Notice by Bhutan News Service and APFA-Bhutan
Dear readers,
Bhutan News Service and Association of Press Freedom Activists (APFA) – Bhutan take initiative for building network among the Bhutanese living in different parts of the world with the aim to finally transforming it into a Non Resident Bhutanese platform.
We wish to create environment for building such network through our sites and currently it has no such committee formed and we don’t intend to form ourselves. In the longer run, when people feel the need and have enough discussion and framework prepared, we will work for a bigger gathering to announce its formation with representatives from all continents where Bhutanese live.
Editors and Managers
____________________________________________________________
22nd April, 2009
Dear Friend,
DNC Supports the Call for the formation of a Non-Resident Bhutanese (NRB) platform
Druk National Congress supports the idea mooted by Dr D.N.S.Dhakal, Executive Chief of Bhutan National Democratic Party (BNDP), to constitute a non-resident Bhutanese (NRB) platform. DNC suggests that membership to this platform should be open to all Bhutanese individuals who have been residing outside Bhutan, including those who have been living outside Bhutan for business or employment. All of us should be in dialogue on the process of writing the constitution of NRB platform and its long-term goal for the welfare of non resident Bhutanese, Bhutan and the Bhutanese community at large.
This platform will have to emerge as the ambassador of Bhutan and Bhutanese people in foreign countries, to transfer educational, technological and business knowhow to and from Bhutan.
The membership to the NRB platform should be open to all Bhutanese nationals living abroad. We can refer to the kind of arrangement Non-Resident Indian, Non-Resident Nepalese or the kind of linkages the non-resident nationals of other communities have with their mother countries. DNC as a founding member of this NRB platform will work towards a mutually beneficial arrangement for Bhutan and its diaspora living outside its boundaries.
As many Bhutanese are all dispersed around the world, and many more could be joining in the future, we need someone to establish inter-connectivity of our people who are living abroad. DNC proposes that Dr D.N.S.Dhakal, take the responsibility of laying the foundation of the NRB platform. He is one of the best educated persons in our country and he has his own mechanism to travel around the world.
Once we complete the necessary groundwork, delegates from each county can meet either in India, Nepal or any other convenient country to finalize the process of managing the NRB platform. DNC will do the necessary groundwork to complete the formalities required in India.
DNC believes that the third country resettlement program for Bhutanese refugees has opened-up challenges and opportunities for the Bhutanese. Our people are being placed in far-away lands where they have little access to culture, religion and value system that we have been used to thus far.
This is a stressful situation. But, it is also true that after being caged in the refugee camps for the last 17 years, our people are given an opportunity to earn a living and compete for excellence in educational and business opportunities. Our small country that was largely isolated thus far is now being opened to the outside world at an unprecedented pace through the third-country resettlement process.
I wish all success to the endeavor of Dr D.N.S.Dhakal, and DNC would engage actively with Dr Dhakal in the process of forming the NRB platform and I urge all individuals, groups and parties to lend him the required support and cooperation.
Rongthong Kuenly Dorji
President
________________________________________________________
Ref. No/BNDP/Press Release#2
Date: 16/05/2009
Bhutan National Democratic Party (BNDP) considers the resettled refugees in overseas countries as non-resident Bhutanese. It considers the third country resettlement of Bhutanese refugees an interim solution. The Party is committed to continue with the struggle to usher inclusive democratic changes in Bhutan. It will support the formation of Non-Resident Bhutanese (NRB) platform in order to enable the Bhutanese people to keep interconnected with the community and the country.
The Party will work actively to make this initiative a reality and calls upon its members settled in different counties to participate in the consolidation of Bhutanese Diaspora.
Dr D. N. S. Dhakal
Executive Chief
May 25th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
Congratualtion to our firends in DNC, BNDP and Afanews!
It is a big step which gives direction to our future course of action. A peaceful struggle in this line is going to deliver the results. Our first success will be measured by our ability to organize the first NRB meeting which will have to be attended by our representatives from at least four continents. For this we need to work to educate the people and establish the connectivity and organizational infrastructure.
It would be difficult to visualize at present the long-term impact of this step to Bhutanese community at large and the country as a whole. Only those of us would live long enough will see it!
AFA News have done a great job by creating a web slot for NRB. Congratualtion to DNC President for giving the broad picture of this initiative.
I would suggest that we post all developments in our diasphora in this site so that everybody would be visiting it regularly, and they begin to own its ownership. We should post both success and failure so that we take pride in our achievement and we take caution from our mistakes.
What our community will have to realize is that this small group of dedicated people need our support.
It would be a great contribution from those people who are in earning position to interact with APFA group regularly and contribute generously for continuity of this work. There is a need to build an opinion amongst our leadership and prominent people to speak out on this issue. I suggest that APFA group take initiative towards this direction.
I do hope that all political parties from Bhutan support this initiative. This is an issue to which all Bhutanese should be in one opinion: “we will have to nurture this institution”. We became the victims of circumstances because we demanded democracy in the system of governmence in Bhutan. Now we are in the process of nurturing democracy in our community.
We will have to commit ourself to the process of democracy; whether individuals or supporter of PDP, DPT, DNC, BNDP or BPP should be able to compete and come up to lead this platform. There should be no quarrel on this idea.
Let us hope that we will be able to read responsible feed-backs on this initiative and wish all success for those who are working to make this concept a reality.
Dev Sharma
May 27th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
Resettlement is a previlegde and not the right of the refugee mass. One who took the advantage of the offer is going to gain in every mode of livelihood provided the person needs to work hard. Most of political organizations of Bhutanese in exile had differences of opinion. Most of them are just an agglomeration of empty heads without mission and vision. They neither have their concept papers nor the strategy of larger objectives. Like the then RGOB, most of the resettlers are the victims of exile parties either left or right, directly or indirectly and their activists. To be more appropriate or precise, exile parties are not in favor of good and betterment of common people but prioritized their self interest.
In a state of divide and disperse situation, everyone felt the syndrome of loss and the most appropriate mode to overcome this conectivity is probably the unity.
In the lead role issue, politically colored individuals irrespective of past records shouldn’t lead the group and the essence of group will fade up. So a neutral media organization is justificable body to lead such platform, both professionally and ethically.
May 27th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
Firstly congratulation on floating the idea.
This is my first comment and brief only for now. I am sure we will have more discussion as we receive more comments:
Someone has to start somewhere, so the idea is floated but we don’t want to be seen this as another Nglop group from the people of Bhutan (the RGOB will always see as Ngolop).
Fundamental is to get support and recognition from within in Bhutan. Is this possible?
Two, the Non residence Nepali (NRN) is very active now all over the world and more so in Australia. The constitution clearly qualifies any Nepalese who are citizens of countries other than SAARC countries are automatically members (NRN constitution has been made keeping in mind all the nepalese in the world, not any country specifically.
In this case once you live for certain time in these countries, you automatically qualify to be NRN but have the choice to join or not. The NRN will probably issue visa for such people for 10 years. I will not be surprised that many of our people will take this opportunity because it is their choice and visit Nepal in future for many obvious reasons.
How practical BNR will get the support of the old political parties and communities at large? How practical is that people settling in the west will accept DNC and BNDP?
Because people living in different countries and different states and regions in the west are forming their own organisations to get local and state support. How practical is that we will firstly unite the people in one country before coming in the international delegation? Unless, leaders nominate like DNC and BNDP and media support will push them no matter what is the concern of the people.
By going through the experience of the people settling, there are very few who are talking positive about the leaders and parties.
Or there will be a choice to few oldies to appoint themselves and run the program on their own.
My comment may look very negative to all the readers but this is the reality in the ground friends.
I suggest before you all go and form self appointed group, better allow people to settle, form their local groups in each countries and approach through bottom-up policy and NOT top down approach.
There will be no meaning unless Bhutanese, other than refugees settled in other countries support this.
There will be no meaning to form the BNR for the shake of name without engaging the RGOB.
BNR’s one main objective will be to promote and invest in Bhutan in future. How can this be done by one sided policy and given the current stand of the RGOB that they have ignored us for 18 years?
The bottom line of the success is to involve the RGOB, and when is this possible 5 years, 10 years or 20 years?
In conclusion, first win the will and support of all people in and out of Bhutan.
Engage youths, Initiate RGOB contacts, lobby countries like Norway and Core groups to talk to RGOB (because no RGOB agent will even talk to us now) Keep the option open who will lead and how it will go. Don’t nominate like DNC to BNDP and Dhakal. This will give more blacklash than good.
Comments welcome and happy to contribute more
Parsuram, Melbourne
THIS COMMENT WAS POSTED IN THE BHUTANESE GOOGLE GROUP
Dear All,
I have made my comments in the forum as well (MEANS ABOVE COMMENT)
I think it is important to throw the nature of NRB before the formation idea:
1 Is it going to be the another arm of political party?
2 Is it going to be the community oriented organisation?
3 Is it going to be human rights advocating forum? or
4 Is it going be the charitable/NGO type of organisation?
As stated in my comments in apfanews, it is more important to try and define NRB.
Why this?
Because every organisations formed by other countries have strong support of the parent country (Bhutan in our case) since the formation of such organisation involves the government of the parent country at the highest level.
In our case it will be only trying to lobby the RGOB. This can be met by one of the 4 points above.
We don’t want to see another human rights or political forum in the name of NRB. NRB is going to be the esteem organisation to work with entire Bhutanese without boundaries from across the globe. So better, wait and do some ground work.
As mentioned in the NRN constitution that any people of Nepali origin can be NRN, please read the constitution here:
http://www.nrn.org.np/downloads/nrna_constitution_25may08.pdf
Given this, how we protect from the RGOB who may put up the propaganda that we are NRN already (please do some research to tackle this context). The NRN constitution is written considering all these issues and it does not personally favour any Nepali residing countries.
By this constitution, many of you are already NRN eligible (Remember! Iam not trying to say to join NRN but the fact) I have been very closely working with NRN, including pushing the cause of people of Nepali Origin (for people out of nepal to made in inclusive, not Bhutanese issues here but of all Nepalese).
I am also working very closely with NRN now, infact I am one of the organisers of the third NRN conference in Melbourne for Australsia. This involvement has provided me to learn a lot about the process from the beginning and one of the reason I working is to import the idea in to Bhutanese context.
I am writing all this points so that you all can convert into our context.
I ask the BNPD to review your statement in the presse release “It considers the third country resettlement of Bhutanese refugees an interim solution.” This statement is acceptable for the sake of stating, this cannot be justified by deeds since the people who are settling in the west are going to live permanently in those countries unless bhutan opens the door in freedom, which seems not possible in a decade time. We can simply learn from Nepalese and Indians who only go to their parents countries for holidays and visits even though they can live there? Now compare this to our situation.
In conclusion, if you parties are interested to work on lobbying group or one of the above, please don’t pollute the would be NRB now and invite hatred from within Bhutan.
