Kathmandu, April 16, 2009: Releasing From Palace to Prision, a book written by human rights activist Tek Nath Rizal, the former prime minister of Nepal and president of Nepali Congress Girija Prasad Koirala stressed the party’s support towards the Bhutanese democratic struggle.
“I have deeper sentiments with the Bhutanese issue”, said Koirala on Thursday in a program hosted by Oxford International Publication at Hotel Shangri-La in Kathmandu. “Until I live, I will have all forms of supports to the Bhutan’s democratic movement.”
He further said, he has talked with Bhutanese king and the prime minister several times for repatriation of exiled Bhutanese. “Though they responded positively, they never executed their words,” he said.
He highlighted the important role that India should play for repatriation of the exiled Bhutanese.
C. P. Gajurel, a central committee member of the ruling Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoists), who also heads the party’s foreign relation department, strongly criticized the resettlement process offered by the United States of America and other countries. “I have not understood how kind the Americans are to give citizenship to the Bhutanese who have never demanded for it”, said Gajurel.
Saying that India has role in solving this two decade long crisis, Gajurel said his party also failed to pick up the issue despite being in government leadership.
However, Madav Kumar Nepal, the former general secretary of Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist, Leninists) said that it makes no difference on the feeling towards democratization and human rights establishment in Bhutan even if all the exiled Bhutanese get relocated to third countries.
According to Nepal, no one can suppress the movement of the Bhutanese citizens, rather they become stronger and more potential in such countries.
This second book by Rizal features how the most trusted character of the fourth King Jigme Singye was forced to go to prison, where he received inhuman torture for a decade.
Speaking about the book, Rizal said that the book was a vivid example of how Nepali-speaking Bhutanese were treated by the regime in the past.
Tek nath rizal should stop puting masks, pretending to be a loyal citizens and a good leader . He has been using the same topics of 14 years prison in Bhutan . Does he have something more then that – i just wonder ??? may be not !
While, whatever is happing now is for good to bhutanese refugee people . Tek nath ji – it time for you to see not to shout like a [………] . Its enough , we have seen your leadership quality and how devoated you were …
bhutani ji i am not satisfied with your comment…..why you guys blame tek nath rizal..is he not in jail for a years…..dont think the happiness given by the foreigner is permanent…..may you have luxury but it is sure that you are losing something which history….never remember you and yours generations.
he has a right to speak and share his feelings…who are u guys to blame..his
faith towards..his people…do your job and be the machine for a whole life why to blame others……..
I appreciate the work of Tek Nath Rizal. He is the first person to raise voice against the king of Bhutan that no one ever could. He deserve award for practicing his right to freedom of expression openly and with posetive tone. Now he has written a book, so what has happened in Bhutan how the regime expelled somany Southern Bhutanese is kept recorded. What I don’t like is the way APFA site provides options in which many dubious and stupid people who has no appreciation of the good work of others whoso ever can comment with such a hateful tone as mentioned above. What is the purpose of providing site where nay one can comment while there is option under to submit news. This site is promoting hatred and communal feelings among the Bhutanese worldwide and that motive should not have been promoted by the apfa journalist. They are perhaps in the grab of politicians so that they let bad posts against the human rights activists openly seen. So, Mr. Vidhyapati ji who wrote the article above should be responsible also for defamation of Rizal. He should be sensible to analyse the consequences by offering this comment session. Are you journalist or a [………]? Please stop this [………]
Editor’s Note:
APFA promotes freedom of speech and expression. Criticisms are part of supporting leaders to be conscious of their acts to ensure they are in right direction. APFA has always encourage defamation, opened forum for critical suggestions. APFA don’t support Rizal’s shouldn’t be criticized.
I wander, why people already settled in western world are blaming the Teknath? They should understand that there is atlest one person still frigthting for human right in Bhutan.Those who are not able to do anything for the common cause they are simply blaming others.Butani comment shows that he is bhutanese but not willing to say publiclly.
It is not clear whether the book is in english or neapli. If it is in Nepali then it should be trnaslated into english so that it can cover wide range of reader through out world.It is good to publish the book of our issue so that our issue can be raise in international societies.
Dear T.N. Rizal zee,
I am really proud of you for doing what you have been doing for the democratic changes in bhutan. I know you hardly have any support from pro-resettle bhutanese groups but don’t you worry, I am with you and there are friends around who will definetely support your commitment and true nationalist view. Just keep moving towards democratic bhutan and you will see us comming along your way once we have confident on your leadership. Other wise byou will be counted as one of the leader.
Bhutanese in california
Congratulations to Sri Teknath Rizal. You are enlightened and couragious, fought for the Lhotshampas existance. I wish you live long and serve the people continiously. Your book will be a record on the existence of Nepalis in Bhutan that was really needed.
I am writing this in response to the EDITORS NOTE given above. I wonder why apfa should encourage criticism against others. Why you should encourage defamation against others? What consciousness are you trying to bring among the leaders and how much conscious and to what degree are you conscious of yourself? Your approach is promoting hatred among the Bhutanese people. Besides when someone posts against the political leaders in whose grab you are operating you are immidiately deleting those posts. Therefore you are totally bias in promoting the right to freedom of expression and opinion as you claimed. You don’t like to be criticised so why then you want Rizal to be criticized?? Please promote peace instead and close down this option for comments because it did not bore cconstructive. Mind you own business and do not poke your nose against the reputation of others.
I really appreciate the different opinons from different viewers.But on some opinions i donot agree – he is not the first leader to raise voice for democracy in Bhutan . We cannot forget the Bhutan state congress leader : Devibhakta lamitare . He raised his voice for change in Bhutan when some of our current leaders were just on mothers’ lap . I am just tring bring the facts that there are some leader in bhutanese movements who are being negleted for no reasons .we can achieve change if we believe in change .
I am not against of anyone in person – if it sounds like i do apolize for that .
Dear editor sir
i usually dont comment on either the article or on someone’s comment but today i feel like writing some words. i may not be mature enough or may lack judgement but I feel peraonally Mr.Tek Nath Rizal has sacrified more than any other leader of our community. If there was any leader that was selfless in our movement, it was he. He was so close to the palace that he could have led any sort of life for himself but he forgot that and took the people’s path. I dont, however,mean that other leaders have not contributed to our cause.
We never supported the poor leader.
Still, if we have any credit to offer him , we can at least buy his book so that he may have one more meal secured and have little peace of mind to think ahead.
GO ON
Happy New Year Greeting to all readers.
Good to read all opinions.All should have the right to show their
opinions.I too support the comments against Mr Rizal.Friends in
the outer world just imagine the life of the camp for 1 minutes.
But still rizal gets no time to visit and address people.So
dont be so called leaders, be real and realiest.Try to work for
others.come on the street we remaining people in the camp will
contribute some rice and dal and follow you for the movement.
But sorry we have no money to go to kathmandu to support you.
If others so called leaders can live in Damak and Birtamode
why cant you?
Congratulations!!!! Respected Rizal sir, I congratulate you for your hard work for Bhutan and bhutanese people.This is a marvelous achievement that you made by maintaining all yours problems.Your determination to reach your goal has been admirable!!!!.I’m sure your welwisher, who are your chief supporter I.e. (Bhutanese peoples), must be very proud of you. You are a good role model for the world as a Human right leader.We support you!!
Going through all the comments I would like to request the editors to really edit the comments before they are published. Check the language please. If they are weak, please omit them.