As the decision of government of India came to phase out the subsidy on LPG and kerosene oil, a long queue of LPG cylinders snaked out in the LPG depot in Motithang, yesterday. Bhutan has been enjoying the subsidy on these essential commodities allowed by the GoI for a long time.
The government of India decided to withdraw the subsidy on LPG cylinders given to the class 1 government officials, members of parliament, state legislative assemblies in the first phase, according to NDTV. This decision is to impact Bhutanese LPG consumers and the price of LPG and kerosene is already soared to triple figure of current price. With the withdrawal of government subsidy, a 19kg LPG cylinder will cost Rs.1200.
In Bhutan, the price of a LPG cylinder vary from place to place. As the new price come into effect, refilling a cylinder in Phuentsholing will cost Nu 1145, while in Thimphu it is 1196. In Bumthang the price will be the highest, Nu 1203, but in Samdrupjonghkhar the price is relatively lower, amounting to Nu 1070. The overall increase of the cooking fuel ranges from 612 to 693 Ngultrums throughout the country.
The interim government of Bhutan is seeking the intervention of external affairs ministry for taking up the matter with Indian government to reconsider the withdrawal of subsidy. “We have requested the external affairs ministry to intervene, considering the impact it will have on the consumers in Bhutan, and to continue to subsidize these products in view of the existing friendly relations between the two countries”, said Tshewang Rinzin, the adviser to economic affairs ministry.
According to the NDTV, such cutback of the subsidy will ease out the burden on India Government and save Rs 5,000 crore. The government subsidy on LPG estimated for the 2011-12 was Rs 25000 crore.
The urban poor or low income urban families in Bhutan will have to bear the brunt of price hike, which is more than 100%.
After it was named the happiest country in Asia, and the sixth happiest in the world in a survey based on the Gross National Happiness index in 2006, Bhutan has seen its brand surge from an unknown dot between China and India to a tourist destination that promises peace, love and happiness – the same ideals India did in the seventies to dazed hippies.
A young Bhutanese boy wearing the gho, the traditional dress in Thimpu. Representational image. Reuters image
From 300 visitors in 1974, tourism has surged and in 2011, 64,000 people visited Bhutan. “Here on the Indian subcontinent, awash in corruption, ethnic struggle, illiteracy, pollution, poverty, and the clash of civilizations, Bhutan’s pacifism, paternalism, and egalitarianism stand apart,” raves Orville Schell in his article titled ‘Gross National Happiness’.
Bhutan is most often compared to the entirely fictional Shangri La, to the extent that the country’s official tourism website is called “Welcome to Shangri La Bhutan”. (Shangri La was described in a 1933 British novel as a mysterious valley in China which quickly settled in popular imagination as a heaven on earth.) The glowing tourist reports have ignored the issues of national identity that have fractured human rights in the country over the past 20 years.
Bhutan’s transition from being an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy with its first elections in 2007 is questionable. The government authorised the establishment of only two political parties, both of whom were closely allied with the king. Even more problematically, many of the ethnic Nepalis remaining in the country, who constitute 40% of the population, are not granted the status of citizens and therefore cannot vote.
For the Nepali population of Bhutan, the kingdom is nowhere close to heaven on earth. Since the 1990s, they’ve been terribly persecuted and their plight is barely known. In 1991 and 1992, over 80,000 Nepalis – part of the Lhotshampa ethnic group that has lived in Bhutan since the 1800s – were dispossessed and moved into refugee camps in Nepal. They have not been allowed entry into Bhutan ever since. Bhutan refuses any responsibility, instead choosing to focus on promoting the country on its Gross National Happiness index.
Over the last 15 years, the refugee population has increased to 1,00,000, and the UNHCR (the refugee agency of the United Nations) shifted its focus from repatriation to relocation of the refugees to third countries such as the US. USA alone has accepted 60,000 refugees and in 2007, the US embassy in Bhutan voiced its concern that Maoists could organize disillusioned ethnic Nepalis, particularly in the refugee camps in neighboring Nepal.
These events were a culmination of decades of insecurity over what was seen as a demographic invasion by the Lhotshampa on the Drukpa, the northern Bhutanese people. “Bhutan saw its very existence as a nation threatened,” wrote Kinley Dorji, the editor of Kuensel, Bhutan’s English language newspaper. The Bhutanese authorities removed assurances of citizenship, forced Buddhism cultural and religious codes on the Hindu and Christian minorities and used both physical violence and intimidation to evict people belonging to Nepali ethnic groups.
