HUROB appeals Dr Singh (Politics)

Damak, July 14: Human Rights Organization of Bhutan (HUROB) has appealed the prime minister of India Dr Man Mohan Singh to raise the issue of exiled Bhutanese during the visit of Prime Minister Jigmi Thinley.

Thinely arrived New Delhi with 42-member delegate for a four-day official visit to India, his first foreign visit after resuming the office of first elected prime minister of the country.

“You are well aware that there are more than 110,000 exiled Bhutanese living in Nepal in a pathetic condition and longing to go back to own land in Bhutan any time if congenial situation prevails and Bhutan government demonstrate good will and political sincerity to resolve the problem. And it is the opinion of every exiled Bhutanese and the international community that India is the one which can play vital role in resolving the problem amicably,” the appeal dispatched by HUROB reads.

It further says, “Therefore, besides other important issues in the agenda, we earnestly appeal you to discuss the issue of exiled Bhutanese in Nepal that very often disturbing the atmosphere of peace in the bordering states especially West Bengal by the refugees trying voluntarily to march back to Bhutan and besides the frustrated youths gradually resorting to violence.”

Informing that some western countries have offered for resettlement of some exiled Bhutanese, HUROB says the process has already begun yet majority of the exiled Bhutanese still wish to go back to own country-Bhutan.

Stating that the resettlement is not the appropriate measure for permanent solution of the crisis, HUROB writes, it would remain issue of permanent international embarrassment to Bhutan and India as it will be attributed partly to India for being silent and siding the Bhutan regime in its ethnic cleansing policy.

HUROB also has cautioned Dr Singh of increased violence among the young exiled Bhutanese that could turn into an armed rebellion against the Bhutanese regime as they see no other options after imploring peacefully to settle the problem for past 18 years.

“In the event of the youths going out of the control and resorting to violence is not going to be problem only to Bhutan but as a whole will affect the region. Therefore, taking into view the consequences of the out break of violence for both Bhutan and India, it is our profound hope that the India government seriously considers our appeal and will miss no chance to raise the issue with the visiting prime minister of Bhutan in the greater interest of both the countries and resolve the problem,” the appeal reads. Bhutan News Service