December 12, 2009: There was time, very critical time, when a Bhutanese seeking asylum in Germany was extradited to Bhutan, where he would face severe torture, harassment, and jail terms. Fortunately, he has been granted asylum, thanks to international pressure and lobby by exiled Bhutanese groups including media in exile.
The long awaited asylum appeal of Tandin Wangdi is being accepted by the German authority. He is out from the prison and is granted asylum by the Federal Republic of Germany early this week.
He was set to receive deportation to Bhutan in last June. He then escaped to Switzerland and remained underground for three months and appealed for asylum in Switzerland. However, Switzerland authority put to prison kept for three and half months and deported back to Germany. He lived his life in the German prison for almost four months and was in the verge of receiving deportation. Now he is given stay permission with a travel document in accordance to the Geneva Convention 1951.
His father Tshering Penjor from Trashigang told apfanews that his son would have long back been deported to Bhutan if the Lhotshampa friends had not worked on it sincerely. “They have selflessly helped to stop the deportation of my son. I am not an uneducated person, my son is immature, we would have really been in trouble if our friends in exile did not help us,” he added.
He further states that this is a big message and a milestone to the people inside Bhutan of all communities to understand the feeling of oneness rendered by Lhotshampa brethren in a distant foreign land. He expresses his gratefulness to the Lhotshapma people for giving a new life to his son.
Durga Giri, General secretary of BPP who had been advocating for Tandins asylum in Germany, right from the beginning has said that this successful mission has in fact established a small food for thought to the Thimphu regime against its ethnic cleansing policy.
Feeling of co-existence, mutual respect and communal harmony are the basic of country’s political stability, he added. He has thanked all those who have helped directly or indirectly to create an opinion to stop Tandins deportation and acceptance of his asylum in Germany.
He also appreciated German government for reconsidering the decision in favor of Tandin, a political activist from Bhutan. His struggle for asylum has shown how difficult it is to survive for political activists in Bhutan.
A group of 21 Bhutanese resettled in Australia had taken up signature campaign under the leadership of Parsuram Luitel to appraise the Australian government to alert German government of possibility of threat of his life. Similarly, Ram Bahadur Karki had raised the issue with the Netherlands foreign Ministry and GHRD.
Giri had prepared and forwarded memorandums to UNHCR, Core group countries Amnesty International and various rights bodies across Europe and liasensing with the defence lawyers and follow ups seeking asylum for Tandin.
Quite a facinating story and an unrest try,,,finally successful.I must thanks to those bhutanese who brought this case at the final conclusion with permanent solution.This is excatly the way how we need to established our community umbrella and common voice all over the world.News agency also has played an important role to bring this case ahead.Durga Jee your countless effort for this case have proven that your voice,commitment and help for the needy bhutanese will alway be counted so at top priority.Keep it up!
Congratulation to Mr Tandin and to all who got involved and for advocating his case to get Political Asylum in Germany in accordance to Geneva Convention 1951.
To be very precise, I am not sure how many more Bhutanese are there in Europe, US and Australia who are awating asylum. I am confident that there are many Nepalese Citizens from Nepal and india who appealed for asylum as Bhutanese citizens in these lands.
Shouldn’t we advocate for their asylum!!!!!!! after all they are provided with strong poltical recommendation letters from bhutanese Political parties and human rights orgs.
i would like to share that Such practises has encouraged Bhutanese Regime to say to International forum including UPR that people in Exile are non-Bhutanese(sourse the recent news of APFA). the countries accepting asylum application doesnt have strong voices to speak against Bhutanese regime coz they are aware of the presence of non bhutanese in their countries with documents claiming to be bhutanese but has no any knowledge regarding Bhutan. In this contest, i feel Bhutan govt is speaking the TRUTH. Non National who intruded with economic benefits.
My sincere appeal to all political bodies is PLEASE STOP PROVIDING fake documents.
Finally Congratulation to all
Sincerely
Thumps Up to all the folks who have given their time for this case.
Since you know the living truth of Bhutanese Authority.You have given a new life to this soul.Tandin enjoy ypur new life and be a part of this team.
Folks You are doing great there.I have visited Geneve a decade ago.When I saw you all demonstrating there- I felt if I can be there with a cup of tea.
I know how windy and cold that place is.
Your good work for the humanity will always be paid sooner or later.Be proud.
Thanks Durga Giri ji for putting the antinea at the head always.Several leaders of ours have vanished today.
Do you know what happen to them?
Ans: I think few words below in hindi would explain in depth.
Das kaa ah jadi kay li ya
aya thha
jaab pat var gai
tho nid ah ga ya.
Great!!
Congratulation to Mr Tanding bro. Wish you all the best, peace and happy life in Germany. Thanks to all our Bhutanese friend who help for him to safe his life from danger. It is realy good news.
Once again wish you and your family in Bhutan a peace and happy life.
I dont understand why Bhutanese need to flee Bhutan?
Jigme Y Thenley
Thimphu
Bhutan
[………..deleted………]
Mr.Jigme Y Thinley,
Just go to wamrong,Thungkhar,Kangpara,Marak sakten,Tashiyangshi especially on the month of March and April and see the face of your Bhutanese people.You will cry when you see their pale and yellowish face of your country man.They hardly have enough food to eat.They get enough food only after potatoes are harvested.For several months their make their living with potatoes until they get baby corn(maize).sometimes they became the victim of nature too.No rain no food.
When this farmers are in this desparate situation some ugly minded so called businessman will come and sell rice and dried fish in exchange with RED PEPPER.
Red pepper is a big business there. It grows well but at the time of harvest these business man will come and take all what they have cultivated.They are left with nothing.Instead they will sell same fish and rice for the on coming harvest.
Dear Mr Thinley.If you are a great hero to claim to be a true citizen ple go to this places I have mention and help this poor villagers.Drive this parasites who are sucking the blood of your people.You can approach the Dzongda or Dungpa and provide the food they need and get the red pepper in fair amount just to pay for what have taken as per the market value.
If you do this you will be treated like a Dalai Lama or a Rimpoche there.
Thinley I am sorry but this is a reality.
This is a reality and I have experimented this life.
Still I havent answer your question why some flee the country.
Because people will never choose to be a refugee as they are created by the Govt.
This is a bigger issue and people in Thimphu will never understand.It is not your falt either coz. you are kept captive.No news.no political knowledge.no foreign TV channels.No newspaper.No magazines.
No association,No clubs,No organizations.
Of course you have two political parties and act like they have different ideology and differences.Ha ha ha …..Boy they have created just to fool you and to fool the observers of the international communities.
You know this better ha.
One day Bhutanese People will turn their face back at that time you can ask your leaders where you want to flee instead why you want to flee nado.
Tashi delek
Dear Biren,
As to our knowledge we have one more Bhutanese whose asylum appeal is not yet accepted in Germany. We are working for him. His parents are in Beldangi camp. He is not granted asylum on the reason that he could have stayed safely in Nepal with his family.
we Bhutanese in Europe are concerned and are against the fraudelent claims of some asylum seekers as Bhutanese refugees.