Vidhyapati Mishra is the managing editor of the Bhutan News Service. Mishra is a Bhutanese journalist who lives in Nepal, awaiting resettlement. In the latest account of the atrocities against the Lhotshampa in the early nineties, Mishra has written about his and his family’s expulsion from Bhutan in the New York Times. “My father was held for 91 days in a small, dank cell,” remembers Mishra. “They pressed him down with heavy logs, pierced his fingers with needles, served him urine instead of water…they burned dried chilies in his cell to make breathing unbearable. He agreed eventually to sign what were called voluntary migration forms and was given a week to leave the country our family had inhabited for four generations.”
Reports similar to Mishra, of violence, abuse and forceful migration can be found here, here and here. They have been recorded both by Lhotshampa refugees as well as Amnesty International. The Bhutanese government today doesn’t deny the exodus, but insists it was “voluntary”, completely denying the multiple accounts of human rights abuse which have been placed on record.
Bhutan has a lot going for it as a largely peaceful and clean country, but elevating the country to a mythological level is clearly having harmful effects now because it erases the need for accountability. “The enormity of this exodus, one of the world’s largest by proportion, given the country’s small population, has been overlooked by an international community that is either indifferent or beguiled by the government-sponsored images of Bhutan as a serene Buddhist Shangri-La,” points out Mishra in his editorial. If we were to think more deeply about equality and human rights in Bhutan, Shangri La would do what it was always meant to – reveal itself as myth.
The Football Club Himalayan Cypress (FCHC) of Oregon bagged the champion trophy defeating the Serrona Club of Phoenix Arizona on the final game of Interstate Soccer tournament that was held June 21 through 23 in Forth Worth, Texas. While Namaste Sporting Club of Colorado won the third runner up trophy, South Dakota team was honored with the title of most disciplined team.
The Team Origon players (Picture: Deepak Nepal)
The final game played between the Oregon and Arizona at Herman Clark Stadium ended with a penalty shootout with a score of 5-4 declaring Oregon as the champion for this year.
The third interstate soccer tournament was organized by the Bhutanese Legacy Club of Forth worth and the Bhutanese community of Texas. It was first experience for the players having played the tournament matches in four different fields.
Among the 26 teams that participated from 17 different states, Kailash Gajmer of FCHC, Kiran Rai of SCA and Sunil Gurung of FCHC respectively won the title of highest scorer, beast goal keeper and man of the match.
According to the organizers, arrangements were made for food and accommodation for the players and the staffs from different state.
Meanwhile, a cultural event was organized to welcome the teams. In the same program, volunteers and sponsors were honored with the letter of appreciation jointly the by Council Woman, Mrs. Kelly Gray, Prof. Bob Hopkins, and Mr. Clint Browning.
The event that was witnessed by more than 600 soccer fans was jointly sponsored by Altamesa Church of Christ, Walmart, Tarrant County College-South Campus, Bhutanese Buddhist Society Fort Worth, Bhutanese Community of Abilene, Bhutanese Nepali Christian Society of Texas, Neighborhood Needs Altamesa, Organization of Bhutanese Society, Bhutanese Community of Houston, Immanuel Bhutanese Church, Universal Manav Dharam Society Fort Worth TX, Canaan Bhutanese Church, Sanmart Nepali Bazar, Fort Worth City Athletics, New India Mart, and Bhutanese American Football Club.
Druk Sporting Club of Erie PA, volunteered to organize the Forth Inter-States Bhutanese Soccer Tournament in 2014.
(With inputs from Yugnath Dabadi and AK Rana Sangpang)
Indian intelligence reports have claimed that China has been operating three military camps inside Bhutan since May 24 last month, and is hosting the Chinese flag.
The Times of India (ToI) reported that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) even carried out a petrol last month in Bhutan, imposing high security threats to India.
However, the Bhutanese Embassy in New Delhi is reported to have refused to comment regarding the Chinese intrusion.
“Bhutan is having boundary talks with China. We have not be able to demarcate the boundary,” said the Embassy, and has maintained that no Embassy officials could comment on boundary related issues.
