Kathmandu: Exiled Bhutanese organised a protest program in front of the Asian Arts Museum in San Francisco where the exhibition, “The Gift from Dragon: Sacred arts of Bhutan” is going on and will continue till May 10.
Conscious people of San Francisco were taken by surprise to note the reality behind the “cultural curtain” of Bhutan.
One of the members of the organising team Dick Chhetri informed the BNS that their protest was by no means a protest against the magnificent arts of Bhutan with which they grew up. “But it was to make aware that it was wrong in the part of Bhutanese government to use the sacred arts and culture as a political tool to cover its hidden agenda of secret and systematic ethnic persecution that amounts to a ethnic cleansing of a dangerous type because, the highly projected mysteries of arts and culture camouflages, hides and distracts peoples’ attention from the real issue of human rights being trampled in everyday lives of Bhutanese refugees and Lhotsampas in Bhutan”, said Chhetri.
At least 20 Bhutanese from SF Bay Area demonstrated peacefully in front of Asian Arts Museum with signs and placards and distributed literature to create awareness of the following points.
“The response from the visitors was very encouraging; especially they were surprised that such a thing of ethnic cleansing exists in the land of Gross National Happiness. If we continued such simple, honest and straightforward protests, without politicizing it, in a united manner, it is certain the day will come when the good citizens of the world will seek to know whose happiness is Gross National Happiness in Bhutan, and uncover the hidden agenda of the Bhutanese government against the Southern Bhutanese”, reads a statement issued by Chhetri.
“Our message was clear that we are the victims of injustice, propaganda and political manipulations very well designed the Royal government under the guise of “One Nation, One People” policy, and completely overshadowed by the highly orchestrated international campaign leaving us helpless. However, Truth is on our side, and there are people who are willing to listen to the voice of the voiceless and may provide help to the helpless if we continued our international campaign”, the release added.
The statement further stated that unfortunately, the present organizers have to halt the protest, originally planned till 10th may, because they have been called on duty by the community to address the pressing needs in providing social services in an organized form to instill foundation of trust in the growing community and promote unity, hope and optimism.
March 17th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
I am very grateful to the friends there in California especially to the Chairman of Bhutanese Community Support Organization (BASCO), Mr. Dick Chettri for organizing such a great events to show other side of Bhutan. Such types of activities to bring political awareness to the outside world needs to be conducted often.
You guys have shown your first positive step of forming a different organization there in California.
There should be some organization who can carry political propagandas against the government of Bhutan to show its other side. BASCO has started this huge responsibilities and I am really proud of its chairman and its members.
Please keep it up.
March 18th, 2009 at 6:14 am
Kudos to Dick Chhetri and others for organising a peaceful protest against Bhutan. We need to carry out more of such protests wherever Bhutan organises awareness raising campaign like the one in San Francisco.We should organise one during the U N General Assembly in NY. Lets join hands in revealing the dark side of Bhutan. Bhutanese think we can’t tarnish their image of being last Shangrila, lets see, the time will tell.
March 18th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
The resettlement process has just begun. These overenthusiastic folks who don’t seem to see just beyond their own noses might just derail the process.
I think Dick Chhetri has never seen the refugee camps. The camps are the slums people want to get out of. DON”T MESS UP WITH THE PROCESS THAT HAS JUST BEGUN.
There is nothing wrong about the arts exhibition. Picketing events as harmless as that would give a bad image to the Bhutanese in the United States. Perhaps that exactly is Dick’s intention!
March 18th, 2009 at 6:25 pm
And folks who are scared of letting truth be told should not run media portals. BNS… do you get paid by Dick Chhetri so you would edit my posts? The fact that someone in Dick’s gang provides donations to run your paper does not mean that you should be toeing their line!
Pathetic!
March 19th, 2009 at 5:46 am
Bhotangey, you must be sick in head.USA is a democratic country, peaceful protest is a way of expression which is respected and encouraged in a democratic setting, what makes you think such protest will hamper the resettlement process. Has America stopped allowing Tibetans from immigrating to America because they protest frequently against the Chinese Government.You sound like a bhotey from Bhutan.
March 19th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
Just because it is democratic does not mean that you protest at everything, like a museum that holds an art exhibition. If you have arts, exhibit them. Don’t project us as antithetical to everything Bhutanese because we are not. The Bhutanese art, whenther it is from the south or east or west or north is something we grew up with. Don’t antagonize social institutions that we will need in the future if we are to establish ourselves in this country.
