically the extent of correlation between measures of poverty, health and education, and the variable of happiness,” the analyst states.
The ranking is based on data published by the New Economic Foundation, from individual countries and findings of over 100 studies carried out by the United Nations Educational and Scientific Organisation (UNESCO) on access to schooling, by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on life expectancy, by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) on GDP per capita, Veenhoven Database, Latinbarometer, Afrobarometer and UNHDR between 2002 and 2005. Bhutan News Service
This entry was posted in Main News on August 6, 2006 by Editor.
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Final hearing on missing militants
Guwahati, Aug 5: The final hearing on the case of missing ULFA and NDFB militant begun at the Gauhati High Court on August 3. The militants have gone missing since the ‘Operation All Clear’ of the Royal Bhutan Army in December 2003.
Additional Solicitor General B K Singh urged a Division Bench of Justice B Sudarshan Reddy and Justice P Kotoky to provide the list of missing militants handed over by Bhutan government after the operations. The list has not been made public due to security reasons.
Amicus curiae P K Goswami said that the list must be made public since the issue is associated with the human rights.
The Central and state governments had submitted the details of the operation provided by the government of Bhutan before the High Court on June 30.
A writ petition was filed at the court last year by the wives of missing ULFA militants demanding publicizing the whereabouts of their husbands. It was reported earlier that many of these missing militants were handed over to the Indian authorities by the Bhutan government. Bhutan News Service
This entry was posted in Main News on August 5, 2006 by Editor.
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Give justice to Bhutanese refugees
August 2, 2006
For sixteen years the Bhutanese have been forced to leave their country and have been living in Nepal. But no international organizations, NGOs, nor the Bhutanese government have established any effective, concrete program to protect their rights. The seminars, talks, programs, meetings, articles and interviews have done nothing to help the Bhutanese with their problems or defend their fundamental rights to return their country.
Even last year US Ambassador James F Morairty said, “The international community is making efforts at solving the Bhutanese refugee problem.” Four players have crucial roles in deciding the future of over 100,000 Bhutanese: the UNHCR, the Nepali government, the Bhutanese government, and India as the largest neighbor of the two countries. Unless these four parties come together to ensure a decent future for the refugees, they will have nowhere to turn.
Nepal wants all Bhutanese refugees to go back to their homes but Bhutan has been avoiding constituting verification mechanisms. Little attention has been given to the plight of the Bhutanese refugees for over a decade.
More than 125,000 Nepali-speaking Lhotshampas of Southern Bhutan, nearly a sixth of the kingdom’s total population of approximately 782,548, have been forced to leave or forcibly evicted from the country by the Government. This has made Bhutan as one of the highest per capita refugee generators in the world.
As on March 2001, approximately 98,886 Bhutanese refugees are living in seven refugee camps in eastern Nepal managed by the UNHCR. The rest live scattered in other parts of Nepal. About 25,000 Bhutanese refugees are living in Indian territories without any help.
The roots of the current political crisis in Bhutan and the refugees lie in Bhutan’s geopolitics and population politics. (Source: http://www.southasianmedia.net/2005)
Even in Katmandu, the UNHCR representative in Nepal, Abraham Abraham, said, “We urge the two governments in the bilateral process to make arrangements for the repatriation of the refugees to Bhutan while also allowing third-country resettlement, so that a solution can be implemented for all refugees allowing the closure of camps instead of keeping helpless refugees in camps forever.”
But on the other hand, according to the Chief Editor of apfanews.com, I. P Adhikari, the Bhutanese group has strongly opposed the UNHCR proposal intended to take the independent young population to a few western countries.
The issue has split the refugee leadership further. On the other hand, the majority of the leaders who have not left their involvement in the movement, oppose the idea and say this was an utter violation of their right to return. So, what is the cause and unseen force that is taking refugees in two directions? The question is unanswerable. He further argued, “In late 80s, the Bhutan government has said there were over 100,000 illegal immigrants in the country. Of the people evicted in early 90, Bhutan king had admitted 33 percent to be real Bhutanese.”