We may have to keep this NRB for the right day so that it has enough respect from inside bhutan when the situation changes there.
One small suggestions, allow young brains to play with their ideas and you old folks please be the behind scene actors if you honestly look into making this happen.
Thank you
Parsu
Melbourne
May 28th, 2009 at 11:28 am
The idea does not seem bad. But the most imminent part of the process now is to overhaul the leadership completely. Who is DNS, he is just a phd title with very narrow vision and selfish, completely out of any feelings or touch with the feelings of the common bhutanese either in, camps or abroad. I met him quite a few times and I am surprised to see one of the most educated persons in the community. Let me not mention here. So, why not encourage new aspiring and broad minded people to take the charge and do away with these very egoistic, brutal and dictatorial so-called educated leaders.
May 28th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
Refugee resettlement is a permanent solution for those who are resettled. It is interim for the political groups who want to exploit it.
Non resident Bhutanese does not need recignition from Bhutan. If it does, whold we not get Bhutan to recognize us as Bhutanese first? And if Bhutan does, would we not go back? We do not need to invest in Bhutan. A few non resident populations do, unless they are mega rich.
We need to organize ourselves wherever we are to better our own lot, and help the remaining refugees in the camps as long as there are any remaining. Once the refugee issue is dispensed with, we are free to live our individual lives.
May 29th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
NRB concept is good idea. It has to be formed. Intelectual people need to take an initiative. For this Dr. Dhakal is a right person to start with. Any body challenging his competency is an idiot, who does not undersand the education system, ranking of Universities in the world and most importantly failed to recognize the intelectual community in our society. I bet such person to join Harvard University to prove he is a capable guy and Dr Dhakal not even for one month course and he will realize how difficult to get into even admission process,forget about enrolement.
May 29th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
Leave Dr. Dhakal to teach in an university. He is good there. He is a great professor, but has little social skills to organize a community. Good grades did not always mean a political or social savvy. Deepa might want to check how many friends Einstein had.
Building a vibrant community is more about social skills and organizational capabilities than academic knowledge. Dr. Dhakal is a great guy and I have utmost respect for him, but he is not someone to lead us: he is an academic, not a professional. It would be great if he would join a think tank and write books. He is great in that respect, provided he gets a good proof-reader. Read “Bhutan: A Movement in Exile” he co-authored if you are wondering what I mean.
May 30th, 2009 at 1:21 am
Hi Deepa Mishra,
Your suggestion to consider others idiot is itself a big question in the integrity of the success of NRB before it started.
How can on earth compare a person’s education to community work and politics. I ask you to go and see the degree of Dhakal what he has studied in Harvard.
Getting admission in Harvard is never the case and so hard as you have mentioned.
Just know that the present opposition leader of Bhutan and few others have done their qualification from Harvard not long ago. Be Harvard or Oxford, it is the fees that you have to pay to these Univerisity, please do not bring the concept of only intelligent can study in those unis, anyone with the will and money will get admission. Please do not misinform the mass that a person is superior just because he have studied in Harvard. education have no eyes to differentiate between rich institutes and poor ones.
More important is how you fit in the community, respect others and communicate with all of the idea.
Did the so call starters of NRB have ever contacted any people around the globe before the NRB idea? Did they do any research? Did they invite the opinion of others initially?
Even after this idea is floated have you ever seen a single comment and suggestions here in the forum?
Please consider that with regards to NRB, it requires everyone’s support and consensus. At the moment they have media support from APFA and BNS, which they may have asked our brothers to insert in the web page. I question whether these websites will put the other information request asked by another group in similar topics even and how does it fit with their mission.
Remember that everyone in the resettled countries have started realizing their rights and be warned that you cannot bulldoze the mass just by supporting these so called leaders sleeping under the blanket all the time and come up when there is opportunity.
If you want to be blind and support them, go ahead and form your version of NRB lead by DNC and BNDP.
When others have time and they are settled, there will be another NRB II with consensus.
One can very clearly see that non of the so called leaders dropped a single line in the discussion forum WhY? Simply because they think, it is inferior to comment with younsters, their ego, underestimating the new lot. Thise leadeers who think they will always have their right in such status are fooling on them and those who support them are blind in the modern era.
Where are those one time leaders like Bhim Subba, Tek Nath Rizal, SB Subba, Sangpa Tamang, Mangala Sharma, Om Dhungel, Dr. Bompa rai, Balaram Paudel, Dhan Kumar Rai, Ratan Gazmere,Deo Data, Thinely penore, Hari Adhikari Ronthang Kinley and many many many others???
You may want to argue they they have done great things in the past, yes everyone did in their capacity that does not mean a refugees who sat in the Mechi Bridge and broke his bone is a less leader than the one who sat with the world leaders in Kathmandu. Your version of leaders is very biased and naive in today’s context.
I suggest you all to understand the concept of leadership in the west and how everyone human being is treated as one not as you describe. It showed clearly you have put emotional support ahead of your logic. Emotional expressions are valueless in context of logic, all we need in NRB is logic and what will work for this organisation not blind support as you are showing.
Why they are not ever suggesting and asking new ideas? Just coming out from the Coccon and writing two media release and trying to sell the name of all of us again? We will never let it happen, if you want go and do please do so, but don’t sell the hat of majority of us by your vested interest.
Last point, you don’t have to be educated at all to serve in the community. Anyone with passion to help can lead the Bhutanese. Qualifying leaders in the name of their education is intellectual racism in today’s world.
I am happy to support a person from bhutanese diaspora if they genuinely like to work for us but not for hidden motives.
I know I will receive many opposition here but equally many who will agree with me as well.
May 30th, 2009 at 2:19 pm
Mishra ji,
For me you seem rather to be extremely stupid. I do´t think again that Dhakal is the right person to lead this Org if at all incepted just cos he has a phd even if from the Harvard or the Cambridge. A nice leader does not need a phd or a harvard education. How many go0d leaders have phd, I wonder.So, I would still emphasise that let some other lead the org. i a sure there are at least a few dozens if not more who could do the job better than DNS. we have seen him enough. Is not it?
May 30th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
Parsu,
Wait, let me read your epic later, for now I am yawning dear!
June 1st, 2009 at 1:13 am
East or West, Dr. Dhakal is the best!
I am not a blind devotee of any one. My apprehension is why these middle aged Shrubtshe graduate (rather incomplete or semi -educated) guys are trying acting smart? If you do not trust or support a person with his educational or intellectual competency, you are then a conceited individual!
Think about Barak Obama (has degree from Yale and Harvard), think about Bill Clinton (has degree from Yale) ,think about Man Mohon Singh ( Ex-professor of Oxford), think about P. Chidambarm ( has MBA degree from Harvard), think about Kul Chandra Gautam ( has degree from Darthmount, Princeton and Harvard) and I can write on and on. A guy of high academic achievement need not necessary be a professor, he can very well become a politician or social workers. Above example is crystal clear!
Well if you guys belive Laloo Yadav or MK Nepal or Prachanda as your ideal visionary leaders, then I have nothing to say! You do not have a constructive line of thinking!
If anybody is trying to make NRB-II, one can easily assume that he is– what BPP used to say in 1990—Bhutan ko Chamchaaa. He does not want to see Bhutanese community united around the world. This is gonna to be our big setback in future in an effort to form NRB.
There are younger generations guys with academic excellence are coming up! I have a big anticipation and confidence in them for NRB formation. Do you have any objections to them too! They are also educated individuals!To name few: Dr. Naresh Subba (research Scientist at Kent State Uni), Dr. Druva Rizal (Visiting Prof to Japan) , Govinda Rizal (doing PhD in Japan), Persu Lautal (MS from Melbourn), Narayan Phuyal (LLM from Banglore), Hari Acharya (Public Policy from Seattle), Deo Datta Sharma (MA from Vermont, USA) and again I can go on on !
So friends, let us value our intellectual community people and support their idea to form NRB. Only educated person will give right direction for our future course of action.
In our education pyramid, Dr Dhakal is at the peak. He is a right man to start NRB formation campaign.
Good Luck Dr. Dhakal, my support is always there for you
With best regards
Deepa Mishra
June 1st, 2009 at 2:44 pm
when two drunkards meet they become really good and intimate friends and go to a bar (vatti) and when two scholars meet each other they quarrel like dogs with their own way of thinkings and ideas claiming their way of thinking has the better weightage. here the debate of our valued friends are similar eventhough they are not the same. to me education is necessary condition but not the sufficent condition to lead the role. as deepaji mentioned some names it seems little uncomfortable for others, which is too natural due to the ideological colour and level of thinking. the way deepaji perceived of forum may have little deviation from the objective.
let’s first finalize the need of platform with desired vision through discussion. it could form from some adhoc committee through nomination. give that committee the power to make the qualifying criteria of the person who can lead the organization. it could be more democratic through election.
to give value and under-estimate of some institution may bring negative understanding. only a conservative thinker will materialize the repute of their side. Dr. Dhakal could represent the part of community and not the whole. He could be a good candidate but not the best. He could be better than many of us and could be the ideal candidate provided he should get refrain from party politics.
June 1st, 2009 at 3:15 pm
Dr Dhakal is an open minded, honest and a humble man. He may lack peoples skill, may not be able to compete with other political leaders with cunning mind as he is an honest man. I know him personally and wish him good luck in whatever he undertakes.
June 1st, 2009 at 4:45 pm
Deepa: You seem to imply that we are suggesting that an uneducated person whould be the leader for any initiative rather than an educated one. No. Education is the absolute qualification for leadership. It is great if a leader is highly educated, but just a well-branded degree is no substitute for other qualities needed. In your praises, you should perhaps be a little less glowing: comparing Dr. Dhakal, though I have utmost respect for him for what he deserves to be respected for, to Obama and CLinton and Singh makes me laugh. Go easy on your idolatry!
Dr. Dhakal is an educated man. If that is what we are looking for in a leader, then yes, he is the one. May be we should sit down and compare degrees and diplomas of everyone and see who has the maximum number of them and accept his diktats. Leadership is not only about education: it is about using that education to better the lives of others. Look at what Obama did in the suburbs of Chicago, at what Billy did for the US economy in the 90s. You seem to forget Yunus who did wonders for the women of Bangladesh. Yes, education helps. However, you seem to not realize there are millions of PhD-holders who have achieved nothing. Show me what Dr. Dhakal has achieved as opposed to any other “leaders” of the Bhutanese? How about Thakur Powdyal, an oxford alum? How about Jigme Thinley, a Penn State alum? Where do they stand as far as people’s issues and rights are concerned?
No disrespects, but Dr. Dhakal would be a great asset in a policy think tank. As an active political/social leader of a movement, he should just not venture further. Like any other Bhutanese leader, he has been a failure for the last 2 decades. His Harvard degree takes him only as far as a visiting professorship in the US from time to time. Good for him, but does not change a whit for common people.
Educated: Yes
Open minded: hmmm may be!
Cunning mind: he got enough of that! Trust me, I know!
