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Australian government acknowledges Bhutanese contribution

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Feb 8,Adelaide: Bhutanese Australians are excited  when government acknowledged their small contribution for the Victoria bushfire victims.

In the official Summer newsletter published by Department of Immigration and Citizenship(DIAC) it mentioned a small contribution of $2500 made by then recently resettled Bhutanese from refugee camps in Nepal. ‘We are excited to see our very small donation acknoledged in the list of those who contributed millions to the Victoria bushfire Victims’, says Parshuram Sharma(Luitel) who played major role during the collection drive. Bikram Adhikari,who had voluntarily coordinated to collect donations in Adelaide opines that the national acknoledgement of their small donation has made every Bhutanese proud and makes their attachment to the mainstream Aussie society even stronger.

Bhutanese community resettled in different parts in Australia since 2008 including Adelaide ,Hobart, Launceston, Melbourne ,Sydney and Albury Wodonga had made their donation accessible to the fire victims through Australian Red Cross .

A senior Centrelink multicultural officer had read out the condolence message to the victims of King lake city, the place worst hit by the fire  in which Bhutanese had written ‘ We are here to laugh when you laugh, and cry when you cry, and together we stand as Australians to rescue you from this dreadful event by participating in the rebuilding process in every way possible’.

The bushfire that broke out in February 7, 2009   left 173 people dead and 414 seriously injured which is remebered as Black Saturday in the Australian history.

By Ichha Poudyel, Australia

Student spanks head teacher in Sanischare

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By Lakpa Muktan, Sanischare

Feb 3:  A grade nine student of New Horizon Academy in Sanischare Patri camp spanked assistant head teacher Devi Charan Dhungel this morning. Dhungel, who has sustained injuries in his face and nose, is undergoing treatment in Pathri Nursing Home.

According to head teacher Dil Kumar Subba, Kishore Rai of grade nine slapped Dhungel a number of times without a serious reason.

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File photo: A shool girl in her school uniform in Beldangi camp

“Kishore was hiding from the morning assembly in his class. When Dhungel asked him to attend his regular sessions, he attacked Dhungel,” said the head teacher Subba.

Following the attack, camp-based security force arrested Rai, who managed to escape the scene, with the help of school management and camp watch team.

The whole day in school remained tensed when teachers organized protest programs demanding their security and punishment for the culprit.

Camp secretary Champa Singh Rai, who was present during all party meet including officials from Caritas Nepal, said this reporter that he was serious regarding the attack.

“The camp committee will forward this case to concerned authority to punish the culprit,” secretary told.

Dhungel, who played a crucial role in establishing schools in camp in the early 90s, is one of the longest serving members in camp education.

Episode 15 : Role of India on Bhutanese Issue

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Tilak Niraula reads a report from Goldhap followed by an exclusive report by Tulasha Ghimire. CP Gajurel expresses his opinion before a short break. The second part is Bidesi Chautari of TP Mishra from New York City.

Bhutan starts with defeat in SAG

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Jan 31: Bhutan made a bad start in men’s football at the 11th South Asian Games loosing first battle with Maldives by 0-1 goal in their opening match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Saturday.

Maldives’ striker Ashfaq Ali scored the all-important goal for the winners in the 83rd minute with a left footer from inside the danger zone after dodging past a defender off a close pass from Naseer.

Bhutan was saved from Maldivian hit in the very 7th minute when an angular shot by Ashfaq from vantage position returned to play after hitting the cross bar.

Bhutan team also performed good to save shot from Maldivian player in the 12th minute as striker Naseer Khan’s close range shot from the danger zone off Ashfaq pass was gripped by Bhutan custodian Gurung.

Bhutan was totally off-color in the match.

PM sends congratulations to reelected SL prez

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Jan 31: Prime Minister Jigmi Thinley congratulated Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa on his victory at the presidential election.

In a personal message sent to Rajapaksa, Thinley said, “I am most delighted to hear of your landslide victory in the recent elections and return to the Presidency of your great country.”