Media from inside Bhutan haven’t reported about the ongoing Chinese intrusion. Also, the Bhutanese authority has remained silent.
Last year, Chinese PLAs entered Bhutan and operated a military camp from May 25-Oct 5.
Until 2010, the area of Bhutan was 46,500 sq. km Chinese intrusion resulted in seizer of 8,229 sq. km from the northern belt of Bhutan, surprisingly downsizing the country’s area to 38,390 sq. km.
According to Dr Govinda Rizal, who has been seriously researching on Bhutan-China border issues, there are chances that Bhutan might lose another 4500 sq. km or up to 10 percent of the country’s area, if Bhutan fails to scientifically resolve the longstanding boundary disputes with its northern giant.
The kuensel story on the pertinent issue of the south, citizenship and census, comes at the time of PDP president campaign in Dorokha. That was not the story when DPT candidate from Dorokha, Thakur Singh Powdyel and PDP candidate Tek Bahadur Subba spoke in common forum on June 20.
Dorokha residents who gathered to listen to the PDP president, Tshering Tobgay, rolled up their sleeves to ask about the census limbo they have been facing since 1990, unresolved so far. This was the major concern of all people as the dubious citizenship status of many families has prevented them from taking various facilities and opportunities for the children.
“The census issue was raised soon after Tshering Tobgay reached Dorokha on June 23 after walking for four days from Haa”, writes kuensel.
He tried speaking to the people in their native language, Nepali (called Lhotshamkha in Bhutan) but resented that he did not have a good command over the language and switched to Dzongkha.
PDP President T Tobgay (Photo: BBS)
People from far flung villages of Dorokha came to listen the former opposition leader bundling up their gho and kira, walking for several kilometers.
The kuensel quoted one I B Rai having said, ‘ because the people do not have required “papers” they faced obstacles everyday how hard they study or worked.’ It is true that these unlucky folks are simply ostracized from participating in national sphere of life or at least try to enter a decent job to fend for themselves.
BNS tried to contact some in Dorokha but many refused to talk on the matter for fear of reprisal. Requesting anonymity one resident gave a picture of the citizenship and census issue in all southern districts, the matter remaining same all through these years and decades.
He said, “this time we took the bold step to raise the problem with Tshering Tobgay, since the DPT candidates and the president do not bother to listen to us.”
He added, “There are many people whose land has been lying fallow for years as the ownership of land is disputed because of the census of either the buyer or the seller. In some cases the seller is already out of the country, so no chance of registering the land. Even marriage between the families of F1 census and F5 census has caused the problem to aggravate. So we are not very happy about what is going on.
Asked if the villagers are making up their mind to approach the king, he said, “We have only one hope, that is on His Majesty. I think HM will come to our rescue.”
Tshering Tobgay try consoling the voters saying, “The government cannot grant citizenship but it can facilitate the process which, however, is not done. If PDP is voted to form the government, we will take your problems to the state and facilitate in getting your citizenship.”
Tshering Tobgay is no less a demagogue than Jigme Y Thinley. And, it is the time of election when such persisting problem are taken to discussion, but no follow up takes place once the government is formed.
Another area of people’s concern in Dorokha the PDP president tried to address was the compensation to those who lost land to Amochu Hydropower project. But, the condition is, ‘if’ PDP forms the government.
Census issue was raised in Chengmari (Norbugang), Sibsoo, Phuesntsholing and Gomtu. Tshering Tobgay went on to offer prayer at local Shiva Mandir in Chengmari, an approach to appeal his voters, similar to what most politicians in Nepal practice.
A large chunk of the attendees of such meeting with politicians in the south are not eligible voters or having no right to vote because of census issue.
As part of its commitment to resettling refugees, Canada is set to resettle 1,000 Bhutanese refugees over the next two years.
To mark World Refugee Day, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Jason Kenney also participated in a roundtable with refugees hosted by the Calgary Catholic Immigration Society and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary.
Jason Kenney
The Government of Canada has resettled almost 16,000 refugees to date and is on track to meet its commitment of resettling 20,000 Iraqis by 2015, Kenney added on the occasion.
This represents the largest single commitment to resettle a refugee population in over 25 years, noted a statement issued by the minister’s office.