Honest: have not had the chance to verify everything he says!
Humble: that is a put-on he has. Bless him!
People skills: some, but not enough.
Again he is a great guy, but he ain’t got no potential to taking us any further than he has taken us so far, whch is not that far anyway. Is there an alternative? Unfortunately, no. That is why we are where we are. And may be that is why you are desperately tryign to convince yourself that we have a saviour in Dhakal. I hope you are right, but I know you are not.
June 3rd, 2009 at 1:09 am
Good you people have fought enough. Keep on fighting. You can do nothing to the people. they continue to suffer. In fact, non of you have done anything to solve the problem of the people. Neither you know them nor they know you.
June 4th, 2009 at 11:21 pm
I felt the media forum is used to take out all bitterness harboured against some organizations or individuals. it is not to bring out that, but to gather a constructive idea about the concept of non-resident bhutanese.if it is correct, let us start from its bottom, if not let us not quarrel or pass ugly comment to each other.it is time for better intellectual thinking and it should come from not only harvard educated ones or simply phds, but from all including high school students. Parsu luitel’s experience with NRN can help to construct a recognized NRB, but not only his input.Dr Dhakal cannot be in the forefront of NRB because of his degree, we have other phds, with appropriate degrees too. some frens have written the comment as if NRB is already formed and headed by dhakal. that is not the idea. it can be born only thrugh massive discussions and exchange of informations,that might take another 10 years. please donot think that this site is pro-BNDP or DNC or any organizations because it has carried their press releases. the news site is just playing its role of disseminating the informations, not involved in making NRB under it. We fought enough in the home ground, now we are in the international ground, so letus not fight. instead let us start a culture of holding fruitful discussions and debates,raise issues competently, intellegently and inform the western world truely about bhutan and bhutanese community. letus empower ourselves and our younger generations.
June 5th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Dear All,
It is interesting to note that initiatives are being taken for NRB. Let’s keep this platform as a non-partisan. Let’s bear in in mind the following for the sake of our unity.
1. NRB becomes a platform for all Bhutanese living/working or resettled outside Bhutan.
2. NRB does not follow any political ideology on its own but will seek the blessings of the political entities outside and inside Bhutan.
3. It has its own constitution /guideline for membership and follows a particular code of ethics/conduct.
These are the few ideas I can throw for discussion.
One simple request for all.
Since English is the medium of communication, let’s respect the language and its rules rather than write undecipherable acronyms, grossly misspelled simple words and very casual and candid remarks. They say our writing like the dawn which shows the day.
Best
Praja Shapkota
Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand
June 6th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
NRB creation is a good idea. It should be able to bring together Bhutanese-be it in abroad, Nepal, Bhutan or India- to reach our common goals; a goal that will facilitate willing exile Bhutanese to return Bhutan will all dignity, a goal that will facilitate willing exile Bhutanese to invest and to take part in all spheres of socio economic developments in Bhutan; a goal that will help us to campaign concerned international bodies to get reparation (of those who do not want to return Bhutan) of our left-out properties in Bhutan.
Therefore, I appreciated the idea floated for the formation of NRB. For this, as Praza Shapkota dai said , we need guidance from our senior Bhutanese no matter whether they belong to political parties or human right organizations. After all experience matter in our issue.
Let senior Bhutanese organize a conference– after rigorous consultation with fellow Bhutanese around the world –in an apt location to form organizational structure of NRB in future. But they should be aware that NRB should be inclusive and non-partisan.
Parangkush Subedi
Bhutanese refugee
Emory University, Atlanta
June 7th, 2009 at 11:22 am
Dear Friends,
Seeing most of the input in both the forums of apfanews and Bhutan news service, I have seen the balanced support for NRB, balanced support to include both political and non political parties and some emotional support to each other and some emotional aspiration to go to Bhutan and get our rights and so on.
We all are entitled to our views and ideas and eventually we have to work together to some meaningful outcome for this cause.
I will try to throw my view points for positive and negative comments.
Before we proceed with the name of Non Residence Bhutanese, I will still ask all to put on the right name of the institution what may fit best to our situation. Because many comment showed repatriation back to Nepal, some showed getting back our rights and property and some want to invest in Bhutan.
For most of these issues we have so many organizations, human rights groups and political parties to tackle this. Are we going to put the same old agenda in the name of NRB? PLEASE, LETS MAKE CLEAR THIS POINT FIRST.
After this, if we are looking something new in NRB, then we may have the valid point to form the institute.
Do we we want NRB isolated from RGOB? Or do we want to form a government in exile similar to Tibetan people under Dalia Lama to pursue the rights restoration for evicted Bhutanese in Bhutan?
The next step comes whether we want to move ahead alone, without RGOB or we want to engage RGOB in the process?
If we want to follow the latter, then we have to change our current approach of critising RGOB and start negotiation. Remember! the leadership in RGOB will change to second generation leaders in decades times and whole attitude will change towards the neutral view with us. It is up to us to say whether we too want to change and love our country and support from abroad, or we want to be stubborn to fight the RGOB to the end to get our property and rights back by fighting and continue slapping their current policies!
The other point is we are Bhutanese by birth and existence but we are also Nepalese by origin and ethnicity. How do we differentiate ourselves from being Bhutanese Nepalese or Bhutanese only? Please do not put your emotions here. This is issue we have to address with cool head and with substance.
I know we have terrible experience in Nepal and many many personal incidence with Nepalese local in Nepal but this should not be generalized with entire Nepal and Nepalese people and govt. Accept it or not, I will always thank the people of Nepal and govt of Nepal for giving shelter to all of us, more so to my parents and for the simple fact that our origin from this country cannot be denied in any generations to come. We have to accept that the govt of Nepal has fallen in the trap of RGOB to sign the 4 categories but we can see the political system in Nepal has done more damage to Nepal itself than to us. I think no citizens wants this in any country.
Please do not assume and victimized that I am supporting Nepal. I am stating the ethical and moral view to all of us as per my thinking. I will very proudly say, I will be the first to go back to Bhutan if the government there allows me to return and render my service to this great nation of ours. This does not mean I will not support Nepal. I will support Nepal as my second brother or sister because this country is going through a bad times and it becomes the moral obligation of every Nepali in the world to support and rescue this great nation where yours and mine great great grand parents were born.
We can have many views in this point but simple point is, it is the only place in the world where the language you and I speak is recognized as national language. We are grateful to the third king of Bhutan where our Nepali language is recognized as official language and despite the uprising in 1990, it is still in papers in Bhutan’s law as such.
I will thank the GRGOB in certain aspects and its policies before 1985 that have given us decent rights. This is more important for our young brothers and sisters to realize and understand before you become emotional to criticize RGOB.
Examples! we have been seen in the west as a community that can adjust in the new environment very fast, more multicultural in the global context. Credit to some of these acceptance go to the RGOB for their policies to educate us in hostels and communities between southern and northern people. This is the undeniable fact but please do not compare with the out burst of the uprising in the south in 1990s, this has a different approach altogether.
While I am saying this, I know many of you will criticize me from the refugee diaspora and many from the Bhutanese who read this forum that I am trying to please them. I am not concerned with what either party says, I don’t hesitate to state the fact. Whether you are RGOB or Refugee, one day we have to sit together to negotiate if we decide to continue saying Bhutan is our country which everyone will agree I suppose.
What is the conclusion? We are Bhutanese, we are ethnic Nepalese, we want to engage with Bhutan at all times to come, we want to be citizens of our country of settlement, we want contribute to the betterment or our country and we want RGOB to recognize us.
So what is the approach to achieve these goals? Fight or negotiations! Please put your comment. I assume, everyone will put logical points than emotional and personal.
Long live the Bhutanese diaspora
Parsu
Melbourne
June 8th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
Obviously we need a platform where we will be able to breed thoughts and actions in diversity. Owing to the fact that we may already be a member of NRNA which has a big diaspora, it is we who need to decide what we would be. The serious concerns over legality of NRB without the support of RGOB raised by Parsu dai are very important from the point view of present situation but still we need a platform for being together. We must be very sensitive towards the fact that we are going to dissolve ourselves into the endless horizons, dismiss the long run sweet dream for evoking identity and dignity and transform ourselves into a hybrid product of cultural hybridity consoling ourselves with short term happiness and material luxury. This may be much sentimental though.
But still we need to be together. There are many things we need to do being Bhutanese. We need to test the observations and experiences we have achieved and will be achieveing for harnessing overall happiness meant to all the common people, to develop a sense of religious, cultural and ethnic tolerance(this has already been ruined) and many others.
The formation of this platform shouldn’t mean the formation of another political party. It is crystal clear that the political parties and their leaders have been complete failure for initiating a single effective step instrumental for solving the refugee crisis, but still they have utility. We need to learn much from these failures and begin up with new ideas. Simply killing time in useless discussions on persanality, quality and degree of a person should not be the need of this time.
We need a diasporic platform and lets come together with the ideas for creating wonders.
Ramesh Gautam
Norway
June 9th, 2009 at 3:13 am
If only all the southern Bhutanese had mind like Parsu, the diaspora would not have occured in the first place.
June 9th, 2009 at 10:56 pm
who are those Zathos, Deepa, and all shits talking about party and some one supporting dhakal or not supporting dhakal and all stuffs like that?
come up with ideas, not criticisms.
June 11th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
Dear Friends,
The reality is that now we all need to have a concrete plan. Already more than 15000 Bhutanese are reettled abroad. There are enormous challenges to our community. Now the community will have to take care of itself. No more assitance from Nepal government or the UNHCR. We have come here to stand on your own feet. The days are not far off when we will have to start rehabilating our people who will be finding tough time to find jobs, paying house rents and councelling people under psychologicaly distress. No more place to dump blame, for example the political parties; no more complaint to UNHCR, no more demand at Nepal government. It is our responsibility and we have to do it!
Now, let us try to organize our community in each state in the US. Let us try to organize our community in each resettlement places in other countries. These communities in fact will have to be established based on a written constitution, and managed by democratically elected representatives. Once that is complete that will keep the process rolling. Once that kind of coommunities are established, then that community could go on passing resolution in favor or against the NRB. If the overshelming majority responses are in favor of NRB then we will have to organize the first parliament of NRB somewhere in Nepal or India to commision a committee to write a written constitution of NRB. Those of us who believe that we can engage current regime to have a dialogue on NRB that is also fine! In that case we don’t need DNC, BNDP or BPP.
With very best,
Dev
June 12th, 2009 at 11:13 am
the write up done above by parsu seems for me little too ambitious but perhaps a string to pull the right way specially when it comes to having a dialogue with the bhutanese government. since you know well perhaps better than all the others who had to leave bhuatn long ago than you, how is it like reconciling with the govts perception on the issue. Perhaps you also know as being sponsored by the same govt for a MSC in Australia, the possibility of coming to a talk on the same table. This is one of the reasons why we should have some one trust worthy enough to pull this string tight enough to bring bhutans govt to listen. Besides,if we cannot lobby india for the cause, believe me, bhutan is not going to budge an inch. So, phd not play so much a role in here ,perhaps, some valid grey matter can be of use!
