Come together
The biggest but shattered dream of the Bhutanese in exile was the leadership failure to work hand in hand for the common cause – establishment of democracy and human rights in Bhutan and repatriation of the Bhutanese refugees. Not only for two decades, the leaders remain divided, the culture they learnt has come along them to overseas.
Two decades in Nepal passed with leaders and their followers remaining at their own whim no matters they regularly chant the unity mantra. Perhaps, disunity among political and human rights leaders in exile than Bhutan government’s ignorance is the major factor to gradually eroded hope among general refugee population of getting back to their homestead.
The latest coalition has come of Druk National Congress, Bhutan National Democratic Party and Bhutan People’s Party. Teknath Rizal, who since his arrival in Nepal a decade ago upon freed had been prioritizing to lead human rights movement, has extended his involvement here. It has just been an understanding but not as in the past to create a new institution. Intentionally or unintentionally, two more parties have been kept out of the coalition – Druk National Congress (Democratic) and Bhutan Gorkha National Liberation Front.
The DNC (Democratic) and Bhutanese Refugees Representative Repatriation Committee (BRRRC) have already expressed their dissatisfaction over the way new coalition is formed. To be personal, it would be a great fault on part of Rongthong Kunley Dorji, who has been entitled to lead the coalition, to sideline Thinley Penjore and his party from the political coalition just because of his past misunderstanding with Thinley. Bhutanese political leadership failed to understand that misunderstanding in politics must not surface at crucial hours.
The political differences among exiled leadership are personal. There hasn’t and won’t be any differences in principles and objectives of the Bhutanese movement. Unfortunately, personal differences among leaders have badly injured the mission set in 1990 for liberty of Bhutanese people. The behaviour has silently been passed to new generation as well who now live beyond seven seas.
Not being included in a coalition does not mean that those outside it have the responsibility to oppose what coalition plans to do. A person genuinely inclined to the cause of exiled Bhutanese must surmise political understanding in Kathmandu is for the good of all Bhutanese. Those in the coalition must further understand that exclusion of certain, but potential, persons from their understanding will not produce the desired results.
On the other hand, people who claim themselves to be leaders, should have been drive by the positives thoughts on any initiatives from any groups or individuals meant for changes in Bhutan. It is not our responsibility to always blame at Bhutan government, ignorance of India and the international community towards our cause but make constructive comments on how political leaders are acting. We are sure, Indian and international solidarity will be on our favour should our leadership come in a common platform.
The differences among party cadres have already begun to show its face in Diaspora as well. With over one-third of the exiled Bhutanese being resettled in west, the party leaders and cadres, mostly those of BNDP and BPP knowingly or unknowingly, reflect to which group they belong. Any activities in Diaspora are looked at or sensed with party colour. Even the formation of foundations, clubs or social networks are examined of their political nearness or are alleged to be part of some parties.
I personally had sensed the growing differences among resettled Bhutanese based on their affiliation to certain group in the past and this became little clear as I joined the Diaspora. It is my assessment that media’s initiative for Non Resident Bhutanese could not take its shape due to support from certain political groups and no response from others. However, we media people do accept out inability to pursue the political leadership and the growing Diaspora that the new forum will be completely apolitical.
Differences seen in Association of Bhutanese in America and Organisation of Bhutanese Community in America, Bhutaneseliterature.com group and the Global Bhutanese Literary Organisation, Punya Foundation are part of the culture that we were indoctrinated from the political leadership. Yet efforts are on to narrow down the differences and work together for social cause.
The only solution for this would be detachment of the resettled people from parties. Diaspora is not good platform for political activities. Bhutanese political parties in exile must not educate themselves from Nepalese political culture of dividing Diaspora based on party affiliation. Division in Diaspora is loss for all parties and even for the Bhutanese government.
For exiled leadership, Diaspora is no more a platform of their political game. It is the people inside Bhutan where they must make every effort to reach. It is high time that they build closer fraternity with voters and lessen the attachment with sympathisers. Diaspora will be the source of funding for these parties in future should they run the elections but they are not in position to make them the ruling group.