I am hopeful that the stories will come out in time: Lisa Napoli

Dear Editor,

This is an amazing interview. First of all, I would like to thank Lisa for her readiness to give an interview to BNS, our cause’s one of the best pride. The way BNS has been outreaching to various sources for information is always praiseworthy.

By going through this interview, I learnt that Lisa had been to Bhutan to train journalists. It is a great step, Lisa. However, training journalists in Bhutan have been a failed practice since a long time—journalists in Bhutan still continue to write in favor of the regime, so-called democracy or so-called GNH. It is rather, as I see, good to start thinking of how people like you can help our community’s only information source, BNS.

As I said, let me repeat—BNS is our pride, a backbone for our cause, a tool to push forward our call for real democracy in Bhutan. As a regular reader of BNS, I perhaps know the difficulties these young, yet budding and dynamic journalists face every single moment in their journalistic paths. Most of these journalists, to my knowledge, live in various western countries; majority in the USA? And, since as you said you are based in the USA, please start thinking how you can help push forward the activities of our volunteer journalists. They are really doing wonderful job and they really need help, assistance from people like you.

By the way do you have any plans to visit refugee camp Lisa?

Sandesh

Lisa did youn read this untold story?:

By Dil Koirala ‘Subedi’ & Hari Koirala
At some point, unfolding a long-concealed untold story might sound fictitious in nature to some of us, if not all. The fact, however, divulges one that the ‘injustice and truths can never be suppressed forever.’ The destinations of our ‘family air-plane’ have taken several twists-and-turns—obviously it might continue to take the similar pace even in future for the ‘pilot’ has lost his life at no fault.
Once on a chilly-cold Himalayan winter day at the Bhutan-China border in Haa, our father late Mr. Ichha Ram Koirala, the then Peljab (corporal) of the Royal Bhutan Army (RBA) had to lead a team of the army personnel to assess the Chinese incursion of Bhutanese land. He met a battalion of the Peoples’ Liberation Army (PLA) consisting two hundred men that was stationed right at the border following the Sino-Indian War of 1962. With at least 15 RBA personnel under his command, he managed to initiate a friendly dialogue with the PLA commanders, and returned to the RBA barrack in Haa to inform the top officials about the PLA’s presence and concerns at the border front.
Acting on the clues, the RBA higher authority immediately deployed a battalion of around 250 soldiers to maintain vigilance over the PLA’s activities at the border. Our late father was one of the soldiers who was then deployed to carry on the vigilance tasks. Fortunately, no any skirmishes occurred between the PLA and the RBA despite the fact that the relationship between India and China were highly stressed during the time.

Medal offered by third king, Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, to late Ichha Ram for his excellent service. Photo courtesy/Authors.
Later, our father’s faithfulness and excellence in his duties was honored with the promotion to the eluded position of Dimpon Gom (Warrant Officer). The third king, Jigme Dorjee Wangchuck announced a prestigious medal to be awarded to him. Meanwhile, the third king known as the father of modern Bhutan died and the my father was adorned with the proposed medals during the coronation of the fourth king, Jigme Singye Wangchuck. He was then transferred to the Royal Bhutan Guards (RBG), an elite branch of the armed forces responsible for the security of the King, the Royal family and other VIPs. Thus, he started serving the royal government as a bodyguard of members of the royal family members including the fourth king himself.
Our father had joined the RBA in 1960, and retired at the age of 45 in 1980. He spent his post-job life as a farmer—involving with the cultivation of food and cash crops such as the orange and cardamom—at the Dhanesay village under Beteni block in Chirang Bhutan.
As a six year old, I would not know of my father’s service and sacrifice to the king and the country until I pressed my mother to further explain the cause of the fateful day when Captain Chimi Dorjee raided our home. Through the journey of my life in the refugee camps, the memory always haunted me, and I often asked too many questions to my mother until she told me the whole story…an untold story that I want to share to the world.
It was in the summer in 1990 that our father was coerced to an unknown destination by a group of four men who claimed to be the cadres of Bhutan Peoples’ Party (BPP). We were completely unaware whether he was actually being kidnapped. Our mother, looking deeply traumatized, told us that our father might not return from the BPP camp—as it was a common say that time.
Having lived in this ‘not-yet-known-location’ for almost 15 days, our father returned home with some ominous tales. He astonished us with his story that he could flee the BPP-run camp in Garganda, India. It was learnt that he was kidnapped probably because he did not heed to the BPP’s demand to get involved in the going-to-be launched mass demonstrations.
He looked utterly dismayed and perplexed as he planned to get out of the tough situations. The lack of security and chaotic environment was escalating in our village during the time. He hesitantly decided to become a cattle herder, and spend secured life in the forests fostering a herd of cows and buffalos. He planned to switch to this life style to avoid abduction by the BPP activists and possible arrest by the government agents. He took eldest daughter Lila and the son Hari to assist him in goth (cattle herding). His strategy might have been also to protect his grown-up children from possible rape and coercion both from the RBA and BPP sides that was happening in the village.
In October 1990, the village Karbari (administrator) informed our mother that around 105 RBA-men were preparing to raid our village in order to arrest whoever in the village was suspected to have been sympathizing or supporting the BPP-led democratic movement. Since our father was an ex-military person, soon the soldiers thoroughly raided our house, doubting that he could have been a good advisor for the BPP.
RBA captain, Chimi Dorjee who led the team, kick-opened the front door of our house, and commanded all of the occupants to step outside. Our mother rushed outside guiding four of her daughters: Hema (8), Dil (6), Pabi (4) and Nara (2) to move along with her. However, our grandmother who was then suffering with immobility due to paralysis got left inside. Captain Chimi was mad at her, thinking she was not paying attention to his command. He pounded upon her body and hit her on head with the butt of the rifle. She at once got unconscious and fell prey to the assault. We still have the fresh memory of our grandma bathing in blood due to hard-hit assault on her fragile body.
Our mother was utterly nervous and frightened by the situation enveloping our house. Her sincere attempts to rescue our grandmother went on vain. Adding to her fears, Chimi came outside pointing a pistol at her.
“Where is your husband?”
She shrugged to show her ignorance about her husband’s whereabouts. She intentionally, as she reveals it now, didn’t want to disclose her husband’s whereabouts as she was aware of the facts that many male members of her village were arrested and severely tortured in the detention center simply for no reasons.
He then turned towards us……. children between 2 to 8 years old (I was six then) and asked us at the top of his voice.
“Where is your father?”
As innocent as we were, we expressed our ignorance in utter fear about father’s whereabouts. He was severely dismayed. He caught me by my throat in his left hand and did the same to my sister Hema with his other hand, lifted us up, held for what seemed to be eternity and threw us to the floor. We cried and begged pardon as we repeatedly pleaded that we truly did not know where our father was. He mocked at our humble pleas for excuse and expressed absolute disbelief. He threatened to punish us further if we continue to cry or keep maintaining our ignorance about his whereabouts. All of us were so engulfed in fear that we thought we were going to die in the cruel hands of Chimi Dorjee who appeared to be more of a monster than a human being. Our mother was in a dilemma whether to disclose her husband’s location, or continue facing the brutalities.

A copy of the payroll book of late Ichha Ram. Photo Courtesy/Authors.
Chimi then turned back to our mother and slapped hard on her face. He grabbed her hair and kicked her on chest throwing her down to the floor flat. He then repeatedly kicked her on head, chest, among other parts of the body. Later, when she had just regained consciousness, the soldiers handcuffed her and took her away from home.
She recalls that they marched her to Dhanesay School, which was then converted into a army barrack and temporary prison. Later our elder sister Lila said she saw mother being dragged by the soldiers while she was on her way home from the goth. She ran away in fear and went back to goth to tell our father.
The temporarily established prison, according to our mom, was full of male members of our village and she was the only female held captive. She had to not only share room with the male inmates, but also the open “bucket-toilet”. The descriptions of the prison—crowded rooms, unhygienic foods, male inmates crying, the inhumanely practiced different methods of mental and physical tortures, among others, now might sound more like untrue to most of us.
After hearing the news of mother’s arrest, our father, who turned lip-tight and red, headed straight to the army barrack from the forest and begged them to consider about his job life and service to the royal government of Bhutan for twenty years, shared the pain with the raged army officers, and also assured them that he was not in any way involved in the anti-government movement. To his sheer dismay, however, they arrested him instead and released our mother consequently the same day.
Even her love towards her husband could not hold mother there any longer; she was terrified and felt helpless. The RBA officials were very rude to the captives, and turned down any pleas for help or consideration. She must have been preoccupied with tension worrying about conditions of children and mother-in-law at home. She came home distressed and confused. When she reached home she was taken aback by disappearance of her jewelry and money, and grandmother’s deteriorating health was an even bigger concern to her.
Grandma was completely bed-ridden with pain resulting from the army officer’s assault. Her face was badly swollen up, and she was still profusely bleeding from the wound. The mother had too many things to take care of. We, the children were left to helplessly cry and starve when mother was arrested. Our mother acted bold and tried to get over all the messes at home, and restore the normalcy. The situation was very challenging to all of us.

