Updated on June 06, 2005

 

 

HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL OF BHUTAN [HRCB]

PO  Box No. 8975: EPC 1962
Kathmandu Nepal
Tel. No. 00977-1-5547 542 / 5530 293
Fax No. 00977-1-5547 542

E-mail: hrcb@wlink.com.np

 

The  following is a compilation of news stories about the  Human Rights Council of Bhutan (HRCB).

This is  not the official website of  HRCB

 

 

CONTENTS

 

 

 

  1. Review of Book  written by Mr. Tek Nath Rizal Kathmandu Post Jul 18,  2004

  2. Book  written by Mr. Tek Nath Rizal released May 31, 2004

  3. News compilation on hunger strike staged by Mr. Tek Nath Rizal.  April 08, 2004

  4. Tek Nath Rizal's appeal to the King of Bhutan Feb 26, 2004

  5. Bhutanese stage rally in Mumbai Jan 20, 2004

  6. HRCB's Position Paper on Bhutanese Refugees and Human Rights Situation in Bhutan, Jan 08, 2004

  7. Bhutan: Political Crisis and Bhutanese Refugees, Background Report Jan 08, 2004

  8. HRCB encourages repatriation of all Bhutanese refugees News reports

  9. HRCB encourages repatriation of all Bhutanese refugees Nov. 24, 2003

  10. Human Rights Council of Bhutan (HRCB) formed under the Chairmanship of Mr. Tek Nath Rizal, July 13, 2003.

  11. News paper reports on the formation of the HRCB Aug. 26, 2003.

 

 

 

Myth of Shangri-La falls apart 

Review of Book  written by Mr. Tek Nath Rizal

By DB Gurung

Kathmandu Post Jul 18,  2004

For Lhotshampas (Bhutanese of the Nepali ethnic origin), to be in Nepal is to be a people united by a language, but alienated by the heartless maps and history, thus charting socio-political chasms. Currently, over one hundred thousand Lhotshampas are languishing in squalid refugee camps in Nepal and elsewhere, which is a truthful metaphor of a detrimental autocratic regime of Bhutan. The cruel eviction policies put into effect, essentially to preempt the demand of democracy with the induction of a racist and chauvinistic rhetoric of "One Nation One People" in the mid-eighties, targeting the Nepali-speaking Lhotshampa population of the southern Bhutan. This measure was aimed at integrating diverse ethnic groups under the canopy of Druk nationalism, however, backfired.The enforcement of Driglam Namjha or feudal court etiquette by imposing the mandatory dress code and Dzongkha language at schools, offices, and courts, belonging to the Ngalong community, which the rulers derive from, has a notable contribution to the current crisis. Furthermore, the trouble deepened with the abolition of Nepali language from school curriculum in southern Bhutan, restriction on religious and cultural practices of the Bhutanese Nepali, and the insidious enactment of the 1985 Citizenship Act with the sole objective of denationalizing as many ethnic Nepalis as possible.  The situation became worse after the massive mobilization of the military, marked by rapes, arbitrary arrests, disappearances, extra-judicial killings, confiscation of citizenship and land ownership papers of the southerners. Military top brass took up most of the bureaucratic chairs, forcing upon draconian rules and regulations over the southern dwellers. Imagine a soldier chairing a civilian office!

Bhutan suddenly plunged into a gruesome militaristic drive, as we saw elsewhere when the interests of autocrats are threatened. Autocrats are mostly unpopular among the common people, and their sole political tool and power is military. Therefore, their "love affairs" with military is well known. What would you call a regime that gags the voices of its discontented citizens with the power of guns? Tyrannous.