He said, “The people of Sri Lanka have expressed their appreciation and gratitude to you for your courage, wisdom and sacrifices.”

“On behalf of the Royal Government of Bhutan and that of my own, it gives me great pleasure to extend our heartiest congratulations and Tashi Delek to Your Excellency,” he added.

The message further reads, “Given Your Excellency’s wide experience and political acumen, I am confident that the people of your beloved country will continue to benefit from your wise and able leadership at this critical juncture.”

Extending best wishes for the successful tenure for Rajapaksa, Thinely said he looks forward to working closely in the promotion of mutually beneficial relations between Bhutan and Sri Lanka in the years ahead.

YFC election concludes

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By Arjun Pradhan, Damak

Damak, Feb 1: General elections of Youth Friendly Center (YFC), which functions under Caritas-Nepal’s supervision, completed without any trouble yesterday.

“Youths from 18 to 25 years contested for various posts,” Fr. Peter Jong Lepcha SJ, the program coordinator of YFC told Bhutan News Service, “We successfully concluded our elections in a democratic manner.”

A youth voting during YFC election
A youth voting during YFC election

Youths from camps voted for camp coordinators, a male and a female, for a 16-member-committee of the YFC in every camp.

Even two candidates with physical disabilities were promoted for elections from each camp, according to Fr. Peter.

Besides coordinators, candidates were elected for event, outreach, social issues, arts and music, Peer education, and games and sports among others.

Youths associated with YFC are playing key roles in peace management, volunteering and other social aspects.

The concept of YFC started from 2006 and Caritas Nepal, which looks after education in camps, funds through the UNHCR and supervises its activities.

India played negative role on Bhutan’s democratic struggle

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January 30, 2010: Despite being a leading democracy in world, India always remained silent spectator to many of the democratic struggles in its neighbor. Bhutan is one of them, where India not only acted as mere spectator but sided with autocracy to crash democratic fight.

Bhutan Media Society (BMS) called upon leaders from diverse background on Friday in Kathmandu to put up their view on role of India in resolving the issues of exiled Bhutanese, who have spent decades in Nepal and are flying beyond seven seas in search of better days.

Tek Nath Rizal speaking to journalists
Tek Nath Rizal speaking to journalists

Speaking at the interactions, chairman of the Indo Bhutan Friendship Society (IBFS) Prof. Anand Kumar, who is also the chairman of the South Asian Citizens’ Initiative for Democracy, said his organization is set to launch various activities that would pressure on Bhutan for repatriation of exiled Bhutanese who wish to go back.

He said, the peaceful means are the only best measures for securing rights and democracy. “IBFS will dedicate the year 2010 for democratic struggle in Bhutan and rightful repatriation of those who wish to go back,” he added.

Leader of UCPN (Maoist) C. P. Gajurel however, said the only option for oppressed Bhutanese to get justice is to take up arms. “For years, you waited for peaceful means to get justice but ultimately it was resettlement that you were offered against your interest to go back.”

He added, since the issue is of political nature, seeking solution on humanitarian ground would not give a justifiable solution of the crisis.

He expressed his party’s readiness to extend any form of solidarity and support for struggle inside Bhutan.

Prof. Anand Kuamr (right) with Balaram Paudel in the program
Prof. Anand Kuamr (right) with Balaram Paudel in the program

Bhutanese human rights leader Tek Nath Rizal said he is optimistic of positive roles from India in resolving the issues. He said, pressure on Bhutan to liberalize the politics, withdrawal of travel restriction clamped on Rongthong Kuenley Dorji are some of the latest hints that India has given in favor of oppressed Bhutanese citizens. “The process should continue to new heights,” he added.

Chairman of Bhutan People’s Party Balaram Poudel urged the government of Nepal to clarify its stand on bilateral issue. “Unless Nepal withdraws from bilateral process, India will not engaged in this process,” he said.

Other Bhutanese leader R. P. Subba said even after two decades, India’s attitude on the Bhutanese movement remains cold and questionable.