Late Ichha Ram. Photo Courtesy/Authors.
It was not only our family that was suffering, but every family in our village was affected one way or other. Indeed, the atmosphere in the entire village was terrorized, at some point we feared death. All the adult male members of our village were either arrested or escaped across the border. Their spouses and other family members shared their feelings in fear that their relatives were arrested without any warrants or justifiable reasons. They were arrested with the vague allegations that they were involved in the BPP programs but they had no freedom of speech to tell the truth.
The arrestees were released after few months, but a few weeks later all the families were called to a meeting and told to sign a form and then they were instructed to move out of country within the given time frame. They were forced to sign what was called a Voluntary Migration Form (VMF). Our parents said the chief district administrator (Dzongda of Chirang) was himself involved all the time in making the people sign the VMF, and in opting necessary procedure to make eviction a grand success.
The people were not allowed to question the district administration on anything. They were compelled to do nothing but take the orders and pack up. Our family was not included in the first batch that was processed for the eviction. At one point, at that time we were the only family in the middle of our large village with six small children and a seriously ailing elderly woman at home. By then our father had been incarcerated for about 16 months. Dasho Dzongda (district head) of Chirang informed us time and again that if we wished to leave Bhutan, then we would soon see our father released from the prison.
Down and depressed, and anger and agony hitting our minds in turns, we left our village with no any idea as to where we would land up, and what our future would be like. Moreover, the fear as to what would happen to our father was always in our mind….whether he would be released was always a question mark. Mother planned the departure with our uncle’s family, and we were to walk two entire days from Dhanesey Bhutan to make it to the Indo-Bhutan border. We bid goodbye to our beloved village. My mother hired two people to carry our ailing grand mother in a Doko (big bamboo basket). Mother made this horrible choice for our family with the mere hope that our father would be released from the prison.
It was a very wearisome journey to the unknown for all of us. Each one of us carried a bagful of clothes, and parents had some utensils as well. We did not stop on the way for cooking; we just depended upon some dry food that we had stuffed in our bags for the way. The biting sorrow coming from the pain of leaving home and birthplace was already making us feel sick. As everybody was concerned of grand mother’s health, we suddenly discovered that our sister Pabi (4) was left behind in the middle of the forest. We did not know how that happened. We were emotionally paralyzed by the situation. We decided to hurry back the trail in search for her. Luckily, a neighbor that was walking behind us saw her and they were bringing her along carefully.
We consider ourselves lucky that we made to the border without facing casualties on the way. It was a terrible journey, but the physical stress was not bothering us any more as compared to the emotional, psychological trauma. After we arrived at the Mudhey, a small Indian town at the border, the police helped us reserve a truck to travel to Nepal. We cried and cursed Bhutan government for being unkind to us. We sorrowfully looked at Bhutan as long as we could, as long as the hills were on our sight, then we fell asleep as we disappeared into the world we had never seen before.
Our father joined us in the camps in Nepal immediately after we had reached there. Soon the first tragedy struck. Our grand mother died unable to cope up with the harsh environment in the refugee camps and unable to recover from the wounds inflicted by the Army Captain Chimi Dorjee. Whenever I remember my grand mother, I curse Chimi Dorjee for his inhumane acts towards our grand mother, and for all the bad things he did to us.
Later, it was learnt that our father was suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Although he was undergoing medication for the PTSD at the Center for Victims of Torture (CIVICT)- Nepal, he was psychologically too weak and traumatized due to inhuman torture in Bhutanese jail and the situations that followed including the loss of his life long properties, his service, honor and dignity. Eventually, he ended up taking his own life in 2007 at the Beldangi-II refugee camp.
We now only wish that many of such Ichha Ram (s), if he were alive until today, would have made significant differences for the regime who tortured, killed, or paralyzed them physically and mentally due to their potentialities—that now would certainly explore the government’s brutalities more evidently and hold them responsible for the crime committed against its own citizens.
Though the physical absence of our ‘family airplane’s pilot, is mentally and emotionally felt throughout our lives (more to our mom), it does not mean the call for true democracy in Bhutan ended-up along with his life worth mentioning thousand times to show the true colors of Bhutanese government.
Some aspects/analysis in the piece are touched-base on the real story narrated by our mother Dikura Koirala.

(The authors-brother and sister by relation- are the Bhutanese first year under graduate students at the Georgia Perimeter College. Opinion or facts & figures reflected in the piece are writers’ own, not of BNS) you can reach them at [email protected]

Congratulations Buddha bhai for getting this interview.

Continue reaching out to different journalists from different areas, countries and media. Many jurnalists are not even aware of our problem. Interviews such as your’s will be very helpful.

Lisa is one of the few American journalists, who has been following up with the Bhutanese issues. She understands quite a lot about Bhutan. She had been to Bhutan and she was involved in the Vermont Conference on GNH.

She can play a better role if she is willing to be more educated about the ‘Shangrila’ that has mass evicted 20% of its population; on the basis of cultural disctinction, political belief and race – and use journalism to expand that education to others.

Buddha, please keep up the good work.

I went through the interview and I like it the way thing presented. While Lisa was in Tucson in the last week of July I and many Bhutanese friends from Tucson had interaction with her and we tried to educate her on the genesis of the issues and its affect thereafter. It seems that Lisa was not fully aware of the carnage that was perpetrated by the regime in the South Bhutan.
Lisa has been actively meeting the resettled Bhutanese across the country in order to get the first hand information from the victims and the real issue that happened behind the curtain. Now it seems that she is fully aware of the gruesome phenomenon that was perpetuated by the regime

Guys!
Dont assume that people in the US, particularly journalist are unaware of our problem. Dont create embarrasing situation to Lisa. Let her work on her own in Bhutan. At the end of the day, her connection will benifit us! you all should understand this!

Deepak

Good job BNS, infact the movement strats here not by any political parties or any affiliates but by the sixth sense. With little or no resources BNS is doing incredible job by surpassing the people expectation quickly

I haven’t read the book yet. Don’t even know where to find it. But I was curious whether Lisa was able to visit Southern Bhutan and interact with the people there. We have seen in the past that a very few visitors, writers and journalists have withstood the subtle maneuvering by the government and the guides who often used arts, tradition, culture, religion, the natural beauty and geographical barriers, the uplifting slogans amidst serene and pure air in the Himalayas as tools to cover up the atrocities carried out against Lhotsampas (the ethnic Nepali-Bhutanese) during 1990s and the ongoing secret and systematic ethnic persecution whereby the Lhotsampas are treated as second class citizens despite the onset of democracy and concept of gross national happiness. Obvious example is Michael Hutt, who refused to buy the reasoning of Chirang Dzongda (District Administrator) behind Lhotsampas leaving the country en masse and wrote the book, Unbecoming Citizen. Lisa Napoli might have had that sixth sense to see both sides of Bhutan.

Whether to reward the Truth or benefit the layers of lies wrapped so well using the above tools and presented to the visitors, remains solely on the individual recipient. To me, the untold stories of most Bhutanese in exile Vs the Royal government’s branding of them as the people in the camps remains to be scrutinized to the roots perhaps to the year 1865 when the Bhutanese lost the Duars war and ceded the greater plains to Bhutan to British India in return for a subsidy. Why did the Bhutanese people from the greater plains simply moved inside present Bhutan? So far the journalists know the government version of Bhutanese history. There is need for the quest of True history of Bhutan. I think it is not about the propaganda campaign of greater Nepal any more, but the issue of greater Bhutan is necessary to put the research in right perspectives and find out why the great grand children of a Lhotsampa who was a Bhutanese in 1910 became stateless in 1990s!

Thank you Lisa for your great works, and thanks to BNS for bringing you closer to All Bhutanese.

