16th February 2003 - Children Rally
17th February 2003 - Youths Cycle Rally
Jan 7th to Feb. 19th - Hunger Strike in the camps, though the date of initiation is different.
The programme gained solidarity and support urging the HMG Nepal and Royal Government of Bhutan for speedy solution to the decade plus refugee crisis.
The JVT team of Nepal and Bhutan is in Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan, since February 24th, 2003 for so called categorisation of verified refugees of Khudunabari.
The Royal government of Bhutan have been always polite in the ‘double standard’ diplomacy prior to visit of any International delegates and International conference.
When we recall the commitment of royal government of Bhutan to resolve the refugee crisis in the Round Table Meeting held at Thimphu in 2000, the assurance provided to the then High Commissioner for Refugees Madam Sadako Ogata in May 2000, the delay in declaration of the result of verified refugees and so on, we are obliged to raise our doubts. Bhutan have undertaken the verification of refugees after the Round Table Meeting, the process of finalising the result is being carried on, at the eve of the similar meeting held at Geneva on 17th February 2003. Perhaps we may have to look forward for another round table meeting to pressurise Bhutan for repatriation of refugees to their original homestead in Bhutan.
Bhutan seems to be compromising to on its resettlement policy in the lands of refugees from other parts of the country as they have started telling it as temporary. However they have initiated the issue on ‘demographic set up’ of Bhutan, which could be termed as crime against humanity in the 21st century.
The Bhutanese nationality is based on the acquisition of landed property. One can say that the nationality is directly related to land ownership. We would like to repatriate in the original homestead in Bhutan as Bhutanese government has also evicted the people based on non-producing the land tax receipt of a particular year specified by the authority. The Bhutanese government on the Royal command excuses its citizens from paying tax. If we are repatriated to another place in Bhutan, this could be a tool to Bhutanese authority later to play the same trick. I mean to say that Bhutan government might ask the land tax receipt of the year when the people would have lived in refugee camps.
The briefing meeting was held on 2nd March, 2003 with the representatives of the Bhutanese Refugee Repatriation Support Group (BRRSG) organised by BRRRC. We would like to thank the BRRSG, Donor countries, well wishers for their support and solidarity. We appreciate and congratulate the hard work put in action by the Bhutanese friends living in America and Europe. We would like to appeal to the donor countries that:
the development grant to Bhutan is for Bhutan's development.
The 1/6 of the Bhutanese population is living as refugees, hence let the money for their development may not be used to suppress and evict the people.
The development grant may be conditionally approved and sanctioned upon the repatriation of refugees.
The verified refugees be repatriated immediately in their original homestead in Bhutan with safety, dignity, honour and fair compensation.
The other refugees be verified within a time limit and repatriated.
Concern
The Nepal-Bhutan talk to be held on March 24th, 2003 is welcome. The out come of the talk would empower us with a better knowledge on the sincerity of the Bhutanese government to resolve the refugee crisis.
The refugee problem is the problem of the people of Bhutan and the royal government of Bhutan. Respecting the earnest effort of the HMG Nepal to resolve the refugee crisis, we would like to request all the democratic nations, donor countries and the support group to urge Bhutan government to hold dialogue with the dissident leaders.
It is felt necessary as:
The newly drafted constitution of Bhutan is based on the prevailing Acts and Laws that created 1/6 of the total population as refugees.
The Bhutan government have been always implementing double standard diplomatic policy (speak one thing and do other).
The Bhutanese economy depends upon the donation, there need to be a third party to witness the resolutions and monitor the implementation of the refugee repatriation and rehabilitation.
The Bhutanese laws like availing security clearance from the police, compulsory dress code, settlement of people in the refugees land, closer of spiritual institutions of Bhutanese people with different background etc.
Let the fate of Bhutanese be decided by the Bhutanese people, so that we do not become refugee again.
Thanks.
Updates about the Bhutanese Refugee Joint Verification Process is prepared by the PFHRB. Any comments or questions should be emailed to
rizal_pfhrb@jhapa.info.com.np , or Tele :- 00977-23-40824. _____________________________________________________________________________
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Peoples Forum for Human Rights, Bhutan.
Office in exile: Anarmani 4, Birtamod, Jhapa, Nepal. Tele: 00977-23-40824
PFHRB, is a pioneer H/R organization formed under the chairmanship of Mr. Tek Nath Rizal. It campaigns for the early solution of about ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND Bhutanese who have evicted forcefully by the Bhutanese authorities.
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