To be away from home is to be invisible, even worse, socially handicapped and politically voiceless. In 1989, Bhutan’s three political activists, Tek Nath Rizal, Jogen Gazmer, and Sushil Pokhrel entered Nepal seeking political asylum, but they were soon apprehended by the Nepali authority and extradited to Bhutan. Turning up in Kathmandu again as a refugee after ten years of brutal imprisonment in Bhutan’s jails, Tek Nath Rizal, one of the prominent human rights activists and former statesmen of Bhutan, breaks the silence, and chronicles the genesis of the mass eviction with full authority and narrates his own burning stories in his books titled Bhutan: The Other Side of Shangri-La (English) and Nirbhasan.Rizal is an exemplary personality, who reached the pinnacle of prominence from a humble Nepali family of Chirang, Southern Bhutan. He became a very influential member of the Royal Advisory Council of Bhutan, and ultimately ended up falling under the claws of one of the most heinous political violence. Himself an insider close to the royal palace once and also a coordinator of the Investigation Bureau, Rizal smokes out how some of the royal members manipulate powers and indulge in corruption: The notorious being Prince Namgyal Wangchuck, the present King’s uncle, who not only was involved in self-profiteering business but also chipped in creating an abysm between the King and the Lhotshampas through false rumors and collusion. Nepal too has gone through many such ugly ordeals when the royal members themselves directly indulged in shady deals in the past.The narrative in the pages of Bhutan: The Other Side of Shangri-La (English) unfolds the political odyssey of the author, punctuated with official memos, appeals, and citizenship provisions while Nirvasan (Nepali) falls into the category of an elaborate memoir of a courageous non-violent warrior, is a magnificent read. The books unforgettably paint a new face of Shangri-La swirling in the vortex of a self-created chaos that has ultimately transformed into a full-grown crisis.

Bhutan earned its independence in 1907 with the inauguration of the hereditary monarchy under the lineage of the Wangchuck dynasty instituted by the British, sidelining the reigning theocratic monarch, Shabdrung or Dharma Raja. Ugen Wangchuck, a powerful feudal lord hit the Dragon throne as the first hereditary monarch—and also the absolute.The Wangchuck regime probably has made the highest score in eliminating its political opponents: the prominent being the murder of the two Shabdrung incarnates—the 7th (1905-1931) and the 8th Shabdrung Rimpoche (1939-1953). The 9th Rimphoche had to be rescued and evacuated by the Indian agents in 1961 at the age of six. He had been living in exile since in India until his mysterious death in April 2003. It is easy speculating who could be the backdoor perpetrator.Politically, the institution of hereditary monarchy in Bhutan never felt secure owing to the dearth of theological legitimacy, and the greatest threat was the continuation of Shabdrung incarnates, who actually governed Bhutan. Another powerful Lhotshampa leader Garjaman Gurung was poisoned to death and buried at night in Paro. Mashur Chhetri, a formidable voice from the south, was not only arrested but was stuffed live in a leather bag and flung into the Sunkosh River. These are only few conspicuous instances of the ruling regime’s atrocity.An imperialist state has natural tendencies to back up autocrats and dictators to serve its vested interest: Britain, in this regard, is most well known. It supported the tyrannous Rana regime of Nepal and it did bolster in establishing Bhutan’s autarchy, and it seems still favoring the adamant posture of the royal government of Bhutan in repatriating its citizens. Britain must carry its sack of shame—and show it to the world.India as a bully and hegemony in Asian regions is as looming as Indian movies: It has always buoyed up Bhutan’s sinister policy of phasing out its Nepali ethnic population since the beginning. What weds the largest democracy on earth to the smallest autocracy in the region?This is an interesting query Anand Aditya has pondered in his excellent Foreword. Well—it is an open book. India has hurt the Nepali people as many times as it pleased Nepal’s crook politicos and autocratic rulers.Although Rizal is technically less ambitious and his language a bit sloppy, there is abundance of truth in his narrative to make it impossible to ignore. The books take a glorious flight to ventilate the plight and dilemma of a tortured soul involved in a human struggle—to vindicate his own innocence and to liberate his compatriots in exile. That immensity is Rizal’s chosen subject—and an appeal to the governments of his own country and of the host, and to the international community for justice and compromise for immediate repatriation of the refugees back to the country they belong to. Reading them is highly recommended.

 

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BOOK WRITTEN BY MR. TEK NATH RIZAL RELEASED

May 31, 2004

The following two books written by Mr. Tek Nath Rizal was released by Mr. Girija Prasad Koirala, President of Nepali Congress  and Mr. Madhav Nepal, General Secretary of CPN ( UML) was released on May 31, 2004. The book was published by SAP-Nepal.