Dick Chhetri

I had a chance to talk to Lisa last year in Vermont conference. We all should share our stories with her. She has seen only one side of the coin and does not know the reality.

Quite true, very few people know the stories that people in the camp have been weaving to suit their circumstances. The unfortunate thing is some genuine stories may have been lost in the process of embellishments. The younger generation has so much forced into their memories that they have all kinds of tales of atrocities that are hard to tell whether it was fact or fiction. I do not really know whose cause it will help in the end. I believe you can make yourself believe something by telling it over and again, but do not be under the impression that everyone will believe just because you say it so. Everyone likes to narrate history from their vantage point as if others had no thoughts and feelings at all.

It’s always appreciative if journalists have a bit of fire in their belly – a desire to get out there and tell the stories, challenge the authorities and not be intimidated by powerful interests or bogged down by their own.

Having worked for a renounced media like the CNN, I believe Nepoli is a very experienced journalist. I have also no doubt that she has also undergone the basic journalism training, a nose and an eye for a story, essential skills, ethics and an aspiration to accuracy, impartiality and search for the truth. I will be waiting for the other side of her story.

Nilik

@JEDAH

Quite true, very few people know the stories that people in the camp have undergone in their worst ever circumstances. The unfortunate thing is some genuine stories may have been lost in oblivion. The younger generation must bring out their memories they have bitterly experienced and expose all kinds of tales of atrocities that are hard to believe to the world. I really know the cause of truth helps at the end. I believe you can make yourself believe simply by telling your factual stories over and again, and know that everyone will believe you just because you say it so through your own mouth. Everyone must narrate history so that the design and methodology of the benevolent king of Bhutan will be told and the others will have a thought over the land of gross national happiness.

Thanks everyone for educating me on the politics. I am a servant of peace. My hope is for greater understanding and hope for future generations to live in peace. I fell in love with Bhutan 3 years ago. I am hopeful one day Bhutan will set a true example for the world. I look forward to contributing to justice and peace in the region and putting aside anger for the benefit of our children.

1. For a moment let us say that Jedah was right in saying “the people in the camps” weaving their stories to suit their circumstances………losing some genuine ones in the process of embellishment……
2. Immediate questions that follow in my mind are then why Bhutan is changing the original names of the villages, towns and landmarks of the very places in Bhutan which “the very people in the camps” gave when they first settled? When did they settled and how many? Answer……ask Gould Basil of British India or the assassinated first Prime Minister of Bhutan, Jigme Palden Dorji.
3. I clearly see the process of: prosecution, eviction, takeover, and erasing the history/footprints of “the people in the camps”, and then a denial with grand design as if they don’t even deserve a national identity in exile and brand them as “the people in the camps”. I am both the victim and the witness of the above injustice but I am not the judge. It is for this reason I depend upon people like Lisa and Andrew who may have the sixth sense to see beyond the subtle forces of Jedah and help me find an answer as to why the names of my villages are changed as follows, because I am worried my country is losing its true history. Whose cause will it help?

New “Bhutanized” names Original names given by Nepali-Bhutanese
Chhuzagang Danabari
Dovan (Block) Chhudzom
Under dovan block
Tshelithang Bimirey
Samtenphu Daragaon
Chibigang Gairigaon
Galethang Ghunring
Pelrigang Ramitey
Chunyethang Baragharey
Norbugang Khargaon
Mongarling Mongargaon
Sherabling Pathibara
Thongjabi Tarkharka
Rijugang Fedi
Drachu Tirkhola
Chhudzomsa Dovan
Jangchubling Pankhey
Mautsangchhu Maukhola
Bachhuthang Bichkhola
Nyachhu Majhkhola
Dechenling Neupaney
Azhethang Ranikhop
Lhayuel Maogaon
Dekidling (Block) Leopani (Block)

Mandelgang Bichpani
Jigmedling Chuabari
Dolonggang Gairigaon
Machhuthang Rateygaon
Dekiling Rateypani
Nubgang Dolpani
Chhoe Khorling Toribari
Darbithang/Lungtenbi Sukhatar
Dekidling Leopani
Hamlingphu Leukhop
Tahiling Lampatey
Gawaithang/Norbuthang/Yenchenphu Kafleytar
Gakidling (Block) Hilley
Under dakidling
Balchhangchu Belkhola
Dragphuchen Gangatey
Maenchulam Kharpani/Hiley
Jachu Muga
Sangkha Rateypani/Hiley
Reilangthang Noonpani
Chursini Kagatey
Gatemkha Laring
Bunakha Bisty
Gadikling Hilley
Omchugang Kwapani
Gelephu (Block) Gaylegphug
Under gelephu
Pelrithang Lodrai/Samitar
Zalingthang Mainatar
Pemathang Samitar
Lekidthang Lakitar
Jigmecholing (block) Surey Block

Tagjogang Babjungay
Doringphu Dhungay
Hokaling Gairigaon
Gongtsekha Gwangdara
Moenchukha Mangargaon
Serbugang Ashiney
Mendrelgang Bhirgaon
Gongduegang Gwang
Gadikling Kholatar
Galegchhu Galechu
Singkharthang Samkhara
Tashigtshel Chakpai
Barstham Bichgaon
Khamaed Dagagaon
Pachhakha Betini
Jungchugang Saudalay
Khatod Sirangaon
Sinsagang Ossey
Tshachu Tatopani
Pemagang Pakhey
Chhotengkhar Sukumbasitole
Tormaphug Tormey
Samtenling (gewog) Bhur (Block)
Under samtengling
Khengpagang Dhungmindra
Samtenling Bhur
Samtenthang Jhuprey
Dechen Pelri Jaruwa
Chhokhorling Majuwa
Serzhong (Block) Sersong

Barshong Thewar
Kapung/Pankhar Samitar
Sompangkhar (Block) Sarbhangtar

Gomchola kharey pakhey/Chaar
Risoomgang Tinjurey
Koenchholing Kharpanitar
Thongajor Pakheygaon
Gadanchholing Sarbhang bazaar
Sompankha Sarbhangtar
Dareythang Patabari
Norbugang Akhow
Seng-Gye (gewog) Singi (block)
Tashitse Labarbotey
Rishong Sistykhopan
Wangchulingkhar Phibsoo
Chiwaling Pingkhuwa
Sahariphu Balatung
Penjorling Kopchey
Yarpheling Thoemba
Yuejug Chotachirang
Labtsakha Deorali
Nyenyu Sisty
Tareythang (Block)

Yoedzergang Rangdara
Pemacholing Daragaon
Dorjitse Chargharey
Woongchilu Limbutar
Umling (gewog) Lalai (Gewog)

Chubarthang Chisopani
Dangling Dhodey/Katusey
Dungmin Baraytar
Baunitar
Bichpani
Gobretar
Gurungtar
Salbandi
Lingar Bistadara
Rijoog Langkhar
Tamkhuley
Gaden Proper lalai
School dara
Upper lalai
Lalaidhap
These changes are only in one Dzongkhag(District of Sarbhang, noe called Sarpang. Similar changes are undergoing in other 5 Southern Dzongkhags (Districts) of Chirang, Dagana, Samchi, Samdrupjonkhar and part of Chukka.
Thank you

Dick Chhetri

Dick Sir, I used the below version to elaborate in erasing the footprints in the process of conscious development. I used that at my previous untold story but still I lack the literature backups.
‘Contextually, some rudimentary studies and misleading findings guided the authorities to look this aspect in a scalar dimension. However, instead of preserving the existing ones, some silence replacement trend by injecting certain unmatched elements had purposefully subdued the morphology. When such places lost the original characteristics, the value become less significant, and this approach had promoted to renaming those places. The flourishing trend reached to a sorrowful stage. These areas were never made the habitat by the northerners in the due course of history may be due to sense of fear, lack of trust with the immediate neighbors or the adoptability related to climatic factors and our people were first to own such lands before they converted into livable area.’
Still disgusting trend that has flourished is naming the person in the southern part mostly in the Nepali speaking community. Sonam Wangdue Sharma -Have you ever noticed that too? But equally interesting thing that took place is ‘aculturization of Drukpas’ who got settled at the land of people at camps. They began calling their children by jetha, maila, kancha, etc. People given the choice will prefer the easy and more advance side than the bottleneck side.
Cheers!

@dick, interesting to see the long list. Besides the cultural obliteration, I guess it may have to do with ease of use and meaning to the inhabitants. I often wonder why you call yourself dick because I’ve never heard such a nepali name. It almost sounds like you want to anglicize yourself & therefore lose your ethnicity, but I do realize that it could have something to do with your Faith.