June 13th, 2009 at 1:42 am
Nilik Jee
Please be informed that I made to Australia through the Asian Development Scholarship Japan program through the international competition and on individual capacity. There was not a single cent spent on my MSC by the RGOB though the approval to study leave was granted by them and I was paid my salary during the study time like others.
Despite that my guarantor was pressurized to write letter to Australian Govt stating to send me back to Bhutan.
India may not listen to us either. There may be opportunity from the countries of our settlement if we can catch the right person in the respective govts or NGOs.
There are lots of people who support both Bhutan and our cause too. They may be in a position to break the ice with RGOB.
Though this forum is also read by the Bhutanese friends which means RGOB is fully aware of this discussion. What I have gathered is there is a concern to the highest level in RGOB recently that in the name of Bhutanese culture and tradition we display our Nepali songs and culture. Down the line in few years, Bhutan to all your and my neighbors is what they see in our culture and learn from us.
This could be one example where RGOB may be able to sit with us to jointly exhibit Bhutan as one representing various cultures including Cham dances and other cultures from all parts of Bhutan unless they decide to launch massive campaign that what we say and do as Bhutanese in the west is not true (this seems to be unlikely). There may many issues similar to these that we may put on the table.
The other point is Young Minister like Pema Gyamtsho are entirely educated in the west and there understanding of the situation is totally in different paradigm if we compare with others in Bhutan and many young fellows in the line are of moderate view on the issue.
Not now, but few years down the line RGOB may also think on these issues very eminently. This can be observed from anecdotal evidence that was discussed by both parties before the election in Bhutan about the southern issues.
Factions of both political party heavy weights (not Southern Bhutanese) have said that they would like to end the taboo like NOC and Census and liberalize all the facilities equally. If such topics has come on discussion in the political forum, then there must be many within the community to solve this problem.
You cannot also deny there are equally others in Bhutan still of the opinion that we deserve to suffer and regularly advising the supremo accordingly.
May be, for now wait and see approach or start, if we all find someone influential in our country of settlement. I am optimistic to meet someone in Australia.
I am not the expert but having worked in Bhutan until 2002 March, I can say that not all northerners are against us living out side Bhutan and have moderate attitude to solve this problem.
Comments and criticism welcome.
Parsu
Melbourne
June 13th, 2009 at 9:20 am
Parsu ji, Thanks for sharing the information of your sponsorship. Does it matter much who did it as long as the trust of the Bhutanese Govt is concerned?
Till now, Bhutan has been flexing all its muscles left and right just because it has the strongest support of India. Tell, you as long as India spoon feeds Bhutan and Bhutan keeps on ass kissing India the issue is a good as never was. The first country to bring Bhutan to listening is India. And you know India very well specially the Congress party. Look at all most all the problems of the neighbouring countries of India. Had India been a country humane enough, there would have been hardly any problems in our regions in the first place. India is one country which keeps on hinging and ALWAYS for its vested opportunistic interest.
I have almost nothing to say to you if you think the settlement countries will make it a difference – at least in near future. Look at the Tibetan case. If there is any leader that can be compared good in such cases there is no better than the Dalai Lama. Whose support does he not have? And look, what difference has occurred in this long span of time. When it is at best kept as an internal matter, I am sure our issue is even not considered as a problem at all.
More over, many countries in the world hardly know any thing about the plight of the southern Bhutanese, even in the biggest universities of the world where the most educated ones do live. The other day, I was asked to given a presentation on Gross National Happiness. When I tried to be just balanced, the audience was aghast, deeply staggered and just did not believe.
It is excellent, if some western educated ministers change or help change the perception of the Govt. But I wonder which official including the ministers and kings who sent us packing off was not foreign educated. The core of the mater lies with the kings and the king -4rth- is the protagonist in the whole episode. I even do not like to say that we have some MPs and minister from the south. Just see, there may come a time when they will be sacked.
NOC? It is more than one year now and just to scrap off this small piece of paper there is no sign appearing.
So, Parsu, I have all my support for you for any realistic approach. I appreciate your optimism.
June 15th, 2009 at 10:00 pm
Namastee Everyone,
I would have appreciated the effort of Bhutan News service to bring this idea on discussion had it come from people who are resettled or are going to get resettled. But sadly it came from Kathmandu or from Jhapa where so called failed political leaders live. I smell their vested interest once again on this agenda.
Nevertheless, it should be discussed and have a fair consensus on what grounds we need to seek inputs. Forget about who is going to be the leading person or anything else. This shows that we are still immature on perceiving long lasting goals. I would like put my ideas on what should we be thinking.
1.Do not worry about who is going to be a leader. It shall be selected/ elected once all refugees get resettled. This will allow time to think and include all of us be it people from inside Bhutan or Bhutanese living in India or anywhere else in the globe. Has anyone thought about condition and inclusion of Bhutanese those who have been evicted from Bhutan and has been living in India or Nepal without being registered as refugee? What are the inclusion criteria?
2.Let’s not call it now as NRB. This sounds to me as the projection from the political parties ( as you see it appears to be like this). I personally want this association/organization/society or whatever, away from unsuccessful leaders who have protrayed Bhutan issue on the way convenient to derive financial benefits or for to strengthen their group. I have ample of examples like BGNLF. We have to discuss to find a suitable terminology. Why don`t we start giving our inputs but should contain logic.
3.I have read opinion that we should use former failed leaders influence on this issues. I have a disagreement not simply because they have failed but because they have no influence at all. If at all they have, none listened them because their projection was worthless supporting. And we have ended up looking for topic like this. I strongly recommend thinking for a young, dynamic, clean personality with democratic ethics. So far none of them are democratic.
4.I wish to read its objectives. So, it’s worth start posting. I encourage all who reads to post their ideas as this will be our forum and something that we are already associated with. We do not want its inception like that of BPP,BNDP,YOB or any other organization that many of us still don`t know that they exist. I read a press release by DNC and BNDP. Why should Thinley Penjor recommend DNS to initiate this? And if both are open and transparent, why don`t they post their vision paper. All should be careful that they may come with a name that many of us are thinking now and claim that we are their people.
5.It’s very sad many of us have started recommending DNS Dhakal? Why not Rizal because both have failed. All should accept and realize that they have failed. So, no more failures on our mission (to be set).
6.Political or apolitical? Big question. My opinion is it should rather be apolitical if we are thinking of including resettled Bhutanese and people from inside Bhutan. There can be high chances that RGOB may accept certain proposal for investments and other voluntary works inside Bhutan if we remain apolitical. I see no political goals left for us in countries of our resettlement. And Bhutan is never going to respond our political call. However, we cannot refrain our self completely from political developments inside Bhutan.
7.Should it have concerns for cultural and religious values? How about our literature and script?
These are simply my opinions and my concern is let no one use us again .I look forward to read good comments and ideas. It’s always good to float ideas than to be adamant and reserved on certain personality. All can go university and attain as much knowledge as PHD or graduates from Bhutan,Nepal,India can have less or more knowledge than those who graduated from US or universities from other nations. So, we should form a habit of judging people from their actions not what he thinks or from where he graduates. I believe in actions not thought simply.
y_dabadi@yahoo.com
June 16th, 2009 at 12:22 am
Nilik Jee,
It looks you know me but I could not figure out about you. Looks your input would be pragmatic and is able to provide some meaningful advise with few others who are advising on the issue on more wholistic way.
If you don’t mind please communicate with me in the below email ID.
parsuramluital@yahoo.com.au
I have started asking opinion from other more in personal email since you cannot speak out eveything in the forum.
I am really really surprised by seeing the silence of DNC and BNDP cheif after putting the statement that they are underground or they think it is too cheap to equally discuss with us in the forum, if so this is the problem our leaders in our region eating up the society. If they are doing that, they should with draw their statement which by far not accepted by people to push NRB through a political forum.
Many Thanks,
Parsu
June 17th, 2009 at 12:03 am
dear everyone,
its a great idea to talk about uniting bhutanese people.but is it a genuine step or yet another melodrama in the name of bhutanese unification! it true that mr.dhakal is a learned man as put forward by mr dorji but how can he come to the forefront to say he can bring the bhutanese diaspora together when he was one of the main person to lend his voice against third country resettlement.so now he says he wants to unite all bhutanese (definitely who hab opted the 3rd country resettlement).so this is really the joke of the decade.i feel it is yet another ploy to push forward the idea of dnc n bndp in the name of bhutanese unification.so we need to be aware of these thugs who had caged us for 17 years n had taken every benefits in our names.what did mr dhakal do to the bhutanese community being a learned man besides making attempt to send his relatives to usa .so i feel his leadership should be outrightly rejected.he has no right to claim this to the bhutanese community.its not that i am harsh to anyone but its reality n everyone knows reality bites.
June 17th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
Bhutanese feel lost amongst too many political leaders that blew their very genuine cause/country away with their narrow sectarian and personal interests,
These so-called, till-today leaders involved or still hanging and clinging Targen-style with a motive of leading the Bhutanese should rather be able to say. „We are ashamed to say that we have badly damaged our cause. It is entirely our fault and there is no question about that. ` We are quitting” They should be able to admit that they have miserably failed the people, and so they should make way for newcomers who can perhaps make a difference.
I tell you again, the only solution for us if any for our dilemma is to change the whole crew of leaders,. The Bhutanese in general are really confused by the turbulent political machinations since the brutal clampdown the Bhutanese Govt rendered. They lived their for the last 19 years wretched, exploited, plundered and hopeless lives, in the mercy of the leaders who swayed them from one end to another. Still, they tried to survive completely knowing nothing about what is going to come next. This is one of the causes of this uproar in this forum. We all should accept this uproar. We should not also forget to accept and respect the dignity they are now getting in these host countries after these long torment years. BUT the most surprising thing even now is , some pops up suddenly in the internet and commands, THIS IS YOUR LEADER FROM NOW´ Is not this ridiculous. Does not Dago prove better here?
The Bhutanese now dream of a new face who will lead them to some hope as long as their country and culture is concerned. May be they have tried everything and every body but have never found a single leader that could just slightly tap the huge potential of our cause in a way that fulfils people’s hopes and feelings.
Not only political leaders many are also frustrated with their so-called Human rights Champions or others organisations, most of who even stands worst. Did not the people followed our DNS or Rizal to name a couple and trusted them for years thinking they would lead them ashore after our long sufferings? But all we got is hopelessness and swallow promises and of course further exploitation. They seem interested only in protecting their personal interests and their close family members.
