California, March 6, 2009: California in United States who already has two Bhutanese organizations saw yet another as newly resettled joined with few already taking asylum to form another.
The new organization named Bhutanese Community Support Organization in America (BASCO) is headed by Dick Chhetri. The organization claimed it adopted a policy of transparent ideas, debates and discussions among those who looked upon it in the spirit of unity, hope and optimism before the formation.
BASCO said ongoing Volunteer Programs will continue as its important activity. A BASCO Cultural Band is also constituted to illuminate cultural heritage, promote more interaction and entertainment.
Talman Thapa has been named as Vice Chairperson, Phal Rai as Secretary and T. N. Nepal as Finance officer. Board of Directors included Nar Bahadur Tiwari, Prem Kumar Gurung, Lok Nath Bastola and Purna Mongar
I believe the Bhutanese refugees in California should be united under one organisation and not be divided. This should be hardly taken under consideration.
They should go for either ABA or California’s previous organisation.
interesting! didn’t know there were already two more organizations in cali in addition to the one formed recently. I wonder if these organizations are formed with an intention to help the resettled Bhutanese folks. Three organizations already in California!! if their efforts are genuine, they should come together as a single organization so that they are not laughed at and there is no division within the Bhutanese community. i think its more about power hunger and who can do what, rather than sincere effor to help our community. I wouldn’t be surprised if every single apartment will have its own organization in the days to come. Folks in California should keep aside their differences, merge the three organizations into one and work together for our community…only then their efforts will be valued by all
Instead of forming different community, you guys should have worked to have ONE single Bhutanese community. It looks like you guys are post or chair crazy. All the best!!
Lalay
It is a disturbing good news. The multiplication of organizations will divide the people, hampers unity in the name of unity and create rifts within the community and between the groups. There may be a few good reasons behind but the long term effect is never sweet. Our immediate past is the obvious fool proof evidence. The group of people who could not fit into the existing two, lacks the adoptive nature, and cannot and will not be accommodative.
By now, it is evident Bhutanese people who choose to be the head of chicken rather than the tail of a cow, cannot and will not come under one umbrella and make numerous branches and sub branches of an organization across countries, prefectures, districts and so on to spearhead the democratic struggle.
Any way new cracks have started to already segmented, fragmented and as a result vitality crippled community. For sure and certain this trend will soon multiply and there will be countless organizations and unions, in the name of practicing democracy. After all there is no copyright over the word Bhutanese.
Best of LUCK for your attempt to fragmentation.
YOU are sure to succed, you people will succed.
Dear Dick Chhetri, Talman Thapa,Phal Rai,T. N. Nepal,Nar Bahadur Tiwari, Prem Kumar Gurung, Lok Nath Bastola and Purna Mongar. There is no denying the fact that one needs to have its own organization for the general welfare of the people. But the matter of dismay is that you people are competing eachother simply in forming organizations with varied interests for personal benefits. If you are really working for the people, why don’t you be one instead of two or three??? You people are simply betraying frustrated people. How can people believe you when you handful of people are fragmented into various groups. What are the bases for people to believe you??? It is shame on you.
This is not new in the Bhutanese community. There were so many organisations in Nepal, yet they never came together except in few papers when there was desparate need to show the international communities, and RGOB is praying to happen this for generations.
One thing I can see is the so called self constructed leaders in Nepal, either human rights, or political party have their own consceince that they will still be leaders in third country. And there are youths and others from the camp saying that we have seen the leadership in Nepal and want the new faces and young blood but leaders argue that they have experience and try to bulldoze… but remember leaders your hypothesis will not work.. the need and priorities are different in each countries and different from place to place, and this is what the old leaders never want to understand and learn.. the result is ego and revenge, thus forming new organisation.
I work with many refugees groups from many countries and one onf the refugee group where 70 people live in one community has three different registered organisation….this will not be new to see among the bhutanese the way we try to divide people in the name of caste, education, leaders from Nepal, old settlers in third countries, and so called white color job holderswho has the proferssional ego.
There are some who wanted to form organization to genuinely help the resettlement process.
There are some in the name of freedom limiting membership to only those Bhutanese coming from the refugee camp.