Changing the names of places in southern Bhutan is an unnecessary game of the governemnt.

naren’s justification – ‘ease of use and meaning to the inhabitants’ is a gimmick. Question – to which inhabitants? The nepali speaking southern Bhutanese can hardly pronounce these names; forget about understanding their meanings. It is another face of ‘Drukpanization’ of a multi-ethnic country.

@ naren,The changing of names is not for any convenience or ease, it is a method used to make look like no people were evicted; in the same way houses of the SBs were burnt down and trees were planted over them for the same purpose.

Dear Fellow,
Changing the names of the places is the final step of the burial…..the covering of the crime, and a christening for a new beginning.
Thanks Nilik for some clarification.
Imagine your grand child visits Bhutan in 50 years and asks the birth place of his/her grand father! Do you become a Stupid liar or your grand child?? BHUTAN is at the risk of losing its true history. At the end whose cause does it help?!!

Dick Chhetri

Bhutan is a country without sovereignty.It’s area is decreasing day by day from top to bottom and the Govt is under the control of New Dheli.Normally its character looks like a state of India.If it’s a country it must be a home of all ethnicity those who are born in Bhutan.If it’s a territory of any country it must be a home of some tribes of people only.So, Mr Penjor …. what you want to do?
Do you want to say Bhutan is a country or a territory of a country?.It’s your choice.A country must have diplomatic relationship with at list 30 countries.Does Bhutan have diplomatic relationship with even its big and border attached neighborliness country(CHINA).In future if something dispute will happen between Bhutan and China about their border how can they solve their problem without any diplomatic relationship or they will hire their owner?.So,it is shameful for the Bhutanese Govt to campaign about Gross National Happiness in the International Community.What kind of democracy Bhutanese people need in Bhutan?I don’t understand.If you need food don’t ask with beggar.Ask with the person those who have.Bhutan Govt itself is a beggar and you guys are asking something valuable thing with beggar which is not possible.If you need fruit first of all you should crop the plant.In Geographically there is still Bhutan in the world map but in politically and diplomatically there is no more Bhutan in the world.open your political and diplomatic eye and see your country.If you don’t find ask with International community.They will show you but it takes time.Remember Bhutanese Refugees are India’s strong weapon.If Bhutanese people ask about the sovereignty of Bhutan at that time India will use this weapon and kill the Bhutan’s sovereignty voice. So, Bhutanese Refugee problem will never solve becoz India wants to keep this problem as long as possible.100% sure that this is a diplomatic game of India
Tashidele

Guys,
Instead of bashing your own country, you have to separate the right from the wrong, Lies from the Truth and deal with the problems in a professional manner. It is not their fault that the foreigners do not know the Truth; it is our fault that we could not present or articulate the untold stories of Southern Bhutanese Vs the highly orchestrated…self deprecating ways of the government. I can see that the sense of pain, revenge and retribution expressed by the victims have camauflaged the realities, and in fact helped the government campaign to project them as unique Homo Sapiens at the brink of extinction as a tiny country among the sea of people. In the process, True history of our country and the people is being at the risk of losing permanently with the changing of the names of the places. At the end, whose cause will it help???

Dick Chhetri

@Moni; let us not squeal frantically whatever we want. We need to grow up and understand simple relevant footings. To simply say Bhutan is controlled by India is as bogus as they saying us we are craving for greater Nepal. It may be good for us to know at least at this stage clearly that the Bhutanese leadership is very smart and dedicated from keeping its neighbor happy to chasing us away for obvious reasons. This simple knowledge will perhaps help guide for a better discourse and resolution.

I encourage all of you (those who have not done as yet) to go through the Bhutan times online forum, now doing its rounds, and get the excellent insight of the land of Gross national Happiness, the land Nepoli has known.

Thanks
Nilik

1. Why did the great grand children of a Nepali-Bhutanese (lhotsampa) citizen in 1910 became stateless in 1990?
2. why did the names of the villages, towns and landmarks (given by Lhotsampas in 1800s or before) changed into new “Bhutanized names” after eviction of Lhotsampas in 1990s? for example why did “Mainatar” became “Zalingthang”?
3. Is true History of Bhutan at the risk of being erased permanently?
4. I would like the author to express her views these questions or, if she does not know, who can answer?

Dick Chhetri

Dear Nilik,Bhutan is just a beautiful picture made by India.The reality is India.If you ask questions the picture can not give you the answer.Don’t aspect anything from the picture becoz the picture can give you nothing.
tashidele

Dear All Bhutanese …..If you really love beautiful Druk youl(BHUTAN),why don’t you speak about the sovereignty and the border of Bhutan?
.Do you know that? after 50 years there will be no more Bhutan in the world map.
And the Bhutanese people are gonna to be a tribal of the state.If you don’t know about it ask with your immature king.He knows everything even than he can do no thing becoz he is in the diplomatic prison of India.If you need supportive documents of my view go and ask with the severely extinct IndoBhutan border pillars.Since 1990′s there is no more border between Bhutan and India from Singhee to Kalikhola.Before 1987 sano Pinkhuwa was under(sarpang) Bhutan. Now 90% of sano pinkhuwa falls under (assam-bodoland)India.One day Dzonkha will become a tribal language of India like Uhkhumiya of assam, Nagamise of Nagaland and Manipuri of Manipur.So don’t be too late to protect your sovereignty and Kingdom. It is not a time to speak about democracy and Gross National Happynese for Bhutanese people becoz your nationality’s and sovereignty’s death is very near
Tashidele

Hey moni u claim to be an assamese n I came to know about u from your comments in othper articles of BNS. If u belive Bhutan is a state/part of india y dont u visit Bhutan n see if u can get into Bhutan with ur assamese identity without prior approval from RGOG, I bet u wont get in.we may b one of the least populated on this earth but we with the help from our protecting deity r more than capable of protecting our sovereignty as a nation n have been protected by our ancestors n protecting deites for generation. by the way do u know that the happiness is the 9th MDG adopted by UN recently is the product of the KINGDOM OF BHUTAN as a member nation of UN. as of India it is our largest development partner n people of Bhutan r thankful to India for their assistance.
Palden Drukpa Gaylo. Long Live Our Kings
True Bhutanese

Dear True Bhutanese,
Do you know the traveling low of India?.Each and every citizens of India can’t travel any state of India without the pas-pot of his/her residential state and without the authority of the state, which he/she gonna to visit.If any Indian visit another state without pas-pot and permission,he or she will be punished or fine for Rs 350.If you don’t know go and ask with any India.If any one India doesn’t know this low he/she may be illiterate Indian or criminal.So, in case of Bhutan,Indian doesn’t need visa or any thing to visit Bhutan.I know Bhutan since my child age no need to teach me about Bhutan and Royal Family of Bhutan.If you have power show me by chasing Indian militant from Bhutan.Who is in between china and Bhutan’s border?.Is there single Bhutan army in between IndoBhutan border?.wake up man…..wake up.
Sure… your gays are very happy becoz whatever you need you get from India.If beggar get food from other ,he would be happy.Same like that RGOB is the happiest beggar of the earth.But don’t sell your nationality, dignity, sovereignty and Independent just for food and clothes.Do you have hand?..hehehe..I don’t think so.Your hand and mouth is not only for eating eama dashi sometime work for your so-called coutry plz
Tashidele

Dear moni,
i feel very sad for u….. poor fella tell me did u travel to other state in india(i rather think u did not travel outside ur birth place), now i dont belive… u r an indian(this poor fella doesnt seem know about his own country…. how did i on this earth beleive him to have knowledge bout other countries.please dont share ur weired knowledge on any forum, people will laugh at u(infact ur making urself a Joker). regarding passport even Bengaldeshis, Nepalese and Bhutanese dont need to produce it to travel within any state of India(Passport is required for travelling overseas not within ones own country, u poor ill knowledged fella please talk sense), i lived in Delhi for over 5 years and this should convince u my knowlwdge about India.i m not a fool to b fooled by a fool like u writing all those non-sense….passport… Rs.350 fine.. shame on u. stop bothering about others if u relly r an Indian when u have lots of poverty striken people in ur own state(dont try to argue with me on this topic, u will see this fellow country men of urs along Barabisa(Assam, India)-Gelephu(Bhutan) roadside n think how can u contribute to allivate those poverty striken people but i belive u arent capable of doing this( m asking too much form ill knowledged fella). so moni please dont waste your time because ur wasting my time too arguing with non sense fella like u.we the people here in Bhutan celeberate our National Day( not Independance Day or Republic Day).talking about our power, it took only a day to flush those indian insurgents by Our Royal Bhutanese Army on 13th December 2003 for ur kind information.
Palden Drukpa Gaylo, Long Live Our Kings

