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| by Anonymous, |
Apr 29, 2002 |
I established a skeleton dungkhag and block level committees.
I held discussions with the Camp Management Committees to initiate the adult education programme for possible continuation of their education on a formal basis. Their inclusion in the camp based schools was not possible, so alternatives were explored. I visited Bhasa Samity in Siliguri in West Bengal for possible enrolment of our students. I approached OXFAM through the Refugee Women Forum to buy books for these students and maintain a library in each camp. Our members were requested to provide maximum possible assistance in the matter.
I published an article in Himal Magazine titled "A Hostage in Thimphu" about Tek Nath Rizal who was sentenced to life imprisonment, with the king declaring that he would be released when the southern problem was solved.
The DYB established relations with Democratic Youth Federation of India in Siliguri.
I undertook a field level survey, data collection and processing with Christopher Strawn and Dr. DNS Dhakal for their book Bhutan: A Movement in Exile.
I contacted Manav Adhikar Surakshya Manch (a human rights group) in Kalimpong for a human rights seminar in Siliguri, India to create media awareness in India about the Bhutanese Movement. Other human rights groups, social organisations, political parties and legal firms were also contacted for their support and solidarity. I visited the identified speakers in Siliguri, Sikkim and Kalimpong to confirm their participation, and I undertook the publicity work for the seminar. I also co-ordinated the entire seminar organised by the Manav Adhikar Surakshya Manch.
I mobilised support for the Bhutan National Democratic Party for a rally to be held in August 1995. I contacted different political leaders, academics, and social and human rights activists to participate in the rally. I visited camps and refugee organisations to request their participation in the rally, staying in Siliguri to mobilise the media persons and social and political organisations.
I participated in the Asia and Pacific Regional Seminar on civil rights and liberties organised by World Federation of Democratic Youth in Calcutta, and I attended the 5th National Convention of the Democratic Youth Federation of India in Calcutta.
The Youth Organisation of Bhutan and Students Union of Bhutan was contacted to undertake a joint action. We developed and organised an action plan for a Mass Cycle Rally from the Indo-Nepal border to the Indo-Bhutan border to promote student and youth solidarity, and to create mass awareness in India, especially in the area bordering Bhutann.
We mobilised cyclists for the event, requesting the Bhutanese Coalition for Democratic Movement to help raise funds for the event. 96 cyclists were arrested at the Indo-Nepal border, 6 at Siliguri, 10 at Birpara and 150 at Manglabare near the Indo-Bhutan border. I worked with the Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (a lawyers' association) for the release of the arrested cyclists. The event was covered widely by the Indian media. This was our objective as Indian Government was acting in an ignorant way, presenting the Bhutanese refugee crisis as a bilateral issue between Bhutan and Nepal only.
A silent procession in Damak was organised for the occasion of a visit by the Nepalese Prime Minister to India. The demands - (i) HMGN officially requested India to help in the resolution of the crisis, and (ii) that the four categories agreed upon by the two governments were abrogated.
The UNHCR was reducing scholarships to the students towards higher studies. A proposal was taken up with Caritas Nepal to fund higher education for high school graduates.
The organisation was restructured to work more effectively in the camps and within Bhutan.
We organised pamphleteering, wall-writing, and postering activities inside Bhutan to protest against the undemocratic National Assembly’s 74th Session and to mobilise support within Bhutan. The organisation lost one of the most trusted cadres during the postering work in Bhutan. I took over as President of the Democratic Youth of Bhutan when the President resigned.
A petition was prepared for the British Refugee Council team who visited the camps on the refugee issue.
An audio-cassette production was proposed. Singers, lyric writers and musicians were identified for the audiocassette. We undertook voice testing, and selected the artists. We mobilised support from the recording houses in Kathmandu for cassette production, and sent the artists to practice and record their songs. The cassettes were released. Meetings were organised with the executives at different times as different issues came up and had to be addressed.
I initiated the restructuring of United Front for Democracy in Bhutan on an organisational basis and participated in its activities as a constituent member. I helped the Camp Secretaries organise a hunger strike in the camps protesting the arrest of Rongthong Kuenley Dorji, the Chairman of the UFD by the Indian authorities.
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Comments
Youth in Bhutan Ariel Wyckoff | Oct 21st, 2003
Mr. Bhandari,
My name's Ariel Wyckoff and I am with a non-profit group called Innovations in Civic Participation (ICP). You clearly have done alot for the youth of Bhutan, and engaged international support through building partnertships with youth groups in Nepal and India. I find it amazing! My question to you is this: ICP -- the NGO I'm with, in the USA -- focuses on youth service and volunteering. We support regional capacity-building by holding workshops, providing expertise and information, as well as small grants for various programs. Would you like to have some information about current youth projects or events taking place in Bhutan, published in our monthly on-line newsletter? It's called "Service News Worldwide". You can see the first edition at www.icicp.org. Please let me know if you're interested.
Ariel Wyckoff
e-mail: wyckoff@icicp.org
1776 Massachusetts Ave., NW
suite 201
Washington, DC 20036
USA
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