What may emerge now as a grassroots movement is beginning to call for a shift towards young, intelligent and unconditional leaders. Surely, I am not fit to be one simply because I do not possess any capabilities. I am also not interested to have one with a big mouth, pretentious, selfish or self-made wise kind of person from the younger generation. For some time, I don’t see any necessity to have a leader to lead, it is also not bad to start looking for one who can better our cause. BUT what we need is not crap but some body really genuine. Who then? Parsu luitel,? Ratan?, dev dutta?, some MSCs?, some MAs?, some PhDs? Can you name some more please? Folks are you all ready for another ride? It looks like we have grown up now.
Parsuji, alias Well Wisher jee, I don’t know if you know me, I know you from some body else. Frankly, I m not good enough to be of help to you except that I would like to pop up some times in this forum and put forth my immature ideas. But I surely would like to watch close and learn a bit. Never the less, I am interested to your initiative and may be shoulder you across sometimes. Lets see. For now best wishes.
June 18th, 2009 at 8:28 am
Hallo concerned ones,
Is it possible to add a discussion forum separately ih this paper like in the bhutan times so that the discusion would be lively and presise?
Thanks
June 19th, 2009 at 1:20 am
Mr. Parsu Lautel
I think you are fearing with either Ratan gazmere or Gogen Gazmere or Om Dungel or with all three in Australia. You are acting as if you are the sole representative of Bhutanese in Australia.
As far as I know about you; your family were later became Nepali citizen having land and house in Birtamode. When your parents were in Nepal, you were working in Bhutan, which is clear that you were second to Tulsi Ram Bhandari of Suray Bhutan.
Again, when your parents were in Nepal as refugees, how come you were given ADB scholarship to study in Australia as a candidate from Bhutan? How come Bhutan government gave you Passport to travel in Australia when your parents were living in Refugee camps? Bhutan government never issued even NOC to relatives of Bhutanese refugee in camps forget about job or passport. To my understanding you are planted men of Bhutan government.
So Mr Parsu Lautel, please do not try act smart? When true refugee like Ratan, Gogen or Om Dungel are silent, you have no legitimate claims to represents Bhutanese in Australia. You are no one cheat.
Friends in Australia, please be aware of this men called Persu Ram Leutel.
TN Sharma
Goldap Refugee Camp
Nepal
June 20th, 2009 at 11:08 pm
Dear Mr TN Sharma,
Your words of personal attack on me has defeated the whole purpose of this debate. We are debating on NRB here not on attacking and pulling each others leg. Your mentality and attitude, if people will follow, will eat another generation of Bhutanese even in the West.
If everybody think and act like you and stay quite and allow things to happen by few leaders whom you would like to lead, you will be in the same pond and no different from Bhutanese Govt.
I congratulate you for wrting everything so deep and personal on this forum about me. AND I also wonder the editors have approved such personal comment which are beyond me and bringing my family in. WIll this continue if everybody put personal debate and bring their parents or relatives in? Editors please note this.
The next point is, do your Ratan and Om dhungel do not have anything in Nepal? Can you guarantee? Did they live in the camp or their parents live in the camp or elese where??? Better check??
Do other leaders and many refugees do not have in any property in Nepal?
Can you proof the legality of my parents property in Nepal? If you do so you will be rewarded.
You seems to be one blind [....] of one of those who are purposing NRB or paid individual to react to abuse me or must be your brain is abnormal. Simply because I have never known you or seen you but you seems to take so much interested on others. What damage has my being and parents property, if any has done to you? Aris, jealosy? What elese?
I cannot be so mean like to you, my job (community (both bhutanese and non Bhutanese) work in Australia does not need any appreciation and recognition from the person of your understanding or imigination, I have been fortunate to be recognised by the Govt of Australia and will post you the deatils, send me if you dare your email. My email for you to debate me is: parsuramluital@yahoo.com.au
It also reflects how you have been grown up and brought up that even in today’s world that you atatck people in their welbeing. Why can’t you also buy the property if you are so curious to know others? Sorry for you and your level of thinking.
What we have done in Australia? Ask all the Bhutanese, How the Australian Govt is seeing us when we donated money for the Bushfire? Ask Om dhungel and Ratan who has initiated this? Will you? One person has taken the initaitive, that’s me but when we are recognised by the Govt it is not me, IT IS BHUTANESE IN AUSTRALIA.
I don’t want to bring this point here but felt the need to tell the person like you to know. Ask the People in Albury, Wodonga and Melbourne what we have done with the govt. Go back to Apfa news in April 25tha nd read. Before you trt to attack on others deed, you should have some in your pocket. Do you have anything??? other then aris and negetavity???
Ask Father Varkey in CARITAS in Nepal how we initiated the help to fire victims in Beldangi II from Australia. Why the so called names you have not initiated these or other activities? For your info 25% of that total amount is raised alone by me. (here again I feel a need to tell you in a mean way, this is not for general readers)
With regards to my getting job in Bhutan and coming to Australia, go to google and type my name and you will find all the answers.
You are very right how can I get job in Bhutan when my parents in Camp? Dare you”! send me your email and you will have answers ? Be informed that even though I was in Bhutan, I am fortunate to get NOC for other many Bhutanese Nepalese who were dying for that and have obtained the benefit, ofcourse the person was jalied later on.
Part of my NOC story here if you wish:
http://www.theage.com.au/national/new-citizens-proudly-show-off-their-sense-of-freedom-20090126-7q0m.html
One thing, Australia is not like the boundry of Goldhap Refugee Camp. Ask your friends how we live here.
Mind you! I have no interest of leaders like you and many others. I have passion to help the communities and I don’t need the approval of person like you or your company. But at the same time, I will also not let people to be fooled by the so called leaders unless they participate in full with dignity and honour.
Your criticism are welcome and this sort of negativity helps me to construct and improve my weak points and develop further from here.
I welcome more of such abuse if you have.
One more thing
My visa in Australia is no different ot other refugees including Om Dhungel and others. I am recognised as refugee like others, but according you I should Bhutanese hoina? Please study the definition of refugee at: http://www.unhcr.org.au/basicdef.shtml#def01
Let me see how you will progress and develop also, this will be interesting to know.
Thanks
Parsu
June 21st, 2009 at 4:56 am
Parsu Sharma lautel-jee
Do not take my comment personal. I apolozie for that. But that is reality. When people suffered in the camps, you haven’t shown up;you were hesitant to even acknowledge that Bhutanese communities do exist in the camps. And now all of a sudden!……common dude…..people are smart enough now
No one know who is persu lautel ! Miraculously, you are now claiming that you are representing Bhutanese in Australia. You knew few years back that resettlement process was happening and you are now trying to project yourself as young emerging Bhutanese community leaders by playing against our leader’s card in Australia!
Why you are dead-set against Lotshampa refugee leaders? Common dude you do not know anything what has happend in the past 18 years in exile. If you were so passionate to serve your own community you would have chosen to leave in 1990 and joined people in the camps. Sadly you did not do that. Why all of a sudden now dude?.
Dude…again…don’t teach your father how to boil the egg? Ratan , Gogen, Bhim Subba, TN Rizal, RB Basnet, Dhakal, SB Subba, Bhompa Rai, Rongthong…….they are our heros. Had there been no initiative of RB Basnet and Bhim Subba to invite UNHCR, most of the people would have been in miserable conditions in Nepal including your father; has there been no tacit support for third country resettlement by Rongthong,DNS Dhakal, RB Basnet and TN Rizal, our younger generation would have been landed into vicious poverty trap; had there been no AMCC appeal movement by Ratan Gazmere, Gogen and many others ,refugee issue would not have gained international attention vis-à-vis resettlement process; has there been no BRRRC guided by SB Subba and Dr. Bhompa Rai , our community people would have been landed into utter frustration……. So dude Lautel jee…what do you want from them? Only e-campaigning against them will not help you dude.
Do not ever try to say anything bad to them okey? If you find any loopholes on their deeds, it is we the younger generation to rectify it and guide our community to the logical end in the days ahead and you are also part of it. But if you are trying to say bad to them from the very beginning………every body will sense fishy……on your part. Respect our people! And inculcate such habit to our younger generation.
May be in future we will sit in a table and discuss more dude!
TN Sharma
Goldap Camp, Nepal
June 21st, 2009 at 7:21 am
Mr TN,
How can you change all your tone so suddenly? All comments to the leaders is not what they have done or not done. The whole point is why in this forum they are not contributing if they so wish to be make a genuine NRB and take part equally?
I am putting all my comments here is from the point of NRB and not on the basis of what they have done or not done? Where did you find that I have objected their party or group in Nepal? Do you have any minor evidence? So dude.. do bit more research. Ask Dr Dhakal where did I met him when he was writing his first book and whether I was of any help.
Don’t you teach me who lobbied the TCS process. I have more valid evidence of who from refugees and who from Nepal Govt had a series of meeting in US. I bet you will hardly have clue as to who had the power to toss the US govt from Nepal to make them agree for TCS. Times permits I will reveal details after details whic you never will ever have any sense of it mate!
Yes, I may not have lived in the camp, but my contribution is not cent less than you, dare you go and talk to Tek Nath Rizal and asked what a man ni the name of Parsu had done in in Thimphu soon after his release, when other so called Nepalese in Bhutan ran miles away and even avoided this poor (that time)desperate man who was just out from the prison in Thimphu. I lived that time in Bhutan and I dared RGOB to openly assist him in anyway I could (if we all live that long, you will know then). This is not so easy for anyone working in govt in Bhutan and do that ok!
The leaders have done wonderful job at their own will and power but why the people settled in the third country do not like to listen anything about the leaders? i ask this questions to all of you? I have no malice but why people shy away? We have to convince them so many times even to sign the simple community meeting attendance, why? they repeatedly say that they have been cheated so many times in Nepal that is why they do not want to sign any documents. Who did this so horrifying things to them.
Mind you, I have more important work and assignment to work in Australia than to fight for the leadership and politics of negativity. You are dump headed dude not to understand between politics and community work. I am involving in community work and assisting people to settle, not politics. There is no politics and will not be one from 5000 people settled in Australia to impact anything in Australia. My commitment is more to assist people and not to compete the so called leaders you are mentioning.
My concern is if anything it has to come, it should be through everyone’s agreement, not through the way you are used to have dude. The system in the west is not what you imagine from Nepal.
How on earth you concluded that when I am commenting in this forum in my name that you are assuming that I am commenting on behalf of Bhutan? This attitude of yours very clearly shows you are more scared and worried and feeling insecure for others to do anything other than from your likings.
But one thing i have learned from your comment is that I have to work hard to improve myself to be more articulate to tackle the person from level of mentality.
Thanks for your insight though, I got through different attitudes.
June 21st, 2009 at 7:29 am
Mr TN,
How can you change all your tone so suddenly? All comments to the leaders is not what they have done or not done. The whole point is why in this forum they are not contributing if they so wish to be make a genuine NRB and take part equally?
I am putting all my comments here is from the point of NRB and not on the basis of what they have done or not done? Where did you find that I have objected their party or group in Nepal? Do you have any minor evidence? So dude.. do bit more research. Ask Dr Dhakal where did I met him when he was writing his first book and whether I was of any help.
