Bhutanese around globe mourn Dorji’s death

Editor
-
26,644 
Bhutanese political organisations and individuals from exile and Diaspora are pouring 
in condolences to the family of late R.K.Dorji via various media.

Releasing a press statement,Bhutan National Democratic Party has expressed its heartfelt
condolence to the members of Druck Natioanl Congress and family members of late 
R.K Dorji.
"On his demise the Bhutan democratic movement lost a charismatic leader whose absence 
will be felt deeply by the freedom loving people of Bhutan both in exile and inside 
the country",reads the condolence message.

Bhutan People's Party has also sent a condolence to late Dorji's family and members 
of DNC. In the condolence letter, BPP says that the untimely death of well respected 
leader has created an irreparable loss to the Bhutanese political movements.
" Not only Bhutanese in exile but whole country will remember Dorji's acknowledgement
contribution", says BPP in the condolence messange.

Similarly, Bhutanese Refugee Representative Repatriation Committee has expressed 
its condolence to the family of late R.K Dorji and support and solidarity to DNC. 
Highlighting his background and personality, BRRRC writes on the condolence letter,"Once
becoming a free man, without caring for his health, he became active in pursuing movement
with more enthusiasm and vigor and consolidated the political parties and was working to boost movement undeterred 
by resettlement of refugees by core countries". 

R.K. Dorji passed away at Manipal hospital in Sikkim due to liver failure while undergoing 
treatment on october 19th.

Dorji died of liver failure

Editor
-
26,644

Latest reports coming in confirmed that the Founder-Chairman of the Druk National Congress (DNC), Rongthong Kunley Dorji, also popularly known as ‘RK Dorji’ was receiving treatment in the ICU at the Manipal Institute of Medical Science, Sikkim since two weeks before he was pronounced dead at 11:05 p.m. Wednesday night.

According to the General Secretary of DNC, late Dorji, who was 73, died of ‘liver failure’. Doctors at the Hospital had admitted him at ICU (Intensive Care Unit) from 5 p.m. onwards when his heath condition was critical.

General Secretary further informed BNS that the funeral processing is scheduled for Sunday and that the dead body will be kept in the hospital until that time.

Meanwhile, it is reportedly learnt that a group of other exiled Bhutanese leaders from Nepal will travel to Sikkim to pay last tributes to late Dorji sometimes soon.

Late Dorji, who was leading a strategic coalition formed by the Bhutanese Movement Steering Committee, Bhutan Peoples’ Party, Bhutanese National Democratic Party and his own DNC, was based both in Kathmandu and Delhi after the Delhi High Court lifted the ban on his movement outside New Delhi. He was confined within New Delhi for almost 13 years since 1998.

Late Dorji is survived by his two sons, two daughters and wife.

Click here to read a piece by IP Adhikari of BNS on late Dorji’s contribution in Bhutanese movement.
Click here to read late Dorji’s media presence with interviews & articles.

Nepalese PM urged to raise refugee issue with India

Editor
-
26,644

Bhutanese political organizations in exile have jointly requested the Nepalese prime minister to raise Bhutanese refugee issues with his Indian counterpart.

Bhutanese Movement Steering Committee, Druk National Congress and Bhutan People’s Party sent an appeal to Nepalese Prime minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai who is on his 4 day long visit to India, requesting him to include refugee agenda with ‘some merit’.

In a joint appeal sent to PM Bhattarai, the political organizations have held the lack of commitment from Bhutan responsible for the failure to resolve the refugee stalemate through bilateral talks. They have also criticized the resettlement programme calling it a factor effecting the long movement and efforts of most of the refugees to repatriate to home country.

In the appeal letter, the political organizations have labelled the refugee issue as an important part of peace process of Nepal.” Since this is not a bilateral issue alone between Nepal and Bhutan, we are highly optimistic that this visit will win the confidence of India to ensure their sincere involvement to resolve the long outstanding refugee issue for repatriation to home country”, reads the appeal.