“Canada has a long humanitarian tradition of providing protection to those truly in need and we welcome one in ten resettled refugees, more than almost any other country in the world,” said Kenney. “On World Refugee Day, we should be proud of Canada’s major contributions to global efforts to resettle vulnerable refugee populations, and also recognize the efforts of countless organizations and individuals in Canada who help refugees to Canada settle, integrate and succeed in their new home.”
Canada works closely with private sponsors, other countries and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to find viable long-term solutions to help refugees around the world. Canada already has one of the most generous resettlement programs in the world and the government is working to increase the total number of refugees and other individuals in vulnerable circumstances that we resettle each year. The government has already increased resettlement assistance by 20 per cent.
By 2018, Canada will also resettle up to 5,000 mostly Iranian and Iraqi refugees currently in Turkey. This effort will help Turkey deal with growing pressures as a result of escalating violence in the region.
Apart from the commitment to resettling up to 1,000 more Bhutanese refugees over the next two years, many of whom already have family ties here, Canada will resettle up to 6,500 Bhutanese refugees who had been living for nearly two decades in refugee camps in Nepal. More than 5,000 Bhutanese refugees have already arrived in Canada.
Canada’s new asylum system, which came into force on December 15, 2012, has been implemented successfully and is already exceeding expectations.
“Under our new asylum system, genuine refugees fleeing persecution will receive protection more quickly — in a matter of months, not years,” said Kenney. “At the same time, by removing unfounded failed asylum claimants faster, we are ensuring that Canadians will continue to have faith in our asylum system and support our important humanitarian efforts.”
Including Khem Khanal, a total of 24 former refugees were recognised for their extraordinary works they have made to their communities and wider Australian community.
Khem Khanal (second from right) with the Assistant Commissioner Andrew of Crisp Victoria Police, Chin Tan Chairperson VMC; and Jill Morgan, CEO Multicultural Arts Victoria, the female on left (Picture: Parsuram Luital)
The Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC) recognized former refugees for their contribution to Australia during the refugee week.
Among the VIPs among others were the Assistant Commissioner Andrew Crisp of Victoria Police and Jill Morgan, CEO of Multicultural Arts Victoria who handed the awards to the 24 recipients.
Khanal, who is current Vice-President of the Bhutanese Organization in Australia (BOA), was referred and nominated by Parsuram Sharma –Luital JP on behalf of the community.
He became one of the outstanding recipients of the Victoria Refugee Recognition Record Award 2013.
On behalf of Victoria Police, Luitel also referred Tehiya Umer, another resettled refugee from other nationality, and bagged the award.
Speaking at the award ceremony, Chin Tan Chairperson of VMC said, the contribution made by new arrival in our country was no less than anyone else and we all should recognise and celebrate the achievements.
He further said, “The culture and practices these community bring to Australia not only add to Multiculturalism but provide the economic opportunities such as the cultural dances like many African and other bands, and other business initiatives through cultural food and social enterprise.”
“We proud that one of our volunteers has been recognized by the Victoria government,” BOA said in a statement issued on Wednesday.
According to BOA, Khanal has so far volunteered in many projects in Nepal with UNHCR and other international organisations (WFP, Oxfam, IOM and Red Cross) and as schoolteacher for 15 years in the Bhutanese refugee camp.
Upon arrival in Australia, within two months Khanal, joined Kangan TAFE to study English language and basic computer skills. He is a full-time student of accounting at the RMIT University since July 2012 after he has excelled in Certificate IV and Advance Diploma in accounting from Kangan TAFE with high distinction.
Awardees
In Melbourne, Khanal is mostly occupied with transporting pregnant women to hospitals as they don’t have or drive cars, assisting pensioner and disabled people to various appointments, interpreting on behalf of elder community, and supporting various community events, both inside and outside Bhutanese community, according to BOA.
Khanal has also served as settlement volunteer in AMES settlement services (around 50 hours) and as driving volunteer for new refugee migrant at AMES Multicultural Hub established to offer driving classes (225 hours) to Assyrian Chaldean and Bhutanese in the Northen Suburb.
Similarly, he has also been volunteering as a L2P volunteer for Hume City Council Driving Project funded by VicRoads (130 hours). He also contributed massively at the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF), and Melbourne Multicultural Hub as a Tax Help Volunteer for Australian Taxation Office (around 150 hours), according to BOA.