There are some who came much earlier than the people from the camp and say they are the real leaders, to the extreme that they have formed the Bhutanese organisation before the arrival of the refugees from camp and hypothesised that they would serve them best. The result is the new comers wanted their freedom and choice, but so called leaders try to lobby and manipulate to follow their path.
This is a pity, we will see more of this around the world with Bhutanese. But the challenge is if anyone one of the organization will show some practical work to help refugees, that will be the one we need to support.
There are some organisation formed in the name of Bhutanese but remain so dump after taking the post of executive that they never repond when there was fire disaster in Goldhap refugee camp… I feel shame on this and part of such egoist and selfisn organisation.. and there may be the reasons why Dick Chhetri has formed the organistion.
The challenge is to throw the ego back, leave the mentality of Jhapa back and be prepared to start from the scratch, and unless this is done..this sorry saga of forming will continue for long time to come…
Good luck folks
We need to understand the ground reality and the concept of Non-profit organization for public benifit versus Political organization for political gain before we accuse any organizations or individuals. Non-profit org can be formed with different objectives because one Organization cannot fulfull all the objectives of human needs. Some org. forms to defend human rights , some does to preserve natural resources or some does to promote culture and tradition or some does to public benifit. Non-profit is totally guided by its by-laws and need to be operated within its objectives. Human needs are unlimited, so, to serve the people in different area various type of non-profits have been and being formed around the world. For instances, GRINSO-Nepal , INHURED-international defend and advocate human rights, CVICT – Nepal advocates to eradicate torture , MAITI-Nepal advocates to promote women rights . There are all types of organizations with different visions and objectives. One organization cannot handle all kinds of issues. Even it tries dealing different issues the impact upon its work will be less. In my perspective, forming a non-profit is a help to community not fragmentation.
Human beings are social by nature. We live in a society and like to share our feelings, happiness and sorrows with our friends, relatives and others. This wish of togetherness and belonging leads to create a community as a whole.
Usually community refers to a group of people living in a common geographical location. This group of people obeys some social norms and some common value among themselves.
A sense of community is important to establish peace and harmony among the society. The division of work, feeling of association, togetherness, and cooperation – all these help in establishing a healthy atmosphere filled with unity, harmony and friendship. The sense of a community is also important in fostering a feeling of intra-national as well as international brotherhood.
So it is not wise to make any division.
All the best
yes , its all going the same around the world where Bhutanese are resettled . and i donot hesitate to say that it is all due to unsuccessful ,egoistic , chairmined leaders who are self appointed . now its time for them to know their position . if they go on like this bhutanese will get no chance to prosper anywhere in the world at any time
Thanks for the unification and sense of helping each other. I am speaking from pitsburgh pa . I have seen it and became so glad and praying to the almighty god about its goal and its achivement.It will b e difficult during the time of sick and injuries so the group may support and help with the small contribution.so thanks for the social activities with the sense of general assistance.
It is a valid point that forming many organiztions is not a good idea. I totally agree with commments made by some. Having said that, formation of new organization may be because org. already existed is functionless that failed to help their people especially who arrived recently as refugees. Merely forming organization doesn’t help anyway…
To the best of my knowledge, there is only one org. prior to formation new one. It is absolutely a wrong info. published in media which is unacceptable, needs correction !
Hi readers,
For sure, it is not a good idea to form multiple organizations in a small community. I totally agree with comments made by some readers. Having said that I am suspicious that this new org. might have formed because the one already existed is functionless and failed to help their own people especially refugees who are arriving lately. Forming org. does mean nothing if it doesn’t work with purpose and vision. It takes little more time for people to realize the need of new organiation like I did.
If fact there is only one org. prior to formation of new one. It is a mistake from publishers or reporter. It needs correction !
I think Dick Chhetri, who is qualified man like him should organize peaceful rally in US and Europe like Tibetans in exile did and particularly when there are visits by Royals of Bhutan or Art Exhibiton and tell the world about mass ethnic cleansing taking in Bhutan with very fake democracy now! Please strike iron when its hot like Tibetans do all over the world my dear.
Regards
Bhotey
Aren’t these guys the same who said that they dumped their community members in early 2008?
Some names looked new to me comparing to the list they have provided that time. Are they trying to fool the newly resettled Bhutanese?
Aren’t the new arrivals supposed to be getting involved in finding the jobs and establishing them self and the family.
