Bhutan bans import of many Bangladeshi items

Bhutan has imposed a ban on import of a number of items, including agricultural products, from Bangladesh and some other countries except India, official sources said.

Bhutan has taken the decision recently, which was conveyed to the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) by the Bangladesh Embassy in the Bhutanese capital Thimphu last week.

Other items falling under the ban include — motor vehicles, furniture, all types of juices and energy drinks, wine, bear and liquor, chips, noodles, cakes and wafers, according to a gazette notification of the Bhutanese government.

The notification, however, said the ban will not be applicable for products originating from India.

The sudden decision of the Bhutanese government came amid the tightening of its monetary policy undertaken a few months back to address the depleting foreign exchange reserve, a trade official said.

Another trade diplomat said the decision might have been taken at the insistence of some beneficiary country to stop export of agri-products from Bangladesh to Bhutan.

“If we cannot export agricultural products like juice and energy drinks to Bhutan, neighbouring India will be able to increase its export volume of similar products to Bhutan,” a trade official in the MoC told the FE Saturday.

Country’s export of fruit juice and energy drinks to Bhutan is almost a half of its total export earnings, which is worth $ 3.12 million per annum to the Himalayan country, according to trade statistics.

Officials in the MoC said they would soon request the Bhutanese authority to lift the ban.

“Our minister will write an official letter to the Bhutanese trade minister to reconsider their decision,” a senior commerce ministry official said.

He said the issue would be raised at the upcoming commerce secretary level meeting of the two countries scheduled to be held in next month in Thimphu.

The export items from Bangladesh to Bhutan include ready-made garments, pharmaceuticals, melamine, toilet soap, dry food, fruit juice, energy drinks and mineral water.

On the other hand, Bhutan exports products like fresh fruits, paper and paper boards, crushed stones, coffee and spices to Bangladesh. The total export of Bhutan to Bangladesh in 2010-2011 was $ 18.50 million.

Recently, Bhutan sought transit facility to Bangladesh through the latter’s sea, air and land ports.

Courtesy : The Financial Express/Nazmul Ahsan

Task force sees ‘high’ vehicle import for inviting Rupee crisis

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A high-level task force formed by the government to investigate the Rupee crisis the country has been facing pointed-out “high” vehicular import as its prime cause.

The report released on last Friday said, increasing number of vehicles also highly contributed to huge fuel consumption. It said, the economy’s fossil fuel consumption reached Nu 5.5B, which is about 10 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

It recommended a 40 percent green tax on all vehicle imports.

National statistics have revealed that Bhutan imported 6,893 vehicles from India last year.

The task force also asked the government to abolish vehicle quota system, which public servants have been enjoying. It stated most quotas are sold to private sectors.

According to the finding, some 3,121 vehicles worth Nu 2.6B were imported through the quota system between 2002 and 2011.  And, more than 56 percent of the total vehicles imported from third countries were also through the quota system, reported the government’s month piece on Saturday.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that the government has been working to set up another private committee comprising “people outside the bureaucracy” to independently evaluate, stud and recommend on the financial crunch.

AHRC to report Subba’s case to UN Special Rapporteur

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The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) said it would write a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment calling for his intervention into Jeet Bahadur Subba’s case.

Condemning physical torture on him to accept the accusation, the right group said that Subba is now detained at Hanumandhoka Police Station and needs immediate medical treatment.

“He was not allowed to meet with his lawyer without the presence of the police, which is against the Constitutional rights gauranteed by the Interim Constitution in Nepal,” said a circular issued by the Commission to Nepalese Prime Minister, Home Minister, National Human RIghts Commission and Inspector General of Nepal Police, among others.

At no point during his detention was Subba informed of his legal rights. His lawyer visited him twice: once on 3 May in the office of the District Attorney, Kathmandu, and the second time on 8 May at the MPR Hanumandhoka. In both cases the police refused to allow the lawyer to meet with his client without the police presence, according to the report.

