International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY) has recently sent a letter to SAARC secretariat through IUSY Asia Pacific Committe on April 21, 2010. At times when the socio-political issue of Bhutanese Refugees is in a state of depletion, IUSY has tried to bring this crisis once again onto the tribune of global political discussions through this letter which is meant to hold a significant consideration during the upcoming SAARC session to be held in Thimphu, Bhutan from April 28-29, 2010.
According to Machris Cabreros, vice president of IUSY ( Philipines), the letter has been revised, with help from Akbayan Youth comrades, considering the factors like introducing IUSY to SAARC as it is the first time the committee has adressesdthe South Asian Associaton; stating institutions attending to the Bhutan issue; toning down “demands” as it is just the first time to engage them; and not stating anything about the monarch as they really don’t hail him at any way.
The signatories in the letter are Macris, Mook and YOB President Rajen Giri. Patrick, Med, Akaash and the rest of YOB deserve special thanks as they have made valuable contributions in the letter.
IUSY, which is fighting for freedom and human rights on the global perspective, is a global NGO made up of 150 socialist, social democratic and labor youth organisations from over 100 countries.
Below is the letter as it is:
His Excellency Krishna Kant
Secretary General
South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
Kathmandu, Nepal
Dear Your Excellency;
Greetings of solidarity and peace! The International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY) is a global non-government organization comprised of 149 socialist, social democratic, and labor youth organizations from 100 countries all over the world. It recently held its World Congress in Stockholm, Sweden on 26-28 March 2010. Member organizations from Bhutan, Nepal, India, Tibet, Mongolia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Burma, Australia, and New Zealand comprised the Asia Pacific region.
We are writing to express our solidarity with the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in its efforts to promote a platform for the people of South Asia based on a spirit of friendship, trust, and understanding. We congratulate you for the upcoming SAARC summit to be held on 28-29 April 2010, which will be hosted by the Royal Government of Bhutan.
In affirming our solidarity with the peoples of South Asia, we express our concern about what has been happening in Bhutan. Over the past years, the world has witnessed the exodus of hundreds of thousands of Bhutanese expelled from their country due to population-scaping policies of the government. In Nepal, thousands live in camps monitored by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), while at home, thousands more live in fear of expulsion. This sad reality has been taken notice by independent agencies such as the Human Rights Watch, the Lutheran World Federation and Amnesty International. Unfortunately no political commitment has been made as to the cease of the government policies, and as to the repatriation of the Bhutanese refugees from other countries. Furthermore, the recent failure on 22 December 2003 of the fifteenth round of bilateral talks between the governments of Nepal and Bhutan has even made the situation bleaker.
We therefore view the upcoming SAARC summit as an opportune venue in which this serious issue could be raised. On the basis of SAARC’s desire to support progress and protect the people and communities whereby every individual is enabled to satisfy basic human needs and to realize his or her personal dignity, safety and creativity as stated in the Social Charter, the SAARC conference could provide a platform within which the following issues can be included:
The repatriation of the Bhutanese refugees to their homes
The adoption of a reconciliatory approach and the creation of political space for human rights organizations and other political organizations to participate in talks related to the issue.
The assurance of women’s equal participation and rights in all respects of socio-economic life including proportional representation.
The release of those imprisoned due to their struggle to rectify the population-scaping policies of the government.
As IUSY and SAARC both share the vision of a peaceful, democratic, and prosperous South Asia, we trust that these points will be given consideration in the upcoming summit.
Sincerely yours,
Machris Cabreros, Vice-President, IUSY Phillipines;
Pimsiri Petchnamrob, Vice-President, IUSY Thailand;
Rajen Giri, President, YOB Bhutan.
Filed under: Bhutanusa News |
Prakass In Blogging 
Great job and hats up IUSY and YOB keep it up. Day will come to realise this people who used to write nagetive always. It is just jealous to see others work, thats sat. Once again Hats up.
Anupandrew seems funny man
We may have to thank for our dignified supporters for the Bhutanese Movement but it seems
“Justice delayed is Justice denied.” As we realise that Injustice anywhere is a threat to Justice everywhere”- The cruel tyranny of Bhutan voilated every human rights and still misusing every funds for the benfits of the limited groups of their community for so called in the name of Bhudhist Culture. . The sufferings of the Bhutanese refugees are beyond imagination and greatest voilation of Human life and Dignity by the Bhutanese regime on this EARTH and given a greatest challenge to the world community and threat to UN charter or constitution!!!!
Dear anup,
Bhutanese Population had to be in the exile because of people like you. You guys see only the pessimistic part of any anything. Don’t just blame them, try to see the brighter aspects too. Why only bark them try to appreciate them as well.
YOB is an organisation of only selected youth hence ,following appeal would have been better.
1.The repatriation of the YOB MEMBERS to their homes
2.The adoption of a reconciliatory approach and the creation of political space for YOB.
3.The assurance of YOB women’s equal participation and rights in all respects of socio-economic life including proportional representation.
3.The release of those YOB imprisoned due to their struggle to rectify the population-scaping policies of the government.
Anup , you cannot grow up. Learn to respect other’s good work . You dont do yourself and cannot tolerate other’s doing too. What a mentality?
well, this is a good news but i dnt think such tiny effort can make any differens. The int’l comunity sud rather use other means to resve this refugee crisis.
ya your are very much correct. this is not sufficient but it’s important to do something. This is what YOB can do at the moment. Lets get involved in one or the other ways to tell our story to the world.
No international organization, no goverment does anything for us unless and until we do something.