True Bhutanese

Dear True Bhutanese,
I got you.That’s 100% violation of law of travel.I m very sorry you don’t know the meaning of law.If I tell you the reality you feel bad.Bhutan is a beautiful picture made by India.But I am surprising why India is erasing this beautiful picture from the world map?..Yes, I am joker for you fool but for the international community I am telling the truth.How long you guys tolerate this kinds of nonsense insult from India?.Don’t worry about your king.He will never die.but problem is that when he will come out from the diplomatic prison of India?.I don’t have habit to use the uncivilized word like you guys.I know how to respect the comment from other people.
Tashidele

SCHIZOPHRENIA, is any of a group of psychotic disorders usually characterized by withdrawal from reality, illogical patterns of thinking, delusions, and hallucinations, and accompanied in varying degrees by other emotional, behavioral, or intellectual disturbances. Schizophrenia is associated with dopamine imbalances in the brain and may have an underlying genetic cause.

This is what is appropriate to describe who moni is. I do not know what makes him think that Bhutan is part of India. If he is an Indian, let the issue of Bhutan’s sovereignty be dealt by the Bhutanese authorities with the Indian authorities. There is no reason for the fools (like you moni) to be worried. Bhutan is an independent country. if you are not sure, just type Bhutan in google search engine and you will find.

Moni, when you try to fool others, do not forget to consider the intellectual capacity of others. At least, even for those of you MONI who are not really intellect, the technology has made easier to find everything at your finger tips. So do a research but don’t assume that others don’t know.

Now, don’t teach what law means. There may be lawyers reading your comment. Just tell me this: Under which article in the Indian Law says the Indian citizens cannot travel in their own country? Under what penal code are citizens viable to pay RS 350 fine if they travel without passport in other states? And, by the way learn to spell passport correctly.

If you are not sure where Bhutan is and what status Bhutan has in the International fora, try checking this: http://www.un.org.

The propounding philosophy of GNH and Bhutan’s proposal to include ‘HAPPINESS’ is adopted as the th millennium goal for humanity and it was unanimously voted by 198 countries, including India.

I like the debate between MONI,lOTUS FLOWER and TRUE BHUTANESE,
As per my view MONI is a Bhutanese citizen.He is trying to expose his country’s hidden problem in the international community.This is a diplomatic way to rise the issue.He is speaking in favor of Bhutan in long term.Bhutan needs thousands of MONI to make aware the people of the country.Sometimes he speaks about the border of Bhutan.sometimes he speaks about the nationality, dignity and sovereignty.sometimes he acts like an Indian and sometime he acts like the people of other nation.The main idea of his comments is to give protection to Bhutan.yes, in reality each and every infrastructure of Bhutan is depend on India.This is not good for the Bhutan.Physically Bhutan is an independent country but diplomatically and economically it is not an independent land.Lotus and true Bhutanese…go ahead… I hope moni will share you everything.Moni best wishes for your mission.You are the only one person ,who knows the value of sovereignty,dignity,nationality and the land of Bhutan.Keep it up.The people of Bhutan is in support of you.
Thanks

Thank you every body for discussing about the democracy, people, Bhutanese media, journalism, history, and politics of Bhutan. Everyone will get abundant of truths to turn himself / herself around and say “I really know now” what is Bhutan? How is Bhutan? What is Bhutanese democracy mean? What is GNH? Where are those people who were living in southern Bhutan before 1993? What happen to hundreds of school in southern Bhutan after 1990? Why the names of district, blocks and villages were changed? Please do research to get it. You can go further to the time when many Bhutanese mass murdered in Sarbhang for demanding their basic rights in 1952. That took place when a protest organized on behalf of Mahasur Chettri who was representing people of southern Bhutan and the Bhutan Police brutally killed by sinking him in a sack of leather in Sunkosh River in 1948

Gross National Happinese(GNH) and Bhutanese Refugees(BR) are the product of Bhutan.Last year I spent two months(april and may) in Bhutan.It was really worst.No place to hang.so,boring.I finished 6000 dollar.The tourism sector of Bhutan is really bad.They have nothing.The places are ugly.It was very expensive life.I found lots of poor people.They came to thimpu for shopping on foot three days.There are lots of problem in Bhutan.This is what,the meaning of Gross National Happinese.

Dear Lotus,
You said me visit http;//www.un.org .I visited and found this
Country Bhutan
Area (sq.km): 38,394
Dzongkhags (districts): 20
Geogs(Blocks): 205
Currency: Ngultrum
National Language: Dzongkha
Capital: Thimphu

Population (2008-2009)
Population: 683,407
Male: 357,305
Female: 326,102
Age Composition (%) / Figure
0-14: 211,747
15-64: 439,045
65+ 32,615
Child dependency ratio: 48.2
Old age dependency ratio: 7.4
Population Density (person/sq.km): 17.8
Median Age(years): 23.0
Index of Aging: 15.
As per my concern the area should be 47000 sq km (land).Where is the remaining portion of the land?.Remaining portion of the land is eaten by Mr lotus and true Bhutanese with eama dashi, am i right?
Tashidele

@Moni – so you at least learnt that Bhutan is an independent country and not a state of India. From where did you get the figure 47000. If the record show that area of Bhutan is 38,34 sq KM than that is it. It is the area that Bhutan own. We cannot ask for more because moni believed it should be more. Unlike you moni, Bhutanese have learned to live by the reality; not by illusion. You can bark as much as you can -sometimes as India, sometimes as Nepalese and sometimes without any nationality. But the bottom line is, Bhutan is for Bhutanese and we know how to safeguard our country.

@ Linda – from the way you write, a layman can sense that you are Linda in disguise. Honestly, Bhutan is not a country to hang out. It has rather become a country of curiosity for many researchers and academics. You need to go to Nepal to hang out.

Bhutan has a high value low volume tourism policy. A person who spent only $6000 in two months is a cheap tourist, which is a obvious reason why you were bored. Our valued tourists spend top dollars and they get royal treatment.

There are poor people everywhere, even in the richest nations. But the difference is that all poor people in Bhutan have roof over their head and at least two meals a day. There is no homeless people like you can see in many cities in western countries.

Dear Linda,
I am so sorry that’s not Bhutan.That’s ROYAL GOVERNMENT OF BHUTAN. Actually Bhutan is a beautiful country but the system is not organised.
Thanks

Dear Lotus,
Come out with your real name plz….Don’t put messy color in the face of your country.Day by day the image of your country is going down in the international community because of you guys.Do you know how to treat with a costumer?.Linda …..,she is your costumer.Why did you take her 6000 dollar?.Stop your tourism sector.See the advertise of tourism of your country and speak.Did you advertised only for researcher?.You have to learn how to speak in polite manner from moni.I think he is also from the same country where you are.This is big corruption.Put your brain in right gear before you put your mouth in motion plz. I have a question.What kind of curiosity is in Bhutan?.I stayed there for two years.I din’t find.I found Tibetain type of culture in the small plot of Himalayan land run by Indian diplomata that-sit
Thanks

Dear Veronica,
I am so sorry.This Lotus flower is not from Bhutan.He is my best friend from Lhasa.Sometimes he speaks to much.He doesn’t know how to say sorry too.Last week he was slapped by Doya because of his rude manner.So,don’t care whatever he speak plz.He is like this
Thankz

Dear Veronica,I have a small story related to how much people like Lotus are civilized in the country.
I was eight years old and I was a grade two student. A group of people came to survey the land in my village.They were all from northern part of Bhutan[ I mean Drukpas who believed themselves as native of Bhutan after they evicted Nepali people from south]
One of my neighbors used to keep lots of cows. Unfortunitly , one day one of those cows felt sick and died. My fellow villagers burried that carcass digging a big pit near a forest.
After two days and two nights those people for survey living in one of our school’s room heard about that dead cow and started their way towards that carcass.They dug out that rotten ,evil smelling dead body of the cow. Leaving the bones in the pit, they carried the flashy parts to the school and spread it on school’s roof.They pollutated the whole environment and we could hardly breathe.Whole area of our small village was malodorous.
But they really enjoyed that sh.. with ecstacy.
The same happiness that they had got from dead cow might be ‘Gross National Happiness’today.