New comers don’t be fooled. You have seen eighteen years of parties and politics. What did you achieved?
Its not bad..We do had so many sectors and sub sectors in Camp..Lol! Dont get pissed up to hear many organizations..I know they are doing all this coz of the recession time..No job and the only way to pass time is play some shit cards in the name of the so called bullshit ORG…Anyway Jay Bhutan!!
hi im laxmi from chicago
It is very sad to hear many organization in california which is sad news for.If we do like this again in USA ,it’s sure that we need to resettle to other arabin countries.It is time for us to b in unity and go ahead. only coward people will form organization to misuse innocent bhutanese refugee which is misfortunite for all.I would like ot request to all organization particapation to come in one or dissolve all and make everybody to live freely.
I didn’t understand why some people commented negatively on the formation of BASCO without realizing the ground reality. People in California, especially in Bay Area might have realized the necessity of credible organization to address their needs, that is why the organization might have formed by the people in California. I don’t blame any Bhutanese organization in refugee camps as well as in USA but I rather I ask myself what I did do for the sake of Bhutanese cause and the welfare of people. If I am not doing any , then it is shameful to blame other.
For the correction in Tim’s comment, I believe some people dumped BACC not Bhutnaese Community, and I dont blame those who dumped it beacause now I as newly resettled bhutanese in oakland,california came to understand that BACC had deserved it viewing their acitivities.
To become unity in the third country is good news.But rather then to make another organization,I hope it would be good to make unity with the next two existing organization.i hope to make unity of three org in one would be better then to be different and apart.
Best wishes to BASCO.
I support Laxami in above discussion. Why did we think that we need such organization. A organization has definite Priciple and ethics , people under such umbrella would try to defend it by critisims to other sections who doesnot belong . We had enough examples to nuliify its existence. Bawans and chetries become one, matwalis tend not to reconsider into the groups. So, we are divided. Why do you think those leaders are interested to Head such Organizations ..iTs for their personnel propoganda. They will definitely try to bring untoward issues into limilight , which is going to destroy the image of whole sections of people. Why was their such Leaders coming out with self proclaimed Parties like Balaram Powdyel who happened to be Ex gup of Bara Bhutan. He wasnt selflessly doing for the noble cause . Bet you, he had earned enough money. He haad Rice Mills, private quarters renting teachers, a monopoly shop ..during the complusion of Ghos and Kiras in Bara Junior High School he was sole supplier fixing his own cost. And after he left the country, there used be heavy donation for his party. Where did it go. You innocent people, you are now what you are because of those useless self proclaimed Leaders. They have cheated you , now, its up to u to beleive to them or not. What is the use of forming such Organizations under such banner which is just recognised by some innocent people in camps. You know, if u are taken into Bhutan, they will create choas ….those leaders. I can give you a perfect example. When there was mass demonostraion near Sipsu Dungkhag on 22nd september, 1990. it lasted for around three days. Those balarams were not there, they were busy counting money in place called Paren. He had received information from International Cummunity to call off demonstraion…..but he did not pass the information which resulted arrest of innocent people………….
So…there are few things which u shd belive or not, choice is yours.
Jaldhaka Pul
i went through al the comments from all the readers and some comments from the newly formed organisation.So what i saw is the newly formed member say that they failed to help the now commers.Why don’;t you guys suggest the already formed organisation instead of forming new group.Actually i don’t know you guys i only know is that we are bhutaneese refugee and i don’t want these many organisation which makes other community laugh at us.So this is just a bull shit.Trying to divide the helpless people.
hey every body this is the fact that we the bhutaneese nepali never get united as we know from the begening.Otherwise we don’t have to live 17 years in nepal as refugee.Again this newly formed organisation pkrove that still that tradition is alive discrimanting each other saying they don’t meet the requirement,making those ……….excuse and formed next party.
I just wanna say one thing you(BASCO) is not formed to help but to divide the community.I strongly agree with the exiled comments.This is a bull shit.once again this prove that bhutaneese nepali never get united.i really hate this
It is actually nothing but the legacy of the British “Divide and Rule Policy” that is ingrained within us. So long the kind of attitude exists our struggle will not be over. Splitting into groups and even sometimes across caste lines will only weaken the close knit fabric that has existed for so long amongst different caste, faith, tradition, custom within the southern Bhutanese.Hopefully the people will give a second thought before carving out the divisions. The people have been liberated after spending so long in the camps in inhuman conditions. Hopefully the the third home US and other countries will also liberate their minds too.