Tek Nath Rizal, Balaram Poudel and Kezang Nedup have singed the appeal on behalf of BMSC, BPP and DNC, respectively.

Real sense of human rights is absent

Editor
-
26,644

This was the last interview that the BNS conducted with late R.K.Dorji. Coinciding the 62nd Human Rights Day, BNS Executive Editor TP Mishra had talked to Dorji  on various contemporary issues including the situation of human rights in Bhutan. The interview was published in the BNS on Dec 9, 2010. Excerpts:

BNS: How do you evaluate the ‘state of human rights’ in Bhutan especially aftermath of 2008 general election in the country? 
The real sense of human rights exists only on paper post 2008. The regime applies human rights discriminately. The human right is upheld if it pleases. However we have to admit slight lee way is granted in terms of freedom of press. The real sense of democracy is absent, so the real sense of human rights is also absent.

BNS: Why do you think Bhutan has been always successful in convincing the world communities that there is ‘improving situation’ of human rights and democracy despite the truth being the otherwise? 
In modern world economic motives determine the nature of relationship. Outsiders have so far only observed the good thing in country. This must have shaped their flaw picture of country. The army, state machinery and money are with king so he seems successful. In addition, international communities have to deal with him whether you like it or hate it for the larger interest of Bhutanese citizens. His success is temporary.

BNS: In one sense, whatever the comments from exiled groups, parties or individuals be, the situation in Bhutan is little different. People inside the country are silent and that they are happy with what’s been prevailing there. Why it concerns so much to exiled Bhutanese when it comes to ‘democracy’ and ‘human rights’ in their country? 

Late Dorji

The grass root people are ignorant of democracy and human rights knowledge. So far some fifty thousand people who enjoy the state privileges believe that democracy exist in the country. As the democracy knowledge is ingrained into Bhutanese society, people will automatically come forward to campaign for genuine democracy and Human rights.

Exile people are fortunate to have experience the democratic cultures in their refuge country. Because of these exposure and experience, to exiles, the democracy is a basic requirement to lead the respectable life.

BNS: Of late you have been consented to lead the ‘struggle for democracy’ by three major exiled forces—Bhutanese Movement Steering Committee, Bhutan People’s Party and Bhutan National Democratic Party. Tell us about your new road map. 
Our road map is illustrated in five points that we have announced during joint press conference. Our objective is to hold meeting with Government of Nepal, Bhutan and India in realizing the five points which are as follows:
Five points are:
–  The exiled political parties and the exiled Bhutanese must be permitted to participate in the forth-coming elections.
– The Bhutanese refugees must be repatriated with honour and dignity, and must be allowed to participate in the political process. To call upon the international community to pressurize Bhutan to take back its citizens.
– The immediate unconditional release of all the political prisoners in Bhutan who have been in prisons since the early 1990s.
–  To promote and strengthen the existing bonds of friendship at the people to people level among the citizens of Bhutan, India, and Nepal, which hasn’t been promoted to the desired level thus far.
– To extend thanks to the international community and all well-wishers of the Bhutanese democratic struggle and seek continued support and solidarity.

BNS: The exile activism for genuine democracy in Bhutan have never received convincing support and solidarity from the international communities. What is your logic that now your leadership will gain momentous support and solidarity so that the struggle takes a good height?
Our demand for democracy is genuine. Besides the international community also want to see genuine democracy taking roots in Bhutan. I therefore expect India and Nepal to counsel Bhutan to resolved exile Bhutanese issues.

Bhutanese have now spread throughout the globe. All wanted genuine democracy to take deep roots in Bhutan. We need to work together to realize the aforementioned five points. Besides, we are hopeful that international communities will support our initiatives to utilize of small opening that we saw in Bhutan since 2008. We will take the confidence of India in our works. For that, we will meet the government functionary and political leaders in India. Our country and India enjoys special friendship and each other destiny in 21st century is intertwined. My main thrust of work involves India.