“This is in spite of the Interim Constitution of Nepal guaranteeing the right of every person who was arrested to consult a legal practitioner and that the consultation should remain confidential. “

We have received information that a 29-year-old Bhutanese refugee, Jit Bahadur Subba, having applied for third country resettlement was arrested from the office of the International organization for Migrant on 27 April 2012, according to the circular.

“After his arrest, he was kept in illegal detention for two days without receiving any arrest warrant or detention letter in the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), Maharajganj, Kathmandu,” added the AHRC alert.

“He was severely tortured under interrogation and threatened that false charges of drug smuggling would be filed against him,” said the circular.

AHRC has also asked everyone to demand that an investigation should be launched into the allegations of torture and that the perpetrators should be held accountable. “We ask you to further urge the authorities to ensure that no confession extracted under torture could be used in court proceedings against the accused.”

PDP elects Lhotshampa as its Gen Secy

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Aimed at bringing more voters in confidence from the Southern Bhutan for 2013 general elections, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has elected a Lhotshampa as its Secretary General.

PDP General Secretary Tamang

According to a statement circulated by the Party, 50-years-old Yogesh Tamang, has been elected for the post. Tamang assumed his office from Friday.

Tamang, who was a freelance consultant in a private firm, said he wanted to join the politics as he liked PDP’s ideologies and principles. He is from Tshirang district.

The party also said it will hold its convention to elect President, Vice President and other executives on May 19.

GoN-UNHCR say, they will resume JVT soon

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Government officials and representatives of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have said they would resume the Joint Verification Team (JVT) to determine status of Bhutanese asylum seekers at the earliest.

Samples of Bhutanese refugee identity cards

Conducting a joint briefing session on Friday in Beldangi-II, officials informed the Camp Management Committee (CMC) and general refugees that the official registration process would begin very soon. However, they didn’t disclose the timeframe.

According to a CMC member, asylum seekers have been asked to fill up forms for their registration from Monday onwards in their respective camps.

“The JVT will give priority to those who were granted registration at Kakarvitta during their arrival in Nepal and those who were absent during 2006-2008 registration process,” another CMC member quoted an official of the Refugee Coordination Unit (RCU) as saying.

According to officials, both the RCU and UNHCR have almost completed preparations to resume the stalled verification process at the earliest. It is learnt that they have rented a separate building in Damak already.

However, Durga Devi Bista, who led fasting-to-death for 12 days in November last year and another seven days last month, accused UNHCR and government officials of conducting closed-door session without letting herself and her team members to attend the briefing.

“My repeated requests to enter the meeting hall went in vain as Armed Police Force allowed only the selected persons, especially those with refugee status, to attend the meeting” Bista told Bhutan News Service.

“It looks that we’ll again be ignored,” added she, “I doubt the briefing session was just meant for camp management committee and registered refugees.”

It is estimated that over 3,000 Bhutanese asylum seekers, and Nepalese and Indian women married to exiled Bhutanese would take part during the registration process, which is believed to be the last opportunity for all pending cases.

Even with repeated attempts, BNS could not reach government officials at Jhapa district for their comments.

PF appeals resettled folks to help educate children

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The Punya Foundation (PF), which initiated scholarship and empowerment programs for exiled Bhutanese and their host communities of Jhapa and Morang districts from last year, has appealed the resettled people to extend their helping hands so as to give a continuity to its ongoing programs.

Bhutanese children born in refugee camps

Releasing a 15-minute long video, Ujyaloko Khoji, depicting life of children in camps, their education aspects and efforts the Foundation initiated in 2011, PF has asked every resettled Bhutanese to be a part of their mission. The video was produced in partnership with the Bhutan Media Society, Kathmandu.

“The scholarship program would have been impossible had there been no contributions from resettled folks,” Foundation’s Executive Director, Lakshmi Prasad Dhakal, said in the video message.