“Having lived as a refugee for 20 years in the refugee camp with very limited opportunity to explore career aspirations, Khanal has showed to the Bhutanese community and wider Australian community that refugees do not wait for charity and take any opportunity that arises to display their skills, humanity and good will to the greater humane cause,” Lauded BOA, adding, “The community is really impressed with what he has been offering for the humanity.”
According to BOA, the award would motivate other youngsters in the Bhutanese community to look Khanal as an idol and motivate community.
Khanal reached Australia on June 8, 2010 from Nepal under the Australian Government’s humanitarian program.
Barat Rai was born on July 14, 1924 at Nimring VDC of Bhojpur district that lies in the eastern part of Nepal. At a young age of 18, Rai was recruited to the British Army. He fought the Second World War as a courageous British soldier in Burma.
After the world war came to an end Bharat and his co-soldiers decided to return to Nepal to join their families and celebrate their six-month long vacations in 1946. A group of 16 British soldiers arrived at Calcutta, India. Before the soldiers reached Calcutta, news of their home returning reached to BP Koirala, who was then desperately in look out for trained soldiers to join the armed revolution in Nepal, launched by his party, the Nepali Congress. Accordingly, Koirala mobilized a special team of party cadres, and instructed them to convince or even apply force to divert all returning British soldiers to Biratnagar, where the Koirala’s party activities were centralized.
The congress cadres were able to maneuver the British fighters to Biratnagar following serious parleys, and finally they reached Biratnagar. Late Koirala met the soldiers and decided to deploy them to capture Uttam Bikram Rana, the family members and his servants. Rana, who was the governor at the time, was one of the richest persons in Biratnagar, and known by his pseudo name of ‘Bada Hakim’. Initially, a battalion of 16 soldiers led by Barat was deployed to capture Bada Hakim. However, two of the soldiers managed to run away from the Rana’s premises fearing threats to their life.
Family members of ‘Bada Hakim’ and his several servants were made hostage for a number of days. Late Koirala was reported to have ordered Barat to even resort to open fire if any one from the Rana’s family tried to come of the house or try to escape. However, he was strictly instructed not to kill any person. To paralyze Ranas and their servants, Barat even cut off regular supply of electricity and food items.
Late Bharat Rai (Picture courtesy: Purbelitimes)
Irked and frustrated due to long captivity, one of the sons of ‘Bada Hakim’ managed to shoot and kill one of the soldiers from his balcony. The situation became tense, the soldiers did rounds of blank fires and even warranted to finish everyone inside the house by setting fire in the Rana’s residence. The fatal shooting of one his soldiers was relayed to late Koirala by captain Barat, who received instructions to retaliate and even kill Ranas or their servants during such situations. Following instructions from Koirala, Bharat brought changes in his strategies to capture Bada Hakim. Then, Bharat and his soldiers started warning the Ranas of cutting off water supply in case they failed to surrender in next 72 hours. Bada Hakim was not ready to surrender even after the deadline. They again passed another deadline of 24 hours, warned of entering their house forcefully, and kill everyone.
Finally, ‘Bada Hakim’ and his family members surrendered before Barat, and requested him to allow escape from the house by abandoning all belongings. Following strict body search, Ranas and their servants were let to go except Bada Hakim, who was to be submitted to Koirala for interrogation. The soldiers broke into their house, seized wealth, valuables items, and tons of gold and silver, which was submitted to the Nepali Congress. Koirala thanked Bharat for his courageous efforts, and even let ‘Bada Hakim’ to lead his private life elsewhere by instantly quitting Biratnagar.
The peoples’ struggle for democracy turned into a reality empowering the Nepali Congress to institutionalize the first democratically elected Matrika Prasad Koirala as the country’s Prime Minister on August 14, 1952. The new freedom in the country gave enough rooms for irked Ranas to avenge. Subsequently, Bharat became a blazing target of Bada Hakim. Following mounting threats, Bharat consulted late Koirala brothers, who advised him to move to India temporarily. Finally, he decided to leave Nepal and move to Shillong, North East India.
Bharat returned to Nepal after 10 years in 1962. When he arrived Nepal, people were fighting against Panchayat System. He felt that he would not be safe if he continued to live in his country.
