Carter expresses inability, forwards it to Obama
March 31, 2010: In a response to petition submitted by a resettled Bhutanese, Parangkush Subedi, who is pursuing his Master’s in Public Health from Emory University, former US President Jimmy Carter said he was unable to intervene in the long-standing problem of Bhutanese in exile.
Carter with students in Emory University
Although, he recognizes the seriousness of the challenges faced by the refugees, Carter is unable to intervene in the Bhutanese refugee situation, the Carter Center, which he chairs, replied Subedi on Tuesday.
The letter in response to Subedi’s petition mentioned that based on his previous experience with this issue and his prior work in the region, Carter’s personal intervention is unlikely to have an impact on problem.
The letter further said that the US government, among others, has already undertaken a larger effort than the Carter Center could provide to bring about a resolution to the situation, and President Obama has made it a priority for his administration.
The petition submitted by Subedi on behalf of resettled Bhutanese in America on January 21 this year highlighted the gross violations of human rights in Bhutan and continued discrimination against the Nepali speaking population.
Commenting to the response he received from the Carter Center Subedi said, “This is how people in America work.”
“They recognized our small effort to alert influential figures here”, Subedi said, “I must thank Mohan Tamang and R. P. Subba for their valuable contributions to compose the petition I submitted.”
The petition made by Sudedi apprised Carter that pioneering organizations struggling for the establishment of democracy and human rights in Bhutan were banned.
Change has not really come to Bhutan despite the proclamation of democracy through general election in 2008.
Further, it reported that the Bhutanese government still feels revolted if anyone tries to genuinely criticize its policies.
Likewise, it highlighted that the notion of freedom of speech and expression, freedom of forming unions, associations and political parties are not a known culture yet.