Demonstrators get back
Damak, November 02: The ten cadres of the Human Rights Organization of Bhutan (HUROB) and Bhutan Gorkha Natioanal Liberation Front (BGNLF) arrested by the Royal Bhutan Police while demonstrating in Phuentsholing October 29 were handed over to West Bengal police at Jaigaon who in turn reached them to Mechi bridge, Indo-Nepal border the following day at 3 pm.
Usually the Jaigaon police used to bring such demonstrators at night but this time they brought the demonstrators during the daytime. The released persons include Aiman Rai, Hem Dhoj Tamang, Phurba Dorje Tamang, Karna Bahadur Rai, Ram Kumar Rai, Karna Bahadur Kafle, Mandhoj Gurung, Bhakta Bahadur Tamang, Sangay Dorje Tamang and Prati Man Tamang
The lead demonstrator Aiman Rai during the detention took time for interaction with Superintendent of Police for 3 hours. During the interaction Rai presented the views of exiled Bhutanese and the need of the resolution of the problem without delay as there is increasing frustration among the youths. He also caution the government that if the problem is prolonged the future consequences will not be good for the king, country and the people of Bhutan. He also handed over the appeal addressed to the king.
Date: 29th October 2006
To,
His Majesty the King Jigme Singye Wangchuk,
TashichhoeDzong, Thimpu, Bhutan.
Subject: Appeal to resolved the Bhutanese Refugee Problem
Your Majesty,
Once again in an incessant effort to find peaceful and lasting solution of the Southern Bhutanese problem and in particular the problem of Bhutanese refugees in Nepal, the Human Rights Organization of Bhutan (HUROB) and the Bhutan Gorkha National Liberation Front (BGNLF) even in the back drop of United state of America offering to take about 60000 refugees to resettle in America earnestly appeal Your sagacious Majesty to still rethink and resolve the problem amicably through dialogue and National reconciliation. Time and again we have been insisting and apprising that for peace, prosperity and stability of the country and continuity of hereditary monarchy by the wangchuk dynasty, the consolidation of three main ethnics- Ngalong, Sarchop and Lhotsampa/Gorkhas is paramount importance. The Lhotsampa/Gorkhas now disregarded as Your Majesty's subject despite their unswerving loyalty and perceived enemy would perhaps be the main political balancing factor and survival of the hereditary monarchy in context of the in coming political system in 2008. How can one contemplate that 20% of total population of Ngalong expects to gain support of majority sarchop sans Lhotsampas/Gorkhas and rule and run the government? Your Majesty is well aware that Democracy is a politics of majority and one should fathom the consequences later with silly mistake committed out of emotional action which can be put right in time if wished. We are cautioning because as any other Bhutanese, we feel our duty and responsibility to promote the harmony of all the ethnics and protect the integrity and sovereignty of the country. It is unfortunate that yet if Your Majesty derides our feelings and sincere appeal to resolve the problem through dialogue and reconciliation when situation becomes beyond our control which is likely if it is further prolonged. We will be just the mute spectators of the manifestation of the growing inferno till it takes its toll and the end on its own course.
We have nothing more to say and it is up to Your Majesty whether to believe us and act with conscience. However, we would like to reiterate that even all the refugees are resettled in America or elsewhere is not a permanent solution and in fact will be more detrimental in the future as Southern Bhutanese Problem is not a humanitarian problem alone but more a political. It is a problem created by the government policy and there is need of soul searching and political will with sincerity to resolve the problem. We have always said that we are also not interested to neither bring in any non-Bhutanese if any nor encourage any Bhutanese who wish to settle elsewhere. Nevertheless, all Bhutanese who wish to return should have the right and their properties should be restored.
In view of the fast changing political scenario in the region and the radical change in refugee host country -Nepal and its influence to the youths, we profoundly hope that Your Majesty would take appropriate steps and measures to resolve the problem in time to avoid any untoward consequences in future.
We remain,
Your Majesty's loyal subjects:
S.B.Subba, T. B. Rai (Mukarung)
Chairman, HUROB President, BGNLF
Bhutan News Service