Don’t you teach me who lobbied the TCS process. I have more valid evidence of who from refugees and who from Nepal Govt had a series of meeting in US. I bet you will hardly have clue as to who had the power to toss the US govt from Nepal to make them agree for TCS. Times permits I will reveal details after details whic you never will ever have any sense of it mate!
Yes, I may not have lived in the camp, but my contribution is not cent less than you, dare you go and talk to Tek Nath Rizal and asked what a man ni the name of Parsu had done in in Thimphu soon after his release, when other so called Nepalese in Bhutan ran miles away and even avoided this poor (that time)desperate man who was just out from the prison in Thimphu. I lived that time in Bhutan and I dared RGOB to openly assist him in anyway I could (if we all live that long, you will know then). This is not so easy for anyone working in govt in Bhutan and do that ok!
The leaders have done wonderful job at their own will and power but why the people settled in the third country do not like to listen anything about the leaders? i ask this questions to all of you? I have no malice but why people shy away? We have to convince them so many times even to sign the simple community meeting attendance, why? they repeatedly say that they have been cheated so many times in Nepal that is why they do not want to sign any documents. Who did this so horrifying things to them.
Mind you, I have more important work and assignment to work in Australia than to fight for the leadership and politics of negativity. You are dump headed dude not to understand between politics and community work. I am involving in community work and assisting people to settle, not politics. There is no politics and will not be one from 5000 people settled in Australia to impact anything in Australia. My commitment is more to assist people and not to compete the so called leaders you are mentioning.
My concern is if anything it has to come, it should be through everyone’s agreement, not through the way you are used to have dude. The system in the west is not what you imagine from Nepal.
How on earth you concluded that when I am commenting in this forum in my name that you are assuming that I am commenting on behalf of Bhutan? This attitude of yours very clearly shows you are more scared and worried and feeling insecure for others to do anything other than from your likings.
But one thing i have learned from your comment is that I have to work hard to improve myself to be more articulate to tackle the person from level of your mentality.
Thanks for your insight though, I got through different attitudes
June 21st, 2009 at 8:19 am
No wonder, the real faces of bhutanese! This is the very reason why we have always lagged behind. My heartfelt thanks to UNHCR and asociated orgs again for RESCUING US FROM THE DOLDRUMS: At least now, we have a good choice to choosing our so-called leaders if at all needed. FIRST OF ALL IT IS NOT AT ALL NECESSARY TO HAVE A LEADER AT THIS MOMENT: WE HAVE ENOUGH CAPABLE AND HONEST LEADERS IN OUR HOST COUNTRIES: I have absolutely no faith on all these above mentioned people.
June 21st, 2009 at 8:59 am
Hello PERSU JI;
I am actually not sure if you are really interested to serve the community or to show off how important you are -again the same old story, we have had so far. The very approach you are trying to take is bugging you down. In one hand, you say you would like to work for the society, on the other you are creating more differences in the same community.
You know what? The best way for you is to accept very body, including people like Ratn, Dhungel etc who still have lots of clouts, AND slowly work upward in garnering people to come to you. for example, I don not know much about dr. dhungel though I have met him a couple of times but people like ratan though slacked over time, still commands some respect. What I am saying is: trying to smear others black and paint yourself rosy will rather back fire you VERY BADLY: Rather take up the slack, buddy. Let the other recognise you rather than you beating your own old drums. I still appreciate your courage and ideas to make a difference in the mass with your leadership. I meant it.
Now, I feel that I should give you my email: should be interested here u r.
niliksh@gmail.com
June 22nd, 2009 at 10:48 am
NRB…if succeeded by good leaders will be the best platform for every non-residing Bhutanese in Bhutan.When did the third country re-settlement process began and when did mr.luital migrated to Australia (2001-2002)? How long did it take to complete his course?So he has been working in Australia for the last 5 years.
if you have donated 1/4 of your share to those needy ones,how about mother teresa? Live for others beside highlighting your own agenda.
For mostr of us,life is not like ‘chappad phadd ke’,.Hard work and perseverance makes us a good leader not for Laloo minded guys.
June 22nd, 2009 at 12:50 pm
write a proper name
TN Sharma
Firstly debate started here for NRB. All it has been asked is what is NRB? Who will lead? Politics or non Politics? and then debate began some supporting, some opposing, some saying to fight RGOB and some want to negotiate.
Then came personal mud slinging particularly from TN sharma from US pretending to be in Goldhap and so on…
Many commenting here are so worried or scared, they even did not want to put the name.
Some pulling my legs from being the man to RGOB to trying to lead or becoming smart or abusing the leaders. The power to two eyes to see a person is so wonderful that one can make anything.
This is the gift we have from the 18 years of experience and we have never produced ONE UNIFIED LEADERS WHEN WE WERE IN ONE PLACE and we are talking of uniting with one person. What a joke? I honestly feel that we will perhaps will never ever have one leader in our life time, this is seen very clearly from 1990 to now…CAN ANYONE SAY WHO IS OUR LEADER? If US President calls tomorrow to represent Bhutanese refugees who will send? any answers? Simple NRB came from two statements from two prominent leaders, ok that is fine but where are others? Ok don’t reply to us because you may consider us young! But why even there is no statement from others too…
The whole point is not criticizing anyone here but the integrity of inclusiveness from all. That is all I am concern. Unless we bridge this gap, we will be making RGOB happy and in peace.
I was genuinely trying to seek some real input for NRB but now we are at personal war.. oh what a blessing we have got from RGOB and 17 years of suffering!
It looks everyone of us seems to hold our own beliefs and ignore or support our likings. This is the greatest gift we have from…say all of us… or each other.
I have come to this forum to see if any of the leaders will give openly some advise or suggestions or lessons or even personal mentoring. It did not happen and perhaps will not happen.
To conclude on the contribution of leaders in this forum for NRB I can compare one thing, though for their supporters, I may look stupid: that JSW felt very embarrassing to come out of Bhutan and New Delhi to face the media after 1990, so he decided to remain within rest of his life, and same thing here our leaders feel too embarrassing to come up and advise us.. perhaps a very odd comparison.
Before this, remember I have no personal malice to anyone of the leaders who you people are considering. I only wanted something from them… but never happened.
MR TN Sharma, you have said don’t teach your father to boil egg. What a good saying…If that is the case why you are so bloody scared to come up with your name and email even. Remember this is cyber age, not the stone age that you go to the palace to seek advise. I am always there to support any idea and work hard to make it a meaningful one but not the scare campaign like you to play politics even dragging personal things. Can you tell why people change track.. from NRB to personal attack? You do so to distract or your are sacred…. otherswise you will not say Goldhap when your are in Atlanta in US.
You try to play your card and slide mud over me, that will not do anything to me, I don’t have to prove or testify to you or anyone. I know I have not done anyone, any wrong and have always contributed wherever I can.
Coming to NRB, we may be very far away given the level and attitude of all of our discussion, we may lend up having none or our own NRB in each country.
Lets see how we go and who holds water to lead all of us. I am happy for anyone to come forward and show us clear path above the scare mongering here in the forum seek true NRB or anything??
Parsu
June 22nd, 2009 at 8:11 pm
Dear editor,
I believe that this is a platform to discuss about NRB(A) formation. From many days back, this discussion forum has been transformed into a platform for self-publicizing, discussing personal issues, exchange of e-mail IDs and many more. Everybody is very busy now and has no time to listen to the blows of these trumpets. I donot know why the two mirror image comments of Parsu Sharma are moderated. I think Mr.Parsu Sharma is an educated man and he must learn to respect identity and individuality of everybody else. It is better that his dedications, initiatives and deeds are evaluated by others. Every body knows that he is doing great in Australia. Hurriedly making comments on everything will only dump him aside. While defending ownself, he shouldn’t blow into the identity of others like he has done for Om Dhungel, Ratan Gajmer and others. When a comment comes in affirmative to him, he boosts up asking e-mail ID and invites the one for further discussion. This platform shouldn’t be hi5 or facebook or others. He should’t undermine refugee camp or Nepal only because he is in the west. It shouldn’t be forgotten that refugee camps have generated many thoughts, ideologies and personalities.
What is NRB? Is it another political party for which Dr.Dhakal has already declared himself the president? Have Dr. Dhakal or other political leaders claimed the leadership of (not yet formed) NRB? Many young chaps are hissing declaring the political leaders ‘unsuccessful’. I believe that the entire Bhutanese movement and Bhutanese in total were unsuccessful and not only the political leaders. A share of this goes to all of us. But where were these broad minded intellectuals when the victims of Long March were struggling against the death in BPKIHS Dharan? It is useless to debate here.
If every thing will be okay when the lead role is given to one of these young, delegent, fresh, self motivated and transparent intellectuals, lets give a try and taste the seduction of magic success.
It is not easy as to say. Lets not build up hatred and just criticism. Lets come up with constructive ideas so as to construct something new. I wonder why these youths even criticize the Bhutanese journalists who sacrificed a lot to media to this extent; cutting off a part for loaf, working with no sleep, carrying Bhutanese news papers on shoulders and many more.
Long live Bhutanese spirit.
Ramesh Gautam
Norway
June 23rd, 2009 at 4:01 am
When the debate had started on 21st may I read every comment on it. Actually only a few people gave the actual ideas how Non-Residental Organisation were formed.Who support the this organisation.How it works? Till now no one has given clear concept of the NRB. Bhutanese young gereration has no much ideas about this type of org. They have more idea about the politics of nepal rather than bhutanese.
To form the purpose NRB we should not leave any unturned stone. If any party or any bhutanese in any country left then it will be the condition of bhutanese political parties. In US every state has one or two some form of organisations.There is a ABA for name shake which is not active in this crucial time aslo. When do they will work for bhutanese?
We selfmotivatively discuss about the matter. We can collect views and idea of the peolple . It could take years.Then only the formation of NRB will be go on good spirit. Otherwise it will the contidion of…………… The people were alrady started dividing like in Nepal. We haven’t forget the bad culture of forming the many org.
In this forum we can see the personal attack rather then the good input for the formation of NRB.We need the people from different areas so that it will go smoothly.It is my idea if any one is writing the comment, if he/she mention his/her country where lives then we can collect global bhutanese ideas about the formation of NRB. Why we cannnot come openly in this discussion? No one is big and small in any discussion.The fact is how we can present our ideas.
tnmishra1@gmail.com
June 23rd, 2009 at 7:06 am
Dear All,
I felt hurt when I went through all your presentations. Particularly about the leaders who toiled hard sheared the pain, suffering and happy moments if any, in the camps for long 18 years. They were the people Like DR Dhakal ,RB Basnet, Dr. Bumap although he was not supportive to 3 rd country resettlement ,SB Subba although he silently played communal card, Hari Adhikari Ratan Gajmer and many more.