Ya, Sharma jee we all the southern Bhutanese know the culture and filthy habits
of the tibetan origin Bhotey community inhabiting the northern part. As part of the Bhutan JSW regime of assimilating the Nepali origin Bhutanese in south Bhutan with the Bhotey community, it migrated thousands of Bhotey community to the south in late 1970s. We the southerners with a civilized culture and predominantly hindus usually refrain from eating a dead animal. A cow reared by us died despite all our affords to save it. It had a very dangerous disease related to skin and its blood circulation. So, as usual, when any animal dies of itself, we burry it to avoid spread of the disease to another and to express our love. Being Hindu, we respect cow as Gau Mata. The cow that died then was also kind of a loving pet as it was born and grown with us. Some Kheng community saw us burrying the cow. They requested us not to burry but give to them. I myself replied to that person that the cow had died of a very dangerous disease and also from the point of view of our religious respect to a cow, we could not give the dead body of it. So I expressed being sorry to her. She threatened me of seein that palce the next day.

Next day it was not there. They came at night opened the pit where we had burried the dead cow and they took it.

Dear sharma and chhetri,
If a dog bites on your legs, don’t bite the leg of dog plz.This is not a civilized manner of doing comments.I am so sorry to read your comments.
Danyabadam mitra

@Dick chhetri– We can get this book in Amazon.I got one with 3 dollars..second hand but NOT BAD…I am going thru it..so far so good…

Do not keep the same news and articles for long time which is of no use.Did you ,editior see any good information regarding southern Neaplese .She had visited only north of Bhutan and wrote her book .Do you any readers, see and story of souther Bhutanese and their sorrowful life in book.I have no comments more then this.Try to put new and good story rather then this articles .

Dear BNS commentators……..mostly whom are the refugees in Nepal camp and resettled in the west, i applaud you for the generosity shown by these countries notwithstanding the heinous crime you committed in peaceful Bhutan back in 1990s, considering your plight in the Nepal camp….indeed its the experience of living hell you have/had to undergo for years as a result of perpetuating such crimes and created dreadful sins back in Bhutan.I do not blame the youth of today most of whom were born in the camp in Nepal.

Remember, worse to happen is the false reporting by you on Bhutan trying to tarnish the image of Bhutan at a time when the country is enjoying the fruits of the hard labour our most respected leaders had to put to strengthen the sovereignty, peace and prosperity of the country,you are infact again creating dreadful sins….for me, i believe you don’t deserve the right to stand on even a square feet of grass underneath you feet on this earth.

Instead learn the teachings of Buddha and his way of living so that you too can some day become a good human being and contribute to promoting world peace…..

Bhutan and its privileges is not only for those who are close to king and his associates. It is a country of Diversity, people of different ethnic background are living in Bhutan. So, every Bhutanese whether he/she is Lotshangpas,or Sharshopas,or Khengpas, or Drukpas, or any other minorities living inside this
country or outside should have equal right for expression about the situation of this country.

I my self being a Bhutanese student would like to bring forward the conspiracy designed by our fourth king (JSW) and his associates over southern Bhutanese (Lhotshampas).

First, these people (Lhotshampas) were compelled by the government to do Jharlangi (Nepali term, which means-unpaid work that need to be done for the development of the country), majority of these Lhotshampas had to serve for the highway project.) People did not go against the concept of government, and should not be also, because they had understood their service is necessary for the development of the nation.

Second, the government introduced the concept of one nation one people, and the law was enforced by the bodies of the king with out the consent from fellow Bhutanese. Where whole country was required and compelled to follow the custom, tradition, culture, language, and dress code of Nalungs( The ruling dynasty of Bhutan).

Third, the king and his diplomats suddenly sent the census team to the South (During 1980s). Members from the same family were put into different categories. Son was put into one categories of citizen, where father was in other. Sister is classified as illegal immigrant where brother as inborn citizen. The main cause of the difference is because overall census was conducted by agents of the king (not an independent body), so they recordd misleading information on their census data.

After seeing all these types of political inequality, and the designed conspiracy of the fourth king (JSW), people in south started to show their disagreement, some groups started to campaign against these types of inappropriate government’s behaviour. Dissatisfaction started to emerge protest movement over the street.

Finally, the king in the name of maintaining peace over the Southern Bhutan enforced his army.Hundreds of fellow Bhutanese were killed, many are still missing, thousands were tortured, young girls were rapped and killed, houses were burned. At last, more than hundred thousand of Bhutanese(1/6th of the population) were thrown out of the country.

Now, you can say – Isn’t it called ethnic cleansing?

Most of the evidences were hidden because there were no reach of outside world media at that time. All the news and publication were under the control of government. Just imagine, television was first broadcast-ed in my Himalayan country Bhutan in June 1999. How could the world know what had happened before 1990 in my nation?

Thanks!

umesh,
if u r a student…. well u dont rely know what happened during the 1990’s problem and probably the stories were told by ur parents/elders. please refer bhutanstory.blogspot.com to rely know the insight of the story.
un-paid labours are called woola in Bhutan(this is a form of tax imposed to every Bhutanese not just Lotshampa’s). My uncle’s contributed woola for the construction of Phuntsholing-Thimphu national highway in 1960’s n they dont complain because they know they were contributing to nation building and in the end it is our future generation Bhutanese who are benifitting from their hard work.His majesty the 4th King did what he had to do as a King who is the supreme protector of all Bhutanese and we as a subject of the Kings are proud to have such a wise and Bold King to lead us.
What would you say about the BPP party who slaughtered, raped,robbed and tortured your own people.
journalist from as far as New York(NewYork times) came during the southern problem and has account of what happened in the above mentioned website.Hope u go through it….. Happy Reading

Dear So called Drukpa,
I like Your love and devotion towards India.Yes, you worship your king and your king worship the president of India.Indirectly you are worshiping the Government of India becoz they give you India rupee not Bhutanese ngultrum.This is the right formula to make money in Bhutan.

Druk, do you want me to believe your weak and fallacious arguments in your blogs, rather than believing my Parents and Elders? I believe their story 100%, because I used to see sentiments and pain in their expression and sorrows in their eyes.

I think you are one of the stupid person who is sold for money to advocate for the fourth king (JSW). Druk, today’s world is different than you might have thought. Be out of your narrow mind, and conservative ideas. think globally, think diversely. Stop believing that Bhutan is only the country of Nalungs( The ruling dynasty).

Take examples from the history- Think about those Nazis who used to believe on Hitler, aren’t they washed out finally? Think about those France’s Louis from III to XIX, have not people knocked them out?

Druk, You might have a life of luxury because of our fourth king, but (1/6)th of our population were forced to be refugee by this same king. What could you say about this? If you are still proud for your fortune, readers and commenter would analyze how selfish we are. Don’t make me and my fellow Bhutanese feel shame because of you.

I see your argument, and you have been repeatedly stating that Lhotshampas are not Bhutanese. You have been putting allegation to these people, but USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom clearly stated that these people are genuine Bhutanese, and have been providing Permanent Residency or Green Card identified as Bhutanese.
Remember these country wouldn’t allowed a permit to any criminals, terrorist, or murderer to stay in their country. Do you believe these Nations are foolish and stupid?

Hope to see your response.

Thanks!

Umesh, so you want everyone to believe in your viral and malicious arguments, right? Whenever you speak something against our kings, my blood boils up. 99% of Bhutanese people are happy to have king and we are ready to do anything to preserve the institution of monarchy.

Bhutan did not deny that people in the refugee camps in Nepal are not Bhutan. However, Bhutan is very clear that not all of them who claim to be from Bhutan are not Bhutanese. There is a fraction of Bhutanese in the refugee camps who committed crime and fled Bhutan. For your clarification, Bhutan was ready to take them back and prove themselves innocent under the law of Bhutan. When the verification team from Bhutan were in the refugee camps, refugees pelted stone at the vehicle Bhutanese officials were traveling and chased away.

We do know that the nations who are resettling refugees are not foolish. The are the nations who provide humanitarian assistance to people in need. When these nations resettle, they don’t participate in your political agenda of bringing change in the country and helping you repatriate; rather they will provide you with humanitarian welfare assistance and expect of you to be a law abiding of that nation. If you don’t they know where you should be sent. You can rattle when you can, but Bhutan will always be for Bhutanese and for you it will be a distant dream.