He added, “If India continues to nurse its own agenda of coaxing the King, she may lose her own credibility in the international arena. The Bhutanese haven taken stories of Indian paranoia to every country of settlement. India should clearly stay away from an active involvement in cooking a solution to the Bhutanese problem.”

In a statement issued by Druk National Congress on the occasion said the party wants the process of repatriation start alongside resettlement process. The party said, since there are some thousands of exiled Bhutanese willing to get repatriated, the process must start at the earliest possible.

BAF Europe lobbies for solidarity

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Tej Man Rayaka, Munich (Germany)

Jan 26:  A five- member- delegation of Bhutanese Advocacy Forum – Europe (BAF-Europe), headed by its chief coordinator Durga Giri, held meetings with high level European Union Officials in Brussels on Jan25.
 
The delegates met Head of Unit for India, Nepal and Bhutan, Christian Remond and his deputy Rensje Teerind at the European Commission.

“We discussed issues concerning 1985 Citizenship Act, right to equal protection of culture, costume and tradition, and establishment of national human rights commission among others,” Ram Bahadur Karki Chhetri , who was present in those meets, told Bhutan News Service. “Accordingly, we submitted a memorandum paper to them.”

The delegates with Jean Christian Remond and Rensje Teerink in European Commission
The delegates with Jean Christian Remond and Rensje Teerink in European Commission

BAF-Europe delegates also appealed the Commission to pressurize the Royal Government of Bhutan to initiate dignified and voluntary repartition of the exiled Bhutanese.
 
“We are not satisfied with Bhutan Government for its unsatisfactory cooperation with regards to the repatriation of Bhutanese refugees willing to go back to Bhutan” Karki quoted Remond  as saying to the delegates.

EU also restated its priority on repatriation issue in their future meeting with Bhutan scheduled for April this year. 

We are closely monitoring the status of around 80,000 Bhutanese who were deprived of their various rights including their right to vote in the last general election of 2008 in Bhutan, Remond said, reported Karki.

Likewise, the delegation held another meeting at the European parliament with Jean Lambert, Head of delegation for South Asia cum member of European parliament from Green Party, London.

Lambert expressed her views that it was a positive thinking towards the resolution of the crisis and would explore the possibility through the European Parliament and the Bhutanese authority.

The delegation also paid a courtesy visit to the Nepalese Embassy In Brussels and met Nepalese Ambassador to Germany.

The delegation comprised of Durga Giri, Ram Bahadur Karki Chhetri, Devendra Gautam , Bhakta Man Subba and Hem Rizal.

Resettled Bhutanese become a part of Australia Day celebration

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Aussie Bhutanese in Parade: Photo - Vikram
Aussie Bhutanese in Parade: Photo - Vikram

Adelaide, Jan 27: Ex-refugees from Bhutan, resettled in Adelaide, participated in the Australia Day celebration by joining the parade in the city, yesterday.

Clad neatly in the Bhutanese national dress, Gho and Kira, and some in the ethnic Nepali dress, Daura Suruwal and Guneu Cholo, the participants joined some 60 other communities of South Australia to parade from Hindmarsh Square to Elders Park that began at 6pm and lasted for an hour. They carried and waved Bhutanese and Australian flags throughout the parade.

‘Australian Bhutanese were very distinct in the parade and we heard people keenly making note of our presence as the newest community ’, says Sushil Niraula, the cultural desk coordinator of the Bhutanese Association in South Australia. Multicultural SA had supplied 40 pieces of Australian and Bhutanese flag to the participants.

The parade was organized by the Australia Day celebration council and Adelaide city Council which was followed by a concert and a firework that lasted till late night.

Every year, January 26 is celebrated as the Australia Day commemorating the first arrival of European in Sydney in 1788.

By Ichha Poudyel, Australia

Episode 14 : Talking about Bel-I fire

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Tilak Niraula presents a report followed by conversation with Harka Rai in the first part. There is a short talk with camp secretary TB Gurung in the second part followed by interview with Parsu Ram Sharma Luitel.

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