 

 

 

 

 

TEK NATH RIZAL'S  APPEAL TO THE KING OF BHUTAN

February 26, 2004

 

To

His Majesty

King Jigme Singye Wangchuck,

Tashichhodzong,

Thimphu. Bhutan

 

Subject::   Early Resolution of Prolonged Bhutanese Refugee Crisis                                            

 

Your Majesty,

 

May I have the honour to apprise Your Majesty on the present conditions in which I have been compelled to spend life in exile and the precarious conditions of the Bhutanese refugees for so many years.

 

Your Majesty is well aware that despite my loyal and sincere services to Your  Majesty’s Government for more than fourteen years, I was alleged for working against the Tsa-Wa-Sum (King, Country and Government) and was incarcerated  in prison for over 10 years.

 

Though I was declared innocent and released, the Government has failed to give a serious thought to my several efforts to seek audience with Your Majesty. In fact, if indeed I was judged to be innocent, then obviously the government has to be responsible to apprehend the real culprits, who masterminded all the problems which have led the country into total chaos, and must be brought to justice in order to bring peace and stability in the country. As I failed to get audience, I submitted a detailed appeal in August 2001 in which I have elaborated all the facts and issues concerned. The government, however, instead of addressing the real problems inflicting the country, has proved itself to be insincere and is still making all efforts to leave over one hundred thousand Bhutanese citizens as stateless & homeless.

 

The government has very conveniently failed to recollect and recognize the valuable contributions and the sacrifices made by the southern Bhutanese to build modern Bhutan. The government has blatantly ignored genuine concerns and issues raised by the southern Bhutanese to review the detrimental policies that have affected them over the years. The government’s program of resettlement of the people from other communities in the lands of the refugees continues unabated despite the strong protests by the refugee community, as well as serious concerns expressed by the international community.

 

As all genuine appeals made so far were totally ignored, I have decided to sit in for the ‘indefinite hunger strike’ till the international communities take concrete steps to resolve the Bhutanese Human Rights and Refugee problem amicably at the earliest. I believe that the government of Bhutan will give a serious consideration to the proposal of the National Reconciliation by creating a conducive environment to enable the refugees to return to their homesteads with dignity and honour; and also making necessary arrangements for suitable compensations for the loss of lives and properties.

 

 

Your Majesty may kindly recollect that the National Assembly of Bhutan has bestowed full responsibility upon Your Majesty to resolve the crisis of southern Bhutan amicably in the overall interest of Bhutan and the Bhutanese people.  Therefore, the people of Bhutan and the refugee community firmly believe that Your Majesty has the wisdom and courage to resolve the Bhutanese refugee crisis at the earliest possible time.

           

I beg to remain,

         

Your Majesty’s loyal subject,

 

 

Tek Nath Rizal

Chairman

Human Rights Council of Bhutan

Kupondole, Kathmandu, Nepal

Phone:00977-1-5529161

Email: hrcb@wlink.com.np

 

 

Cc:

1. SAARC heads of State

2. Indian Embassy, Lainchaur, Kathmandu, Nepal

3. US Embassy, Panipokhari, Kathmandu, Nepal

4. European Union Represetative, Baluwater, Kathmandu, Nepal

5. All Embassies/consulates based in Kathmandu, Nepal.

 

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Bhutanese stage rally in Mumbai
The Himalayan times January 20, 2004
Himalayan News Service


Kathmandu, January 19: More than 200 Bhutanese today protested in Mumbai, demanding that India as well as regional and international communities put pressure on Bhutan to involve mediators in the protracted issue of refugees between Nepal and Bhutan. They wanted an early repatriation of the refugees. The Bhutanese staged a protest rally and a two-hour sit-in in Mumbai to “draw the attention of the Indian government, as well as regional and international communities” on the issue. The refugees demanded that the World Social Forum and donor countries put pressure on Bhutan, a statement of the Human Rights Council of Bhutan said today. Talking to Indian journalists, spokesman of the Council, Ratan Gazmere, highlighted the 'discriminatory' 'One Nation One People' policy of the Bhutan government and the arbitrarily implemented 1985 Citizenship Act as the causes that led to the crisis.
 

