December 04, 2009: With the presentation of its long awaited Human Rights Report, the UPR Session for Bhutan has formally ended this evening.
The fact that might have surprised the RGOB delegates the Bhutanese refugees attended the government`s country report presentation for the first time in nearly two decades. But had the RGOB delegation suspected the refugees would resort to do any-thing undesirable during the presentation – that turned to be ‘GUILTY MIND IS ALWAYS SUSPICIOUS’ as the refugees sitting at the last row maintained silence and polity with high attention to the RGOB presentation which contained that southern Bhutanese had entered Bhutan as economic migrants.
The chilly cold day with three degree Celsius and light rainfall on December 4 had begun with the demonstration by sixteen Bhutanese refugees in front of Palais de Nations. Four of the delegates, some of whom had dressed in Bhutanese national dress Gho, at around ten thirty left to hold meeting with Karim Amer and Pierfrancesco Maria Natta who are Senior Desk Officer and Senior Legal Officer of Bureau for Asia and Pacific for UNHCR respectively for lobbying. Durga Giri who this team was led by, had briefed the officers stating ´simultaneously with resettlement repatriation options has to be activated´. The issue of non registered Bhutanese living in India and Nepal was also raised.
Ram BK Chettri, another member of the same team had also raised the mixed marriage cases in response to which Amer had said that their cases will be considered at the last. Chhetri had also complained of the malpractices of the local UNHCR staff. However, in regard to the complaint, Amer maintained to say that Bhutanese refugees believe in rumor and they need to get shared of the information by those who have already got resettled.
Similarly, another group of three others with two women, met Natacha Foucard, the Human Rights Officer of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
‘We found Foucard highly concerned on the issues of Bhutanese women and children’ said one of the delegates who had met her adding “we are suggested to prepare a comprehensive report on children and women before Bhutan tables its reports in 2010 and 2015 respectively’. She is learnt to have said this if there comes only one report the international community can’t make critical evaluation.
After the successful meetings, both the teams returned to join and continue the demonstration.
The last meeting the delegates attended was with the UPR management specialist. The team had raised the issue of the human rights issues in Bhutan, the situation of refugees in Nepal and the HR reports RGOB was presenting. The team was advised to widely start the lobbying and advocating with the international community at large.
Then, the delegates-cum-demonstrators concluded the demonstration and entered the hall where Kinzang Dorji, the head of RGOB delegation, made the opening statement. His nearly 21 minutes long statement was followed by both recommendations for improvement of human rights situation and greater political participation and critical questions for clarification on wide range of issues from refugee imbroglio to vague components of GNH.
The session of comments and recommendations by different member states shortly started. The Bhutanese delegation tried clarifying the issues raised by delegates of different countries. Different member states raised the issue of human rights situation in Bhutan, the state of children and women, refugee situations, media freedom, poverty and many other issues which Bhutanese delegates were vividly seen unable to address the issues.
The refugee issue raised by different European countries including its major donors The Netherlands, Denmark and Norway went unaddressed. The US delegate strongly raised the issue of unsolved refugee crisis, failure of Bhutan in implementing different acts and protocols, citizenship act etc. Nepal delegate´s concern about resuming the bilateral talks was addressed as it may start when the conducive environment for the talks is resumed.
The Bhutanese delegates were seen killing the time addressing some general issues rather than the issue of refugees which many countries had raised. Bhutanese delegates termed the refugee issue as a humanitarian issue and thanked the countries which took step to resettle them.
The four hour session got completed pouring a big pressure on the Bhutanese delegates. In its first presentation of HR report in the international forum, Bhutan could not only gather appreciation for getting peacefully transformed to a constitutional monarchy, it could too bear the criticisms on different issues. It tried to escape the situation presenting that a new democracy is likely to have an ample issues which need to be cautiously addressed. It is clear that Bhutan will no longer be able to sit by the shoulder of India for long, its big brother of all times, in the international arenas.
It would have been more effective and convincing to world community if Rizal, Ratan, Hari Bangaley or a camp secretary would have led it instead of Durga Giri, BPP General Secretary and Ram Bahadur Thapa, BPP member.Such forums are meant for leaders and persons who actually represent human rights movement and plight of refugees and not those who have political agenda. Also persons leading must have international credibility and not carry the tag of terrorists and murderers as BPP does. Now we will face negative publicity by Bhutanese government simply because of BPP involvement.
