Bhutanese in Germany write to Man Mohan Singh

Munich, June 02: The three-member delegation of the Bhutanese residing in Federal Republic of Germany has submitted the memorandum to the Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh through Munich based General Consulate of India on June 1.

The memorandum was received by Shiv Sagar the vice general consular of the Consulate.

The Bhutanese in the memorandum, signed by Durga Giri, Tej Man Monger, N. B. Bhandari, Chandra Sunuwar, Tshering Penjor, and Gopal Thapa, on behalf of the Bhutanese in Germaný, have appealed the government of India to pressurise the Bhutan government to come to the negotiation within the timeframe of 15 days as agreed in the tri-lateral Panitanki meeting. They have further appealed the India government to create the congenial environment of talks between Bhutan government and exiled Bhutanese leaders to initiate repatriation of the exiled Bhutanese at the earliest to their original homesteads; and; render safe passage to the exiled Bhutanese across Nepal-India and further over to Indo-Bhutan borders to return to their original homesteads. The delegates also briefed the vice general consular about Bhutan's currently held mock election and the tragedy occurred at the international border between India and Nepal when the long march was intercepted by the Shasastra Suraktshya Bal (SSB), that left at least one dead and several others injured.

The consulate has assured the delegates to reach their memorandum to the prime minister of India at the earliest through their diplomatic package. The delegation included Durga Giri, who is also the general secretary of Bhutan People's Party (BPP), N. B. Bhandari and Tej Man Monger.

Bhutanese in Germany have also expressed sadness at the death of the exiled Bhutanese in Beldangi camp and in Mechi Bridge. Bhutan News Service

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To,
His Excellency,
Dr. Manmohan Singh,
The Prime Minister of India,

Date  1st June 2007.
South block, Gate 4, Central Secretariat, New Delhi 110011.
Through the General Consulate Of India, Munich.

Your Excellency,
We the Bhutanese Refugees in Germany would like to bring the following facts to your kind notice for your magnanimous consideration please.

Referring to the subject, National Front for Democracy, NFD, – Bhutan had submitted the memorandum to the king of Bhutan on April 21, 2007 appealing for giving justice to initiate early repatriation of genuine Bhutanese citizens back to their original homesteads with justice and dignity. NFD had appealed to the king to respond their demand before the second phase of mock election in Bhutan scheduled for May 28, 2007 failing which the NFD launched the mass peaceful movement excercising Article 13 (b) of the UDHR which ensures Right to Return to Everyone. The focus of the programme as proposed was to pressurise the Bhutanese authorities for early repatriation of the Bhutanese Refugees and giving recognition to the voting franchise of over 100,000 Bhutanese citizens in exile, without which Bhutan cannot ascertain a true, vibrant and inclusive democracy.

Similarly, the memorandum was submitted by NFD Bhutan to your good office on the 7th of May 2007 to bestow the kind support of your government by rendering safe passage across Nepal -India border and further over to Indo-Bhutan border.

Unfortunately, as in the past Bhutan King did not pay any heeds to the plight of the refugees and the Bhutanese Refugees under the banner of NFD had to declare Long March to Bhutan on the 28th of May. Your excellency, the consequence was a tragedy. There was interception from the Indian security forces called Shasastra Suraktshya Bal, SSB, in the Indo Nepal border on which one refugee lost his life and many have sustained injuries when the security forces opened fire to stop the mob of thousands from marching ahead.

Your Excellency, you are also aware that the situation has been brought under control by holding a meeting at Panitanki between the Indian team led by the District Magistrate of Darjeeling Dist, Nepalese team was led by the Chief District Officer of Jhapa District, District representatives eight political parties of Jhapa, Nepal and the exiled Bhutanese leaders on the 30th of May.

The agitation is suspended for15 days with immediate effect with the agreement that Indian authorities would reach the memorandum of the refugees to the Prime Minister of India immediately and create the environment of talk with Bhutan to resolve the Bhutanese Refugee problem with in 15 days.

The agitating refugees have respected the decision of the leaders to suspend the agitation for the said time period. In light of the above facts, we would like to appeal your good office to look into the matter with prime urgency and –

1.Pressurise the Govt.of Bhutan to come to the dialogue with the refugee leaders and initiate early repatriation of Bhutanese refugees to their original homesteads.

2. Render safe passage to refugees across Nepal-India and further over to Indo-Bhutan border to return to Bhutan.

We are highly optimistic that your good government and people of India will extend help to resolve our problem, as part of India's traditional and glorious commitment of supporting democracy, development and peace around the world.

Your's Sincerely,
1. Durga Giri                               Munich
2.Tejman Monger                        Munich,
3.Netra Bahadur Bhandari             Munich,
4.Chandra Sunwar                       Munich,
5.Tshring Penjor                          Munich
6. Gopal Thapa                           Munich
(On behalf of the Bhutanese Refugees in Germany)