But to mention few name like Bhim Subba, I disregard him for the reason he left for resettlement in Canada with his family members without bringing the movement in to a logical conclusion. It was his obligation being the responsible leader.
I also regard Hari Bangaley for his role in Third Country Resettlement( TCR ),he risked his life and was faithfully supporting the TCR .Also Mr. Ratan has significant role for the TCR. [......] Whatever it may be I strongly support the leaders who served in the camps in the good and the odd days.
They are our true heroes’ can’t even contemplate to consider selfish people who were leading the good lives when the fellow folks were undergoing tremendous amount of sufferings as refugees in the camps.
June 23rd, 2009 at 12:16 pm
“There is a ABA for name shake which is not active in this crucial time aslo. When do they will work for bhutanese?”
Mr. Mishra: I am responding here as it came up here, but please let us communicate privately in the future.
ABA is a membership-based nonprofit community organization of Bhutanese in exile in the United States. ABA is responsible to its members and functions within the parameters proscribed by the state and federal laws of the United States. A group of volunteer board runs this organization, and given the resources we have, we have achieved quite a lot by now. However, we do not go about trumpeting our work. We would rather invest that time in doing a little more with what little we have.
We provide a report of our activities to our membership and the general community once a year at our annual convention. 2009 convention is being held in Washington DC suburbs on July 4, 2009 and we will be more than happy to have you there. You might actually get to meet many Bhutanese who have been assisted by ABA in thier initial days in the US. You might also get to hear more about ABA and will have an opportunity in the future to provide constructive and helpful criticism.
When our members request, we do send reports in print, but we try to avoid that because additional time and resources go into it.
It would behove all of us to not expect an organization to turn things upside down and lay down a rose garden for the community a few days after it is established. That takes years. We would appreciate your patience as ABA creates strategies and plans for a sustainable organization that will outlast its current members and set itself up a stable community platform for the future generation of Bhutanese here. That will take time, commitment, resources, participation from the community, and thinking heads. This urge to rush things up may not be the ideal route to get there.
If you have additional questions that are less accusatory and more helpful, please email me. I kow you have my email.
Thanks,
Hari Acharya for ABA.
June 24th, 2009 at 12:19 am
Hello Ramesh Gautam
I appreciate your genuine concern and than you for that.
It became necessary to reply those person who attack me on personal basis to open their eyes (May be I was wrong not to write that specific comment is for only such person) and I accept that.
If you read my comments from the very beginning, I have asked and invited the comments from everyone on What is NRB after the statement is put on the website?
It is the personal comment from the fellow participants I am defending and replying. What do you say to person like KN Sharma who even do not reveal the identy and make such personal attack simply because for suggesting that NRB should be apolitical and lead by someone neutral who can unite all the Bhutanese? What will you respond if that is you?
My point of keep commenting here in the forum on NRB is:
To get the meaningful name and outcome of NRB or called if anything’
Defend the unnecessary personal attack, which everyone will do I suppose
Be critical to any comment in the quest of getting the true suggestion on NRB or alike.
Apart from that what extra did you find in my comments that is attacking the people.
You can very well see in this forum how we have categorise people on the basis of
Education and qualifications,
Youth Vs leaders,
Experience Vs non experience,
people living in camp Vs like me who has not lived in camp,
People who moved to west before TCS Vs people settled by TCS.
Is this our main focus or NRB?
Are we uniting or falling apart? or Should we call a healthy democratic discussion?
You and few others are saying that will backfire one me. Thank you for your very honest suggestion, I appreciate very much. But for what and Why? Just because I am putting my comments and inviting the leaders to comment more specifically?
I should make it very clear that I am not making platform here to gain any support and I don’t need such support to work in NRB or any other organisations that will help the Bhutanese people by pleasing or not pleasing anyone. I will simply follow this “keep on doing what you will have to do and rest will be taken care”.
To work in any organisation of NRB’s nature,it will govern by the mandate of the organisation and I will follow that, if any such opportunity come in future.
Many comments in the forum are directly or indirectly supporting one or other affiliations but less on neutral appraoch. I will always be critical on such issues and try to support the general concensus. In doing so, If I have to be a villian and that saves the community from going in the wrong hands or directions, I am more than happy to be odd man out and be a villain.
My true foucs will be to help engage everyone with EQUAL DIGNITY AND HONOUR and I will not hesitate to assist in achieving this. In the procees, I have partially become odd with may be many leaders without even communicating, looked too smart and over samrt to some, and many other assumptions and presumptions and genuine to some few.
As long as we move in the right direction, I am not bothered about what people will say because we all know the world is not the right place to get everything perfect.
Let me make it clear that we can contribute to NRB or Bhutanese community not only through NRB if it does not materialise, there will be hundreds of forums and groups.
We all can make contributions through any such groups.
If you please check my comments I have asked emails from both ends not only one side.
Parsu
June 24th, 2009 at 6:55 pm
Luitel ji,
Some how I feel you are too pre-occupied and some time it is difficult for me to point out what you are trying to do.
If you go on blowing your trumpet every time u pop up in the forum, it will back fire you MEANING people will start thinking that you are just another big mouth. If they do, your very cause of trying to lead people will be in vain.
June 28th, 2009 at 6:30 am
Dear Friends,
This world is really selfish and people try to take the advantage of vulnerability of weaker section of the individual or community. When we were in the camps many people took advantage of the refugees given the fluid position of the refugee populace. Now when we are resettled in the third country be it US or Australia, the so called Bhutanese who sneaked in to US or Australia by other means are trying to control and shop with this recently resettle people, who are still vulnerable being new to this place or community.
I feel it is the sacred responsibility of ours to regard the people or the leaders who made supreme sacrifice being in the refugee camps for as long as 18 years or more. I think we need to refine and remodel the leaders for the greater good who also suffered silently in the camps.
There are various type of leaders in the community ,some leaders walked the journey the general people walked through and other were trying to make the top by short cut means, by- passing the general masses. The latter group of leaders are the opportunist ones who want to get the credit without being true to the people.
I really feel annoyed for such people who only tries to grab the opportunity without being responsible at the need of the hour.
June 29th, 2009 at 5:47 am
or Dear Editor(s)
U guys are very biased coz you are not letting my article to be printed in the comment columns. I saw some articles written by Bhotas accusing the entire Nepalese people on earth. U guys were letting that sort of things to appear in this column but destroyed the opinion that I expressed through Bhutan News Service. I guess u guys are trying to penetrate the ideas floated by the Bhotas from Bhutan but snatching the ideas culminating from refugees.
U are really prejudiced for the reason that you are removing the articles written supporting the leaders who worked side by side with the refugees in the camps, but giving priority to such opinions who accuses the leaders or the senior dajus.
Let me see, if U guys are truly democratic in promoting the freedom of press or just trying to fulfill your mere greed falsifying the people in the name of” freedom of press”.
Editor: dear lokendra, comments are approved only after moderation. please be informed that we don’t have enough facilities to moderate your comments immediately after you post. it takes time.
July 1st, 2009 at 2:46 am
Dear Lokendra,
I appreciate your concerns for our leaders. Those people who have gone through the process of becoming a refugee, and those who have worked as activists to heiglight the casue would appreciate the kind of sacrifice made by the people in the leadership position. Let us leave this issue to be judged by the history. I would request to all to leave behind any debate on the past. That will be taken care by the history. Let us foucus what we could do in the future.
The third country resettlement has opened up an avenue for us to work constructively. There is a history behind the 3rd country resettlement. Those of us who have opted for 3rd country resettlement have the responsibility to build an institution that would give continuity to that history, show to the world that we were not the useless community, and reassert our rights to continue to contribute towards growth and development of our county, Bhutan. Remember that our green card will have the name written Bhutan, even for those who take the citizenship will have the word Bhutan, our children will always say that our parents had come from Bhutan. If we succeed to establish well in thrid countries (we should do by all means) in that case we need a platform to go out to do good work. There is no question that NRB is not relevant to our context. It is a question of how we organize it, how can we provide avenue in more inclusive manner to all up-coming younger people to participate in the process. Remember that, if God willing, we will have a cadre of highly qualified people who would be willing to participate in NRB and contribute towards the welfare of Bhutan and Bhutanese people at large.
So, let us not debate on minor issues. Let us debate on how we are going to organize ourself, how we are going to cooperate ourself to compete in the international world. We have many things to do. Let us move forward..
Dev
July 2nd, 2009 at 6:55 am
Dear Dev,
Thank you for your comments. I fully agree with your views .Actually I should have not written the second article if the Editors have kindly published my previous article on time. I was thinking that they have removed the articles altogether.
I also appreciated the bold initiatives taken by our friends working for the Bhutan News Service. I m really happy and feel proud that our BNS team will keep the professional ethics of Good Journalism. Again ,I don’t mean you have to publish altogether same thing as it is posted by the commentators but I think the Editors always have the rights to make some corrections without altering the theme of the article.
Thank You all.
July 2nd, 2009 at 11:52 pm
Dear ediror,
When bhutanese refugees are scattered round the world it is a good idea to float the idea of NRB,which will help each and every bhutanese to come in contact and share idea.I think this is not a leg pulling business but it will enhance the unity ,I mean unity minus a narrow,vested vision of the few landlords.Go ahead .
July 4th, 2009 at 5:32 am
It is good to see that there are a good number of Bhutanese friends really want to have some type of organization come up as a platform for the purpose of uniting the scattered Bhutanese and I would like to support the idea.But on the other hand I am afraid that any such organization works purposefully until all of us change our mind set first.Constructive and positive criticism I believe helps to go ahead with unity and dignity resulting the formation of a strong platform to obtain the desired goal.Trying to degrade some one’s personality and undermining the hardship faced by him/her even if his/her mission failed does not help to set the new goal collectively.I am sure that the positive mind set of all of us regardless of the place of living and the suggestions given by friends above will help to form the NRB but may be after having more intellectual debates and discussions.
Thank you all.
N.P.Subedi
July 4th, 2009 at 7:42 am
Dear Bhutanese friends,
We are Bhutanese and now spreading in different parts of the earth.Since 1990, we face many challenges and lacks the opportunities.Sincerely, we got a chance to build up our future.Carriers comes the first,thus I suggest all young Bhutanese to build up your future,yes of course we need a common platform from where we can help each other.But it is just the start of Bhutanese resettlement program.We already start seeing people fighting and backbiting each other for personal causes.It is not good to do that .This will only increase misunderstanding among the Bhutanese people.
Negative comment is very necessary for those who tried to play for Bhutanese people for the benefits.There are enormous example of such activities in the past.So it is our duty to prevent such thing again in the western world.I hope all Bhutanese youth and educated circle have enough ability to suppress such misleading.
It might be good idea to form NRB but I dont think that BNDP and DNC can change their name and lead that form.It is not good even for BNDP and DNC since they already have establish party.They already contributes good and bads success for Bhutanese people.I wish they can stay on the same form, shape and help for Bhutanese.We need NRB, it is necessary but it has to be formed as a neutral body.It does not look good if BNDP or DNC come up with changed name.