Geneva mission was a top success in the history of Bhutanese Human Rights struggle. Durga Giri deserves great appreciations for his able leadership in this sucessful mission. He was assisted with full force by Ram. So let us not
think in narrow sense and blame these two capable leaders. We have full hope that these twon people could lead us in such movements in near future too.
Congratulations durga and ram.
Dear Kamal,
what is the point of credibility that you are just entitling to your Ratan, Bangalay or the others whom you have based your point of criticism? BUDO GORU LAI KINA GAI KO PACHHADI LAUCHHAU TIMI? any way Rizal atleast have a point to just say that he deserves atleast to say that he is Human Rights Activist, as he has tried to tell the outer community by publishing few books.
I DONT LIKE BPP EITHER, to be rigid in a statement as you have said.
As is Durga Giri to me as you have seen your Ratan, and Hari bangalay….this opportunists, aimless political novices and naives. you are just in the stereotypical office of bureacracy! just see and analyze newer Generations what they have to say, what they have to try, what a point of difference they have.just catch the right point to act and then talk of the points what others have to say about dear!!!
Hello Kamal Khatri,
I agree, it would have been much better if someone senior of heavy weight and more knowledgable person could have led this team for demonstration and important meetings of this level. I had to take this responsibility because of time compulson and the fisibility factors.
To avoid controversies we represented as individuals, not as any party or organisations. However,the team had political agenda and those were finding a permenant solution to the Bhutanese refugees crisis, Human rights and inclusive democracy in Bhutan which we advocate in all the International forums.
Well, about the terrorist tag and murderer that you have spoken of as BPP supporters I would like to make it clear that one could be tried in the court of justice if he/she is under charges of such crimes. Now, I live in Germany, and I am within the legal frame work of this country, and could be tried at any time if the charges are based on facts. In future when we return to Bhutan we will be under the legal framework of Bhutan and the same goes there aswell. When I am clear in my conscience that I have not commited such crimes, it makes no difference to me how many people or whatever power levels me as a terrorist or a murderer. So friend it has got nothing to do with the organisation but we should talk of individual’s personality.
You donot worry about the negative publicity from Bhutanese government. Our participation, the refugee cause and the political situation inside has created a big pressure on Bhutan to answer the International community on gross violation of Human rights for last two decades.
We have got lot to do in terms of advocacy and please dont get confused who should do and who should not. It is all the Bhutanese who should do our share for the establishment of justice , human rights and inclusive democracy in Bhutan. Hopefully, the govt. realises its flaws in the policies and go for positive changes in the country, find a permenant solution to the Refugee crisis, promoting peace and prosparity in Bhutan.
I hope I have made it clear.
Sorry, its not Ram Bahadur Thapa but Ram Bahadur Karki.
I am not agree with Kamal because it is not only political issue in Bhutan but it is a Human Right issue. Any Bhutanese can take part in such activities.If Durga Dai,Ram dai were not there this demonstration would not be possible. The input was provided by Bhutanese in different parts of the world. Every time Bhutan is negative toward the exile Bhutanese. It is not a matter of concern whether Bhutan will do negative publicity or else. But we should leave to raise our voice in International community.This was the major step taken after the resettlement of Refugees. We need to appreciate the taken by Ram dai, Durga dai and all the 16 members.We should not leave to give thanks to BNS and APFA for providing the latest update.
correction: But we should not leave to raise our voice in international community.
Kamal Khatri
I think you are a man of the previous century. This event was done by Bhutanese and not by any party, open your eyes and know that some of the leaders you have mentioned decided to hide keep earning $$s while this group did the job. Ther3e is no more influencial leaders in Bhutanese community anymore like used to be in the past.. the young ones and the people who dared to fly to geneva leaving their family are real leaders.
Remeber, in the west you don’t need any previous credibility, what you do on the spot is counted and respected and not reading who has done what.
many of leaders you mentioned will only come if you take out the money from your pocket or someone comes to offer them$$. exmaple, did you even see a single email in the fgoogle forum..
So Me. Kamal.. I suggest you to flow with the current of the wind not aganist. What a pity you dare to write -ve comment for this historic event…
I wish you have read the emails in the google group.
Parsu