 

 

4. HRCB ENCOURAGES REPATRIATION OF ALL BHUTANESE REFUGEES

The 14th Bhutan-Nepal  Ministerial Joint Committee ( MJC) meeting held on May 19-22, 2003 issued a Joint Press Release. The two Foreign Ministers released  the Agreed Position on the Four Categories (APFC) of refugees on March 22, 2003, though they had already  harmonised their position on four category of refugees during the  Twelfth round of  MJC held in Kathmandu on February 06, 2003. Clauses 2 (c)  and (d) of the APFC signed by the two countries state  as follows.  Clause 2 (c) envisages that ‘In a liberal interpretation of the Bhutanese Citizenship and Immigration Laws, people falling under this category ( 2)   and  desiring to return, will be given the option to re-apply for citizenship’. Similarly  Clauses   2 (d) states that ‘Likewise, people under this category, who do not wish to return to Bhutan, will be given the option to apply for Nepalese citizenship in accordance with laws of the Kingdom of Nepal’. Thus, the refugees have only two options- either to apply for repatriation to Bhutan under the terms and conditions of the Royal Government of Bhutan or  to apply for Nepalese citizenship.  

In view of the agreement reached between two governments of Nepal and Bhutan on the issue of repatriation of Bhutanese refugees, the HRCB decided that there is no option but to encourage our people, who have been verified in Khudunabari camp, to return to Bhutan. Of the two options available, the best and rational option for our people is to choose to return to our own homeland. The HRCB  meeting held on November 23-24, 2003, resolved that "it is the right of individual refugees to exercise their right to return. The HRCB will encourage the repatriation of all refugees to Bhutan. The HRCB will undertake appropriate advocacy with the members of the international community regarding the safety and protection of the rights of the returnees".

Note: The BNDP ( Bhutan National Democratic Party) in a letter to the HRCB and the media stated that BNDP fully endorses the list of demands of the HRCB. The BNDP  further said that it would like to assure the HRCB that it shall extend fullest cooperation and support to enable the Council to achieve its noble objective of repatriation of all Bhutanese refugees to their homesteads with dignity and honour.

Source: Human Rights Council of Bhutan (HRCB)

 

 

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3. HRCB ENCOURAGES REPATRIATION OF ALL BHUTANESE REFUGEES

The meeting of the Executive Committee of the Human Rights Council of Bhutan (HRCB) held on November 23-24, 2003 "resolved that it is the right of individual refugees to exercise their right to return. The HRCB will encourage the repatriation of all refugees to Bhutan. The HRCB will undertake appropriate advocacy with the members of the international community regarding the safety and protection of the rights of the returnees".

Source: Human Rights Council of Bhutan (HRCB)

 

 

BHUTAN PANEL TO PUSH REFUGEE REPATRIATION

Himalayan Times

November 25, 2003. Himalayan News Service, Kathmandu

 

November 24:  A day after the Human Rights Council of Bhutan endorsed the council's 'constitution', the council today decided, for the first time, to encourage the refugees to go back to Bhutan.The Council has also decided to draw the attention of the international community to monitor the repatriation process and the post-repatriation phase with regard to the Khudunabari camp. "We strongly encourage the return of Bhutanese refugees and appeal to the international community to monitor the situation during and after the repatriation," Bhutanese human rights leader, Tek Nath Rizal, told this daily. Despite the decision, the Council has also accused the Bhutan government for trying to "mislead the international community" in the name of verification and categorisation.


The decision came at a time when till recently the leaders and the refugees were demanding guaranteed citizenship before repatriation. "We do not want to miss the chance," Rizal said adding the Council will continue to raise its voice on the issue till human rights is respected in Bhutan. The meeting also endorsed the Council's declaration today. The Council also discussed the current situation faced by the Nepali speaking (Lhotshampas) Bhutanese, Rizal said. The Bhutan government, some twelve years ago, had evicted the people by categorising them in seven groups — genuine Bhutanese, returned migrants, drop-out cases (absent during census), non-national women married to Bhutanese national, non-Bhutanese men married to Bhutanese women, adopted cases and non-nationals, Rizal said adding the number of categories have been reduced to four by the Nepal-Bhutan joint verification team.