According to Dhakal, the Foundation expects to double the scholarship quota this year and has been approaching to various individuals to cooperate in its fund raising initiative.

The Foundation said it provided four scholarships of US $ 200 each for exiled Bhutanese students in their 10 plus 2 two level. Similarly, it supported four Nepalese students from the refugee-affected community of Jhapa with Rs 5,000 each, according to Dhakal.

PF is a not for profit charity based welfare forum registered in South Australia. The foundation operates on the principles of universal declaration of human rights with the vision of “seeking justice through education and empowerment”. It operates without inclination to any religion, culture, ethnicity, caste and gender.

Editor’s note : For submitting your contributions to Foundation’s scholarship program, click here.

Open letter to Nepalese Prime Minister

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To,
Dr. Baburam Bhattarai,
Prime Minister of Nepal,
Singha Durwar,
Kathmandu, Nepal

Subject: Investigate the torture of Jit Bahadur Subba and bring the perpetrators under justice

Your Excellency,

Jit Bahadur Subba, 29 years, is a Bhutanese refugee. At the age of 9, when his parents had to flee the ethnic cleansing policy of Bhutan government, along with his parents he came to Nepal and got registered in the UNHCR managed Bhutanese refugee camps in Beldangi II, Jhapa Nepal.

Since 2009, the international community (USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, UK, the Netherlands, Denmark and Norway) started resettling Bhutanese refugees because repatriation of these refugees back home proved impossible. In this resettlement scheme, the United States of America accepted Subba. On his way to his new home country (the USA), on 27th April 2012 at 14.30 Hrs, Subba was arrested with out warrant by Nepal police from the Office of International Organisation of Migration, Balwatar, Kathmandu, Nepal. Subba was henceforth disappeared and his family did not know his whereabouts.

Following this on 2-5-2012, the Foundation requested Centre for Victims of Torture Nepal (CVICT) to explore the situation. On 3-5-2012, CVICT’s legal advisor had an access to talk briefly  Subba.

The details of Subba
Subba is illegally detained for two days at the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) at Maharajgung, Kathmandu. During this interrogation period he was not provided any food and water. Subba is inflicted with severe forms of tortures, including the technique of hooding. CVICT’s lawyer reports Subba saying, police in civil dresses slapped him on his face 10-12 times. Further, Subba was randomly beaten with a baton and kicked. Subba is subjected to falanga-torture, as a consequence, of which, he has difficulty to walk. “I could not tolerate the torture and have accepted all the allegations put on me, reports CVICT” as Subba saying.

The fact finding further reports, “having lived 18 years in the refugee camps, with no hope of repatriation, out of despair and frustrations, I have purchased Nepali Citizenship”, as subba saying.

On 29th April, Subba was transported to Metropolitan police ranges in Hanumandhoka. There, he was handed over the warrant of arrest (after 2 days of illegal detention and torture). Subba has multiple scars in his body. Owing to pain, he cannot sleep.

According to Nepal police, the case of Subba is under investigation on accusation of fraud of possessing Nepali Citizenship, reports CVICT. To defend himself Kathmandu district court has given only 7 days of time. CVICT’s legal expert says, immediate intervention is essential to stop Subba getting subjected to torture.

On 4th May, the Foundation appealed to National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to stop infliction of torture on Subba.

During his stay in the refugee camps, Jit Bahadur Subba was involved in numerous social activities. He is a journalist of Bhutan News Service. Further, Subba is a passionate lover of literature and has written a number of stories regarding suppression of Nepali population in Bhutan and numerous social mobilizing and awareness raising poems.

Your Excellency, constitution of Nepal defines torture as a crime, Nepal observing customary norms of International law and having ratified the Convention Against Torture, Subba should not be (shouldn’t have been) tortured. Punya foundation hereby appeals your office to kindly explore the situation and bring the perpetrator under justice. Hereby, the Foundation attaches the list of those who expressed solidarity against torture and request your office to set investigation in process.

