Human rights leader Tek Nath Rizal said that discussion have begun with Bruce Fein& Associates Inc, a law firm of Washington DC, to initiate legal procedures against the former king of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuk, as torture suits.
Issuing a press statement on Saturday leader Rizal said that the firm, on behalf of the Bhutanese diaspora outside Bhutan, will file these suits worth hundreds of millions of dollars under the US Torture Victims Protection (TVP) Act, as compensation to the damages caused to thousands of victims of torture who have been forced to live in exiles as refugees during the rule of the king and even at present.
“The TVP Act endows both aliens and United States citizens with legal claims against foreign officials and administrators responsible for torture or extra-judicial killings perpetrated under the banner of draconian legislations,” said Rizal in his statement.
According to him, the United States of America is authorised to assert personal jurisdiction over foreign defendants because both torture and extra-judicial killings violate universal human rights laws and inflict injury on human civilization itself.
“The amount of damages in compensation that might be recovered in legal suits under the TVP Act against the former Bhutanese king would be close to one billion US dollars,” added Rizal.
Rizal said that the former king Jigme Singye and his family have amassed wealth comprising cash and assets well in excess of that sum through the gross misuse of funds from state exchequer and other national revenues as well as development funds provided to the country under bilateral and multilateral agreements.
I strongly support this move, a similar initiative should be launched at European courts. Not only Jigme Singye Wangchuck but also Dago Tshering, Lhakpa Dorji and all those responsible for planning and executing of not only torture and murder but also for confiscation of landed properties and forced eviction for political reasons must be tried in a court of law. There is a need to explore further avenues to bring to book these perpetrators of inhuman acts and violators of human rights. We will have enough living witnesses against these enemies of mankind. The people living on the Indo-Bhutan border can also testify if refugees originated from Bhutan and passed through their land.They should be tried for crimes against humanity and systematic ethnic cleansing in Bhutan.
Good. I’ll play my part.
The law suit should also include against Tek Nath Rizal, Balram Poudyal, SB Subba and many of their revolutionary armies who murdered many innocent people under their popular reduction of ‘six inches’, meaning cutting their heads off. I think Tek Nath had landed on the moon many times, at least in his dream but at the dawn, he always see himself in the same bed.
Peace out!
Lotus flower, you forgot that these people were not in power. They were simply responding to what those in power in Thimphu did to Lhotshampas. They didnot start all this. They had no control over RBG, RBA and RBP who destroyed the homes in southern Bhutan, who raped their women, who arrested thousands of innocent people, tortured them, put them behind bars, murdered them and forcibly evicted them. Read the Amnesty International reports from 1988 and till today. There is no comparison of the atrocities committed by JSW and DT to those with exiled leaders. Mind you TN was illegally kidnapped from Birtamod in Nepal which itself is enough evidence to start the legal proceedings against JSW and DT. You just wait and see how history will change and Bhutanese dictators protected by India will be exposed and how RKD was illegally arrested and detained in India where Indian government collaborated with Bhutanese regime in silencing a Bhutanese democrat. We are living in the 21st century and there is no place anywhere for those who violate human rights and commit crimes against their own citizens and that’s what exactly JSW and DT did.
This is really a praise worthy attempts to compel Jigme to face the trail in US court. This has multi advantages which will expose hidden color of Jigme in the eyes of national and international world.God sees the truth but waits. When time comes the world will know further about the concept of Gross National happiness which was propounded by Jigme singye wangchuck in favor of his handful of Tibetan origin people.TN Rizal and thousands of country men had faced inhuman torture at the hands of RGOB and finallly eviction from the country of birth. So , in this attempt of TN Rizal, all resettled refugees and refugees in camp are one. So we suggest TN to move ahead as he will be getting full support and solidarity from refugees who are scattered all around the world.WE appreciate your initiation.