@moni – I hope you watched the lively Royal Wedding. By now you should be clear that Bhutan is an independent nation with a king who is revered as Buddha, and helped you do away with your obsession of Bhutan being part of India. The world had watched and so should you.

May peace be with you!

Dear lotus,
That’s why your power less little king is going to visit his head office to show is wife.
If any king or president of any country go to visit India the president of India comes to receive them and take them to his office. In case of Bhutan if the king of Bhutan go to India to visit the deputy foreign Minister comes to receive him and take him to the office of Prime minister not president.What hail this nonsense insult?.Lotus can tolerate this kind of insult becoz there is contaminated water in his veins not patriotic blood.Bhutan is very sorry to give birth this kind of cow-ward son.The world is watching the situation Bhutan and my highly diplomatic statement.
Trasidele

LONG LIVE THE KING, COUNTRY AND THE PEOPLE…..Opps i mean the true citizen of Bhutan…

Drukpa and Lotus Flower know the situation in Egypt, Libya, and many other countries in Middle east.They know they will be thrown into the trash, when all Bhutanese broke a revolution in the country. But still these Nalungs are advocating for their king.

In-fact,less than 5% of Bhutanese people are happy to have king. We Sharshopas have our own language, own dress code, and we have our own tradition. But, this Nalungs( King dynasty) who migrated from Tibet compelled and pressurized us to follow their language, dress code, tradition, and values. They are sending our hundreds of young Sharshop boys to the monasteries, and they have been encouraging intercaste marriage with the intension to minimize our population in east.

Many of our people in east are far behind the development. All of our tribal groups are under the poverty line. Freedom of speech and expression is not yet guaranteed.Here at Anna University in Chennai, I am pretty much safe and secure, but will still keep my self anonymous, so that government would not be able to track me down with the help Indian authority. These is what happening in the eastern part of my country, and some time come to know that situation is pretty much same in the south too.

However, I do not know much about the cause of 1980-1990 revolution in south, and the reason what makes our 1/6th population of fellow Bhutanese refugee. Because I was young during that time, and today it is very hard to collect and gather information inside Bhutan about these issues. Hope our fellow Bhutanese now resettled in western countries could introduce the real story hiding inside our country.

Let us all Bhutanese easter, souther, norther, and western fight for the freedom of press and publicity inside our nation. Today, all media, press, and publication is under the control of our government. We need to break this boundaries. Let us keep on supporting public media like BNS as always.

Thank you BNS team!

We people in East basically Sharshop and other tribal groups have been dominated and suppressed by the king here in Bhutan. We have our own dialog and language, we have our own dress code, we have our unique culture and tradition, and we have our own values.

But the Nalungs(king dynasty) have been enforcing and implementing only their culture, values, language, dress code over us. Hundreds of our young sharshop were send to monastries to be monk. Which is another conspiracy of Ngalongpas over us. They want to depopulate the Sharshops from the East as they did to Lhotshampa in the South.

How could be happy with our king and the Nalungs Mr
But we Sharshop want to let the whole world know that we are the inhabitants of this nation. We are the native of this nation. We want freedom and we want our representation in these country. This Nalungs who have had migrated from Tibet should not compromised our identity.

You might consider how could I be able to comment this way living inside bhutan, but in fact I am at Anna university at Chennai. How ever I should remain anonymous to be safe from the Bhutan government who might asked Indian authority to track me down, because government of Bhutan does not want the real situation and the fact of those people inside to come out side the world.

I being a native of this nation have been denied from freedom of expression and freedom of speech. How could I be happy with our kings and with you Nalungs Mr. Lotus Flower(sangay letho).

Mr. Lotus Flower (sangay letho).
Do not always advocate for the king, rather, try to advocate in behalf our Sharshop and other underdeveloped tribes in the East.

Hope our Bhutanese folks those who have been resettled in Western country will bring the introduce the real story prevailing inside Bhutan.

I dose not mean all Ngalongpas are bad, but especially those who have been commenting here and few around the king are the crazy Nalungs. They always want to control other. How long do we need to agree hardened character of Ngalops?

Thanks !

We people in East basically Sharshop and other tribal groups have been dominated and suppressed by the king here in Bhutan. We have our own dialog and language, we have our own dress code, we have our unique culture and tradition, and we have our own values.

But the Nalungs(king dynasty) have been enforcing and implementing only their culture, values, language, dress code over us. Hundreds of our young Sharshop were send to monasteries to be monk. Which is another conspiracy of Ngalongpas over us. They want to depopulate the Sharshops from the East as they did to Lhotshampa in the South.

How could be happy with our king and the Nalungs Mr
But we Sharshop want to let the whole world know that we are the inhabitants of this nation. We are the native of this nation. We want freedom and we want our representation in these country. This Nalungs who have had migrated from Tibet should not compromised our identity.

You might consider how could I be able to comment this way living inside Bhutan, but in fact I am at Anna university at Chennai. How ever I should remain anonymous to be safe from the Bhutan government who might asked Indian authority to track me down, because government of Bhutan does not want the real situation and the fact of those people inside to come out side the world.
I being a native of this nation have been denied from freedom of expression and freedom of speech. How could I be happy with our kings and with you Nalungs Mr. Lotus Flower(sangay letho).

Mr. Lotus Flower (sangay letho).
Do not always advocate for the king, rather, try to advocate in behalf our Sharshop and other underdeveloped tribes in the East.
Hope our Bhutanese folks those who have been resettled in Western country will bring the introduce the real story prevailing inside Bhutan.
I dose not mean all Ngalongpas are bad, but especially those who have been commenting here and few around the king are the crazy Nalungs. They always want to control other. How long do we need to agree hardened character of Ngalops?
Thanks !

well sangae..y so much grudge against Ngalops???/ Is it because Ngalops are more sophisticated and doing well than u! Or is it because Ngalops are more hard working and successful than u.if u watch BBs u ll see that the king is always trying to help the ppl from eastern dzongkha,..

Is it possible that you are also among the people who fled the country in 90s.. because if you are a Bhutanese and living in the country you ll definitely know the history of the Wangchuk dynasty . jigme namgyel was from dungkar, Lhuentse. which falls in the easten dzongkha. dungkar Choje was started by the sons of Pema Lingpa( Bumthang) in 15th century, Our king didnot migrate from tibet.. pity on you dont even know the history of bhutan and calling yourself Bhutanese.

“yue gi bum” you are another selfish Ngalop. You guys do not want to support of people in east. How poor and vulnerable our people are in the east, do you Ngalops who proclaim about GNH know about that?

You Ngalops live in the cities, towns, use the infrastructures, resources of the country, have life of luxuary. You are taking advantages over our girls. Because of poverty reason, you are able to use them as prostitute and you Ngalops want that to be continued. You considered and treat our fellos as drunkard and illiterate.

Infact, you Ngalops have had migrated from Tibet, and today you are rulling us taking advantages of our povery, illetracy, and lack of unity.

Remember you Ngalops, if you continue to behave with us in this way, we would be compled to ask for our own state. That day you will be keep on advocating your king and your Ngalops.

I hate you Ngalops! You always push us(native of this country)down.

Still I am proud to be Sharshops ( The real inhabitant of Druk.)

As Sangae said- “I dose not mean all Ngalongpas are bad, in-fact my mum is Ngalop, but especially those who have been commenting here and few around the king are the crazy Nalungs.”

Umesh,
please ask ur parents about the role of BPP cadres…..i want to hear on that topic…. it would be nice of u if u could elobroate on it from ur parents point of view….i shall wait for ur writings

Mr.Drukpa first of all I would like to make you clear that my parents are not politically aware why our fourth king JSW introduced the concept of ethnic cleansing, and what make him implement his cruel and brutal governance toward the Lhotshampas.

But, today also my parents uses to agree that the concept of JSW to kicked out 1/6 population from Bhutan, and the brutality and inhumanity of royal Bhutan army is unjust, inhuman, and immoral.

My parents agree that those demand and agendas hold by BPP for equal Rights, justice, and freedom to every citizen of the nation was legitimate, and “it must be.” Yes, My parents agreed that “there were some corrupted and fraudulent individual inside BPP.” However, they believed that those individual have had been deployed as a spies by the King to weaken and jeopardize the party and its demands.

Mr.Drukpa just imagine this way. If there was a Sharshop king and would compelled you and all Nalungs to speak his dialect, to follow his culture, to practice his believes, and to wore is custom, would you guys agree that? If he send a Census bureau to each and individual house of Nalungs, with the conspiracy to kicked you guys back to Tibet, be honest here, Would you tolerate that? Definitely not!

