President of Druk National Congress (DNC), RK Dorji, who is in Nepal after his extradition case was rejected by Delhi High Court, has been asked to lead the democratic struggle of exiled Bhutanese by Bhutan People’s Party (BPP), Bhutan National Democratic Party (BNDP) and Bhutanese Movement Steering Committee (BMSC).
Top brass of these parties and BMSC agreed to go under the leadership of Dorji based on their crucial meeting of August 22, which Dorji has accepted.
The leaders made such an announcement Thursday during a joint press briefing organized here in Kathmandu.
Dorji expressed his hope that India would become ready to support the future imitative exiled leaders would take. “There are some green signals from Indian side for our struggle,” he explained.
He said he is happy and ready to lead the movement since other parties and organisation would always back him.
“We have strategically agreed to go under the DNC leadership,” Dr. DNS Dhakal, chief executive of BNDP expressed, “There is no option for this since DNC has a better influence inside Bhutan.”
Sharing the experiences he collected during his recent visits to the United States, he said that resettled Bhutanese are finding tough to manage their living, but their conditions are far better than what their friends and relatives have in Nepal.
“Resettlement is just a temporary solution since there is no alternative than to return to homeland with dignity and honour.”
President of BPP, Balaram Poudyal, expressed the need to adopt peaceful means in the struggle. “There is no landing with arms since Bhutan has unique geographical pattern,” he elaborated.
Interestingly, Poudyal also said that his party was unaware of Maoist party in the camp which has been reported to be fighting against the regime with arms. He sai, “I have no knowledge where do such cadres live and what they do as carried by various media.”
Poudyal also accused Bhutan of playing foul game in the name of democracy. “We never trust such a democratic system that has placed the King above the constitution.
The chairperson of BMSC, Tek Nath Rizal, expressed that India has a lead role in resolving the imbroglio. “India must understand that we have suffered due to its questionable policy to support the Bhutanese regime and oppose refugees’ initiative to repatriate.”
He also said the issue is no more a “bilateral deal” Bhutan and Nepal since exiled Bhutanese have reached to various countries through resettlement program. “This is a matter of international concern,” he told.
The leaders also demanded reparation of Bhutanese refugees through the national reconciliation.
Rai, Penjore express dissatisfaction
Chairperson of Bhutanese Refugee Repatriation Representative Committee (BRRRC), Dr. Bhampa Rai, and President of Druk National Congress – Democratic (DNC-D), Thinley Penjore, expressed their dissatisfaction over the announcement of such a common strategy without consulting to other parties and leaders in exile.
“It is, indeed, a good initiative if it is materialized,” Dr Rai told Bhutan News Service, “However, I am sad that they even didn’t ask me once though I represent a people-mandated committee.”
Relating to such a decision from some parties and BMSC in Kathmandu far from camps, he jokingly questioned, “How can shepherds decide to remain in Tshirang when their sheep are in Samtse?”
Meanwhile, Thinely said that his party has “evergreen” solidarity for Dorji considering his attachment and sacrifice.
“However, they even did not make a call before announcing such a major event. I was just a few miles away from the place where our leaders decided to empower Dorji with such challenging task,” he said.
He also expressed his surprise over the involvement of Balaram Poudyal of BPP, who also heads National Front for Democracy Bhutan, in the strategic coalition. “We need to sit together to get his position clarified since I am unaware who gave him such a mandate,” Thinley told.
This is not the ways, to do struggle for democrative movement in Bhutan.Time has already gone for you.You are 2 decaid behind, now people will not trust you, you really frosteted them .Do the movement without people, Best of lucks for you ………….
We must congratulate the party cadres for coming together to unit the forces in the Diaspora and the refugee camps. It is a long time due issue for the exiled Bhutanese to raise a common voice. Please accept our appreciation and good wishes in joining hands and agreeing to work together. At this time there is no need to form different parties in exile. We need a united front to represent our voice in Bhutan and in the international fora. I had been propagating for unity and some of our think tanks in the Diaspora had done a tremendous job in coming together on various issue. Please count on this group to work together and we need to present a united front as the first concern of Bhutanese in exile is to come into terms with the Bhutanese system in establishing a just and true democratic system.
The next step for the group to move the group agenda forward is start planning our main strategy and modus operandi. Lets consult and come together in this task and keep the agendas of the different political parties for the time being. The main thrust in the Diaspora is providing settlement services and counseling to people who are settling very well. Once they are established we could work together better.
All the best for coming together and lets start working on common platform and agendas.
Our leaders keep telling resettlement is not a permanant solution. My question is what if a bhutanese family resettled in third country, gets citizenship, works hard, gets good job and becomes good citizen of that country? Won’t that be permanant solution for that family? I don’t think a person born in Bhutan should end up in Bhutan any how.
It will never be late to begin a task. Once more, glad to read about the present unification of political parties under RK Dorji. I am optimistic that all the dispersed Leaders and activists of Bhutanese movement will put collective efforts and endeavour to establish true democracy in Bhutan for the Bhutanese people and will accommodate all the intellectuals and advocate our cause to greater height. All the best.
I absolutely agree with Suren. There is nothing wrong leaders coming together. Let them raise the voice and I am sure it will be heard far and wide and also by the Bhutan government that the voice for justice and true democracy is not yet dead that all the exiled Bhutanese will raise their voice collectively from Nepal to India, from US to Australia, from Germany to Newzealnd, from Netherlands to UK and so on. And one day victory will be ours but let us not stop raising our voice loud and hard till we breathe. Let’s support those leaders who want to carry on the torch for ultimate victory.
well it is not too late as what too many Bhutanese in foreign countries think. we can do,. win win basis is the best. One most be very serious that we can do. Nothing is impossible. see the examples of others too. But one i am not in mode to support is Maoist. This couldn’t do anything or gain anything in Bhutan. so we must be doing everything so peacefully and democratically.
We never surrender, we never loose, we never quit, we never hide from history we make history. I call on for all the bhutanese to extend possible support to keep our movement alive. We should not forget who we were and what we see if we turn back.