Punya Foundation is an organization of Bhutanese living in Nepal and in the countries of resettlement. It is registered in Australia and works with a mission of Justice seeking through education and empowerment.

Thanking you in advance for your action.

Dr. Lakshmi Prasad Dhakal
Founding Director
Punya Foundation
Amsterdam, the Netherlands

CC for follow-up:
1.     Chairman NHRC, Nepal
2.     Amnesty Internal, UK
3.     Human Rights Watch
4.     World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT)
5.     Centre for Victims of Torture Nepal
6.     IRCT, Denmark

Editor’s note  : The letter was submitted to the Prime Minister on May 9, 2012

BCRC releases awareness film on scams

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Aimed at creating awareness among the resettling and resettled Bhutanese families about various kinds of scams targeting them in the United States, the Bhutanese Community Resource Center (BCRC) has released a documentary, thanks to its dedication.

Director Rizal

The Center registered in Washington has launched the documentary – Sawadhan – considering a number of scams which victimized some resettled families in the US, it is learnt.

The scammers are mostly learnt to be making direct telephone calls to resettled Bhutanese luring them of different things to cheat cash amount, confirmed even the local authority.

The 30-minute long documentary, available in three parts, was first screened on April 15 in Washington.

The film clearly explained how scammers target resettled families saying they have become recipients of cash donations, ranging from US $ 10,000 to 50,000, from the US government.

“This movie will prove useful to the seniors and people with limited English to know how scammers brainwash the victims,” said BCRC Chairman, Tanka Dhital.

Directed by resettled youth Krish Rizal, Chairman Dhikal has written the script of the film, available in the Youtube.

According to him, a few families have been already victimized in Washington.

We want justice

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Throughout the period of history from their first entry into Bhutan, the Lhotshampas have contributed a lot for the socio-economic development of the kingdom. Bhutan had remained in isolation from the rest of the world till the third king Jigme Dorji Wangchuk opened the closed-door policy of the kingdom to the outsider. Bhutan made a rapid pace of economic development under the able leadership of the third king, indeed. The fourth king Jigme Singye Wangchuk accelerated the development further, until the coterie of the royal family members and the bureaucrats started to poison his mind.

The combined team of subversive elements within the royal family and the treacherous high ranking government officials acted in a similar way as Lady Macbeth had acted with her husband Macbeth in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. The venom of Lady Macbeth, the ghost of Banquo and the effects of these serpents finally got the better of the king Jigme Singye and hence, like Macbeth, he was obliged to their demand aimed at ethnic cleansing.

The king ceded the happiness of the Lhotshampa community for the interest of the Ngalung in Bhutan. The Ngalung elites sacrificed the freedom of expression and liberty of the people to the despotic forces under mysterious circumstances and to an abrupt conclusion. The innocent Lhotshampas, under pressure from the Bhutanese bureaucrats, compelled themselves to succumb to their dictation. The Bhutanese refugees are now drawn to a stupid political game between Nepal and Bhutan, the answer of which lies with the Bhutanese people and principally Lhotshampas who are always seeking their identity, and to identify themselves with the Bhutanese community.

The Lhotshampas (Gorkhas) by nature are down to the earth people who would part with their heads readily at your slight provocation. Field Marshal William Slim- the veteran of the Burma Campaign in the World War II had hailed the Gorkhas as the most loyal soldiers and we feel proud to be associated with them, as our forefathers had earned Slim’s respect. The Lhotshampas have their own identity and a distinct culture with a specified code of conduct. The hefty, sturdy, fair looking, kind and the decent Lhotshampas have always maintained their place in the Bhutanese soil. The loyalty of the Lhotshampas had remained unchallenged throughout the periods of history and the question of loyalty of this race remains unanswered. The most scientifically and economically advanced countries of the world entertain the Gorkhas as the most trusted people and hence, the question of our disloyalty to the Bhutanese government is totally unqualified.