“The situation was very risky for me to continue living. I knew from different sources that Ranas were still looking for me,” narrated Bharat.
When I visited him in Beldangi II Refugee Camp, Bharat was sitting outside his ramshackle hut in Sector I. His voice was very hoarse, and he was battling against chronic asthma.
“Only a few could believe what I have done in my life,” he continued, “The Kankai Mai Bridge was not contracted. There were just a few houses as I passed by the East-West Highway.”
According to Bharat, he decided to permanently leave Nepal and move to Bhutan for settlement in 1962. “I was all alone. I traveled through different places of India, walked miles through deep forests to reach Sibsoo, Bhutan.”
“I still remember my first day in Bhutan. Several had gathered around me to listen at my stories. Some of them even shed tears,” added Bharat.
In a few weeks time, Bharat decided to tie up with a Bhutanese girl. When all efforts to continue living in Bhutan failed, the Bharat decided to again return to Nepal with his wife, and three children.
Letter of recognition issued by NC leader Indira Acharya (Courtesy of this letter: Late Bharat Rai)
“When I left Bhutan and decided to take refuge in Nepal in 1992 there was no fear of Rana. I arrived Nepal with full of hopes of getting enough supports from leaders of the Nepali Congress and their leaders. However, that appeared just as my dreams.”
While in the refugee camp, Bharat traveled to Kathmandu to meet the then Prime Minister of Nepal, Girija Prasad Koirala, who was personally known to his contributions of late 1940s and early 1950s. He was given audiences a few times by Koirala, but was not much sympathetic to the status of one of the dedicated freedom fighters.
“He gave me small cash amounts during each visits, and assured me of better supports in future, but his words never turned out into a reality. Now, Koirala is gone, and hopefully his party leaders don’t know about my involvement and contributions to their party,” lamented Bharat.
As he entered into his hut, I followed him. He opened an old bag and took out a bundle of documents related to his contributions. One of them was a letter of recognition issued to him by congress leader Indira Acharya in 1993.
Ending a heroic saga and leaving no legacy of his courage, Bharat breathed his last at the age of 86, on June 27, 2010 in the refugee camp. Neither the Nepali Congress issued a condolence message on the death of a hero, nor any congress leaders came to see his family members, who still believe that Bharat had immensely contributed to the party and freedom of entire Nepalese people.
Author’s note: I visited and interviewed late Bharat Rai in Beldangi-II Refugee Camp February 24, 2010. It was from me that Bharat, for the first time, got information about death of the former Nepalese Prime Minister, Girija Prasad Koirala, just four days before my visit. The news of Koirala’s death brought him immense sorrows. He said that late Koirala was one of his best politicians, and even wished eternal peace in heaven. I had to leave the hut before completing the interview as Bharat’s eldest son, Bishal Rai, appeared too frustrated in allowing his father narrate his personal stories. “If you are from a media, please stop talking to my father. We are really fed up with frequent visitors at our hut to interview our aging dad. What are we getting by allowing media persons to just record stories? Will you convince the Nepali Congress to support our father?,” Bishal Rai questioned me.
More than two dozen refugee communities came together in Syracuse, NY to mark World Refugee Day 2013 on June 22nd.
World Refugee Day celebrations in Syracuse, NY (Picture courtesy: City of Syracuse Flickr)
The celebrations formally began at around 10.30 am at the premises of North side CYO from where around five hundred people marched to the City Hall. Lulu Nyaw, a former refugee from Burma raised the UN Flag at the city hall.
Habiba Baru from Oromo Community representing all refugee communities thanked the city of Syracuse for giving a shelter to such a diverse population. Jai Subedi, a former refugee from Bhutan hosted the event and at the city hall he also introduced the Mayor of Syracuse, Stephanie Miner to the communities.
The parade reached Hanover Square at 11:45 am where people from sixteen communities presented dances and music; and the group was later joined by participants from eleven more countries.
Syracuse communities were also seen enjoying ethnic food from seven different countries. Also, high school graduates from different refugee communities were honored during the event.
This year’s WRD celebration that has a theme, “1 family torn apart by war is too many” was designed in Syracuse jointly by Interfaith Works (Center For New Americans), Catholic Charities of Onondaga County (North Side CYO),North side Urban Partnership, Refugee Assistance Program,White Branch Library and Hope Print.