The verification by Bhutan and Nepal in Khudunabari camp had revealed that 75 percent of the refugees have valid documents of Bhutanese citizenry. So, obviously, the Bhutanese government conclude that the illegal immigrants that it had been saying since 80s are not flushed out. The second round of eviction campaign will force these — at least 50,000 southern Bhutanese — to leave the country”.
Many Bhutanese refugees are deprived of education. The reality is that the United Nations and individual countries do very little because no one cares about people with no power or influence. It is true that more pressure is needed to address this problem. The problem of the Bhutanese refugees means they are just the symptom of a larger problem.
This problem is the poverty they are facing and they are always the ones who suffer most.
I believe that many countries’ trade policies ruin the lives of poor people and force them to leave their countries. Nepal is passing through a difficult phase because of the Maoist insurgency. And added to this are the 100,000 Bhutanese refugees.
We must support the Bhutanese refugee problem seriously. All those in need should get help and no one should be left out.
The solutions are the same everywhere for refugees: Bhutanese refugees should have the right to return to their land.
Source: California Chronicle
This entry was posted in Opinion on August 3, 2006 by Editor.
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Two Christians released in Bhutan
Thimphu, August 02: Government released on July 29 two Christians who had been imprisoned on charges of proselytism. According to Christians inside the country, the released met their family on the same day.
Two persons named ‘Benjamin’ (Buddha Mani Dungana) and ‘John’ (Purna Bahadhur Tamang) were arrested on January 7, this year in Paro after sharing the gospel with a non-Christian family. There was sharp criticism from international community after the court sentenced them up to 3.5 year of jail term.
Jeremy Sewall, ICC’s Regional Policy Analyst for South Asia, stated, “We wish to thank everyone who prayed for these men and contacted government officials to ask for their release. This is incredibly good news.” The newly drafted constitution allows preaching of Buddhism only in the kingdom. Bhutan News Service/Sangey Ondrey
This entry was posted in Main News on August 2, 2006 by Editor.
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Bhutan and India ink trade agreement
New Delhi, Aug 02: Bhutan and India signed a new ten-year agreement that gives the Himalayan kingdom four more entry and exit points. The pact also simplifies procedures for import and export between the two countries.
Bhutan’s Minister for Trade, Industry and Power Lyonpo Yeshey Zimba and Indian Trade Minister Kamal Nath inked the new agreement, which replaces a previous Agreement on Trade and Commerce signed in 1995 that expired in March this year.
The four more entry and exit points will help Bhutanese good have access to the port cities of Mumbai in the west and Chennai in the south. There already existed 12 entry points. The other two are land routes, namely Phulbari and Dawki.
According to press statement, the new pact also allows movement of goods from one part of Bhutan to another through Indian territory by giving a transit declaration in a prescribed form.
The two countries also signed two hydro-electric power deals, with target of Bhutan’s power export to 5,000 MW by 2020.
This will boost the economic growth of Bhutan alongside helping India to meet increasing demands of power in recent years. Bhutan News Service
This entry was posted in Main News on August 2, 2006 by Editor.
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Camps turn into open jails
Beldangi, August 02: The local administration in Jhapa district has restricted exiled Bhutanese from venturing out of their camps effective from Tuesday.
Bhutanese had been launching agitation and protest programs in and around the camps demanding early repatriation and plans of the UNHCR to resettle them in the third country.
Following the requests from the civil society leader of Nepal and in agreement with the UNHCR, the local authority decided to ban Bhutanese from going out of their camps. A clash that occurred between Bhutanese and locals during protest programs also prompted the administration to take such a step.
The District Administration Office on Tuesday sent a circular to the Refugee Coordination Unit in all the camps directing it that people do not come out of the camps. Following the orders, movement of people in camps has been closely observed.
Though there is provision of ‘out pass’ for them if they want to go out of camps for the past two years, the people rarely take the passes.
The unit is expected to impose the provision of out pass strictly after this incident.
The administration has also asked the exiled Bhutanese to limit their demonstrations within the camp premises. Bhutan News Service
This entry was posted in Main News on August 2, 2006 by Editor.