BNS: But, in one sense you have even failed to garner government support and solidarity from India, where you have been taking shelter for years? 
The atmosphere of 1997 and 2010 is different. You have failed to observe my nature of shelter in India. I was undergoing trail and the open support to me was inappropriate.

But in retrospection, I see that India had supported me. I owe gratitude and indebtedness to India. I was not extradited to Bhutan. Now I am able to campaign for democracy and human rights. The support is one thing, working is another. We all must work towards genuine democratization of Bhutan. We must cook food ourselves for our own eating.

BNS: What positive and welcoming changes have you noticed so far in Bhutan since the country stepped into ‘democratisation process’ beginning 2008?
The positive change is that we see an absolute Monarchy being replaced by Constitutional Monarchy. The democratic institution of parliament, Supreme Court, etc has been displayed to world community. However, the intrinsic power continues to rest with King.

BNS: What needs to be changed further then?
The institution of democratic set up has up in Bhutan. We irrespective of our stay in exile or inside country must struggle together to bring genuine changes tearing current façade of ‘democracy’. Change is inevitable in life. But we must work together to bring this inevitable changes favorable to us.

Editor’s note: Following are some of his recent articles that had appeared in BNS.
* Why New Alliance?
* Overhaul Samteling directive
* Real game of democracy begins now
* Radio interview with Dorji

RK Dorji passed away

Editor
-
26,644

Founder-chairperson of the Druk National Congress (DNC), Rongthong Kunley Dorji, died Wednesday night while undergoing treatment for multiple complications in Manipal Institute of Medical Science, Sikkim. He was 73.

File photo: Late Dorji talks to former Nepalese Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal(Photo/Writer)

Confirming Dorji’s death at 11 p.m yesterday, DNC Vice-Chairman Keshang Lhendup said, his immense contribution to the establishment of constitutional democracy in Bhutan will always remain in the heart of Bhutanese people.

“We express heartfelt condolences to his family and pray for the peace of the departed soul,” added he.

Late Dorji, who was leading a strategic coalition formed by the Bhutanese Movement Steering Committee, Bhutan Peoples’ Party, Bhutanese National Democratic Party and his own DNC, was based both in Kathmandu and Delhi after the India’s High Court lifted the ban on his movement outside New Delhi. He was confined within New Delhi for almost 13 years since 1998.

BCRC celebrates its first anniversary

Editor
-
26,644
Participants at the anniversary

Oct 17: Washington based Bhutanese Community Resource Center(BCRC) organized a cultural presentation to mark its first anniversary on October 16, 2011.

The event was held at Greenriver Community College, Auburn Campus, which ran for five hours. The program constituted dozens of cultural dances and few solo songs.

Khem Rizal who headed the cultural committee narrated and managed the event. According to the organizers, about 600 audiences were present in the event.

Youth volunteers and students of the University of Washington also highlighted about the ‘Washington Lets Go To College Project’,which is an initiative of 2011 graduates from Bhutanese community in Washington.

Honoring high school graduates of past years was also a part of the program. Forty five graduates were honored with certificates of appreciation from the community. BCRC Chairperson Tanka Dhital emphasized on the importance of education and suggested parents to take part in their children’s academic performances.

BCRC is a local non-profitable organization working for Bhutanese in Washington State promoting the culture and has been conducting cultural events twice a year.

Rajasthan to receive royals for honeymoon

Editor
-
26,644

The largest Indian state by area – Rajasthan is learnt to be preparing to receive newlywed King and Queen from Bhutan whose area is comparable to Indian state of Kerala.

The royals seal the fairy tale wedding

Rajasthan is popularly known as ‘the land of kings’. The state is bordered by Pakistan to the west, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to the northeast, Punjab to the north, Gujarat to the southwest and Madhya Pradesh to the southeast. It has inhospitable great Indian desert -Thar.