The hard working people of Bhutan, irrespective of their ethnicity, are the angels of peace with their respective culture marked by serenity and sanctity. Bhutan – the treasure of the Bhutanese, the infatuation of the outside world and the wealth of the Bhutanese is a land of awe and exotic beauty to everyone. Bhutan- the dreamland of the tourists, the fantasy and ecstasy of the nature lovers, and the poetic land of William Wordsworth may perhaps be aptly called ‘the land of serene Shangri-La’. Even, thousands of tourists the country receive each year portray the memory of Bhutan in their hearts and the hospitality of the Bhutanese people in their souls to convey the message to their countrymen about the magic kingdom. The indelible impression of Bhutan is therefore, an appetizer to a seeker of nature’s mystery. On contrary to this fact, Bhutan of today has become the focus of world attention due to unprecedented abuses of human rights by the repressive elements within the government.

Since 1990 a war zone scenario prevailed in Bhutan for more than a decade with well equipped security man, punctuated bunkers road blocks, cordon and search with constant harassment to the innocent Bhutanese by the security forces. During this period the bureaucrats acted like tempo drivers or conductors or traffic wardens instead of attending to their duties. They were often seen at liquor bars with suppressed and frightened females to satisfy their lust.

The crackdown had become synonymous with the people of Bhutan and the humble faithful villagers have enriched their vocabulary power by use of military terminologies like cordon and search, ambush, patrolling, catch and kill, hit and run, repression, raid, detention and interrogation. Rape was a common nightmare with the people and its implications has left a deep impact on the society with uncountable fatherless children, their shunned raped mothers and a number of suicide cases.

The beautiful Bhutanese days, dotted by the hustle and bustle of her loyal citizens, the congenial Bhutanese nights, air-conditioned by the Himalayan breeze lighted by the moonlit night with music rendered occasionally by the mewing cats and squeaking mice with the cock-a-doodle-doo call of the cock signaling the approach of another day has now become a part of the past legend. Even in the present Bhutanese democracy, the day scenario is marked by tongue-tied frightened people who work in fear under the menace of the regime’s bureaucrats. The Bhutanese nights are characterized by security patrols with shoot-at-sight manifesto. The security forces execute the manifesto ruthlessly against the innocent civilians and prove themselves to be the only real sons of the soil. The cry of the heart rending pain from the fallen victims of royal wraths, get reflected from the four walls of the nature in the wee hours of morning which announces the approach of another woeful day.

Since last two decades, Bhutan has been shedding tears to perpetuate the memory of those gallant Bhutanese who had laid down their lives while advocating for human rights and democracy. She is equally concerned about others who are still falling prey to the Bhutanese victimization and suppression by the undisciplined security watchdogs. The serene lakes of Bhutan no longer reflect the beautiful mountains, with their peaks covered with misty vapors and the lofty blue pine trees. The lakes are overflowing with blood and tears of the people and the same blood and tears are being carried by the rivers to the international community and the United Nations Organizations to convey the plights of the Bhutanese people and to seek justice.

DMT proposes Lily Wangchuk to lead party

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The Druk Mitser Tshogpa (DMT) said it has proposed Lily Wangchuk one more time to be the party president stating it has been looking for a woman candidate for the post.

Lili Wangchuk

However, Wangchuk has not accepted the proposal citing her own obligations, The Bhutanese reported on Wednesday. Currently, she is Executive Director at the Bhutan Media Foundation.

“The party approached me 11 months back and asked me to be their president a few times but as of now I have not decided anything.”

According to the report, so far with approximately 150 party members, the party would soon set up four offices around the country in Paro, Haa, Tsirang and Dagana right after the general meeting. The party has established 12 working groups  of which  40%  are Dzongkhag coordinators and 60% Gewog coordinators.

Besides DMT, three other parties – People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT) and Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa (DNT) – will contest for 2013 general elections in Bhutan.

 DMT said, it is the only party in the country that aims to have zero-youth unemployment in the country with higher rate of women empowerment.