Bhutanese Community in the Netherlands Hosts Dr. Susan Banki for Insightful Book Presentation on Exile Politics

The Bhutanese Community in the Netherlands (BCN) hosted Dr. Susan Banki, Associate Professor at the University of Sydney, for a presentation of her new book, The Ecosystem of Exile Politics: Why Proximity and Precarity Matter for Bhutan’s Homeland Activists. The event took place at Mr. Momo’s restaurant in Zaandam, generously provided by its owner and a senior community leader Mr. Til Bahadur Bhattarai and his family.

The program opened with an introduction to the Bhutanese community in the Netherlands by BCN advisor and former president Mr. Khada Ghimire.

Dr. Banki shared insights from 16 years of research on the Bhutanese human rights movement, focusing on the challenges faced by activists living in exile.

During the Q&A session, several participants asked questions related to the book’s content. Youth representative Mr. Bishnu Ghimire shared his refugee camp experiences and expressed support for activist Ram Karki’s advocacy for the release of the Bhutanese political prisoners.

The event attracted members of the Bhutanese community and local Dutch well-wishers, who showed interest in the issues raised.
At the conclusion, BCN presented Dr. Banki with a Certificate of Appreciation, handed over by senior member Mr. Ram Ghimire.

BCN President Mr. Gopal Gurung coordinated the event, which marked a significant step in raising awareness about Bhutanese exile politics and human rights.