The news of the royals arrival in Rajasthan has not been confirmed by the Bhutanese authority. However, Indian media reports Monday said,”they will take a trip across Rajasthan in a special train arranged for the couple.”

Media reports also said Bina Kak, Rajasthan’s Minister of Tourism, denied disclose authenticity of the news. “We’d love to play host if the royal couple comes to our state,” reports said quoting Minister Kak as saying.

The King and Queen are expected to arrive on October 25 and stay in India for their honeymoon, The Hindu reported today.

While in India, they will also visit Udaipur, Jodhpur and Rajasthan’s capital Jaipur. Jaipur is known as the ‘pink city’ of India.

King Jigme Khesar Wangchuk married Jetsum Pema last week. The royal ceremony was considered as ‘fairy tale wedding’ in many accounts by Indian media.

The King with an un-named Thai lady

The King married commoner and was not free from criticism. In 2006, a Thai website carried his picture with an un-named lady, considered to be his girlfriend.

The most popular Thai web forum (pantip.com) and the Thai Rath daily both printed the picture, whose further circulation was banned by the Thai Department of Special Investigation.

King Weds Commoner

Editor
-
26,644

The 31-year-old king of Bhutan has finally tied nuptial knot with a commoner, who is 10 years junior to the former, in a colorful ceremony in Punakha today.

The king and queen greets commoners after the wedding ceremony.

Thursday’s wedding took place amid clouds of incense and chanting by monks in accordance with the Buddhist culture.

The world’s youngest King, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck – an Oxford graduate who came to power in 2008 at the start of democracy in Bhutan – crowned his queen, Jetsun Pema, at the end of a series of rituals in the 17th-century fortified monastery chosen for the occasion.

It is reportedly learnt that Pema is a daughter of an airline pilot widely admired for her beauty and her impact on the love-struck monarch.

The celebrations began as early as 8:20am – a time set by royal astrologers – when the king walked into the courtyard of the monastery in the old capital of Punakha. Wearing the royal yellow sash, he proceeded up the high staircase inside.

The couples.

After a brief purification ceremony, the couple walked hand-in-hand, smiling to the inner sanctum of the monastery where an hour of blessings, prostrations and prayers culminated with the queen taking the throne.

The wedding captivated the nation, which was growing impatient with its king’s lack of urgency to tie the knot. Children composed poems, flight attendants practiced celebratory dances and posters of the couple were almost everywhere across the country.

The couples are scheduled to return Thimphu on Friday to celebrate the wedding in Thimphu on Saturday, October 15.

HUROB felicitates King

Editor
-
26,644

Thursday, October 13, in Bhutan, is going to be a day of significance—it is the wedding day of the world’s youngest King, Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk. The King will tie nuptial knot with a commoner, Jetsum Pema amidst a special function in Punakha.

Meanwhile, the Human Rights Organization of Bhutan (HUROB) has extended warm felicitation to the King on the occasion.

In a statement sent to BNS, the HUROB said “although it is sad to miss to join the rest of the Bhutanese in rejoicing Your Majesty’s nuptial knot with Royal bride Jetsum Pema, who is going to make perfect queen compatible in knowledge and grace to fulfill the royal role in complementing Your Majesty’s task of leading the country ahead matching with the change of time and demand of the 21stcentury.  Perhaps the historic occasion would have been more significant; pomp and joyous if complete Bhutanese community without a part of the subjects having to live in exile were there to celebrate.”

The portrait of the royal couple is fixed to the street lamps on the highway leading to Thimphu last evening in preparation for October 13 royal wedding in Punakha. Photo courtesy/Kuensel.

The statement further added that the Bhutanese in exile feel at least an opportunity to express their dedication and loyalty though living under different circumstances and to Wish Your Majesty and the queen very long, peaceful and prosperous life and leave behind time eternal legacy of best rule of the Wangchuk dynasty.

“This is our prayer and wish to Your Majesty and the Queen that we are firm in our conviction that Your Majesty the king and the queen would accept it without prejudice,” added HUROB.