I am positive to have NRB, I also thought of forming NRB in Nederland.I choose the same name.The name was forwarded to the AD-HCO committee in January 09, it will be nice if the committee select this name.
Any way, I am still doing my studying here, so I dont have full time to think on this issues at this moment but positive to have such common platform with very neutral people.I encourage young generation to take inititve for such issues.I hope one day we all Bhutanese will be in the same common platform that might be NRB or the other.
Success
…….
DP Mainali
Nederland
July 12th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
Dear DP Mainali,
I don’t think BNDP or DNC are trying to capitalize the platform. If you read the interview of R.K. Dorji, he has amply made clear that it is up to the people to decide which way to go. DNC only supports this idea because of which it is a founding member. BNDP is yet to make comments on the feedbacks. I don’t think that executive members of political parties would like to take a lead in NRB platform. They are trying to provide space to the resettled people to be connected with Bhutan and as leaders they have done thier responsibility.
Also, remember that NRB is not an NGO. It is a platform of Bhutanese people living outside the country who would like to establish official connection with the government of Bhutan. The current regime does not want to do for the moment to the resettled refugees. Even a democratically elected government will have proper understanding of the regional sensitivities since it would have security implication. DNC, BNDP and other parties could be handly to provide inputs in the writing of the constitution of NRB.
Aslo, these parites are going to be inside the country someday. Most probably they will be able to play a critical role after 2012 when all the political parties in exile are expected to return to Bhutan (if not the leaders) and participate in the political process. It will be naive on the part of the Diasphora to call politcal parties untouchable. Also, many of us have no clear idea today who were the people behind to reach the refugee issue to this stage, and the politcal parites have not given up until the refugee issue is amicably settled and democratization of Bhutan reaches to conclusive end.
It is good that people like you have begun to see reasons for the establishment of NRB. It conveys more meaning than what an ordinary mind could comprehend. It has to be a generic organization like NRI and NRB. Other name will not serve the purpose. There is a need to organize preliminary meeting of key persons in the Diasphora on how we go forward with the NRB.
Dev
July 14th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
There definitely IS a need for clarity here. When we are goin on about “NRB” organization, we don;t seem to be very clear about what we are rooting for. Bhutanese have established organizations in countries they are living now: Nepal/India, US, Australia etc. These are organizations started by Bhutanese who are NOT resident in Bhutan. They are non-resident Bhutanese organizations, in the strictest literal sense. Now, what else are we trying to set up?
My guess here is that we are thinking of an organization that is representative of ALL the Bhutanese in the world except Bhutan? Then why not just call it an international association of Bhutanese or something to do away with the confusion? Those of us who already manage or run Bhutanese organizations are confused by this “NRB” association. Is it an attempt to do away with organizations already established and start a new one? Is it an attempt to bring all these organizations under one umbrella? Where would the community organizzations of Bhutanese in California, Atlanta, Arizona be in this set-up? Some folks seem to be quite i a hurry to get this baby going, without really thinking through it. If there is a need for such an organization, it will be formed organically in time. Political leaders should stop pushing it and tainting it before it even takes root.
Those of us in the west are working on organizaing locally, and then nationally in some places. We will get to an international organization one day. Right now, our focus is on strengthening our community in new nations. When a situation develops so as to allow us to be involved in development works inside Bhutan, we can think about this pan-Bhutanese association. It has been little annoying and tiring to see folks talking about really huge endeavours when we don;t have the capacity to assist our community members right in our backyards. Focus your attention on helping the new resettlers acclimatize in their new homes. Get them ready to be involved in public life, which will be a few years.
July 18th, 2009 at 6:11 pm
It turns out that this debate has become a stage to find out who is who in the movement now or in the past, in Nepal or India and abroad.
I think the first thing is to see the debate as an approach to :-
a) Learn of the topic from a conceptual point of view and
b) Gauge the the views of the community on the topic.
While nothing has been said of the former, quite a lot has happened of the second objective, but not with any onjectivity. The debate has lost its neutrality to colored projections and ideological/political affiliations. The purpose of the debate is not done.
That said, I would suggest that any suitable person (not of any political party) and living abroad can contest (not automatically assume) leadership, if any day, such a concept should become reality.
Rp Subba
July 19th, 2009 at 6:55 am
Some of us have been reacting as if the platform has already been formed and that an individual/party is leading the organization. From what is written, its clear that its just the idea that is being floated. I personally think the idea has bigger ramification. From my understanding, the initiative to form the NRB platform is an effort to bargain with the RGOB to recognize us. We are still refugees even after 18 years of pressure on Bhutan to take us back. If we want to establish connection with Bhutan, we cannot expect RGOB to recognize us unless we do something. Unlike in Nepal, we cannot expect to organize political movements from the resettled countries.NRB should be used as a platform to pressure the RGOB to recognize us as non-resident Bhutanese. The recognition of the platform would be a compromise on the part of both RGOB and us.
July 23rd, 2009 at 2:21 am
Dear GS,
Thank you GS, you have pinpointed the roots of the need for NRB. The day NRB will be formalized either from Kathmandu or New Delhi we would have reclaimed our stuggle for the recogniztion of Bhutan government. In the meantime, the political parties would continue for their struggle for inclusive democracy in Bhutan. That way we will not loose the history of 18 years in the camps, we could continue to live abroad and be part of the movement for greater democratic process in Bhutan, and we will be able to open up the avenue for contribution to overall development of our motherland, Bhutan. The RGOB cannot snatch away our rights for being Bhutanese, for helping it develop….
Dev
July 28th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
Sniff…sniff….I can smell that these Bhutanese toddlers have grown up into matured beings. But they still have not understood the very essence of Democracy. One must learn to accept the others comments and vise versa. I think its a good platform to exercise mentally. But for me NO MORE PARTIES/ORGS Please.
Hope every resettled Bhutanese is fine?
August 13th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
I just want to comment to miss deepa,that at once she can’t say idiot to osme body who do not support mr dhakal.What i understood NRB issue is just proposal,because bhutanese are all over the world.what fee it is need,but needslot of home work.some of us may not know mr dhakal,it is that she brought name forward,instead of presenting mr dhakal in good manner,she just blast with the ‘idiot’thats not good,being a educated,she should say sorry to hte concern.
August 14th, 2009 at 3:52 am
Dear Lord Buddha,
You can meditate wherever you want! There will be some who would like to continue with the idea and mission. Wish you a peaceful life.
Dev
August 14th, 2009 at 4:49 pm
it seems that idiea is well florished,but some are shoing inner reality,which is not good,we shuold think it in a broad way ,let it be a common to all ,not like miss deepa,according to form the organization and give the leadership to mr dhakal.
August 20th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
I think the idea of NRB should be left to the resettled Bhutanese. One of the problems with our political parties and political leaders is that they are always focussing on something, in which their service is not needed. In general, it is understood that the formation of a large organization in the Diaspora like the NRB will be in the interest of every one. It is enough if these political parties and leaders extend their appreciation and interest for its formation, but to meddle up freely with the lives of the peole in the Diaspora is going beyond the real objectves these parties have been set up to work for.
September 18th, 2009 at 1:05 am
By viewing over the comments,I think that both choice is hard to recommand. We didn’t resettle in the USA on visa bais.Diaspora is not good word choice as well.
I think all need to study this word carefully.The better option would be “abroad Bhutanese”
November 16th, 2009 at 5:18 am
It is more than to apt to say, that complexities regarding a NRB org as outlined by commentators is sufficient…
Lets not fly in the air, so easily…..activism requires far more vision
An NRB is a feeble bash on the RGOB. IF NRB really means Non-Resident Bhutanese, we are expecting to be ‘recognized’ Bhutanese, living outside Bhutan which means we need to be ‘recognized’by the RGOB, not ourselves……
NRB can be formed by the laws of Bhutan, not OUR laws….Bhutan is a state capable of making such laws. While we are a ‘people’ with no such capacity and only limited to community organizations.
With WHAT CAPACITY do we become NRB, when we are not recognized as citizens of Bhutan….OK do it ourselves….WILL RGOB recognize NRB but not Bhutanese refugees…good gracious me are we so dumb
It is indeed misleading to say NRB…
An NRBorg should be an agenda in a Bhutan-after recognition of our people within or outside Bhutan. The struggle for recognition must succeed to implement such an idea….so i urge who thinks different to think what comes first.
I urge the political parties, first, to see when are we reaching Bhutan and then think about NRB rather than selling the idea of an NRB without us being there…..
Again, I would say, lets not fly….rather lets take time to help people in the refugee camps and inside Bhutan from our community organizations rather than build castles in the air…..NRB is almost the last step, not the first or the second…for the institutionalization of our identity.
Is a press release by a political party enough??? A party announces and it is formed. Whether or not we join it is a different matter…..(if it was ever formed and legally recognized all over—-i would be the first in line to be a NRB)
My query is how is it formed???? What is the basis..to be recognized all over.
If the proposers are talking about an international political organization of Bhutanese all over the world….but not NRB then this discussion could be more fruitful.
But at the moment I’m a bit skeptical about a unified Bhutanese intenational org….
Our numbers are important, and we need to show our numbers all the time, we should not lose them, unlike a state entity….. one is sufficient….and it destroys the existence of a population. We need a large number of community entities.
More importantly, our number, should create political harmony in separate entities all over the world and at the same time act as a strength against RGOB. If we unite, into an international organization we shall never be powerful…..for we shall never have political peace in that body. Consequently, we will lose democracy in that MAHA body and then be back to square one.
History repeats itself…and besides politics is not a new subject…
My request to every Bhutanese senior out there,is please start to formallly establish ties between community entities, and communicate and coordinate to aid people in the camps and inside Bhutan. Logically and objectively, that is the only sound approach at the moment. The first step is the most important step….
November 20th, 2009 at 4:44 am
Hi guys…
This is really absurd thing that u guys are trying to do….Bullshit!!!….
November 25th, 2009 at 9:21 am
If you are a Bhutanese its easy for you to dissent. For us it has always been hard. But out of the refugee camps…things have changed man.
And things will be better for everyone inside and outside Bhutan. For you and us…People always drop before they gather themselves up and stand.
So be patient, an apple does not grow in the air. It needs a tree. And the tree is growing.
Cheers…
December 30th, 2009 at 9:04 pm
it seems a good idea
December 30th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
NRB will be an excellent idea but needs functioning properly… unlike the floating dimensions …..seen in Nepal. People like DNS can do leading NRB .Let us hope a good fruit from initiation of this…….
January 7th, 2010 at 7:37 am
The idea of forming NRB is great,the platform so formed would help the people livivng outside Bhutan for their future course of action for settlement outside as well to return to the motherland Bhutan in the near future.We must help those involved in the making of the platform.Dr.Dhakal’s knowledge,experience and his links would be very useful and beneficial to all the NRBs,