He said a decision was also taken to initiate a peaceful movement to establish human rights and democratic values in Bhutan. He, however, did not elaborate. Rizal reiterated his demands for direct dialogue between the Bhutanese King Jigme and the Bhutanese refugees, which alone, he claimed, would help clear the differences. The 15th Nepal-Bhutan ministerial joint committee meet held in Thinphu had decided to repatriate the refugees of the Khudunabari refugee camp by February. The meeting was attended by prominent Bhutanese leaders in exile, including Tek Nath Rizal, SB Subba, Ratan Gazmere, Kishore Rai, Garima Adhikari, Rakesh Chhetri and Kamal Dhital.


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BHUTANESE RIGHTS GROUPS TO URGE REFUGEE RETURN

Nepalnews.com  Nov 24, 2003

 

Seven Nepal-based Bhutanese human rights groups Monday unanimously agreed to urge refugees to return home after a two-day meet that concluded in the capital Monday.The meeting chaired by rights activist Tek Nath Rijal was convened by Human Rights Council of Bhutan. "The decision was a compulsion. We will urge refugees from Khundanabari to return while asking the international community to help," Rijal said. The first group of 12,000 out of 100,000 refugees is scheduled to return home in February next year. Refugees have been living in seven UNHCR-administered camps in Jhapa and Morang for 12 years. nepalnews.com br Nov.24

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  BHUTANESE HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS FOR REPATRIATION PROCESS                                            

 

Kantipuronline.com

Nov 24, 2003 KOL Report  

                                                                                                       

KATHMANDU, Nov 24 - A two-day meeting of seven Bhutanese human rights organizations, council of Bhutan has decided to urge for the process of repatriation of at least those Bhutanese refugees, who fall under the categorization to go back to Bhutan.   Speaking to Kantipur FM, the leader of Bhutanese peoples movement for democracy in Bhutan and president of council of Bhutan Teknath Rijal said that the council was bound to decide so as they did not want to miss the opportunity at hand.  However, the Bhutanese political parties have not yet reacted to this decision made by the council of Bhutan. (hbt)

 

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2. HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL OF BHUTAN FORMED ON JULY 13, 2003
 

 

The Human Rights Council of Bhutan (HRCB) was established by seven frontline Bhutanese organisations - Association of Human Rights Activists of Bhutan [AHURA Bhutan],  Bhutanese Refugees Representative Repatriation Committee [BRRRC],  Centre for Protection of Minorities and Against Racism  and Discrimination  in Bhutan [CEMARD Bhutan], Human Rights Organisation of Bhutan  [HUROB],  Peoples Forum for Human rights Bhutan [PFHRB], Bhutanese Refugee Women Forum [BRWF] and the Students Union of Bhutan [SUB] on July 13, 2003. 

 

Mr.  Ratan Gazmere, Chief Coordinator of AHURA Bhutan; Mr.  Suk Bahadur Subba, Chairman of BRRRC;  Mrs. Garima Adhikari, Coordinator of BRWF;  Mr.  Rakesh Chhetri Executive Director of CEMARD-Bhutan; Mr.  Kishor Rair, General Secretary of HUROB; Mr.  D.P. Kafle, General Secretary of PFHRB; and Mr.  Mukti Gurunng, Vice President of  SUB, recognizing the great contribution made by Mr. Tek Nath Rizal  to the human rights movement  in Bhutan,  unanimously elected him to the post of the Chairman of the Human Rights Council of Bhutan (HRCB).

 

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The HRCB  was created with two basic objectives - to work for the  protection,  promotion and realization of  human rights of Bhutanese people and to  work for the just, fair and early repatriation of Bhutanese refugees  with dignity, honour and safety, to their original homesteads in Bhutan.  The HRCB will achieve its objectives only through peaceful and non-violent means.  The overall  objectives of the Council are as follows: 

  • To work for the  establishment  and realization of human rights   in Bhutan.  

  • To work for the just, fair and early repatriation of Bhutanese refugees to their original homesteads in Bhutan with safety, dignity and honour. 

  • To promote goodwill and co-operation and foster tolerance,  forbearance between and among communities, cultural, linguistic and religious groups for strengthening the  multi-ethnic, multi-religious, multi-linguistic and multi-cultural society of Bhutan. 

  • To promote and propagate  the principles and provisions of International Instruments of Human Rights in Bhutan and among the Bhutanese communities. 

  • To generate international awareness about the violation of human rights of Bhutanese people by the Government and the plight of Bhutanese refugees and mobilize international public opinion and support  for  the Council’s work.  

