Bhutan party in exile seeks Indian ‘shelter’, writes to PM

TT, Siliguri, 16 December 2014: Druk National Congress (Democratic), A Bhutanese political party in exile, has sent an application to Prime Minister Narendra Modi , requesting him to grant people “ousted” from Bhutan ‘diplomatic shelter’ or political asylum in India.

In the letter sent on 3 November, party president Rinzin Dorji says that there are gross human rights violations in the “next door neighbour, Bhutan.”

“The newly established democracy (in Bhutan) has remained a mere window-dressing process to eyewash the international community. In absence of true and inclusive democracy, a large number of its citizens of diverse ethnicity and religious background had to flee into exile and continue their quest for true democracy,” the letter says.

The vice-president and spokesperson of the party, Karma Chhoejay, said in a press release issued here that the DNC (D) is advocating for a true and vibrant democracy in Bhutan for the past two decades.

“I would like to request your Excellency to kindly grant us diplomatic shelter in India,” the letter to the PM says. 

“Our forefathers entered Nepal and established a political party in 1994, and (the Nepali-speaking Bhutanese) took the refugee status in camps for survival. However, by virtue of many apparent reasons, especially for non-Nepali speaking Bhutanese, India is a right place or country to seek shelter,” it adds.

It says that the party’s aim is not to harm the relationship between Bhutan and India, “but to educate and create awareness on the values of true democracy among the Bhutanese people.”

Mr Dorji further says that he would like to earnestly appeal to the government of India “to grant us diplomatic shelter, comprising the basic survival necessities and security, and bestow upon us your Excellency’s moral support and solidarity, which will go a long way in our efforts to usher in true, vibrant and inclusive democracy in Bhutan.”