BHUTAN: Distribution of Maoist document in refugee
camps: should be cause for concern. Update
30
by Dr. S. Chandrasekharan
In the name of Bhutan Communist Party of Bhutan, a detailed but well
written document has been in circulation in all the refugee camps of
Nepal.
Some excerpts including the ten point demand are given below.
The revolutionary International Movement (RIM) and the worldwide
warring communist groups, which are affiliated with the "RIM"
and other revolutionary communist parties, have a leading role. In the
context of Bhutan, an active communist party under a dynamic leadership,
following the bright path of Marxism, Leninism and Maoism is waging the
long-term peoples’ war, for the establishment of Peoples’ Democracy,
if necessary.
…..For the establishment of democracy and human
rights in Bhutan, a number of parties and organizations were formed and
struggled in their own way and some of them have been still struggling.
But in conclusion, there are no solid and productive consequences of their
struggle, even though we should not suspect on their struggle and
determination. However, due to their wrong and illusive outlook towards
sources, causes and effects of the problems, the line of their struggles
was misguided. Without the scientific thoughts there will not be true
solution of any problem. The present scientific philosophy and principles
are no other than Marxism, Leninism, and Maoism. Therefore being equipped
with the spirit of guiding principle of Marxism-Leninism-Maoism and
following the minimum policies and programmes of the new democracy with
the aim of accomplishing the new principles’ revolution in a long term
peoples’ war, determined to reach the final goal of communism via
socialism, we declare our great glorious Bhutan Communist Party at this
juncture.
Demands for the Peasant Brothers and Sisters:
1. Bhutan Government must declare sovereign democracy
and guarantee people’s rights and freedoms.
2. Bhutan Government must repatriate all its citizens
with dignity and honor.
3. Bhutan Government must guarantee with acceptance
in principle of right to self-determination.
4. Following the principle of "Land for the
people", distribute the lands to poor peasants and landless
farmers.
5. Bhutan Government must fix the minimum wage of Nu.
150/- per day. Also the emergency fund for forthcoming catastrophe,
health insurance and shelter must be guaranteed.
6. Guarantee all fundamental rights of women and
equal judgment.
7. Bhutan Government must guarantee cost free
education and employment.
8. Guarantee democratic and employment oriented
education.
9. Do away with all the draconian laws and acts
reconstruct new democratic laws and constitution.
10. Guarantee the freedom of Speech, Press, freedom
to travel within the territory of country.
.........
Down with! Monarchy
Down with! Feudalism, Imperialism,
Expansionanism
Long live! Peasant’s movement of Bhutan
Long live! Our unity in the world communist
movement
Long live! Proletariat’s internationalism
Long live! Marxism, Leninism, Maoism
Long live! Unity of all the exploited racial and
linguistic community of Bhutan
Be United! Patriotic, Democratic and Leftist forces
Long live! Bhutan Communist Party of Bhutan
This document is purported to have been issued after a
meeting of the party that took place on 22nd April at Siliguri.
The place Siliguri, it may be recalled was the venue chosen by the leftist
parties to meet Prachanda Chairman of CPN (ML. Maoist) of Nepal in the
middle of August 2001 and 22nd April happens to be the birth anniversary
of Lenin.
Nepal Samacharpatra daily has reported that an appeal
in the name of Bhutanese Communist Party (Marxist Leninist) in circulation
has an anti Indian content. Accusing the Bhutanese regime of going down
the path of "Sikkimization" and selling out to India on vital
issues, the Maoists have urged the people to involve themselves for a long
term people’s war and that the party will adopt the strategy of taking
over villages and encircling the towns. It has urged India to cooperate
fruitfully in repatriating the refugees and that it is opposed to ethnic
cleansing and discrimination. One of the objectives of the Party is said
to be the overthrow of monarchy in Bhutan.
This document should be a cause for concern firstly to
the refugee leaders who have in the last twelve years have avoided the
temptation of politicising the refugee issue, secondly to India and
the monarchy in Bhutan. The leaders in the camps despite the
tardy approach in verification and repatriation had managed to keep the
frustration of the younger elements of the camps within reasonable
control. Any politicisation and that too by an extremist group will be a
major set back to the cause of the refugees as only now there are some perceptible
though slow moves towards repatriation.
In our earlier updates we have mentioned the danger of
the youths joining the Maoists.
In our update of 16, we have reported the following.
The Maoists and the Refugees: Despite
the propaganda of Kuensel and the chorus one sees in the National assembly
proceedings in Bhutan, the Bhutanese in the camps indulge in no political
activity. There are signs that this situation may soon change as there are
too many frustrated youths now who have no employment and are uncertain of
their future. Some disturbing trends are
* The regions surrounding the seven camps are all hot
beds of communist activity.
* Till last year UNHCR through Caritas were funding
the higher education of students who pass the tenth standard. From this
year this has been stopped. These youths have nothing to do and are good
material for extremist activities.
* Some of the teachers from the camps who found jobs
outside the camps have been forced to return to the camps by the Maoists
who of late have become very active in Jhapa once again. Probably the
Maoists want a quid pro quo for allowing the teachers to teach outside.
* There is an unconfirmed information that over two
hundred youths have joined the Maoists. The figure is a little high but
it is certain that more than fifty have joined the Maoist ranks and more
are likely to join. By this, youths get training and soon many elders
may come to think that it will be an asset later.
In our update of 17 we had this to say.
The Maoists are looking for recruits
amongst refugees: In our last update we had mentioned that youths of the
camps numbering more than fifty have joined the Maoist ranks and more are
likely to join. We have since received information that the youths
in camps at Goldhop and Beldangi are being forced to join their ranks.
The Maoists representatives are telling the youths that they are wasting
their time doing nothing and that they should join the movement. A
few clashes have taken place near these camps. It is a question of
time before more youths join. Even if the youths do not stay for
long with the Maoists they would get necessary arms training, an
experience which in the long run is not good for either Nepal or Bhutan or
even India.
It is therefore not surprising and quite possible that
with the cease fire in Nepal in place, the Maoists could be targeting
Bhutan. This should be cause for concern for India too. For too long, the
Indian government pretended as if it had nothing to do with the Bhutanese
refugees over 100,000 in number languishing in eastern Nepal. It took the
stand that it was a bilateral problem to be settled by the two countries
though both had special relations with India. It would have been in India’s
interest to settle the problem early and it is still not too late.
One could be tempted to point an accusing finger at King of Bhutan as
he could use it to freeze all moves towards repatriation. But
it looks that there is a serious attempt of Maoists to repeat Nepal in
Bhutan. It is upto the refugee leaders in Nepal, the Bhutan King and India
to ensure that the current move of some of the misguided elements in the
camps is nipped in the bud.