  • To initiate local, national, regional and international  alliances, establish network and work in close co-operation with organisations, inter-governmental organizations and the United Nations Specialized Agencies for the just, fair and early repatriation of Bhutanese refugees  with dignity, honour and safety, to their original homesteads and establishment of human rights in  Bhutan.

The Council shall  accomplish its goals, aims and objectives through advocacy, campaign  and networking;  human rights education and training; dissemination, publications and documentation.

 

Source: Human Rights Council of Bhutan (HRCB)

 

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1. News paper reports on the formation of the HRCB August 26, 2003
 

 

 

EXILED LEADER FORMS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL OF BHUTAN (HRCB)

Kathmandu Post August 26, 2003.  Post Report

 

KATHMANDU, Aug 25:  Bhutan’s exiled political leader Tek Nath Rizal today said that the worsening human rights situations inside Bhutan and the complications created by Bhutan’s government in the refugee crisis had compelled him to form the Human Rights Council of Bhutan (HRCB). Issuing a press statement, Rizal, who underwent rigorous imprisonment in Bhutan for almost a decade following the pro-democracy movement in 1990, announced the formation of the HRCB.

 

He said the task had now befallen him to consolidate the various Bhutanese organisations to fight for the rights of the Bhutanese people. Various organisations, including the Association of Human Rights Activists of Bhutan (AHURA Bhutan), Bhutanese Refugee Representative Repatriation Committee (BRRRC), Bhutanese Refugee Women Forum (BRWF) and the Centre for Protection of Minorities and Against Racial Discrimination in Bhutan (CEMARD) have come forward to form the Council headed by Rizal.

 

"The HRCB is the demand of the Bhutanese people within Bhutan and those languishing in Nepal and India as refugees," said the statement faxed to The Kathmandu Post from Siliguri, India. Rizal sought support from national, regional and international communities to resolve the refugee crisis peacefully.

 

Meanwhile, Rizal has said that India and international communities could no longer treat the Bhutanese refugee crisis as a bilateral issue between Nepal and Bhutan, reports from Jhapa stated.

 

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Bhutanese form umbrella body

The Himalayan Times 

August 26, 2003


Himalayan News Service.  Kathmandu, August 25.  Seven Bhutanese organisations, fighting for the rights of Bhutanese people, have come together to form the Human Rights Council of Bhutan (HRCB) headed by Tek Nath Rijal, former Royal Advisory Councillor and Amnesty International’s former prisoner of conscience. The seven organisations — the Association of Human Rights Activists, Bhutan (AHURA, Bhutan), Bhutanese Refugee Representative Repatriation Committee, Bhutanese Refugee Women’s Forum, Centre for Protection of Minorities and Against Racial Discrimination in Bhutan, Human Rights Organisation of Bhutan, Peoples’ Forum for Human Rights of Bhutan, and Students Union of Bhutan – have formed the umbrella body considering the demands from both inside and outside Bhutan, a statement issued by the Council said today.


“This has been necessitated by the worsening human rights situation inside Bhutan and the severe complication the Bhutan government is creating in the resolution of refugee crisis,” it said.  The categorisation of refugees by Nepal and Bhutan and the ongoing resettlement in southern Bhutan with people from other parts of the country on the lands belonging to Bhutanese in exile are the main factors behind the formation of the Council, the statement said.  “The Council is determined to end the suffering of the one sixth of the Bhutanese population living as refugees in Nepal and India,” it said.

 

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BHUTAN EXILES UNITE

 

Telegraph, India  

August 26, 2003

 

Siliguri, Aug. 25: Seven exiled Bhutanese organisations have joined hands to form the Human Rights’ Council of Bhutan.  Announcing the formation of the organisation at a news conference held here today, the councillor general of the organisation Tek Nath Rizal told reporters that the council was formed to fight for the rights of the Bhutanese people. The six organisations include the Association of Human Rights’ Activists, Bhutan, Bhutanese Refugee Representatives Repatriation Committee, Bhutanese Refugee Women Forum, Centre for Protection of Minorities and Against Racial Discrimination in Bhutan, Human Rights’ Organisation of Bhutan, People Forum of Human Rights’ of Bhutan and the Students’ Union of Bhutan.

 

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