NFD appeals for UN support
17/5/2007
The Secretary General,
The United Nations Organization,
New York.
Your Excellency,
There need no magnification to the reality of the cause of Bhutanese refugee crisis. Despite it being political by-product of the Bhutanese regime, no open political commitment has been visible towards bringing about solution to the crisis from any direction. The situation has thus been deteriorating critically, particularly, after its deadlock in December 22, 2003.
Various refugee organizations including the groups spearheading for the establishment of Democracy and Human Right from exile has reached a crucial point following unveiling of the so called “Draft Constitution” in 2005 followed by the trial mock election that took place on April 21,2007. Amidst all the confusions, the regime exercised its dictatorial power preparing exclusive voters list and used its whip on the Election Commissioner to administer electoral command over the common people driving them out to partake in the imposed mock election by showing four colors as its political parties.
Looking into the situation analytically, the NFD-Bhutan (National Front for Democracy in Bhutan, coalition of Bhutanese Political Parties in exile) responded the regime with the submission of “Peoples’ Suggestions” as a part of our contribution to the beginning of the process of democratization in Bhutan. In our response on the occasion of the last trial mock election, we responded by submitting a memorandum to Bhutan King with the following major appeals to grant.
· general amnesty to all the political prisoners unconditionally and give recognition to all the political parties in exile to pave way for participation in the election and enable to exercise voting franchise,
· early repatriation of genuine Bhutanese citizens back to their original homesteads with justice and dignity,
· removal of discriminatory policies that has affected the lives of both minorities and refugee relatives,
· nullification of the resettlement of people in the refugee lands in the south, &
· demilitarization of Lhotsham region occupied since 1990.
Besides our above appeal, we also mentioned about peoples’ concern for an inclusive democracy as exclusion of a large chunk of its population in the refugee camps in Nepal is not only injustice to its own citizens but also goes to demonstrate insincerity of the regime towards so called democratization process. While we look towards Bhutan to embrace vibrant and exemplary democracy, the ongoing process under the guidance of the regime only goes to emerge more like a pseudo democracy that will only help strengthen absolutism and support in the management of Bhutan more as the royal estate than a nation.
We analytically look at the process as unrealistic and anticipate showing its sincerity by considering above appeal before the proposed general mock election which is scheduled to take place on Monday, May 28, 2007 at 1200 hours. In the event of non-receipt of any indication of considering our above appeal, we shall launch a peaceful march program of the Bhutanese refugees across Indo-Nepal border at Kakarvitta and Panitanki where Bhutanese refugees en masse will participate to pave our way into Bhutan.
In this context, in view of India’s changed perspectives towards resolving Bhutanese refugee crisis, we look forward to its support and allow us to pave our way into Bhutan. We have also made specific appeal to the Prime Minister of India for their support to our program by providing easier access to the Bhutanese refugees across Indian soil. We have made it clear that the refugees would be compelled to make sit in protests at the points where interference to block the movement appears on the way to Bhutan.
Our purpose of this memorandum is to appraise the United Nations about our forthcoming program as cited above. In this context, Bhutan being one of the UN member nations makes this appeal for support and solidarity to our struggle at this juncture when the large chunk of the population has become dejected due to the regime’s so called process of false democratization. We are also making our requests to all the organizations related to humanitarian issues to help us by making physical presence along with mass media, the Red Cross, the Amnesty International, and the international and diplomatic missions and agencies on May 28, 2007 at Mechi Bridge (the international zone) at the Indo-Nepal border so as to give adequate moral support and help us pave our way across Indian soil.
We anticipate immediate interference of the United Nations in the event of any casualties or uncalled for humanitarian incidents during the program on the above date and onwards.
We humbly remain,
Yours faithfully,
Thinley Penjore
Chairman