Some drape themselves in gho and kira to “prove” they are Bhutanese. Why don’t the likes of Chhetri picket permanently at the Bhutan mission at the UN?
And then you using the word “bhotey” does us more disservice that you can imagine. It is derogatory. There are no ‘bhoteys’ in Bhutan. Bhoteys are inhabitants of Bhot (Tibet). Get your slurs right. Just the fact that you use derogatory language against the citizens of your country makes you a little worse than the anti-refugee folks that spew venom on the internet.
Tibetans do not picket arts exhibitions. Don’t compare yourself to them. They have a unique culture to save and the west buys into that idea. Local acceptance is crucial to resettlement. If the local community and social organizations do not want to resettle a particular kind of refugees, there is nothing the US government can do to make it happen. Keep it nice, keep it easy, keep it clean. Be productive members of the society that took you in.
March 20th, 2009 at 4:51 am
At least some one has shown some courage to stand up in the world forum and tell the truth. You all should support Mr. chhetri and his organosing team to let the world know you are Nepalis but real bhutanese citizens. It is sad you guys complain so much and make a hue of politics in the human rights cause.
March 20th, 2009 at 4:54 am
It was refreshing to know that Bhutanese in California are doing their best to highlight the darker side of Bhutan. I, as a victim always support this type of resisrance to the government propaganda.
March 20th, 2009 at 4:57 am
I know this guy who organised the protest. I wish he was there in the refugee camp to do the right thing, because he is real Dick aftraid of none but Good luck in Bhutanese culture. May be he will come up with some briliant ideas once again and surprise all. Good luck Dick
March 20th, 2009 at 5:00 am
There is meaning in the peaceful protest. It was not against the culture. It was for the culture not to be used as a political means to hide the bad things Bhutan government wasd doing to you all. Why not you, if you are real Bhutanese help this guy put out this great idea of peaceful protest?
March 20th, 2009 at 5:03 am
I am in support of Dick Chhetri and his team, b ecause he did it all for all Bhutanese. Those of you who complain, keep on complaining, weeeping, crying and do nothing for another 20 years
March 20th, 2009 at 5:05 am
My name is Jiwan from Tsherang, I know Dick Daju. He has done good thing. He has courage, education and all the senses plus 6th sense to know more than you guys complain.
March 20th, 2009 at 6:51 am
Bhotangey
I appreciate your comments. It’s wonderful thought. I believe we are neither against Bhutan’s rich Art that is being displayed abroad nor the rich tradition and culture that exists back home. We are against the RGOB and it’s numerous discriminating policies. The movement for democracy will be successful only if we see an active participation from our other Bhutanese brothers and sisters hailing from different ethnic groups, otherwise it’s a pie in the sky. In order to attain the common objective all ethnic groups should be united for a common goal and that can be done by appreciating each others culture and tradition and empathizing with each other to arrive at a win-win situation. I guess in the Art exhibition program the participants were our friends not enemies and each of them count sooner or later in the collective and participative process for democracy. We should be able to send them signals that let we also have space in Bhutan to display our rich culture. Again I think it is immature to call or use such word as ‘Bhotey’ no matter how bitter we feel when we are stereotyped as ngolop or Jaga but we need to be accommodating not follow the same because such exchange will only result in seed of discord and clash among ethnic groups. The solution lies in engaging in meaningful dialogue otherwise it will breed hatred, clash and killings and derail the objectives of a collective movement.
I think a peaceful protest would be suitable whenever there is a high level delegation from Bhutan, say to the UN meeting or for any other purpose around the world.
March 20th, 2009 at 10:12 am
I agree with what Roshan has highlighted. The peacful means of demionstrations would be better idea to display the theme and propoganda, but it is not that we should be opposing such display of such rich culture we have back in Bhutan. We love the land, may be not people, we love our country may be not the Government. So, i can say some interested people who wish to secure his place in Politics does all these untoward incidents to gain popularity .
No culture can live, if it attempts to be exclusive….
March 21st, 2009 at 8:04 am
Mr. Chhetri has made it clear in the above statement that protest was organized in no way against the arts and culture of Bhutan but to expose the hidden agenda of RGOB who uses its arts and cultures as political tools to cover up the atrocities committed to lhotsampas. I think every Bhutanese should stand up and raise the issues.Thumbs up Mr. chhetri and team.
March 21st, 2009 at 4:10 pm
Bhotangey!
Why are you raising the personal matter relating to the whole bhutanese? We need to think for bhutanese cause. Whether Dick had done or Bhotangey had we need to appreciate to the work for common cause. I am totally agree with Roshan. Whether one stay in camps or else if they raise our issue then we should support .We should not go against the culture and arts but we shold be against autocratic ruler of the country. We should not make propoganda to divide ourself.