Thanks Dasho Rijal. This is One among several MOVE that 100% True Bhutanese are expecting from Leader like I felt that Self Claimed Lotus have to learn little more on the Chronological Events of Bhutan’s Activities towards De-Population and De-Franchising. To all my friends or intellectual like lotus, let’s not degrade ourselves making Remarks, Comments or Drawing unfounded conclusion and presenting un-substantiated ISSUE shall help us negatively. World knows that King Jigme Singey and His the then government has perpetrated CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY
Dasho go ahead with Vigor. Bhutanese with Dream, Vision and Mission shall be always with you, where ever they are. As Keshab, I too shall try my best to play my part with couple others around me.
Cases for Human Rights violation and torture should be filed with the International court of justice in Hague if we really wish to see the justice. When we talk about monetary compensation then the purpose of filing case against humanity will lose its meaning. Is over hundred thousand people’s suffering of almost 20 yrs is only worth a billion dollars? Lets not please weigh human suffering in term of financial gain.
He should tried in ICC court in Haque, can some one initiate this process as well?
So, Fein, the guy who has been calling for the impeachment of every US president since Reagan is now suing the King of Bhutan! His latest has been calling Obama a tyrant and drafting the Articles of Impeachment of President Obama. He is part of the most conservatives think tanks in the US.
Like someone said, is Rizal now just interested in a civil suit? Is it just money it comes down to now? Should there rather not be a criminal suit at venues like the ICC?
If it is just money, Rizal can settle privately with JSW – why enrich already rich millionaires like Fein? Rizal knows how to settle – he had done so long ago when he pushed himself up the political ladder in Bhutan, transforming himself into the most favored Royal Advisory Councillor from a mere national assembly member.
The initiative is good but why should everything be reduced in terms of money already before anything is started? I think there is somethig more than just the material value that JSW will have to pay.
Lets do this: lets call a conference of world leaders and let Jigme Y Thinley, Tek Nath Rizal and Balaram present their case in English for an hour each. They cannot be looking to any prepared materials.
Lotus flower, why do you want JYT, TNR and BRP to present their case in English for an hour each? What great do you see in English? It is not the English problem in Bhutan but it is the human problem, which needs to be presented with adequate authenticity and audacity.
But the problem here is that the forth King Jigme Singye Wangchuck has fixed an electronic chip in the mind of Rizal, and hence he cannot speak any politics on Bhutan because his mind is controlled by the regime through the electronic device. And believe me, this is not I am saying here, it is the declaration made by Rizal in a book “Torture”, authored by himself. That could be the reason, why he is now demanding simply ‘compensation’. After all his mind is controlled by somebody else and cannot make up his free mind to think and decide what is more precious and valuable for a leader – country or compensation?
As far as Balaram is concerned, he is another fickle minded person, on whom it is difficult to rely on. Poor Jigme Y Thinley is just a spokesperson of the monarchs – JSW and JKNW, who cannot do or speak more than what he is assigned to do, as a head of the gifted democratic government, which is good enough to eyewash the international communities.
No compensations can compensate the inalienable rights of the Bhutanese people demanding for true democracy, which can ensure the status of their dignified citizenship. To materialize this, there is a need for the younger modern educated generations both from in and outside the country to come forward and lead the real struggle for democracy in Bhutan.
Lotus Flower
What about giving chance to former king JSW who should be accountable for the calamity to address that conference for government side and Dr. DNS Dhakal, the visiting professor at Harvard University on other side? And as you set the conditions, present in English for 1 hr. without looking to prepared documents. Still to be open, let them prepare their own presentation materials.
Lotus Flower!!!!
Ha…ha..ha…
ha ha ha…ha do you think PM JYT is only the person who knows ENGLISH?
Crime on humanity and hahahahahaha English are two different things man!
May be this is the reason why RGOB closed all the schools for Southern Bhutanese and asked for NOC even to the mere six year old child?