Further taking the opportunity, the HUROB has cautioned that the Majesty’s responsibility has added up to take care of the family and as well as the state affairs.

“As Your Majesty had said on announcing the marriage in the National Assembly that marriage would not deter in day to day responsibility and not mean to stay away from the public affairs that further strengthen the confidence of the people that Your Majesty’s commitment to the welfare of the people to protect as a parent, care for as a brother and serve as a son. However, Your Majesty, such a philanthropic spirit is not befitting with the present situation when more than one hundred thousand Lhotsampas who are as good Bhutanese as any other northern Bhutanese who served the Wangchuk dynasty with sincerity and dedication and stood always by the side at the time of crisis which history is witness, are banish in exile and the rest who are still living in Bhutan and are Your Majesty’s loyal subjects are not fairly treated with equity and just,” added the statement.

The HUROB has stated that the Majesty need a soul searching in the greater interest of the people and the integrity of the country and resolve the southern Bhutanese problem, particularly the festering refugee problem without dilly dally.

Wishing the Majesty and the Queen very happy, prosperous and long live, the HUROB further said that it firmly believed that the farsighted and sagacious Majesty would genuinely take cognizance of the prolong southern Bhutanese problem, especially the refugees problem and taking into view against the political backdrop around the world and the future consequences that may plague the country.

“Your Majesty should take appropriate step to avoid any such calamity to emerge and demonstrate sincere political and good will to resolve the protracted southern Bhutanese problem including the refugees problem through rapprochement and national reconciliation,” added the statement released by SB Subba, the chairman of HUROB.

DNC-D, Society of Hinduism hail temple establishment in Thimphu

Editor
-
26,644

In separate statements, the Druk National Congress (Democratic) and the Universal Society of Hinduism have welcomed Thimphu’s initiative to establish first permanent Hindu temple, whose ground-breaking ceremony was conducted on October 10 by His Holiness the Je Khenpo.

Thanking King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Prime Minister Jigme Y. Thinley for the Temple project, Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said “it was a step in the right direction”. “This Temple would fulfill the long felt need of area Hindu community to have a place of worship and gathering of their own,” added Zed.

Meanwhile, Thinley Penjore, now based in Missouri, USA, said that his party was very excited to learn about this new development in Thimphu.

“It is a matter of great sign of government’s recognition through the media that the Buddhist head of Bhutan, Je Khenpo, is used by the regime to do the ground breaking ceremony. While it is highly appreciating that something worth the matter of further strengthening the people – to – people harmonization is on its way, the government’s initiatives without including a Hindu Pandit either from Bhutanese Hindu community or inviting any from India’s Hindu community is a matter that would require to ponder about,” added Thinley.

Zed, who is the President of Universal Society of Hinduism, stressed that all religions should work together for a just and peaceful world. Dialogue would bring us mutual enrichment, he added.

Zed further pointed out that it was important to pass on Hindu spirituality, concepts and traditions to coming generations amidst so many distractions in the consumerist society and hoped that this new Temple would help in this direction.

Thinley has further stated that the initiative is also a landmark on the part of the Bhutanese regime to have come out with the declaration of their concept that the Buddhism and the Hinduism originated from the same place and have similar principles, which in his words, was overdue since time Hindu religion was in practice in Bhutan.

“It is an opportune moment for every Bhutanese of Hindu community both inside the country and in Diaspora to understand that a gateway to our peaceful approach for real democracy is being opened through the installation of this upcoming landmark in Thimphu,” reads Thinley’s statement.

The construction work for this temple on 2.53-acre government land, which is on the way to the Buddha Dodenma statue, will begin soon and is expected to complete in two years. With Ngultrum 10 million already released by the government; work on basic infrastructure like water, electricity, road, ground-leveling and fencing will begin soon. Cabinet has approved its construction.

1...165166167...271Page 166 of 271