In this situation any one could pulled his gun and join the rebels, but BPP hadn’t gone that worse, as you and I would imagine.

If you want more evidence, just browse the Internet to find out how hard the Libyan rebels fight to buried the dictatorial and autocratic Gaddafi. Since today our king is being lucky, because BPP just thought peace protest would work.

Hope you might understand my parents’ and elders’ points of view about BPP. And, now you might be clear who was the cause for the formation of BPP and many other party against the monarch in our country.

Thanks!

” Sonam ” I know you are another of this so called bhutanese who fled away in 1990s…using name of a drukpa…lol
and i dont think u hate the Ngalops..U are simply jealous of their prosperity…isnt it…well i dont wanna comment anything about sharcops..coz i believe in one nation, one people. without one another we are incomplete, together we make the bhutanese community…Its all because of such “low life street thinking people” like you. who bring bad name upon our king and the country…I dont hate you…rather i pity you coz u dont ve a sense of belonging and a very bad ATTITUDE !! because of that u ll never be more than what you are…No proper nationality and prosperous life…:)

” Sonam ” I know you are another of this so called bhutanese who fled away in 1990s…using name of a drukpa…lol
and i dont think u hate the Ngalops..U are simply jealous of their prosperity…isnt it…well i dont wanna comment anything about sharcops..coz i believe in one nation, one people. without one another we are incomplete, together we make the bhutanese community…Its all because of such “low life street thinking people” like you. who bring bad name upon our king and the country…I dont hate you…rather i pity you coz u dont ve a sense of belonging and a very bad ATTITUDE !! because of that u ll never be more than what you are…No proper nationality and prosperous life…:)

And yea…about demanding of a separate state…Keep on dreaming , theres no harm in building castle in the air.(Only fools do that).u ll only know it when u fall back on the earth…lol..:)

Sonam…i know you are one of those so called bhutanese who fled away in 90s.Or u are are one of these bastard who held grudge against the tsa wa sum.. so i dont give a damn what u say bout ngalops, coz one thing i know..BARKING DOGS NEVER BITE !!! lol
wat ever u comment bout Ngalops wont bring them down….so keep barking.
with pride i tell you that..Im a Ngalop, but i dont hate the sharchop…coz i dont have the low life ,street thinking like yours…becoz of that im pretty sure you ll never be successful and fail whatever you do in your life…Ha..I dont hate you but i rather pity you, for all those low and cheap thinking….
i pray to god that …u be blessed with a proper attitude in life and set u free from all those negativity ….

Sonam…i know you are one of those so called bhutanese who fled away in 90s.Or u are are one of these bastard who held grudge against the tsa wa sum.. so i dont give a damn what u say bout ngalops, coz one thing i know..BARKING DOGS NEVER BITE !!! lol
wat ever u comment bout Ngalops wont bring them down….so keep barking.
with pride i tell you that..Im a Ngalop, but i dont hate the sharchop…coz i dont have the low life ,street thinking like yours…becoz of that im pretty sure you ll never be successful and fail whatever you do in your life…Ha..I dont hate you but i rather pity you, for all those low and cheap thinking….
i pray to god that …u be blessed with a proper attitude in life and set u free from all those negativity ….

yue gi bum( Your other name- Bomola), you will see soon, A barking Dogs bite or not.

I specially hate some of the craziest Ngalop like you. If you keep on howling for your king and suppressing our people, one day we might throw you guys back to Tibet as you did to Lhotshampas.

The tragedy of the so-called Bhutanese refugee crisis seems to be repeating itself. Those who have failed to understand the true nature of the tragedy now have another chance. Hopefully they won’t miss the irony either. Against a tide of international criticism in the 1990s the government of Bhutan maintained that the mass exodus of Nepalese from southern Bhutan was not a result of government or military pressure on citizens, but was a result of the refugees’ own secret little plan. Leaving Bhutan in droves was Stage I of the Plan. Coming back to Bhutan in force of numbers and on their terms was supposed to be Stage II.

Many of the refugees-to-be wholeheartedly supported this plan. The concept of a Greater Nepal featured prominently in the delusions of the Nepalese diaspora those days, encouraged no doubt by the successes of the Gorkhaland movement in Darjeeling and Kalimpong. Many of them relished the idea of Bhutan going the Sikkim way. Kanak M. Dixit, a prominent editor from Nepal even wrote a cover page article on Bhutan revealingly titled “House of Cards” that seemed to foresee imminent collapse in Bhutan (Kanak Mani Dixit: House of cards: fearing for Bhutan. Himal Vol.7 No 4, July/August 1994.). Such sentiments had to be carefully hidden however and not surprisingly were heatedly denounced as some RGOB bogey.

Not all refugees were so excited by this delusion and many had to be coerced through threats and intimidation to cooperate. There was a militant wing among the refugees that offered to shorten by 6 inches anybody who did not cooperate. Translated bluntly, this was an offer of a beheading. Since the refugees were shrewdly trying to craft a picture of a persecuted minority, this fact too had to be denied. The refugee leaders cleverly deflected the blame for the exodus on a ‘despotic kingdom’ dabbling in the ‘ethnic cleansing’ of a ‘peaceful minority’. Now which self-respecting headline reader could resist buzzwords as catchy as these?

Having successfully created the critical mass of refugees and successfully set up their camps in Nepal (which incidentally was made possible only after a Long March and a standoff with the Nepalese police over the Mechi bridge), the plan began to stumble. The refugee leaders had never reckoned with Bhutanese bureaucratic obduracy and for 16 years Stage II has been in limbo. They’ve had to struggle to keep people focused on why they left Bhutan and what the next step was. Sadly for them, international sympathy for their humanitarian situation did not translate into international belief that the refugees were all Bhutanese citizens.

Finding lessons for Bhutan from the happenings in India and Nepal has been a habit among the Nepalese leaders in Bhutan. Their agitations in Bhutan in 1952 and 1990 following the successes of the uprisings against the British in India and against the monarchy in Nepal respectively bear this out. So it was no surprise that in the successes of the Maoists of Nepal the refugee leaders found inspiration and they promptly created their very own Maoist group. Unfortunately in their excitement they forgot about the US’ penchant for overreacting to anything communist or even the colour red. Not surprisingly the US became unduly alarmed by this and decided enough was enough and offered to clear the camps with a sweeping offer of resettlement in the USA.* Most of the refugees jumped at the offer as they saw it for what it was – an opportunity of a life time.

In this happy solution however the refugee leaders have found despair. Who will they lead is the main question. What will become of them as leaders? These hard questions have triggered the return of their hidden true nature and despite the risk of losing their hard earned image of peaceful refugees, they have once again resumed their old role of ‘guiding’ the people. According to them, the US offer is simply no good. No doubt being six inches shorter has something to do with it. Reports from Nepal describe a rapidly worsening situation as the Bhutan Communist Party and the Bhutan Tigers’ Front intensified their ‘campaign’ against third-country resettlement.

Such is the level of fear and intimidation that has gripped the refugee camps that dozens of families have fled the camps for their safety. Many refugees now find safety in the surrounding villages.

If there is one thing that is worse than becoming a refugee, it is for a refugee to have to seek refuge FROM a refugee camp. Abraham Abraham, the Country Representative of the UNHCR camps in Nepal must answer up to this incredible failure.
And it is high time that he and the UNHCR organization acknowledge the sinister role played by the refugee leaders in the creation of the refugee tragedy.

Drukpa, this attractive but misleading writeup would might earn you handful of cash from the King. Keep on using your pen to suppress the identity and history of our voiceless people. keep on writing on behalf of our cruel regime. Hope you will have safe future.

Read the real history at- http://www.bhutaneserefugees.com

Thanks!

Dear all,
I’m one of the Bhutanese lives in Nepal 20years, What you things about Bhutan, Bhutan is not a country, Bhutan is one of the city of India. Why we are became a Refugee do you know? Those who are quaral above comment you are the one couse, king Jigme sigme, teknath, balaram, Dr bhumpa,….. etc. But i love your comment, we all are lives different countrys make our strong and one day we fight Goverment of india,nepal,bhutan.
Think’s all.

Hey KJS!

It is not wise to yield other (third person) responsible for refugee situation. We need to be firmed and determined to make Jigme Sigme (The ethnic cleanser) accountable for this situation.