JYT feared if these kids learn ENGLISH one day they will speak to the outside world….right. Man common I will challenge JYT for continues 10hours debate in public forum. Bhutan is such a nation IF AN ARMY RAPE A SOUTHERN BHUTANESE WOMAN AND FORCED THAT FAMILY TO FLEE THE COUNTRY HE WILL BE PROMOTED TO AN OFFICER.
Do you want proof????
Send JYT with all his E N G L I S H hahahahahahah.. and let him say NO.
Let us not waste our time but strengthen the hands of TNR how we can proceed further to campaign for an independent assessment of human right abuses in Bhutan between 1988 till today and how over 100,000 people became refugees in a small country like Bhutan. Who are those who are resettled on southern Bhutan lands, who are these people? and who sent them with what agenda?
His Majesty the Fourth King Jigme Singye Wangchuk is no ordinary person. He is a man of wisdom bestowed by the almighty. He has mastered in politics; he won the hearts of all Bhutanese. He has vision for the country. He created peaceful environment for the people. He is well respected inside and outside Bhutan, except certain percentage of so called refugees. There is no comparison between His majesty and DNS dakhal. Dhakal knows more about the stones. Probably he is finding so many rubies in Harvard University, enough to own excessive property in Nepal. He must be going to Harvard for six months and hibernate for another six months. He has forgotten the people in the camp, based on which his party is founded. The king looks after the welfare of the people. Dhakal looks after his own welfare. Based on these assessments, I believe His Majesty will be very comfortable to debate on issues evolving refugees and Bhutan as a whole.
And for you Gurung, it is not about knowing to speak English, it is about who can make the best case. It is about who can present vision for the country. It is about representing the country in the International forum in a civilized and educated manner because English has increasingly become an international language. There is no denying that Americans and British can speak English and for that matter any person who went to modern schools can speak English.But not every English speaker can be leader. Tek and Balaram, whom I understand from the posts in some of the comments, had never had formal education. They are self proclaimed leaders after being able to suppress peoples’ voice through threats and murder. Please refer to posts from the refugees themselves right here in the BNS.
Peace out!
Teknath has really gone insane. Someone must be really screwing up his mind again. He is dreaming of becoming a billionnaire; don’t be fooled that he is doing it for the refugee cause. btw, doesn’t he look like Saddam when he was hauled out of his hideout?
Lotus Dear,
I know that former king JSW is an extraordinary person with royal blood, man of courage, ambitious and determined. We can also connote him with his ‘cunningness’. This honorable superman also brought many controversies and made mistakes from 1972 – 2006. He worked more for palace than for people and the country. Let’s accept this ‘he is/was a great king of Bhutan but not a good ruler.’ He is very stern in his decisions whether good or bad and he considers only his logics. He is a role model for specific section of populations but for others he is nothing more than tyranny. Criticism on his deeds is a crime, set on DEADLY tsa-wa-shum none other than him and dealt with treasons. Please digest up to here.
JSW cannot orate well in English. He lacks fluency and accents. Content and coverage of his presentation would be too light, hollow and boring. He needs schooling at least for 10 more years to address the world leaders in the open forums. He cannot bully there nor show his temper. Nobody will bow or bent low. I assume that his presentation would fit for Bhutanese archers to support the howling when one aims for the target.
On the other hand Dr. Dhakal for whom you value less with only a reason that he didn’t dance in JSW lead band worth 100% more in the international arena. It’s not a joke to be a professor of even ordinary US University, forget about Harvard. He is capable and qualified enough to demonstrate on any type of forums either political or research and development. He understands the minimum fundamentals.
Tortola dear,
Your nick name speaks loud; you are not bigger than a tortola itself both in terms of your size and brain. You must be licking the arse of Dakal. BTW, you can say anything you like but it is not going to change the respect that Bhutanese have for their kings. For you anything about the palace is bad and everything about your idol Rizal and Dakal are best. Yes, if you listen with a preconceived mind, even the most eloquent speaker would be boring. people like you were a disgrace. bhutan is better with lesser of your kind.