Interestingly, Syracuse is one of the few places where refugee communities have been observing WRD every year. Following refugee resettlement in different countries, WRD that falls on June 20 every year seems to be loosing ground among many resettled folks.
At the time when the mainstream media and social networking sites are vehemently spewing out the attempted or accomplished malice of land and property acquisition by the former ministers, Thakur S Powdyel has refuted the allegation. The Bhutanomics.com, a bandit site, posted the image of Thakur Singh as a liar on June 23. The nursery rhymes posted alongside his photo is probably not what he taught while he was a teacher for three decades, but that apparently hit hard on his back.
The Bhutanese also published a story his wife Bhakti Maya Powdyel having acquired 50 decimal of land near the coveted education city site in its June 21st issue.
Thakur Singh Powdyel is not happy about what is going on against his “dedicated service to the nation.” Here is the reproduction of press release he issued and posted in facebook:
Former Education Minister T S Powdyel
PRESS RELEASE
Date: 24 June 2013
Thakur S Powdyel
Candidate, Druk Phuensum Tshogpa
Dophuchen-Tading Constituency
I did NOT lie to the Nation…
My dear old student-turned PDP candidate from the Dophuchen-Tading Constituency, Mr Tek Bahadur Subba, was primed to ask me a specific question, during the public debate on June 20, 2013, as to whether any of the former ministers or I owned land inside the Education City. I said neither the other former ministers nor I owned any property in the City. AND IT IS THE TRUTH.
Even before that, some of my friends and former students called me to warn that a certain social media site had alleged that I owned land inside the city and asked me to clarify on the issue. To me, that was a figment of the lowest, meanest and most farcical order and decided it didn’t even merit giving a thought let alone responding. Predictably, the Bhutanese subsequently decided to undertake an “investigation” to declare to the nation that I lied!
I am pushed, against my will, to say that in my 31 years of dedicated service as an educator, I don’t remember telling a lie to a single soul, let alone to the nation. I have always lived and stood up for service with honesty, integrity and truth. All my former students and colleagues would know me for who I am.
As to the 50 decimals of plot that is attributed to my wife, insinuated by the Bhutanese to be ill-gotten, we do not have the ownership to it. Only a partial advance was paid. In fact, we are wondering from where and how we shall pay the remaining amount if we now decide to continue the acquisition process. I have never been to the site nor have I met the owner. I do not know the distance between the property and the Education City. In over three decades of serving the nation, I have not engaged in any activities to gain any personal benefit even though my family has no home to call our own nor do we have the kind of fortune some PDP supporters have been going around telling the people in my constituency I have – eight crores worth of property at Babesa and five acres of land in Paro!
All I can say in my family’s and my own defense is that at least one of the parents will have to think of the children as I think of the future of the country’s children. So, if my wife tries to fend for the family by shouldering a responsibility in which I have not been particularly successful, I cannot blame her. And as a citizen, she has a right to own property anywhere in the country if her means allow it even though for public servants like me, any place now seems to be out of bounds. However, irrespective of our domestic situation, my wife is ready to dispense with whatever negotiation she has had with the owner of the land and be rid of this politically motivated crucifixion.
I must place on record here that my wife initiated the process to buy the property only in April 2012 after turning down several offers. What is shocking is that when Mr. Lamsang called me, he said he had “investigated” and verified and found that I did not own any land inside the Education City. He made it sound like a routine call to ascertain the truth…only to come up with this bombshell! In fact, the so-called “investigation” cited by Mr. Tenzing Lamsang also involved ambushing my wife over phone and only later in the course of the conversation revealing his identity. To cap it all, members of the entourage of PDP President were seen distributing free copies of “the Bhutanese”, 22nd June 2013 issue, in Dophuchen-Tading constituency the following day on 23rd June. All this leads me to believe that the “investigation” is nothing but malicious and politically-motivated reporting of the cheapest type by Mr. Tenzing Lamsang or the people for whom he is working to arrive at a premeditated conclusion to serve their own nefarious interests at this critical time.
As the decision of government of India came to phase out the subsidy on LPG and kerosene oil, a long queue of LPG cylinders snaked out in the LPG depot in Motithang, yesterday. Bhutan has been enjoying the subsidy on these essential commodities allowed by the GoI for a long time.