It is really good to hear the formation of Bhutanes Organization in abroad. But, there is no doubt that Bhutanese party or organizaiton never success to their goal. There are/were uncountable organizations and Parties in Bhutanese community in Nepal but none of them work for the welfare of Bhutanese. Similarly, now Bhutanese started forming their organization in foreign land too. It seems that forming organizations for Bhutanese is like culture or tradition. It is the bad luck of Bhutanese that they never ever come under single umbrellaship. There is no doubt that we can see many organizations about the Bhutanes in foreign land as of refugee camp in Nepal. Infact, everybody want to become the chairman, or president of their own party. haahah same on you all…..
It is shame on the Bhutanese who are living in California. So, far there are already 3 organizations in this area. Why you people want more organization? What is the reason? Waht you want to do? Mr. Dick! Have you ever visited in refugee camp in Nepal? Why are you spoiling the innocent Bhutanese? Don’t you know that there are already some organization in California?
I as a Bhutanse I want to suggest or aware all new commer Bhutanese to USA.PLEASE DON’T FOLLOW ANY SO-CALLED LEADERS OR ORGANIZATION. Just look back to our refugee life in Nepal, how badly we are/were spoiled by these kind of organization. Mr so-called Chairman Dick, Talman Thapa the Vice Chairperson, Phal Rai the Secretary and T. N. Nepal the Finance officer, Board of Directors Nar Bahadur Tiwari, Prem Kumar Gurung, Lok Nath Bastola and Purna Mongar WHAT THE HELL YOU WANT??? What you want to do with your organization. Now you are in America not in refugee camp in Nepal. Still want to cheat the Bhutanes people.
It is big shame on you people, it is kind of kids game played by you people. hahahahha hahah
Dorji Tshering
Timai, Camp
I always appreciate the people who work for benifit of community and it is always good to have a organisation which helps in uniting people; conserving culture, art, language, religion and uplifting the people in higher standard of living. But everytime a question reverbrates on me about this organisation. The same question goes to you people also. Is this organisation formed inorder to unite people or to disintegrate them? If it is formed for Bhutanese community in America, it should able to include all the Bhutanese from every part of America. And we didn’t even know about its formation. If you can’t unite the people from the same state then how could you think of whole America? It has become a game for us to form such seasonal organisation for personal or a group interest. And now we are not gonna accept such a seasonal organisation as much easily as you thought. Please come up together with full of determination, dedication and commitments. We always welcome you.
wish you good luck.
Akron
I feel shame to everyone who commented here.All have hidden themselves coz all are afraid of eachother.Iam a Bhutanese resettled in California.I dont think it is necessary to form the new organization.Why not we unite and go together?forming different org. are bad and sad too.If the condition go worse then we,the newly resettled Bhutanese should form a new org again.This is the need of time not people.So we should do that for our own sake.Gud to see more comment but never hide yourself coz that is not gud and shows u cow….
But finally the formation of new org(recently formed)is not the need of people and time but it is the need of ownself to have chairs and posts..never die for post,never die for chairs…dont do politics,coz org. never do politics as parties does.
Dear All,
Supporting most of your ideas that we don’t need organization(s) in numbers to work for the so little newly arrived Bhutanese. The few power crazy people in California are not a community workers but a great dividers. The Bhutanese in California are already divided in two groups and it has involved new Bhutanese too. Mr.Pokwal lost election in BACC to be the executive Director. So, to bring his dream come true he [……] some handful of people, basically the innocent newly arrived Bhutanese.
Mr. pokwal, never been to camp and he never met any political leaders in exile nor any political activits, that’s the reason of him playing the political game we have witnessed in 1990-1996 in Nepal.
Still there is nothing wrong and never too late to start bringing unity among Bhutanese in bay area. “Somepeople can Self declare Hero without any contribution, and Some get that title (HERO) by the community by his/her contribution. Try to be the best person of the Community .
Editor’s note: henceforth, any comments without proper name will be deleted. please mention your correct name not like here as ‘california bhutanese’ and such others that denote a group of people.