March 23rd, 2009 at 4:46 am
I thought that Dick Chettri and his newly formed organisation Bhutanese Community Support Organization BASCO was a community based organizationbut it tells me that it is politically motivated. We need org like this. Heads up.
March 28th, 2009 at 3:08 am
I had gone through all the comments.Most of the comments were written by bhutanese living in bay area. This shows that bhutanese are not able to stay unitely in one group.May be in other states this type of division will start.
Try avoid this organisational thought and work for the pepole, so that people automatically start reapecting .
May 25th, 2009 at 6:53 am
well my dear nepali dajus and didis………….
atleast while living in a good place..try to do something good.
July 9th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
Mr. Dick is the wrong person of Bhutnese refugee. That types of wrong person create negative appriciate to other country. Why did Our survey leader that types of mistakes. I coulnd’t believe all the survey leader to help us. I heard somebody was took black money for nonbhutanese refugees and to make bhutanese refugees. Please stop that types of activities and must be care that types of leader and must be provide correct punishment for that wrong person who did wrong process to survey our resettlement.
Ramesh Adhikari
Germany
July 19th, 2009 at 12:19 am
Well Guys,
I just look at it all and think when it is really cool.Bhotangy and Roshan please keep your heads up. You are not to worry because you mean good.
I have been to the west many times both during my education at Stanford and business. I know that America has made the right choice in resettling our evicted Lhotsampas and Sarchops.
The United States is a stock house of all knowledge and technology hitherto dveloped in human history. The task is still continuing.
I grew up with my friends from the south and east. I travelled to their homes, spent winter vacations with them- thressing the paddy, picking the oranges, getting the cardomon ready for export. Chuka was not in operation then nor the other companies like BCCL or BBPL. FCB was the sole collector of all the produce from the south that earned a substantial part of National Income. Lhotashampas had talents and visions other wise they would not have established such large plantations some 50 years before when the government had thought of Development Plans. Food production continued to increase since the earliest Lhotshampas came to Bhutan in the 17th century (1624 precisely) under the auspicious guidance of Zabdrung. You guys greatly contrbuted in the costruction of Dzongs, terracing one of the most challenging landscapes to highly productive fields and kept Bhutan’s environment pristine by discouraging the chemical fertilizers. You guys wanted organic.
Look at your own food- most of you are vegetarian. You don’t drink alcohol. I drank alcohol in my house in the north but never had any desire when I passed my winter holidays in the south eating vegetarian food and enjoying tea instead of (aara) alcohol.
You know of conservation. You know of bioengineering and you have that special skill to tolerate the hardships. So make best use of it in the New land you have arived.
I’ll tell you the truth.The government was rude-extremely rude. It was becasue the king himself was msiguided and I don’t need to tell you who did it so. Those who forced Sherubtse College and all other libraries in Bhutan to remove every book on Political Science and discourses on Democracy are fighting for power and positions now . This is the irony.
Bhutan desperatley needs 3000 engineers, several thousand nurses and doctors. It needs bioengineering in several places. The Government is inviting catastrophe by just getting big projects started without considering the consequences. Imported labour will cause more damage than even imagined. Bhutansese need to be in Bhutan at the moment as it happened in the Sixties and the Seventies when roads were constructed, Dzongs repaired and schools started. Bhutan actually misses you as you miss Bhutan.
Remember- it is time to evaluate your own skills now.
Let me not linger in the lyricism but come the point. You guys are used to building-not skyscrapers but beautiful settlements. You developed the Southern part of Bhutan. Just imagine how much work you did in Nepal as refugees. I have travelled that way many times and seen the growth. Now my sincere advice my (chharos), begin building yourself in America.
One of my friends from the Southern Bhutan taught me how to make ink and bandages from (khenpa sing) they call it tete pati. It is best- organic and effective. Save the soyabeans for the children . Why don’t those who have the skills take up organic farming. Let the young people go to school. You start. I like to talk more but I might look like a sympathiser.
I tell you the reality because you will eeventually be needed by a much larger community than the Bhutanese Population. Feel free to share. Good wishes from Thimpu. Tashi Delek.
Rigzin Dorji
Thunderdragonrd@yahoo.com
September 14th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
Things should Come out, We are being Pushed Down in Bhutan. The World Should Know about the real face of Bhutan.
Thankyou
September 20th, 2009 at 4:05 am
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